IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,090,207
Granted Patent B2
US 10,090,207 · App. 13/687,492 · Granted Oct 2, 2018

Multi-point chemical mechanical polishing end point detection system and method of using

Inventors: Jiann Lih Wu (Hsinchu, TW); Jeng-Jyi Hwang (Chu-Tong Town, TW); Soon-Kang Huang (Hsinchu, TW); Chi-Ming Yang (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
H01L22/12B24B37/013B24B37/04B24B49/12H01L22/26H01L2924/0002
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,090,207
App. No.
13/687,492
Granted
Oct 2, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wafer polishing system including a platen configured to rotate in a first direction, and a polishing head configured to hold a wafer, the polishing head configured to rotate in a second direction. The wafer polishing system further includes an optical sensing system configured to detect a thickness of the wafer at a first location on the platen and a second location on the platen. A first distance from a center of the platen to the first location is different than a second distance from the center of the platen to the second location.

Claims (35)

1. A wafer polishing system comprising:

a platen configured to rotate in a first direction;

a polishing head configured to hold a wafer, the polishing head configured to rotate in a second direction; and

an end point sensing system configured to detect a thickness of the wafer at a first location on the platen and at a second location on the platen,

wherein a first distance from a center of the platen to the first location is different than a second distance from the center of the platen to the second location, and the first distance ranges from 0.4R to 0.6R, where R is a radius of the platen.

2. The wafer polishing system of claim 1 , wherein the second distance ranges from 0.8R to R, where R is a radius of the platen.

3. The wafer polishing system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system configured to monitor the thickness of the wafer and provide instructions to the polishing head to move in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the platen.

4. The wafer polishing system of claim 3 , wherein the control system is further configured to monitor a profile of a surface of the wafer.

5. The wafer polishing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a polishing pad disposed over a surface of the platen, the polishing pad configured to remove material from the wafer; and

a slurry delivery system configured to supply a slurry to the polishing pad.

6. The wafer polishing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a polishing pad disposed over a surface of the platen, the polishing pad configured to remove material from the wafer; and

a conditioner configured to restore a texture of the polishing pad.

7. The wafer polishing system of claim 1 , where the end point sensing system is an optical sensing system or an eddy current sensing system.

8. The wafer polishing system of claim 1 , further comprising an eddy current sensing system comprises a first eddy current sensor configured at the first location; and a second eddy current sensor at the second location.

9. The wafer polishing system of claim 1 , further comprising an optical sensing system, wherein the optical sensing system comprises:

a light source configured to provide a light beam; and

a beam splitting element configured to split the light beam to provide a first light beam at the first location and a second light beam at the second location.

10. A method of polishing a wafer, the method comprising:

attaching a wafer to a polishing head;

rotating the polishing head in a first direction;

rotating a platen in a second direction; and

monitoring a thickness of the wafer at a first location on the platen and at a second location on the platen,

wherein a first distance from a center of the platen to the first location is different than a second distance from the center of the platen to the second location, and the second distance ranging from 0.8R to R, where R is equal to a radius of the platen.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising terminating the polishing of the wafer when the thickness measured at each of the first and second locations equals a target thickness.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising moving the polishing head in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the platen to adjust a pressure exerted on the wafer.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising monitoring a profile of a surface of the wafer at the first location and the second location.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein monitoring the thickness of the wafer at the first location comprises monitoring the thickness of the wafer at the first distance ranging from 0.4R to 0.6R, where R is equal to a radius of the platen.

15. A control system for controlling a wafer polishing system, the control system comprising:

an endpoint sensing system configured to monitor a thickness of a wafer at a first location on a platen and at a second location on the platen, wherein a first distance from a center of the platen to the first location is different than a second distance from the center of the platen to the second location, and the first distance ranges from 0.4R to 0.6R, where R is a radius of the platen;

a processor configured to determine the thickness of the wafer based on information received from the endpoint sensing system and generate a pressure adjustment signal; and

a polishing head configured to move in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the platen in response to the pressure adjustment signal.

16. The control system of claim 15 , wherein the second distance ranges from 0.8R to R, where R is a radius of the platen.

17. The control system of claim 15 , further comprising an optical sensing system, wherein the optical sensing system comprises at least one light source configured to provide a light beam at the first location and the second location.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2013
From: WU, JIANN LIH; HWANG, JENG-JYI; HUANG, SOON-KANG; YANG, CHI-MING
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 029868/0413 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140148008A1 · May 29, 2014