U.S. patent application number 13/442246 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-10 for wafer polishing pad holder template.
The applicant listed for this patent is Phuong Van Nguyen. Invention is credited to Phuong Van Nguyen.
Application Number | 20130267155 13/442246 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49292648 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130267155 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nguyen; Phuong Van |
October 10, 2013 |
Wafer Polishing Pad Holder Template
Abstract
A system for processing wafers that will reduce the amount of
time required for polishing wafers, increase worker safety while
performing the process and increase the percentage of acceptable
wafers after processing.
Inventors: |
Nguyen; Phuong Van; (San
Jose, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nguyen; Phuong Van |
San Jose |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49292648 |
Appl. No.: |
13/442246 |
Filed: |
April 9, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
451/490 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B24B 37/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
451/490 |
International
Class: |
B24B 37/34 20120101
B24B037/34 |
Claims
1. A wafer polishing pad holder comprising: a) a substantially
circular pad holder base having a top peripheral side, a bottom
side and a grid-like plurality of ribs defining a plurality of
milled islands; b) a polishing pad holder ring substantially
conforming to said pad holder base with a peripheral top and bottom
side that along with said pad holder base forms a cavity therein;
c) means for adhesively securing said pad holder base to a work
surface; d) means for adhesively securing said pad holder ring to
said pad holder base; and e) at least one disc for insertion into
said cavity.
2. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 1, wherein
said pad holder base and said pad holder ring include corresponding
milled recess notches disposed interiorly therein.
3. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 1, wherein
said means for securing said pad holder base to a work surface is
adhesive tape adhesively secured to said bottom of said pad holder
base and covered by a removable paper liner until ready for
use.
4. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 1, wherein
said means of securing said pad holder ring to said pad holder base
is double sided adhesive tape shaped to conform to and disposed on
said bottom peripheral side of said ring with a paper backing to
protect the opposing layer of adhesive until ready for installation
onto said base.
5. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 1, wherein
said polishing pad holder ring is manufactured of a non-metallic
material.
6. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 1, wherein
said at least one disc is a polishing disc.
7. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 6, wherein
said at least one polishing disc is a plurality of polishing discs
having a plurality of thicknesses and textures of abrasiveness.
8. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 7, wherein
said at least one polishing disc is a non-spin disc having a
plurality of disc tabs projecting outwardly therefrom conforming to
said milled recess notches to prevent the casual rotation thereof
within said cavity during the polishing process.
9. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 7, wherein
said polishing pad disc is double sided having differing textures
on each side thereby enabling the user to simply turn over said
disc according to the task to be performed.
10. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 1, wherein
said at least one said disc is a spacer disc for placement beneath
said polishing disc to enable the user to selectively raise and
lower the level of said polishing disc.
11. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 1, wherein
said cavity is at least two inches deep.
12. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 11, wherein a
quantity of water or abrasive slurry is introduced into said cavity
and retained therein.
13. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 1, wherein
said at least one disc is a clear, shiny non-adhesive Mylar disc
disposed within said cavity to reduce wear and extend the usable
life of said base.
14. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 1, wherein
said at least one disc is a plastic material surface disc with
milled islands on both sides.
15. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 7, wherein
said at least one polishing disc is at least one spinning disc and
spacer disc that has a substantially circular configuration and
rotates within said cavity.
16. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 7, wherein
said at least one disc is color coded to indicate the thickness and
texture of said disc.
17. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 1, wherein
said at least one disc includes a similarly configured Napcon
material film frictionally engaged with the top side thereof.
18. The wafer polishing pad holder according to claim 17, wherein
the user introduces said water or said abrasive slurry into said
cavity along with selected polishing discs and spacer discs and
said wafer polishing pad holder is ready for application.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to wafer polishing
pads and, more specifically, to a wafer polishing pad holder having
a cavity for placing one or more polishing pad disc(s) components
in the cavity. The components comprise spacer disc(s) and polishing
pad disc(s) with the cavity also retaining aqueous solutions
ranging from water to abrasive slurries.
