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.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 18, 2001

Filed:

Jan. 25, 2000
Applicant:
Inventors:

Victor J. Bass, San Antonio, TX (US);

Landon Vines, San Antonio, TX (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B24C 5/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B24C 5/00 ;
Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for cleaning and enhancing CMP polishing pads. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a fluid source supplies cleaning elements to a CMP pad conditioner arrangement at pressure of about 20 PSI. A dispensing arrangement is coupled to the fluid source and is adapted to disperse the cleaning elements and to dispense the elements onto a CMP pad. The high-pressure cleaning of the CMP pad improves the ability to clean the pad over existing methods, reduces processing defects, increases the pad life, and improves the uniformity of the polish rate.


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