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:
Dec. 12, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 02, 1999
Manoocher Birang, Los Gatos, CA (US);
John Prince, Los Altos, CA (US);
Applied Materials, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
An end effector is provided for conditioning pads used to polish semiconductor wafers. The end effector has a substrate with a matrix (preferably a polymer) disposed thereon. Abrasive particles such as diamond crystals are embedded in the matrix. Preferred particle size and number/spacing is provided for optimal conditioning. The particles are embedded by at least a predetermined amount (e.g., 75%) so as to provide uniform/repeatable conditioning while avoiding dislodged particles. The particles may be embedded such that the tips thereof are coplanar, or such that the profile of diamond tips form a plurality of curved regions. A method for checking end effector quality is also provided.