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:
Mar. 13, 2007
Filed:
Jan. 13, 2005
Gary O. Henderson, Meridian, ID (US);
Gary O. Henderson, Meridian, ID (US);
Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Abstract
End effectors, apparatuses including end effectors for conditioning planarizing pads, and methods for manufacturing end effectors with contact elements to condition planarizing pads used in polishing micro-device workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an end effector includes a member having a first surface and a plurality of generally uniformly shaped contact elements attached to the first surface. The uniformly shaped contact elements project generally transversely from the first surface. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the uniformly shaped contact elements can be conical, frusto-conical, cylindrical, or other suitable configurations. The contact elements can also have a wear-resistant, carbon-like-diamond, silicon, and/or silicon carbide layer. Furthermore, the contact elements can have generally rounded tips.