Patent ID: 7115016

Claim:
A machine for polishing a production micro-device workpiece, comprising: a carrier head for carrying the production micro-device workpiece; a polishing pad positionable under the carrier head for polishing the production micro-device workpiece; a transducer configured to produce ultrasonic vibration in at least one of the production workpiece, the polishing pad, and the carrier head; and a controller operatively coupled to the carrier head, the polishing pad, and the transducer, the controller having a computer-readable medium containing instructions to perform a method, comprising: pressing the production workpiece against the polishing pad and moving the production workpiece relative to the polishing pad; and vibrating at least one of the production workpiece or the polishing pad at an ultrasonic frequency greater than an estimated frequency of serial defects, defined as a number of occurrences per unit of time, in a test workpiece.