Patent ID: 7074110

Claim:
An apparatus for electronic wafer chemical-mechanical-planarization table process monitoring comprising: a. a polishing pad and a hub; b. the polishing pad having a polishing surface and an attachment surface and an embedded waveguide with an outer lens fixture end with a means for delivering light and a light coupling center fixture end; c. the waveguide is arranged within the pad interior such that the waveguide light coupling center fixture end and outer lens fixture end is embedded within a recess on the pad polishing surface such that the ends are located on the pad polishing surface; d. the waveguide is arranged within the pad interior such that the waveguide light coupling center fixture end is at the center of rotation of the polishing pad and the outer lens fixture end is at a location within the wafer track; e. the hub contains a rotating portion and a stationary portion rotatably connected and arranged such that the rotating portion positions the stationary portion wherein light may be transmitted from the hub stationary portion to the waveguide light coupling center fixture end and light may be transmitted from the waveguide light coupling center fixture end to the hub stationary portion wherein when the waveguide is opposite a wafer contacting the surface of the polishing pad, the hub stationary portion provides light to and receives surface reflectance from the wafer; f. the stationary portion contains an opto-electronic device positioned in proximity to the table polishing pad waveguide entrance wherein the opto-electronic device contains a light source to provide the light transmitted from the hub stationary portion, and wherein the optoelectronic device receives the light transmitted from the waveguide light coupling center fixture end; and g. the opto-electronic device contains means for converting the received light into an electrical signal derived from the light, and transmitting the amplified, processed electronic signal on a conductor.