Patent ID: 7419419

Claim:
A slurry supply unit for a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatus comprising: a supply tank for storing a slurry; a slurry circulation line connected to the supply tank; a main pump for circulating the slurry through the slurry circulation line; a plurality of slurry distribution lines connected to the slurry circulation line, a plurality of CMP units each having a slurry injection pipe for injecting the slurry onto a table, wherein each of the plurality of slurry distribution lines delivers the slurry to one of the plurality of CMP units; a plurality of first slurry flow sensors, each mounted in one of the slurry injection pipes to measure a flow rate of the slurry through the corresponding slurry injection pipe; a plurality of auxiliary pumps, each engaged with a separate one of the plurality of slurry distribution lines to discharge the slurry from the slurry circulation line at a predetermined flow rate; and a slurry flow rate control section receiving the flow rates from the plurality of first slurry flow sensors and regulating the flow rate of the discharged slurry by controlling the auxiliary pumps.