Patent ID: 6976908

Claim:
A polishing head comprising: a head body which is arranged to oppose a polishing surface of a polishing pad; a first recessed portion which is formed in a surface of the head body, the surface opposing the polishing pad; a support plate which is arranged in the first recessed portion, substantially in parallel with the polishing surface and which can be moved in directions in which the support plate is brought into contact with the head body or separated from the head body; a first film-like member which is arranged to extend from a surface of the support plate, the surface opposing the head body, to an inner surface of the first recessed portion and in which a first space is formed between a surface of the support plate, the surface being on the counter side of the polishing pad, and the head body; a second recessed portion which is formed in the surface of the support plate, the surface opposing the polishing pad; a second film-like member which is formed on the surface of the support plate, the surface opposing the polishing pad, to seal the second recessed portion, in which a second space is formed between the second film-like member and the support plate, and which holds an object to be processed on a surface opposing the polishing pad; a communicating hole which is formed in the support plate to communicate the first space with the second space; a pressure device which increases pressures in the first space and the second space with a fluid to equal pressures to bring the object into press contact with the polishing pad through the second film-like member; and a retainer which is arranged on a surface of the head body, the surface opposing the polishing pad, which surrounds the object, and which is brought into contact with the polishing pad.