Abstract:
A retaining ring comprises a generally annular body. The body comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer surface connected to the top surface at an outer top perimeter and the bottom surface at an outer bottom perimeter, and an inner surface connected to the top surface at an inner top perimeter and the bottom surface at an inner bottom perimeter. The inner surface comprises seven or more planar facets. Adjacent planar facets are connected at corners. The inner bottom perimeter comprises straight edges of the planar facets connected at the corners.
Abstract:
Sensors can be located in a carrier head for a chemical mechanical polishing system. In some implementations the carrier head includes a flexible membrane, and a thermocouple is positioned on the lower surface of the flexible membrane or embedded in the flexible membrane adjacent the lower surface. In some implementations, the carrier head optical sensor is secured to the head and positioned to sense a reflectivity of a spot on a back surface of a substrate held in the carrier head, and a controller is configured to receive a signal from the optical sensor and determine precession of the substrate based on the signal.
Abstract:
A substrate precession apparatus for a carrier head is provided. The apparatus enables substrate precession, which is the rotational movement of the substrate relative to the carrier head during polishing of the substrate. The carrier head and a retaining ring assembly may be de-coupled and move independently of one another to promote substrate precession during a CMP process.
Abstract:
A retaining ring for holding a substrate below a carrier head during chemical mechanical polishing includes an annular lower portion and an annular upper portion secured to the lower portion. The annular lower portion has a main body with a bottom surface for contacting a polishing pad during polishing, and is a first material. A top surface of the upper portion is configured to be secured to the carrier head. The upper portion is a second material that is more rigid than the first material. A thickness and stiffness of the lower portion is selected for a particular polishing environment to improve polishing uniformity near an edge of the substrate.
Abstract:
Some implementations of a retaining ring has an inner surface having a first portion formed of multiple planar facets and a second portion that adjoins the first portion along a boundary and includes a frustoconical surface that is sloped downwardly from outside in. Some implementations of the retaining ring have a crenellated or serpentine inner surface, and/or an inner surface with alternating region of different surface properties or different tilt angles.
Abstract:
A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a carrier head including a retaining ring having a plastic portion with a bottom surface to contact a polishing pad, an in-situ monitoring system including a sensor that generates a signal that depends on a thickness of the plastic portion, and a controller configured to receive the signal from the in-situ monitoring system and to adjust at least one polishing parameter in response to the signal to compensate for non-uniformity caused by changes in the thickness of the plastic portion of the retaining ring.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatus and method for improve uniformity of a polishing process. Embodiments of the present invention provide a heating mechanism configured to apply thermal energy to a perimeter of a substrate during polishing, or a cooling mechanism configured to cool a central region of the substrate during polishing, or a biased heating mechanism configured to create a temperature step differential on a given radius of a polishing pad.
Abstract:
A carrier head for a chemical mechanical polisher includes base, a substrate mounting surface, an annular inner ring, and an annular outer ring. The inner ring has an inner surface configured to circumferentially surround the edge of a substrate positioned on the substrate mounting surface, an outer surface, and a lower surface to contact a polishing pad. The inner ring is vertically movable relative to the substrate mounting surface. The outer ring has an inner surface circumferentially surrounding the inner ring, an outer surface, and a lower surface to contact the polishing pad. The outer ring is vertically movable relative to and independently of the substrate mounting surface and the inner ring. The lower surface of the inner ring has a first width, and the lower surface of the outer ring has a second width greater than the first width.