[0003] The walls of the holder cavity are designed with any numbers
of recesses so that the spacer disc(s) and polishing pad disc(s)
can be manufactured with or without peripheral tabs of
substantially similar shape as the recesses thereby providing
spacer disc(s) and polishing pad disc(s) that will rotate during
the polishing process or not rotate during the process.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] There are other polishing pads designed for polishing
wafers. While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for
which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the
purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
[0006] It is thus desirable to provide a polishing pad holder
having a base with a peripheral wall where disc components of the
polishing process can be placed therein.
[0007] It is further desirable to provide recesses with the
interior of the peripheral wall so that the polishing pad
components can be manufactured as rotative or non-rotative disc
components of the polishing process.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] Polishing wafers to millimeter thicknesses is fraught with
pitfalls beyond the operators' control. Simply because it is a
mechanical process involving fluid dynamic and the rotational speed
of the article to be polished that easily results in a small
percentage of acceptable wafers. Currently, assembling a polishing
pad for mounting workpieces thereto mandates diligence, care and
man hours.
[0009] The present invention provides a system that will reduce man
hours required, increase worker safety by not having to attach a
polishing pad to the polishing table or plate for each wafer
polishing cycle.
[0010] The system of the present invention provides a polishing pad
holder having a cavity where components of the polishing process
are mounted within the cavity to effect a predetermined result on
the wafer workpieces.
[0011] Furthermore, the system provides for rotating and non
rotating disc components within the cavity. Again providing the
ability to vary the polishing process applied to the wafer
depending on the type of wafer material and the desired result.
[0012] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
polishing pad holder having a base with a peripheral wall rising
therefrom for receiving at least one polishing pad component
therein.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
polishing pad holder where the peripheral wall has a plurality of
recesses therein.
[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
polishing pad holder that will retain aqueous solutions within said
cavity during a wafer polishing process.
[0015] Still yet another object of the present invention is to
provide spacers and polishing pads with and without peripheral tabs
of similar shape as the peripheral wall recesses so that said
spacers and polishing pad can be rotating or non-rotating within
said cavity during the polishing process.
[0016] Additional objects of the present invention will appear as
the description proceeds.
[0017] The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the
prior art by providing a system for processing wafers that will
reduce the amount of time required for polishing wafers, increase
worker safety while performing the process and increase the
percentage of acceptable wafers after processing.
[0018] The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear
from the description to follow. In the description reference is
made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and
in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in
which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be
described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art
to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other
embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made
without departing from the scope of the invention. In the
accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same
or similar parts throughout the several views.
[0019] The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be
taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention
is best defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0020] In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it
will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the
accompanying drawing in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention in
use.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base of the polishing
pad holder of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the base of the
polishing pad holder.
[0024] FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of the assembled polishing
pad holder.
[0025] FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of the polishing pad holder
having slurry held therein.
[0026] FIG. 7 is an illustrative view of the polishing pad holder
having water held therein.
[0027] FIG. 8 is an illustrative view of the polishing pad
holder.
[0028] FIG. 9 is an illustrative view of the polishing pad
holder.
[0029] FIG. 10 is an illustrative view of the present
invention.
[0030] FIG. 11 is an illustrative view of the present
invention.
[0031] FIG. 12 is an illustrative view of the present
invention.
[0032] FIG. 13 is an illustrative view of the present
invention.
[0033] FIG. 14 is an illustrative view of the present
invention.
[0034] FIG. 15 is an illustrative view of one partially assembled
embodiment of a
[0035] FIG. 16 is an illustrative view of an assembled embodiment
of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 17 is an illustrative view of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS
[0037] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar
reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several
views, the figures illustrate the Wafer Polishing Pad Holder
Template of the present invention. With regard to the reference
numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the
various drawing figures.
