A SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING APPARATUS HAVING A BUILT-IN INSPECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREFOR

摘要

According to the present invention, a chemical and mechanical polishing apparatus (100) for a sample such as a wafer includes a built-in inspection apparatus (25) incorporated therein. The polishing apparatus (100) further comprises a load unit (21), a chemical and mechanical polishing unit (22), a cleaning unit (23), a drying unit (24) and an unload unit (26). The chemical and mechanical polishing apparatus (100) receives a sample from a preceding step (107), carries out respective processes for the sample by said respective units disposed within the polishing apparatus (100) and then transfers the processed sample to a subsequent step (109). Sample loading and unloading means and a sample transfer means are no more necessary for transferring the sample between respective units.