Method and apparatus for controlling planarizing characteristics in mechanical and chemical-mechanical planarization of microelectronic substrates

An apparatus for controlling planarizing characteristics of a microelectronic substrate, comprising:

• a carrier positionable with respect to a polishing medium to move with a microelectronic substrate during planarization on a planarizing surface of the polishing medium, the carrier comprising a microelectronic substrate holder having a chuck and a rim;
• and
• a modulator having a contact element, the modulator being attached to the substrate holder to position the contact element radially outwardly from a perimeter edge of the substrate so that at least a portion of the contact element is in front of the leading edge of the substrate during planarization and superadjacent to an exposed portion of a standing wave on the planarizing surface, the modulator being configured to cause the contact element to selectively engage the exposed portion of the standing wave to modulate a contour of a residual portion of the standing wave on the planarizing surface under a perimeter region of the substrate, and wherein the modulator further comprises an active modulator having a controller and an actuator carrying the contact element, the controller driving the actuator to selectively move the contact element in engagement with the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that continually shifts a pressure point of the residual portion of the standing wave with respect to the substrate.

An apparatus for controlling planarizing characteristics of a microelectronic substrate, comprising:

• a carrier positionable with respect to a polishing medium to move with a microelectronic substrate during planarization on a planarizing surface of the polishing medium, the carrier comprising a microelectronic substrate holder having a chuck and a rim;
• and
• a modulator having a contact element, the modulator being attached to the substrate holder to position the contact element radially outwardly from a perimeter edge of the substrate so that at least a portion of the contact element is in front of the leading edge of the substrate during planarization and superadjacent to an exposed portion of a standing wave on the planarizing surface, the modulator being configured to cause the contact element to selectively engage the exposed portion of the standing wave to modulate a contour of a residual portion of the standing wave on the planarizing surface under a perimeter region of the substrate, and wherein the modulator further comprises an active modulator having a controller and an actuator carrying the contact element, the controller driving the actuator to selectively move the contact element in engagement with the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that attenuates the residual portion of the standing wave and continually shifts a pressure point of the residual portion of the standing wave with respect to the substrate.

An apparatus for controlling planarizing characteristics of a microelectronic substrate, comprising:

• a carrier assembly having a support member positionable over a polishing medium and a substrate holder attached to the support member, the substrate holder having a chuck to hold a microelectronic substrate during planarization, and
• a modulator attached to the substrate holder, the modulator having a contact element spaced apart from a perimeter edge of the substrate and the modulator being configured to cause the contact element to selectively engage a region of the polishing medium, wherein the modulator is attached to the substrate holder to position the contact element superadjacent to an exposed portion of a standing wave on a planarizing surface of the polishing medium formed at the leading edge of the substrate during planarization and the contact element engages the exposed portion of the standing wave to selectively modulate a contour of a residual portion of the standing wave on the planarizing surface under a perimeter region of the substrate, and wherein the modulator further comprises an active modulator having a controller and an actuator carrying the contact element, the controller driving the actuator to selectively move the contact element in engagement with the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that shifts a pressure point of the residual portion of the standing wave with respect to the substrate.

An apparatus for controlling planarizing characteristics of a microelectronic substrate, comprising:

• a carrier assembly having a support member positionable over a polishing medium and a substrate holder attached to the support member, the substrate holder having a chuck to hold a microelectronic substrate during planarization;
• and
• a modulator attached to the substrate holder, the modulator having a contact element spaced apart from a perimeter edge of the substrate and the modulator being configured to cause the contact element to selectively engage a region of the polishing medium, wherein the modulator is attached to the substrate holder to position the contact element superadjacent to an exposed portion of a standing wave on a planarizing surface of the polishing medium formed at the leading edge of the substrate during planarization and the contact element engages the exposed portion of the standing wave to selectively modulate a contour of a residual portion of the standing wave on the planarizing surface under a perimeter region of the substrate, and wherein the modulator further comprises an active modulator having a controller and an actuator carrying the contact element, the controller driving the actuator to selectively move the contact element in engagement with the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that continually shifts a pressure point of the residual portion of the standing wave with respect to the substrate.

An apparatus for controlling planarizing characteristics of a microelectronic substrate, comprising:

• a carrier assembly having a support member positionable over a polishing medium and a substrate holder attached to the support member, the substrate holder having a chuck to hold a microelectronic substrate during planarization;
• and
• a modulator attached to the substrate holder, the modulator having a contact element spaced apart from a perimeter edge of the substrate and the modulator being configured to cause the contact element to selectively engage a region of the polishing medium, wherein the modulator is attached to the substrate holder to position the contact element superadjacent to an exposed portion of a standing wave on a planarizing surface of the polishing medium formed at the leading edge of the substrate during planarization and the contact element engages the exposed portion of the standing wave to selectively modulate a contour of a residual portion of the standing wave on the planarizing surface under a perimeter region of the substrate, and wherein the modulator further comprises an active modulator having a controller and an actuator carrying the contact element, the controller driving the actuator to selectively move the contact element in engagement with the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that attenuates the residual portion of the standing wave under the substrate.