[0038] 10 Wafer Polishing Pad Holder Template of the present
invention
[0039] 12 rotating head
[0040] 14 workpiece template
[0041] 16 polishing machine
[0042] 18 polishing pad
[0043] 20 pad holder base
[0044] 21 top peripheral side of 20
[0045] 22 bottom of 20
[0046] 24 milled island of 20
[0047] 25 ribs of 20
[0048] 26 milled recessed notch
[0049] 27 non-spin disc tab
[0050] 28 inside pocket
[0051] 30 adhesive layer of 20
[0052] 32 paper cover of 30
[0053] 34 polishing pad holder ring
[0054] 35 bottom side of 34
[0055] 36 double side tape of 34
[0056] 38 paper backing of 36
[0057] 40 cavity
[0058] 42 non-metallic material
[0059] 44 clear, shiny Mylar disc
[0060] 46 slurry
[0061] 48 water
[0062] 50 non-spin polishing disc
[0063] 52 red disc surface
[0064] 54 black disc surface
[0065] 56 double sided polishing pad accessory
[0066] 58 Napcon material film
[0067] 60 non-spin spacer
[0068] 62 top of 34
[0069] 64 plastic surface disc
[0070] 66 hard polishing pad
[0071] 68 soft polishing pad
[0072] 70 spin spacer or disc
[0073] 72 polishing pad material one
[0074] 74 polishing pad material two
[0075] 76 milled disc
[0076] 78 process one assembly
[0077] 80 process two assembly
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0078] The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment
of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This
discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the
invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in
the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For
definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is
directed to appended claims.
[0079] FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention in
use. The present invention is a revolutionary polishing pad holder
template 10 that achieves quick change of pad, quick pad dressing
process, less labor, lower injury occurrence, reduces down time and
provides better polishing results. The special design of "quick
change" polishing pad allows the ability to stock polishing pad and
final polishing pad on the same machine. Shown is the rotating head
12, workplace template 14, polishing machine 16 and polishing pad
18.
[0080] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base of the polishing
pad holder of the present invention. Shown is the pad holder base
20 manufactured of non metal material or any fiberglass material
with a bottom peripheral side 22, a grid-like plurality of ribs 23
defining milled island(s) 24 forming the inside pocket 28 of the
pad holder for back pressure relief. The milled islands 24 can be
cut in any desired shape and size with the number of milled notches
26 a design consideration and can be more or less than the number
depicted serving to prevent ring spin-off.
[0081] FIG. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the polishing pad
holder base 20. Shown is an adhesive layer 30 on the back side 22
of the pad holder base 20 having a peelable removable paper liner
32 so that when removed the adhesive layer 30 on the base will
adhere to any polishing machine table or platen.
[0082] FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of the bottom side 35 of the
polishing pad holder ring 34. Shown is the polishing pad holder
ring 34 having double sided tape 36 with a peelable removable paper
backing 38 so that when removed it can be fixedly attached to the
aforementioned polishing pad holder base. The ring is also
preferably manufactured from a non-metallic material 42. As
illustrated, a predetermined plurality of milled notches 26 are
disposed within the interior ring wall so that when mounted to the
holder base forms a cavity 40 for mounting rotating and
non-rotating spacer discs, milled disc(s), mylar disc(s) and
polishing disc(s) therein and to retain aqueous solutions within
the cavity during a wafer polishing process.
[0083] FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of the assembled polishing
pad holder. Illustrated is the polishing pad holder 10 comprising a
polishing pad holder base 20 with a top side 21 secured to the
bottom of said polishing pad holder ring 34 together forming a
centralized cavity 40 having a plurality of interior periphery wall
notches 26. The cavity 40 will help in retaining the slurry
(chemical and water) inside the cavity 40 longer during a polishing
process. Also shown is a single side adhesive Mylar disc 44 fixed
to the top side of the holder base with the non adhesive (shiny)
side up. The assembled base, ring and Mylar form a completed
polishing pad holder ready for use.
[0084] FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of the polishing pad holder
10 having slurry 46 held within the cavity 40 formed by the
polishing pad holder base 20, the polishing pad holder ring 34 and
the Mylar disc 44.
[0085] FIG. 7 is an illustrative view of the polishing pad holder
10 having water 48 held within the cavity 40 formed by the
polishing pad holder base 20, the polishing pad holder ring 34 and
the Mylar disc 44.
[0086] FIG. 8 is an illustrative view of the polishing pad holder
10. Shown is the polishing pad holder 10 having a spacer disc or
non-spin polishing pad disc 50 with a contour substantially
conforming to the polishing pad holder cavity 40 formed by the
polishing pad holder base 20 and the polishing pad holder ring 34
thereby preventing independent rotation of the spacer disc or
polishing pad disc held therein. The plurality of recessed notches
26 within the cavity 40 into which the disc tabs 27 reside is a
design consideration and therefore may be more or less than
depicted. The non spin spacer or polishing pad material protects
the cavity 40 from being worn out and can be removed and replaced
when worn out or not needed. The thickness of the spacer or
polishing pad material can vary as required. It is also envisioned
by the present invention that color can be used to identify a
specific thickness, shown as red 52 in the illustration, which will
expedite in changing to a desired thickness through color
coding.
