Applied Materials, Inc.

Michael J Coughlin

Allen L D'Ambra

Sumit Subhash Patankar

Shantanu Rajiv Gadgil

Nathan Arron Davis

Roy C Nangoy

Jianqi Wang

A polishing liquid delivery arm cleaning tool includes a body configured to be removably secured to a polishing liquid delivery arm of a chemical mechanical polishing system, and an insert removably secured to the body. The insert has an arm-facing surface shaped to direct a cleaning fluid from the polishing liquid delivery arm back to an inner surface of an enclosure of the polishing liquid delivery arm.

Cleaning system for polishing liquid delivery arm

A polishing assembly includes a rotatable platen to support a polishing pad, a polishing liquid delivery arm having an enclosure open at a bottom thereof and one or more ports to deliver a polishing liquid and a cleaning fluid downwardly through an interior space of the enclosure onto the polishing pad, and a delivery arm cleaning tool removably attached to the polishing liquid delivery arm, the cleaning tool extending below the delivery arm and having a delivery arm-facing surface shaped such that the cleaning tool directs the cleaning fluid from the polishing liquid delivery arm on to a surface of the enclosure of the polishing liquid delivery arm.

A method of cleaning a conditioner head includes bringing two clamps of a cleaning tool inward toward a disk-shaped pad conditioner head to press a sponge against an outer surface of the disk-shaped pad conditioner head, and creating relative motion between the cleaning tool and the pad conditioner head to wipe the sponge against the pad conditioner head.

Pad conditioner cleaning system

Chemically impregnated applicators used to provide hydrophobic surfaces on chemical mechanical polishing system components and related application methods are shown. A method of forming a hydrophobic coating on a surface of a polishing system component includes cleaning the surface of the polishing system component to remove a polishing fluid residue therefrom and applying a hydrophobicity causing chemical solution to the surface of the polishing system component.

Maintenance methods for polishing systems and articles related thereto

In some embodiments, a sonic cleaning system includes a tank configured to receive a liquid that enables propagation of sonic waves and a cylindrical insert located within the tank. The cylindrical insert includes a first end having a first opening and a second end opposite the first end. The second end has a second opening. The cylindrical insert is configured to suspend a workpiece between the first opening and the second opening. The sonic cleaning system includes a sonic transducer located within the cylindrical insert.

Sonic cleaning system and method of sonic cleaning a workpiece

Chemically impregnated applicators used to provide hydrophobic surfaces on chemical mechanical polishing system components and related application methods. A method of forming a hydrophobic coating on a surface of a polishing system component includes cleaning the surface of the polishing system component to remove a polishing fluid residue therefrom and applying a hydrophobicity causing chemical solution to the surface of the polishing system component.

Disclosed herein is a sonic cleaning insert. In one example, the sonic cleaning insert includes a carousel configured to rotate about a central axis. The carousel further includes a platform having an outer perimeter. The platform is radially disposed about the central axis. The carousel has an inner ring and an outer ring circumscribing the inner ring. A plurality of partitions couple the inner ring and the outer ring to the platform. The plurality of partitions are arranged at a predetermined angle about the central axis. The carousel further includes a plurality of holders. Each holder is formed from a portion of the platform, a portion of each of the inner ring and outer ring, and a first sidewall and a second sidewall formed from the plurality of partitions. The carousel is configured for immersion in an ultrasonic vibrating fluid.

Carousel for ultrasonic cleaning and method of using thereof

A pad conditioner head cleaning tool has a first clamp configured to removably engage a first portion of a sponge against an outer surface of a disk-shaped pad conditioner head at a first location, a second clamp configured to removable engage a second portion of the sponge against the outer surface of the disk-shaped pad conditioner head at a second location, and an arm coupling the first clamp to the second clamp. The arm is sufficiently flexible to permit the first clamp and the second clamp to be separated to fit around the disk-shaped pad conditioner head and sufficiently tensile to bias the first clamp and the second clamp inwardly to press the sponge against an outer surface of a pad conditioner head.

Growing community of inventors

Livermore, CA, United States of America

Michael J Coughlin