Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for treating surface including virtual anode

US6179983A · kind A · utility

209Cited by
54References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 13, 1997
Grant dateJan 30, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 13, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S204/07
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus for depositing an electrical conductive layer on the surface of a wafer includes a virtual anode located between the actual anode and the wafer. The virtual anode modifies the electric current flux and plating solution flow between the actual anode and the wafer to thereby modify the thickness profile of the deposited electrically conductive layer on the wafer. The virtual anode can have openings through which the electrical current flux passes. By selectively varying the radius, length, or both, of the openings, any desired thickness profile of the deposited electrically conductive layer on the wafer can be readily obtained.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.