Patent ID: 7112245

Claim:
An apparatus for forming a planarizing pad for mechanically and/or chemically-mechanically planarizing a microelectronic substrate, comprising: a support device configured to support a pad support material in a selected position wherein the support device includes first and second rollers coupled to the support material and rotatable relative to each other to advance the support material from the first roller to the second roller; a vessel configured to contain a non-solid planarizing pad material; at least one nozzle positioned over the support device and operatively coupled to the vessel and coupled to a source of compressed gas, the nozzle configured to mix the planarizing pad material with the compressed gas to form discrete texture elements for disposing on the support material; and a hopper positioned between the nozzle and the support device, the hopper having a first opening positioned proximate to the at least one nozzle for receiving the discrete texture elements and a second opening proximate to the support material for disposing the received discrete texture elements on the support material when the support material is supported by the support device.