IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,686,035
Granted Patent B2
US 12,686,035 · App. 18/750,685 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Chemical mechanical polisher cleaning unit

Inventor: Clinton Sakata (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
B08B1/34B08B1/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,686,035
App. No.
18/750,685
Filed
Jun 21, 2024
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
1714
USPC
134/6
Abstract

A rotating substrate support for use in a substrate processing system includes a cylindrical shaped outer hub having a first end, a second end, a wall that extends from the first end to the second end, and a central opening formed through the wall. The wall includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and a flexible region. A circumferential groove is formed in the outer surface of the wall and within the flexible region and includes a gap that extends in a first direction. The inner surface of the wall defines at least a portion of an inner region of the cylindrical shaped outer hub. A first support plate is coupled to a first portion of the inner surface, and a second support plate coupled to a second portion of the inner surface. An expandable actuator is configured to change a size of the gap by adjusting a distance in the first direction between the second support plate and the first support plate.

Claims (18)

1 . A rotating substrate support for use in a substrate processing system, the substrate support comprising:

a cylindrical shaped outer hub comprising a first end, a second end, a wall that extends from the first end to the second end, a central opening formed through the wall at the first end and the second end, and a central axis extending through a center of the central opening, wherein

the wall comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a flexible region,

a circumferential groove formed in the outer surface of the wall and within the flexible region, wherein the circumferential groove comprises a gap that extends in a first direction, and

the inner surface of the wall forms at least a portion of an inner region of the cylindrical shaped outer hub;

a first support plate coupled to a first portion of the inner surface of the wall;

a second support plate coupled to a second portion of the inner surface of the wall; and

an expandable actuator, wherein the expandable actuator is configured to change a size of the gap of the circumferential groove by adjusting a distance in the first direction between the second support plate and the first support plate.

2 . The rotating substrate support of claim 1 , further comprising a center disk disposed within the inner region, wherein the center disk comprises a center that is disposed on the central axis.

3 . The rotating substrate support of claim 2 , wherein the expandable actuator comprises:

a first pair of bellows having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the is coupled to the first support plate and the second end of the first pair is coupled to a first side of the center disk; and

a first internal bellows region formed between the first pair of bellows.

4 . The rotating substrate support of claim 3 , wherein the expandable actuator further comprises:

a second pair of bellows having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second pair is coupled to the second support plate and the second end of the second pair is coupled to a second side of the center disk; and

a second internal bellows region formed between the second pair of bellows.

5 . The rotating substrate support of claim 4 , wherein the first internal bellows region is in fluid communication with the second internal bellows region.

6 . The rotating substrate support of claim 2 , further comprising a fluid delivery port formed in the center disk, wherein the fluid delivery port is in fluid communication with the expandable actuator and is configured to allow a fluid to pass therethrough to allow a pressure to be altered within the expandable actuator.

7 . The rotating substrate support of claim 6 , wherein altering the pressure within the expandable actuator changes the distance in the first direction between the second support plate and the first support plate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2024
From: SAKATA, CLINTON
To: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067854/0464 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250387806A1 · Dec 25, 2025
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