Patent ID: 7217172

Claim:
In a CMP conditioning system, an end effector arm for controlling the application of an abrasive conditioning disk to a polishing pad surface, the end effector arm comprising: a conditioner head disposed at a first, free end of the effector arm, the conditioner head including a keyed alignment/attachment element disposed to contact an associated abrasive conditioning disk, the keyed alignment element comprising an impeller body having a central recessed portion of a known keying geometry and including at least one coupling component for engaging the abrasive conditioning disk in an aligned attachment; at least one ejector mechanism disposed at the periphery of the conditioner head and configured to impart a downward force onto an associated conditioning disk sufficient to break the engagement provided by the keyed alignment/attachment element when needed to remove the conditioning disk from the conditioner head; and an actuator mechanism disposed at a second, fixed end of the end effector arm for controlling the translational movement and applied downforce of the conditioner head with respect to a polishing pad.