An apparatus for controlling planarizing characteristics of a microelectronic substrate, comprising:

• a carrier assembly having a support member positionable over a polishing medium and a substrate holder attached to the support member, the substrate holder having a chuck to hold a microelectronic substrate during planarization;
• and
• a modulator attached to the substrate holder, the modulator having a contact element spaced apart from a perimeter edge of the substrate and the modulator being configured to cause the contact element to selectively engage a region of the polishing medium, wherein the modulator is attached to the substrate holder to position the contact element superadjacent to an exposed portion of a standing wave on a planarizing surface of the polishing medium formed at the leading edge of the substrate during planarization and the contact element engages the exposed portion of the standing wave to selectively modulate a contour of a residual portion of the standing wave on the planarizing surface under a perimeter region of the substrate, and wherein the modulator further comprises an active modulator having a controller and an actuator carrying the contact element, the controller driving the actuator to selectively move the contact element in engagement with the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that attenuates the residual portion of the standing wave and continually shifts a pressure point of the residual portion of the standing wave with respect to the substrate.

A planarizing machine, comprising:

• a table with a support base;
• a polishing medium mounted on the support base;
• a carrier assembly having a substrate holder positionable over the polishing medium, the substrate holder having a chuck to hold a microelectronic substrate, wherein at least one of the polishing medium and the substrate holder moves to translate a microelectronic substrate across a planarizing surface of the polishing medium during planarization;
• and
• a modulator attached to the substrate holder, the modulator having a contact element spaced apart from a perimeter edge of the substrate and the modulator being configured to cause the contact element to selectively engage a region of the planarizing surface proximate to the leading edge of the substrate as the substrate is planarized, wherein the modulator is attached to the substrate holder to position the contact element superadjacent to an exposed portion of a standing wave on the planarizing surface formed at the leading edge of the substrate during planarization and the modulator engages the contact element with the exposed portion of the standing wave to selectively modulate a contour of a residual portion of the standing wave on the planarizing surface under a perimeter region of the substrate, and wherein the modulator further comprises an active modulator having a controller and an actuator carrying the contact element, the controller driving the actuator to selectively move the contact element in engagement with the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that shifts a pressure point of the residual portion of the standing wave with respect to the substrate.

A planarizing machine, comprising:

• a table with a support base;
• a polishing medium mounted on the support base;
• a carrier assembly having a substrate holder positionable over the polishing medium, the substrate holder having a chuck to hold a microelectronic substrate, wherein at least one of the polishing medium and the substrate holder moves to translate a microelectronic substrate across a planarizing surface of the polishing medium during planarization;
• and
• a modulator attached to the substrate holder, the modulator having a contact element spaced apart from a perimeter edge of the substrate and the modulator being configured to cause the contact element to selectively engage a region of the planarizing surface proximate to the leading edge of the substrate as the substrate is planarized, wherein the modulator is attached to the substrate holder to position the contact element superadjacent to an exposed portion of a standing wave on the planarizing surface formed at the leading edge of the substrate during planarization and the modulator engages the contact element with the exposed portion of the standing wave to selectively modulate a contour of a residual portion of the standing wave on the planarizing surface under a perimeter region of the substrate, and wherein the modulator further comprises an active modulator having a controller and an actuator carrying the contact element, the controller driving the actuator to selectively move the contact element in engagement with a dynamic waveform surface that contacts the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that continually shifts a pressure point of the residual portion of the standing wave with respect to the substrate.

A planarizing machine, comprising:

• a table with a support base;
• a polishing medium mounted on the support base;
• a carrier assembly having a substrate holder positionable over the polishing medium, the substrate holder having a chuck to hold a microelectronic substrate, wherein at least one of the polishing medium and the substrate holder moves to translate a microelectronic substrate across a planarizing surface of the polishing medium during planarization;
• and
• a modulator attached to the substrate holder, the modulator having a contact element spaced apart from a perimeter edge of the substrate and the modulator being configured to cause the contact element to selectively engage a region of the planarizing surface proximate to the leading edge of the substrate as the substrate is planarized, wherein the modulator is attached to the substrate holder to position the contact element superadjacent to an exposed portion of a standing wave on the planarizing surface formed at the leading edge of the substrate during planarization and the modulator engages the contact element with the exposed portion of the standing wave to selectively modulate a contour of a residual portion of the standing wave on the planarizing surface under a perimeter region of the substrate, and wherein the modulator further comprises an active modulator having a controller and an actuator carrying the contact element, the controller driving the actuator to selectively move the contact element in engagement with the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that attenuates the residual portion of the standing wave under the substrate.

