Patent US5569062A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5569062A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Polishing pad conditioning

Assignee: Speedfam IPEC Corp
•
Filing: 1995-07-03
•
Granted: 1996-10-29
•
Expires: 2015-07-03
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A rotating polishing wheel having secured to its top surface a polishing pad and a vertically movable carrier element for carrying a workpiece to be polished into contact with the polishing pad and exerting a desired pressure on the workpiece. Operatively attached to the carrier is a conditioning element movable with the carrier and having on its bottom surface cutting means disposed in a circular configuration for conditioning the polishing pad by contact therewith.

Inventors

  • 👤 Chris Karlsrud

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 12:30
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B53/00; B24B53/017; B24B37/00; B24B37/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 72 words
Apparatus for polishing a workpiece which comprises, in combination, a rotating polishing wheel having secured to its top surface a polishing pad, a vertically movable carrier element for carrying a workpiece to be polished into contact under pressure with said polishing pad, and a conditioning element supported by said carrier element and having on its bottom surface cutting means disposed in a circular configuration for conditioning the polishing pad by contact therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 72 words
Apparatus for polishing a workpiece which comprises, in combination, a rotating polishing wheel having secured to its top surface a polishing pad, a vertically movable carrier element for carrying a workpiece to be polished into contact under pressure with said polishing pad, and a conditioning element supported by said carrier element and having on its bottom surface cutting means disposed in a circular configuration for conditioning the polishing pad by contact therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bottom surface of the conditioning element terminates in a sharp point to define the cutting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conditioning element is provided with spaced cut-out portions along its lower periphery.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting means are hard cutting elements secured to the bottom surface of the conditioning element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting means comprise diamond particles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting means comprise cutting teeth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting means comprise a serrated blade.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 83 words
A method of polishing a workpiece which comprises providing a carrier element and a conditioning element, supporting the conditioning element with the carrier element, and contacting the workpiece with the carrier element so as to press the workpiece into contact with a rotating polishing wheel which is covered on its upper surface with a polishing pad, so as to effect polishing of the workpiece, and so as to condition the pad by contacting the pad with the conditioning element while polishing the workpiece.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 83 words
A method of polishing a workpiece which comprises providing a carrier element and a conditioning element, supporting the conditioning element with the carrier element, and contacting the workpiece with the carrier element so as to press the workpiece into contact with a rotating polishing wheel which is covered on its upper surface with a polishing pad, so as to effect polishing of the workpiece, and so as to condition the pad by contacting the pad with the conditioning element while polishing the workpiece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein an abrasive slurry is introduced between the polishing pad and workpiece during polishing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the conditioning element is rotated while contacting the pad.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5081795A Cited
US5119599A Cited
US5411431A Cited
US5216843A Cited
US5433650A Cited
US5456627A Cited
US5486131A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-10-29 2000-04-29 2000-10-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-10-29 2004-04-29 2004-10-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-10-29 2008-04-29 2008-10-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag