IP Library Granted Patent US 9,162,337
Granted Patent B2
US 9,162,337 · App. 14/139,764 · Granted Oct 20, 2015

Polishing apparatus

Inventor: Tomoatsu Ishibashi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Ebara Corporation
B24B1/04B24B51/00
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 9,162,337
App. No.
14/139,764
Granted
Oct 20, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A polishing apparatus includes: a pure water supply line configured to supply deaerated pure water into the polishing apparatus; a gas dissolving unit coupled to the pure water supply line and configured to dissolve a gas in the deaerated pure water to produce gas-dissolved pure water; a gas-dissolved pure water delivery line coupled to the gas dissolving unit and configured to deliver the gas-dissolved pure water; an ultrasonic cleaning unit coupled to the gas-dissolved pure water delivery line and configured to impart an ultrasonic vibration energy to the gas-dissolved pure water, which has been delivered through the gas-dissolved pure water delivery line, and then eject the gas-dissolved pure water onto an object to be cleaned; and a controller configured to control the gas dissolving unit and the ultrasonic cleaning unit.

Claims (13)

1. A polishing apparatus, comprising:

a pure water supply line configured to supply deaerated pure water into the polishing apparatus;

a gas dissolving unit coupled to the pure water supply line and configured to dissolve a gas in the deaerated pure water to produce gas-dissolved pure water;

a gas-dissolved pure water delivery line coupled to the gas dissolving unit and configured to deliver the gas-dissolved pure water;

an ultrasonic cleaning unit having a fluid passage coupled to the gas-dissolved pure water delivery line and configured to impart an ultrasonic vibration energy to the gas-dissolved pure water when flowing in the fluid passage, the fluid passage having a jet orifice oriented toward at least one of mechanisms of the polishing apparatus; and

a controller configured to control the gas dissolving unit and the ultrasonic cleaning unit.

2. The polishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the mechanisms comprises a polishing pad provided in a polishing unit for polishing a substrate.

3. The polishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the mechanisms comprises a dresser configured to dress a polishing pad provided in a polishing unit for polishing a substrate.

4. The polishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the mechanisms comprises a polishing head having a membrane for pressing a substrate against a polishing pad to polish the substrate, the jet orifice is oriented toward the membrane, and the ultrasonic cleaning unit is configured to eject the gas-dissolved pure water through the jet orifice toward the membrane after the polishing head has released the substrate that has been polished.

5. The polishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the mechanisms comprises a polishing head having a membrane for pressing a substrate against a polishing pad to polish the substrate and a retaining ring surrounding the membrane, the jet orifice is oriented toward a gap between the membrane and the retaining ring, and the ultrasonic cleaning unit is configured to eject the gas-dissolved pure water through the jet orifice toward the gap after the polishing head has released the substrate that has been polished.

6. The polishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the mechanisms comprises a roll cleaning member for cleaning a substrate that has been polished and a cleaning plate that is to clean the roll cleaning member, and the jet orifice is oriented toward a contact area between the roll cleaning member and the cleaning plate.

7. The polishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the mechanisms comprises a pencil-type cleaning member for cleaning a substrate that has been polished and a cleaning plate that is to clean the pencil-type cleaning member, and the jet orifice is oriented toward a contact area between the pencil-type cleaning member and the cleaning plate.

8. The polishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the mechanisms comprises a roll rotating mechanism configured to rotate a roll cleaning member for cleaning a substrate that has been polished.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2014
From: ISHIBASHI, TOMOATSU
To: EBARA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031995/0169 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-287119 · Dec 28, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140187122A1 · Jul 3, 2014