Strasbaugh

William J Kalenian

Thomas A Walsh

Larry A Spiegel

Dave Halley

Thomas E Brake

Tom Walsh

Michael R Vogtmann

David L Grant

Benjamin C Smedley

A method of grinding wafers includes determining thickness variations in a wafer; determining incremental adjustments to spindle alignment based on best fit predictions of wafer shaper; and implemented the incremental adjustments to spindle alignment of a grind module.

Methods and systems for use in grind shape control adaptation

Some embodiments provide methods of processing wafers comprising: positioning a stacked wafer into a position to be ground, wherein the stacked wafer comprises a first wafer secured with a carrier-wafer, wherein the first wafer is secured with the carrier-wafer such that a surface of the first wafer is exposed to be ground; initiating a grinding of the first wafer while supported by the carrier-wafer; activating one or more sensors relative to the first wafer while grinding the first wafer; determining, while grinding the first wafer, a thickness of the first wafer separate from a thickness of the carrier-wafer as a function of data from the one or more sensors; determining whether the determined thickness of the first wafer has a predefined relationship with a first thickness threshold; and halting the wafer grinding when the thickness of the first wafer has the predefined relationship with the first thickness threshold.

Systems and methods of processing substrates

A method of polishing a wafer with a wafer carrier adapted to further reduce the edge effect and allow a wafer to be uniformly polished across its entire surface, with a retaining ring made from very hard materials such as PEEK, PET or polycarbonate with a hardness in the range of 80 to 85 Shore D, while the inner surface or insert is made of polyurethane or other material with a hardness in the range of 85 to 95 Shore A.

CMP retaining ring with soft retaining ring insert

A wafer carrier adapted to further reduce the edge effect and allow a wafer to be uniformly polished across its entire surface, with a retaining ring made from very hard materials such as PEEK, PET or polycarbonate with a hardness in the range of 80 to 85 Shore D, while the inner surface or insert is made of polyurethane or other material with a hardness in the range of 85 to 95 Shore A.

The present embodiment provides for methods and systems for use in processing objects such as wafers, including polishing and/or grinding wafers. Some embodiments provide systems that include a front-end module and a processing module. The front end module couples with a storage device that stores objects for processing. The front-end module can comprise a single robot, a transfer station, and a plurality of end effectors. The processing module is coupled with the front-end module such that the single robot delivers objects from the storage device to the processing module. The processing module comprising a rotating table, and a spindle with a carrier configured to retrieve the delivered object and process the object on the rotating table.

Method, apparatus and system for use in processing wafers

A pivoting wafer carrier having a minimum of internal friction and a smooth, continuous pivoting motion. The pivot mechanism includes a lower ring mounted on a pressure plate, an upper ring mounted on a housing upper plate and ball transfer units disposed on the lower ring. Corresponding bearing wedges depend downwardly from the upper ring. As the pressure plate tilts during the polishing process, the load balls of the ball transfer units roll against the corresponding wedges, thus producing a smooth, continuous pivoting motion. A universal joint may be provided to the carrier to effect the rotation of the carrier and to aid the smooth, continuous pivoting motion of the wafer carrier.

Wafer carrier pivot mechanism

The methods and devices described below allow users of CMP tools to quickly calibrate Spindle Force, Wafer Force, and Retaining Ring Force using mechanisms, load cells, a control computer, and force equations. The control computer can test a variety of pressures in the inflatable seal or the inflatable membrane, depending on the wafer carrier configuration, to determine a unique calibration in real time for the particular wafer carrier that is being tested and used during the polishing process.

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San Luis Obispo, CA, United States of America

William J Kalenian