Importance

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Abstract

Conditioning apparatuses and methods for conditioning polishing pads used for mechanical and/or chemical-mechanical planarization of micro-device workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for conditioning a polishing pad used for polishing a micro-device workpiece includes monitoring surface condition in a first region of the polishing pad and adjusting at least one of a rotational velocity of the polishing pad, a downforce on the polishing pad, and a sweep velocity of the end effector in response to the monitored surface condition to provide a desired texture in the first region. In another embodiment, an apparatus for conditioning the polishing pad includes an end effector, a monitoring device, and a controller operatively coupled to the end effector and the monitoring device. The controller has a computer-readable medium containing instructions to perform a conditioning method, such as the above-mentioned method.

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First Claim