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:
Aug. 26, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 29, 2002
Joseph P. Simon, Newark, CA (US);
Lam Research Corporation, Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
In a method for determining an endpoint in a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) operation, the concentration of an oxidizing agent in the slurry byproduct generated during the CMP operation is monitored. The endpoint of the CMP operation is determined based on the concentration of the oxidizing agent in the slurry byproduct. The concentration of the oxidizing agent in the slurry byproduct may be monitored by diverting the slurry byproduct from a surface of a polishing pad, and measuring an optical property of the slurry byproduct diverted from the surface of the polishing pad. A CMP system configured to implement the method for determining an endpoint also is described.