ELECTROPLATING APPARATUSES AND METHODS EMPLOYING LIQUID PARTICLE COUNTER MODULES

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

APP PUB NO 20140001050A1
SERIAL NO

13921006

Stats

ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

Loading Importance Indicators... loading....

Abstract

See full text

Disclosed herein are electroplating apparatuses for electroplating metal onto a semiconductor wafer which may include an electroplating cell, an electrolyte circulation system connected to the cell for circulating electrolyte to and from the cell, first and second sampling ports for taking first and second sample of electrolyte at first and second locations in the apparatus, and one or more liquid particle counter modules, connected to the first and second sampling ports, for measuring particle concentration in the electrolyte. Also disclosed herein are methods for reducing particle concentration in an electrolyte present in an electroplating apparatus which may include determining an approximate particle concentration using a liquid particle counter module and modifying the operation of the electroplating apparatus to reduce particle concentration in the electrolyte.

Loading the Abstract Image... loading....

First Claim

See full text

Family

Loading Family data... loading....

Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
NOVELLUS SYSTEMS INC3970 NORTH FIRST STREET SAN JOSE CA 95134

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Fu, Haiying Camas, US 38 1336
Ghongadi, Shantinath Tigard, US 48 505
Huang, Ludan Tigard, US 9 79
Merrill, Charles L Portland, US 2 16
Nguyen, Khuong Portland, US 3 4

Cited Art Landscape

Load Citation

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cite Landscape

Load Citation