Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
This paper reports a technological advancement in developing and implementing a novel retaining ring of advanced edge performance (AEPTM ring) for an advanced polishing head design. The AEP ring has been successfully used for significantly improved CMP performance in different CMP applications: oxide (PMD and ILD), shallow trench isolation (STI), polysilicon, metal (W and Cu), silicon-on-insulator (SOI), and silicon CMP. Robust processes have been developed using AEP ring along with many hardware upgrades for each application with extended runs to meet requirements of advanced IC device fabrication.