In situ feature height measurement

1. A method of planarizing an object, the method comprising:

polishing a surface of the object to be planarized using a polishing pad having a cavity;

directing an incident light from a light source disposed in the cavity of the polishing pad to optically measure feature heights of surface features on the surface of the object to obtain measurement data during the polishing of the surface using the polishing pad, the feature heights being relative height differences of the features measured by directing the incident light at the surface of the object from the light source disposed in the cavity and observing a reflected light intensity of a reflected light from the features on the surface to the cavity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the polishing pad is larger in surface area than the surface of the object.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the incident light is directed at the surface at an angle smaller than 90 degrees.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the angle and wavelength of the incident light are selected based on the surface features.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the feature heights are measured for a plurality of surface features and averaged to produce an average measurement.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting, in real time, parameters controlling the polishing of the surface in response to the measurement data.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the parameters include at least one of a spinning speed of the polishing pad around an axis of the polishing pad in contact with the surface of the object for polishing the surface, a rotational speed of the object around an axis of the object perpendicular to the surface to be planarized, a position of the polishing pad in contact with the surface of the object for polishing the surface, and a force between the polishing pad and the object.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the reflected light from the features on the surface is oriented generally opposite from the incident light.

9. An apparatus for planarizing an object, the apparatus comprising:

a polishing pad having a cavity extending to a polishing surface used for polishing a surface of the object to be planarized; and

an optical assembly disposed in the cavity of the polishing pad, the optical assembly configured to direct an incident light from the cavity to the surface of the object an angle smaller than 90 degrees and to detect a reflected light from the surface of the object to the cavity to obtain optical measurement data.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the polishing pad is larger in surface area than the surface of the object.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the reflected light is used to measure feature heights of surface features on the surface of the object.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the angle and wavelength of the incident light are selected based on the surface features of the object.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a controller configured to adjust, in real time, parameters controlling the polishing of the surface in response to the optical measurement data.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the parameters include at least one of a spinning speed of the polishing pad around an axis of the polishing pad in contact with the surface of the object for polishing the surface, a rotational speed of the object around an axis of the object perpendicular to the surface to be planarized, a position of the polishing pad in contact with the surface of the object for polishing the surface, and a force between the polishing pad and the object.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the optical assembly includes a surface which is substantially co-planar with the polishing surface of the polishing pad.

16. An apparatus for planarizing an object, the apparatus comprising:

a polishing pad having a cavity extending to a polishing surface used for polishing a surface of the object to be planarized; and

an optical assembly disposed in the cavity of the polishing pad, the optical assembly including means for directing an incident light from the cavity of the polishing pad to optically measure feature heights of surface features on the surface of the object to obtain measurement data during the polishing of the surface using the polishing pad, the feature heights being relative height differences of the features measured by directing the incident light at the surface of the object from the cavity and observing a reflected light intensity of a reflected light from the features on the surface to the cavity.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the polishing pad is larger in surface area than the surface of the object.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the angle and wavelength of the incident light are selected based on the surface features of the object.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a controller configured to adjust, in real time, parameters controlling the polishing of the surface in response to the optical measurement data.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the parameters include at least one of a spinning speed of the polishing pad around an axis of the polishing pad in contact with the surface of the object for polishing the surface, a rotational speed of the object around an axis of the object perpendicular to the surface to be planarized, a position of the polishing pad in contact with the surface of the object for polishing the surface, and a force between the polishing pad and the object.