Patent ID: 8133097

Claim:
A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) device for processing a wafer, the device comprising: a plate for supporting the wafer to be processed in a face-up orientation, a center portion of the plate being aligned along a first axis; a polishing head opposing the plate, wherein the polishing head includes a rotatable polishing pad operable to contact the wafer while the polishing pad is rotating, the rotatable polishing pad being configured to rotate about a second axis parallel to the first axis; and a slurry coating system providing a slurry to the polishing pad for polishing the wafer, a center portion of the slurry coating system being aligned along a third axis parallel to the first and second axes, wherein the first and third axes are radially spaced from the second axis such that when a first portion of the polishing pad is inside of the slurry coating system a second portion of the polishing pad spaced from the first portion is outside of the slurry coating system and in contact with the wafer, and wherein the slurry coating system recycles the slurry and includes: a slurry cup configured to deposit slurry onto the polishing pad; and an overflow tank surrounding the slurry cup and configured to collect excess slurry for reuse, the overflow tank including a polishing pad slot disposed in an exterior wall of the overflow tank and configured to remove excess slurry from the polishing pad as it passes therethrough.