Patent · US Expired

Method and associated apparatus for tilting a substrate upon entry for metal deposition

US6582578B1 · kind B1 · utility

45Cited by
83References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 3, 2000
Grant dateJun 24, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 16, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05K3/241
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electro-chemical plating system is described. A method is performed by the electro-chemical plating system in which a seed layer formed on a substrate is immersed into an electrolyte solution. In one aspect, a substrate is immersed in the electrochemical plating system by tilting the substrate as it enters the electrolyte solution to limit the trapping or formation of air bubbles in the electrolyte solution between the substrate and the substrate holder. In another aspect, an apparatus is provided for electroplating that comprises a cell, a substrate holder, and an actuator. The actuator can displace the substrate holder assembly in the x and z directions and also tilt the substrate. In another aspect, a method is provided of driving a meniscus formed by electrolyte solution across a surface of a substrate. The method comprises enhancing the interaction between the electrolyte solution meniscus and the surface as the substrate is immersed into the electrolyte solution.

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