[0087] FIG. 9 is an illustrative view of the polishing pad holder
10. Shown is the polishing pad holder 10 having a spacer disc or
non-spin polishing disc 50 having a contour substantially
conforming to the polishing pad holder cavity 40 formed by the
polishing pad holder base 20 and the polishing pad holder ring 34
thereby preventing independent rotation of the spacer disc or
non-spin polishing disc 50 held therein. The plurality of recessed
notches 26 within the cavity 40 is a design consideration and
therefore may be more or less than depicted. The non spin spacer
disc or polishing disc 50 protects the cavity 40 from being worn
out and can be removed and replaced when worn out or not needed.
The thickness of the spacer disc or polishing disc 50 can vary as
required. It is also envisioned by the present invention that color
can be used to identify a specific thickness, shown as black 54 in
the illustration, which will expedite in changing to a desired
thickness through color coding.
[0088] FIG. 10 is an illustrative view of the polishing pad holder
10 of the present invention. Shown is a double sided polishing pad
accessory 56 with Mylar 58 on top of the non spin spacer or
polishing disc 50. The polishing pad holder 10 is ready to be used.
Different accessories can be utilized with the polishing pad holder
10 for different polishing processes. The polishing pad holder 10
can be of any size, thickness and cavity (pocket) depth from two
inches and up.
[0089] FIG. 11 is an illustrative view of the present invention.
Shown is the Napcon material film 58 on top of the non spin spacer
60 or polishing pad material. The polishing pad holder 10 is ready
to be used. Different accessories can be utilized with the
polishing pad holder for different polishing processes. The
polishing pad holder can be of any size, thickness and cavity 40
(pocket) depth from two inches and up as determined by the top 62
of the pad holder ring 34.
[0090] FIG. 12 is an illustrative view of the present invention.
Shown are plastic material surface disc 64 with milled islands on
both sides, Mylar material, hard polishing pad 66 and soft
polishing pad 68. Different materials can mount in the same disc.
It can become a single or a double side polishing pad depending on
what material it is mounted on double side polishing pad can be
used to polish on the same machine by selecting the right pad by
flipping over from disc surface 1 and 2 or exchange a disc surface
pad in minutes.
[0091] FIG. 13 is an illustrative view of the present invention.
Shown is the Napcon material film 58 on top of the spin spacer or
disc 70 within the cavity 40 formed by the polishing pad ring 34.
The polishing pad holder 10 is ready to be used. Different
accessories can be utilized with the polishing pad holder template
for different polishing processes. The polishing pad holder
template can be of any size, thickness and cavity (pocket) depth
from two inches and up.
[0092] FIG. 14 is an illustrative view of the present invention.
Shown, completed double side polishing pad 56 layered inside the
cavity (pocket) 40 of the polishing pad holder 10. If the disc
surface pad is mounted with spacers, the formation is a double side
spacer disc.
[0093] FIG. 15 is an illustrative view of one partially assembled
embodiment of a double sided polishing pad 56 of the present
invention. Shown is Mylar material used as a non spin spacer 60.
The spacer is placed within the holder cavity to extend the life
expectancy of the holder. It can be removed or changed to different
thickness to accommodate the height adjustment of the polishing
pad. Also shown is a milled disc 76 having polishing pad material
one 72 on one side with polishing pad material two 74 placed on the
other side of the milled disc 76.
[0094] FIG. 16 is an illustrative view of an assembled embodiment
of the present invention. Shown are the wafer polishing spin
components 70 comprising wafer polishing pad holder assembly 10
ready to run process one 78.
[0095] FIG. 17 is an illustrative view of the present invention.
Shown, complete polishing holder assembly 10 ready to use for
process two 80.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or
two or more together may also find a useful application in other
types of methods differing from the type described above.
[0096] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it
is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will
be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions
and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and
in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
[0097] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal
the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying
current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications
without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art,
fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or
specific aspects of this invention.
* * * * *