Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Apparatus – Electrolytic
Reexamination Certificate
2007-01-29
2010-11-30
Van, Luan V (Department: 1795)
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Apparatus
Electrolytic
C204S260000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07842173
ABSTRACT:
Apparatus and methods for electrochemically processing microfeature wafers. The apparatus can have a vessel including a processing zone in which a microfeature wafer is positioned for electrochemical processing. The apparatus further includes at least one counter electrode in the vessel that can operate as an anode or a cathode depending upon the particular plating or electropolishing application. The apparatus further includes a supplementary electrode and a supplementary virtual electrode. The supplementary electrode is configured to operate independently from the counter electrode in the vessel, and it can be a thief electrode and/or a de-plating electrode depending upon the type of process. The supplementary electrode can further be used as another counter electrode during a portion of a plating cycle or polishing cycle. The supplementary virtual electrode is located in the processing zone, and it is configured to counteract an electric field offset relative to the wafer associated with an offset between the wafer and the counter electrode in the vessel when the wafer is in the processing zone.
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McHugh Paul R.
Wilson Gregory J.
Woodruff Daniel J.
Ohriner Kenneth H.
Perkins Coie LLP
Semitool Inc.
Van Luan V
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