Applied Materials, Inc.
Piezo-electric end-pointing for 3D printed CMP pads

Abstract:

Embodiments described herein relate to methods of detecting a polishing endpoint using one or more sensors embedded in the polishing material of a polishing pad, the polishing pads, and methods of forming the polishing pads. In one embodiment, a method of polishing a substrate includes urging a to be polished surface of a substrate against a polishing surface of a polishing pad, the polishing pad having one or more sensors embedded in the polishing pad material thereof, wherein the polishing pad is mounted on a polishing platen of a polishing system, detecting a force exerted against a polishing surface of the polishing pad using the one or more sensors, converting the detected force into signal information, wirelessly communicating the signal information received from the one or more sensors to one or more interrogators disposed in the polishing platen, and changing one or more polishing conditions based on the signal information.