초록 ▼

A number of blocks are reciprocably supported in a polishing apparatus in accordance with this invention, entirely independent of each other so that lifting motion of one block is not transferred to an adjacent block, thus providing flexibility to follow the global curvature of the wafer. The polish

A number of blocks are reciprocably supported in a polishing apparatus in accordance with this invention, entirely independent of each other so that lifting motion of one block is not transferred to an adjacent block, thus providing flexibility to follow the global curvature of the wafer. The polishing apparatus uses a block of a very hard design to ensure minimal deflection of the block into the microstructure of the wafer. Each block removes a portion of the wafer using relative motion between the block and the wafer. Each block is supported by at least three regions of the wafer during the relative motion, wherein each of the regions has the slowest rate of material removal in a die enclosing that region. In one embodiment, the smallest dimension of a block is approximately three times the size of the side of a die. The three point support and hard design of the blocks ensure local polishing removal uniformity while the independent support of the blocks ensures global uniformity, thus achieving an advantage over the conventional polishing process and apparatus.

대표청구항 ▼

A block for removing a portion of a wafer using relative motion between said block and said wafer, said wafer having a plurality of photolithographic images, each of said photolithographic images comprising a plurality of protrusions, and said block has an eroding surface for eroding said portion of

A block for removing a portion of a wafer using relative motion between said block and said wafer, said wafer having a plurality of photolithographic images, each of said photolithographic images comprising a plurality of protrusions, and said block has an eroding surface for eroding said portion of said wafer, wherein: said eroding surface has a modulus of elasticity between approximately 10 million psi and approximately 500,000 psi at each point of said eroding surface, and said eroding surface has an area between a maximum area and a minimum area, said minimum area being larger than an area of said photolithographic image and said maximum area being the largest possible area for said eroding surface to remain in contact with all protrusions of said wafer covered by said eroding surface prior to said relative motion.