A substrate processing apparatus includes: a cassette block configured to mount a cassette that accommodates a substrate; a processing block configured to process the substrate; a relay block configured to relay the substrate between the cassette block and the processing block; and a controller. The processing block includes a processing module that performs a removal process of removing a part of the substrate. The relay block includes a weight measuring unit that measures a weight of the substrate before or after being processed by the processing block. The controller includes a removal amount determination unit that calculates a weight difference of the substrate before and after being processed by the processing block using the measurement result of the weight measuring unit and determines whether a removal amount by the removal process is within a permissible range.

A substrate holding apparatus which can stably hold a substrate, such as a wafer, while causing the substrate to make a circular motion and rotating the substrate about its axis is disclosed. The substrate holding apparatus includes: rollers; electric motors configured to rotate the rollers; eccentric shafts arranged around a central axis; and actuators. The eccentric shafts include movable shafts and reference shafts, the actuators are coupled to the movable shafts, respectively, and the actuators are configured to move the movable shafts in a direction closer to the reference shafts and in a direction away from the reference shafts.

The present disclosure provides a polishing pad, which may maintain polishing performances required for a polishing process, such as a removal rate and a polishing profile, minimize defects that may occur on a wafer during the polishing process, and polish layers of different materials so as to have the same level of flatness even when the layers are polished at the same time, and a method for producing the polishing pad. In addition, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to determine a polishing pad, which shows an optimal removal rate selectivity along with excellent performance in a CMP process, through the physical property values of the polishing pad without a direct polishing test.

The present disclosure provides a polishing pad, which may maintain polishing performances required for a polishing process, such as a removal rate and a polishing profile, minimize defects that may occur on a wafer during the polishing process, and polish layers of different materials so as to have the same level of flatness even when the layers are polished at the same time, and a method for producing the polishing pad. In addition, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to determine a polishing pad, which shows an optimal removal rate selectivity along with excellent performance in a CMP process, through the physical property values of the polishing pad without a direct polishing test.

The present disclosure provides a method of chemical mechanical polish operation and a chemical mechanical polish operation system. The method includes obtaining a first input parameter and a second input parameter, wherein the first input parameter is associated with an additive of a slurry, and the second input parameter is associated with a characteristic of a process apparatus, determining an output parameter associated with the process apparatus based on the first input parameter and the second input parameter, securing a workpiece by a head over a platen in the process apparatus, supplying the slurry with the additive over the platen with the additive configured with the first parameter, and polishing a surface of the workpiece by operating the process apparatus configured with the output parameter.

A method and apparatus for dispensing polishing fluids and onto a polishing pad within a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system are disclosed herein. In particular, embodiments herein relate to a CMP system with a first fluid delivery arm and a second fluid delivery arm disposed over the polishing pad to dispense liquid, such as a polishing fluid or water. The first fluid delivery arm is disposed over at least 50% of the radius of the polishing pad, while the second fluid delivery arm is disposed over less than 50% of the radius of the polishing pad. The second fluid delivery arm is configured to dispense either a polishing fluid or a water onto the polishing pad to effect the polishing rate at the edge of the substrate.

A method and apparatus for dispensing polishing fluids and onto a polishing pad within a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system are disclosed herein. In particular, embodiments herein relate to a CMP system with a first fluid delivery arm and a second fluid delivery arm disposed over the polishing pad to dispense liquid, such as a polishing fluid or water. The first fluid delivery arm is disposed over at least 50% of the radius of the polishing pad, while the second fluid delivery arm is disposed over less than 50% of the radius of the polishing pad. The second fluid delivery arm is configured to dispense either a polishing fluid or a water onto the polishing pad to effect the polishing rate at the edge of the substrate.

A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system that includes a platen, a conduit having a heating segment and a delivery outlet, and a heater coupled to the heating segment of the conduit. The delivery outlet is positioned adjacent to the platen, whereas the heating segment defines a dispensing distance with the delivery outlet. The dispensing distance is associated with a stability of a CMP slurry at an elevated temperature that is above an ambient temperature.

A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system that includes a platen, a conduit having a heating segment and a delivery outlet, and a heater coupled to the heating segment of the conduit. The delivery outlet is positioned adjacent to the platen, whereas the heating segment defines a dispensing distance with the delivery outlet. The dispensing distance is associated with a stability of a CMP slurry at an elevated temperature that is above an ambient temperature.

A chemical mechanical polishing method is provided. A chemical mechanical polishing method comprising providing a polishing pad, supplying a first purging compound having a first temperature onto the polishing pad, supplying a first slurry having a third temperature onto the polishing pad supplied with the first purging compound, supplying a second purging compound having a second temperature lower than the first temperature onto the polishing pad, and supplying a second slurry having a fourth temperature lower than the third temperature onto the polishing pad supplied with the second purging compound.