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:
May. 18, 2004

Filed:

Aug. 07, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:

Wayne F. Lougher, Phoenix, AZ (US);

Frank McPeek, Tempe, AZ (US);

Robert Key, Phoenix, AZ (US);

Assignee:

SpeedFam-IPEC Corporation, Chandler, AZ (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B24B 7/00 ; B24B 9/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B24B 7/00 ; B24B 9/00 ;
Abstract

A wafer carrier retaining ring includes a first annular surface that contacts a polishing surface during a polishing process and an inner diameter surface adjoining the first annular surface thereby forming a first annular corner. The first annular corner has a radius in the range of from no less than about 0.010 inches to less than a radius that would result in damage to a wafer being polished. In another embodiment of the invention, a wafer carrier retaining ring includes an inner diameter surface and a second annular surface adjoining said inner diameter surface thereby forming a second annular corner. The second annular corner has a radius of no less than 0.030 inches. In a further embodiment of the invention, a wafer carrier retaining ring is formed of a ceramic material and has a first annular surface having a surface finish of no greater than 2 microinches rms.


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