Patent ID: 7018273

Claim:
A platen for use in a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) system, comprising: a structure configured with at least two apertures, one or more of the at least two apertures defining at least one localized fluid-pressure platen zone, one or more of the at least two apertures defining at least one fluid-bearing platen zone configured to allow a flow of fluid-bearing fluid, the fluid-bearing fluid having a tendency to freely-flow from the at least one fluid-bearing platen zone out of the platen; and a membrane covering all of the one or more of the at least two apertures that define each of the at least one localized fluid-pressure platen zones, the membrane being configured with a first section sealed to the structure around the all of the one or more of the at least two apertures defining the at least one localized fluid-pressure platen zone so that in response to fluid of the respective at least one localized fluid-pressure platen zone, the sealed membrane is extendable into the fluid-bearing fluid of the at least one fluid-bearing platen zone.