Apparatus and method for dynamic control of plated uniformity with the use of remote electric current

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 9567685
APP PUB NO 20160215408A1
SERIAL NO

14602910

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Abstract

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An apparatus for electroplating metal on a substrate while controlling plating uniformity includes in one aspect: a plating chamber having anolyte and catholyte compartments separated by a membrane; a primary anode positioned in the anolyte compartment; an ionically resistive ionically permeable element positioned between the membrane and a substrate in the catholyte compartment; and a secondary electrode configured to donate and/or divert plating current to and/or from the substrate, wherein the secondary electrode is positioned such that the donated and/or diverted plating current does not cross the membrane separating the anolyte and catholyte compartments, but passes through the ionically resistive ionically permeable element. In some embodiments the secondary electrode is an azimuthally symmetrical anode (e.g., a ring positioned in a separate compartment around the periphery of the plating chamber) that can be dynamically controlled during electroplating.

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Patent Owner(s)

  • LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Berke, Aaron Portland, US 21 132
Buckalew, Bryan L Tualatin, US 77 1337
Chua, Lee Peng Beaverton, US 33 304
Fortner, James Isaac Newberg, US 9 79
Kagajwala, Burhanuddin Hillsboro, US 6 53
Mayer, Steven T Lake Oswego, US 216 7003
Rash, Robert West Linn, US 58 911

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