The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 17, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:
Michael Labunsky, San Carlos, CA (US);
Andrew Nagengast, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Anil Pant, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Assignee:
Lam Research Corporation, Fremont, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B24B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
451-6 ; 451 66 ; 451288 ;
Abstract
A technique for integrating a film thickness monitoring sensor within a load and unload unit of a cluster tool for performing chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP). In order to determine CMP performance, a sensor (or sensors) for determining film thickness is/are integrated within the load and unload unit of the cluster tool. Accordingly, film thickness measurements can then be taken at discrete times during the processing cycle without removing the wafer from the cluster tool.