Patent ID: 7131891

Claim:
A method for polishing a microfeature workpiece having a characteristic, the method comprising: determining a first status of the characteristic of the microfeature workpiece separate from the polishing cycle; moving at least one of a carrier head and a planarizing medium relative to the other after determining the first status of the characteristic of the microfeature workpiece, the carrier head carrying a plurality of driving members; applying pressure against a back side of the microfeature workpiece in response to the determined first status of the characteristic by controlling at least one of the plurality of driving members; determining a second status of the characteristic of the microfeature workpiece after applying pressure against the microfeature workpiece; and tracking the difference between a desired status and the second status of the characteristic of the microfeature workpiece to determine wear in at least one of the planarizing medium, the carrier head, or a conditioning stone; wherein applying pressure against the back side of the microfeature workpiece comprises controlling at least one of the plurality of driving members based on a predetermined wear of at least one of the carrier head, the planarizing medium, or the conditioning stone.