International Business Machines Corporation

Thomas J Martin

Cuc Kim Huynh

Douglas P Nadeau

Paul A Manfredi

Keith Randal Pope

Rangarajan Jagannathan

Yutong Wu

Thomas Edwin Sandwick

Amarnath Jha

Joseph M Weatherwax, Jr

An apparatus and method of planarizing objects, particularly electronic components. The off-concentric polishing system of the present invention comprises at least two polishing platens positioned adjacent each other such that the polishing portions of the platens are substantially co-planar. At least one wafer carrier is moveably mounted over the at least two platens such that a wafer may be polished by more than one platen substantially simultaneously. The platen configurations may be in a linear or non-linear configuration such that the wafer being polished is no longer centrally disposed over a single platen but is off-concentrically positioned over multiple platens. The off-concentric positioning of the wafer provides enhanced slurry distribution and endpoint detection. The present invention reduces time and cost in manufacturing electronic components by engaging several polishing conditions simultaneously without the need for sequential polishing.

Off-concentric polishing system design

Semiconductor materials are prepared by CMP with a first rough polishing step using an acidic slurry followed by cleaning a the pad and wafer separately. After cleaning a second polishing step with a basic slurry is used which buffs the wafer. Finally the pad and wafer are rinsed while a low pressure is applied to complete the process.

Method for chemical mechanical polishing of semiconductor wafer

A carrier rinse unit comprising a plurality of nozzles prepositioned to eject a cleaning fluid against a surface of a wafer while the wafer is rotated within a wafer carrier. The prepositioned nozzles may be angled to spray a leading edge, a trailing edge, an outer edge of the wafer, or any desired point on the surface of the wafer.

Wafer carrier rinsing mechanism

A CMP semiconductor wafer planarization method is provided employing an aqueous solution of a trialkanol amine as a wafer cleaning solution. Wafers are produced exhibiting a substantial reduction in semiconductor device failures as shown by a significant decrease in m.sub.1- m.sub.1 (metal to metal) shorts.

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Franklin, VT, United States of America

Thomas J Martin