IP Library Granted Patent US 12697699
Granted Patent B2
US 12697699 · App. 18/268,082 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Retainer, top ring, and substrate processing apparatus

Inventor: Yu Ishii (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
B24B37/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12697699
App. No.
18/268,082
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A retainer is disposed around a holding region 39 of a polygonal substrate WF in a top ring for holding the polygonal substrate WF with a surface to be polished facing downward. The retainer 30 includes a plurality of retainer main bodies 3 disposed around the holding region 39 independently along respective sides of the polygonal substrate WF. At least one of the plurality of retainer main bodies 3 includes a first securing surface (first surface 3 a ), a first opposed surface (second surface 3 b ), a second securing surface (third surface 3 c ), and a second opposed surface (fourth surface 3 d ). The first securing surface is securable to a retainer holding member 37 of the top ring, the first opposed surface is opposed to the holding region 39 in a first state where the first securing surface is secured to the retainer holding member 37 , the second securing surface is securable to the retainer holding member 37 in a second state where the retainer main body 3 is rotated by 180 degrees from the first state, and the second opposed surface is opposed to the holding region 39 in a state where the second securing surface is secured to the retainer holding member 37.

Claims (31)

1 . A retainer for being disposed around a holding region of a polygonal substrate in a top ring configured to hold and press the polygonal substrate toward a polishing pad and for being pressed toward the polishing pad, the retainer comprising:

a plurality of retainer main bodies disposed around the holding region independently along respective sides of the polygonal substrate, wherein

at least one of the plurality of retainer main bodies includes a first securing surface, a first opposed surface, a second securing surface, and a second opposed surface, the first securing surface being securable to a retainer holding member of the top ring, the first opposed surface being opposed to the holding region in a first state where the first securing surface is secured to the retainer holding member, the second securing surface being securable to the retainer holding member in a second state where the retainer main body is rotated from the first state, the second opposed surface being opposed to the holding region in a state where the second securing surface is secured to the retainer holding member.

2 . The retainer according to claim 1 , wherein

the second state is a state where the retainer main body in the first state is rotated about a virtual rotation axis extending in an extending direction of the retainer main body, rotated such that the extending direction of the retainer main body is switched, or rotated in a combination thereof, and is different from the first state, and

the second opposed surface is a surface that is same as the first opposed surface, such that in the second state, an opposed portion of the second opposed surface is opposed to the holding region different from an opposed portion opposed to the holding region in the first state.

3 . The retainer according to claim 1 , wherein

at least one of the plurality of retainer main bodies include a first magnetic member embedded in the first securing surface to secure the first securing surface to the retainer holding member and a second magnetic member embedded in the second securing surface to secure the second securing surface to the retainer holding member.

4 . The retainer according to any one of claim 1 , wherein

at least one of the plurality of retainer main bodies has a regular polygonal prism shape, and

the regular polygonal prism has side surfaces, and each of the side surfaces includes a magnetic member embedded in the side surface to secure the side surface to the retainer holding member.

5 . A top ring for holding and pressing a polygonal substrate toward a polishing pad, comprising:

a rotation shaft;

a flange secured to the rotation shaft;

the retainer holding member attached to the flange; and

the retainer according to claim 1 attached to the retainer holding member.

6 . The top ring according to claim 5 , wherein

the retainer holding member includes a magnet or an electromagnet disposed on an opposed surface opposed to the retainer main body.

7 . The top ring according to claim 5 , wherein

the retainer holding member has an abutting surface abutting on the retainer main body for inhibiting the retainer main body from displacing in a direction separating from the holding region.

8 . The top ring according to any one of claim 5 , wherein

the first securing surface and the second securing surface of the retainer main body have a plurality of boss holes formed along an extending direction of the retainer main body, and

the retainer holding member has an opposed surface opposed to the retainer main body, and the opposed surface includes a plurality of bosses disposed at positions corresponding to the boss holes of the first securing surface and the second securing surface of the retainer main body.

9 . The top ring according to claim 8 , wherein

the plurality of boss holes are formed at positions rotationally symmetrical about a center of the extending direction of the retainer main body.

10 . A substrate processing apparatus comprising:

the top ring according to any one of claim 5 ; and

a polishing table configured to hold the polishing pad.

11 . The retainer according to claim 1 , wherein

the second state is a state where the retainer main body in the first state is rotated about a virtual rotation axis extending in an extending direction of the retainer main body, rotated such that the extending direction of the retainer main body is switched, or rotated in a combination thereof, and is different from the first state, and

the second opposed surface is a surface different from the first opposed surface.