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:
Jul. 15, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 30, 2000
Stephen J. Kramer, Boise, ID (US);
Michael J. Joslyn, Boise, ID (US);
Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for planarizing a microelectronic substrate. In one aspect of the invention, a first portion of an energy-sensitive, non-sacrificial planarizing pad material is exposed to a selected energy without exposing a second portion of the material to the selected energy source. The planarizing pad material is exposed to a solvent to remove material from one of the first or second portions of the planarizing pad material at a faster rate than removing material from the other of the first and second portions. The process forms a plurality of recesses directly in the surface of the planarizing pad which are configured to support a planarizing liquid proximate to the surface of the planarizing pad material during planarization of the microelectronic substrate. Alternatively, the process can form a mold having protrusions that are pressed into the planarizing pad to define the recesses in the pad.