A planarizing machine, comprising:

• a table with a support base;
• a polishing medium mounted on the support base;
• a carrier assembly having a substrate holder positionable over the polishing medium, the substrate holder having a chuck to hold a microelectronic substrate, wherein at least one of the polishing medium and the substrate holder moves to translate a microelectronic substrate across a planarizing surface of the polishing medium during planarization;
• and
• a modulator attached to the substrate holder, the modulator having a contact element spaced apart from a perimeter edge of the substrate and the modulator being configured to cause the contact element to selectively engage a region of the planarizing surface proximate to the leading edge of the substrate as the substrate is planarized, wherein the modulator is attached to the substrate holder to position the contact element superadjacent to an exposed portion of a standing wave on the planarizing surface formed at the leading edge of the substrate during planarization and the modulator engages the contact element with the exposed portion of the standing wave to selectively modulate a contour of a residual portion of the standing wave on the planarizing surface under a perimeter region of the substrate, and wherein the modulator further comprises an active modulator having a controller and an actuator carrying the contact element, the controller driving the actuator to selectively move the contact element in engagement with the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that attenuates the residual portion of the standing wave and continually shifts a pressure point of the residual portion of the standing wave with respect to the substrate.

A planarizing machine, comprising:

• a table with a support base;
• a polishing medium mounted on the support base;
• a carrier assembly having a substrate holder positionable over the polishing medium, the substrate holder having a chuck to hold a microelectronic substrate, wherein at least one of the polishing medium and the substrate holder moves to translate the microelectronic substrate across a planarizing surface of the polishing medium during planarization;
• and
• a pad surface modulator attached to the substrate holder, the modulator having a waveform surface spaced apart from a perimeter edge of the substrate, and the modulator being configured to cause the waveform surface to selectively engage the planarizing surface to alter a contour of the planarizing surface under a perimeter region of the substrate during planarization.

In microelectronic device manufacturing, a method of planarizing a microelectronic substrate, comprising:

• pressing a microelectronic substrate against a planarizing surface of a polishing medium;
• moving at least one of the substrate and the planarizing surface with respect to the other to move the substrate across the planarizing surface;
• and
• modulating the contour of the planarizing surface in a region spaced outwardly from a leading edge of the microelectronic substrate by engaging a contact element of a modulator with an exposed portion of a standing wave on the planarizing surface formed at the leading edge of the substrate during planarization to modulate the contour of a residual portion of the standing wave under a perimeter region of the substrate wherein the modulator comprises an active modulator having an actuator carrying the contact element and a controller coupled to the actuator, and wherein engaging the contact element with the exposed portion of the standing wave comprises selectively driving the actuator to move the contact element against the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that shifts a pressure point of the residual portion of the standing wave under a perimeter region of the substrate.

In microelectronic device manufacturing, a method of planarizing a microelectronic substrate, comprising:

• pressing a microelectronic substrate against a planarizing surface of a polishing medium;
• moving at least one of the substrate and the planarizing surface with respect to the other to move the substrate across the planarizing surface;
• and
• modulating the contour of the planarizing surface in a region spaced outwardly from a leading edge of the microelectronic substrate by engaging a contact element of a modulator with an exposed portion of a standing wave on the planarizing surface formed at the leading edge of the substrate during planarization to modulate the contour of a residual portion of the standing wave under a perimeter region of the substrate, wherein the modulator comprises an active modulator having an actuator carrying the contact element and a controller coupled to the actuator, and wherein engaging the contact element with the exposed portion of the standing wave comprises selectively driving the actuator to move the contact element against the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that oscillates a pressure point of the residual portion of the standing wave under a perimeter region of the substrate to reduce a pressure concentration exerted by the pressure point against an area in the perimeter region of the polishing pad.

In microelectronic device manufacturing, a method of planarizing a microelectronic substrate, comprising:

• pressing a microelectronic substrate against a planarizing surface of a polishing medium;
• moving at least one of the substrate and the planarizing surface with respect to the other to move the substrate across the planarizing surface;
• and
• modulating the contour of the planarizing surface in a region spaced outwardly from a leading edge of the microelectronic substrate by engaging a contact element of a modulator with an exposed portion of a standing wave on the planarizing surface formed at the leading edge of the substrate during planarization to modulate the contour of a residual portion of the standing wave under a perimeter region of the substrate, wherein the modulator comprises an active modulator having an actuator carrying the contact element and a controller coupled to the actuator, and wherein engaging the contact element with the exposed portion of the standing wave comprises selectively driving the actuator to move the contact element against the exposed portion of the standing wave in a manner that attenuates a pressure point of the residual portion of the standing wave under a perimeter region of the substrate.

In microelectronic device manufacturing, a method of planarizing a microelectronic substrate, comprising:

• pressing a microelectronic substrate against a planarizing surface of a polishing medium;
• moving at least one of the substrate and the planarizing surface with respect to the other to move the substrate across the planarizing surface;
• and
• selectively imparting a waveform to a region on the planarizing surface proximate to a leading edge of a microelectronic substrate by engaging a waveform surface of a modulator with an exposed portion of a standing wave on the planarizing surface formed at the leading edge of the substrate during planarization to modulate the contour of a residual portion of the standing wave under a perimeter region of the substrate, the imparted waveform altering a contour of the planarizing surface under a perimeter region of the substrate.