Abstract:
Substantially uniform deposition of conductive material on a surface of a substrate, which substrate includes a semiconductor wafer, from an electrolyte containing the conductive material can be provided by way of a particular device which includes first and second conductive elements. The first conductive element can have multiple electrical contacts, of identical or different configurations, or may be in the form of a conductive pad, and can contact or otherwise electrically interconnect with the substrate surface over substantially all of the substrate surface. Upon application of a potential between the first and second conductive elements while the electrolyte makes physical contact with the substrate surface and the second conductive element, the conductive material is deposited on the substrate surface. It is possible to reverse the polarity of the voltage applied between the anode and the cathode so that electro-etching of deposited conductive material can be performed.
Abstract:
Substantially uniform deposition of conductive material on a surface of a substrate, which substrate includes a semiconductor wafer, from an electrolyte containing the conductive material can be provided by way of a particular device which includes first and second conductive elements. The first conductive element can have multiple electrical contacts, of identical or different configurations, or may be in the form of a conductive pad, and can contact or otherwise electrically interconnect with the substrate surface over substantially all of the substrate surface. Upon application of a potential between the first and second conductive elements while the electrolyte makes physical contact with the substrate surface and the second conductive element, the conductive material is deposited on the substrate surface. It is possible to reverse the polarity of the voltage applied between the anode and the cathode so that electro-etching of deposited conductive material can be performed.
Abstract:
Systems and methods to remove or lessen the size of metal particles that have formed on, and to limit the rate at which metal particles form or grow on, workpiece surface influencing devices used during electrodeposition are presented. According to an exemplary method, the workpiece surface influencing device is occasionally placed in contact with a conditioning substrate coated with an inert material, and the bias applied to the electrodeposition system is reversed. According to another exemplary method, the workpiece surface influencing device is conditioned using mechanical contact members, such as brushes, and conditioning of the workpiece surface influencing device occurs, for example, through physical brushing of the workpiece surface influencing device with the brushes. According to a further exemplary method, the workpiece surface influencing device is rotated in different direction during electrodeposition.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a containment chamber that is used for carrying out multiple processing steps such as depositing on, polishing, etching, modifying, rinsing, cleaning, and drying a surface on the workpiece. In one example of the present invention, the chamber is used to electro chemically mechanically deposit a conductive material on a semiconductor wafer. The same containment chamber can then be used to rinse and clean the same wafer. As a result, the present invention eliminates the need for separate processing stations for depositing the conductive material and cleaning the wafer. Thus, with the present invention, costs and physical space are reduced while providing an efficient apparatus and method for carrying out multiple processes on the wafer surface using a containment chamber.
Abstract:
A particular anode assembly can be used to supply a solution for any of a plating operation, a planarization operation, and a plating and planarization operation to be performed on a semiconductor wafer. The anode assembly includes a rotatable shaft disposed within a chamber in which the operation is performed, an anode housing connected to the shaft, and a porous pad support plate attached to the anode housing. The support plate has a top surface adapted to support a pad which is to face the wafer, and, together with the anode housing, defines an anode cavity. A consumable anode may be provided in the anode cavity to provide plating material to the solution. A solution delivery structure by which the solution can be delivered to said anode cavity is also provided. The solution delivery structure may be contained within the chamber in which the operation is performed. A shield can also be mounted between the shaft and an associated spindle to prevent leakage of the solution from the chamber.
Abstract:
A process for forming a conductive structure on a substrate is provided. The substrate has a copper seed layer that is partially exposed through a plurality of openings in a masking layer such as a photoresist. The masking layer is formed on the seed layer. The process electroplates copper through the openings and onto the seed layer. During the copper electroplating process the surface of the masking layer is mechanically swept. The process forms planar conductive material deposits filling the plurality of holes in the masking layer. The upper ends of the conductive deposits are substantially co-planar.
Abstract:
A system for depositing materials on a surface of a wafer or removing materials from the surface of a wafer includes an electrode, a shaping plate, a liquid solution contained between the electrode and the wafer surface, and electrical contact members contacting selected locations on the wafer surface. The shaping plate is supported between the electrode and the wafer surface such that an upper surface of the shaping plate faces the wafer surface. The shaping plate can have a plurality of channels where each puts the wafer surface in a fluid communication with the electrode. The electrical contact members contact the selected locations on the wafer surface through a recessed edge of the shaping plate such that when the wafer is rotated, the selected contact locations move over the shaping plate and are plated under an applied potential. Advantages of the invention include substantially full surface treatment of the wafer.
Abstract:
Substantially uniform deposition of conductive material on a surface of a substrate, which substrate includes a semiconductor wafer, from an electrolyte containing the conductive material can be provided by way of a particular device which includes first and second conductive elements. The first conductive element can have multiple electrical contacts, of identical or different configurations, or may be in the form of a conductive pad, and can contact or otherwise electrically interconnect with the substrate surface over substantially all of the substrate surface. Upon application of a potential between the first and second conductive elements while the electrolyte makes physical contact with the substrate surface and the second conductive element, the conductive material is deposited on the substrate surface. It is possible to reverse the polarity of the voltage applied between the anode and the cathode so that electro-etching of deposited conductive material can be performed.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a containment chamber that is used for carrying out multiple processing steps such as depositing on, polishing, etching, modifying, rinsing, cleaning, and drying a surface on the workpiece. In one example of the present invention, the chamber is used to electro chemically mechanically deposit a conductive material on a semiconductor wafer. The same containment chamber can then be used to rinse and clean the same wafer. As a result, the present invention eliminates the need for separate processing stations for depositing the conductive material and cleaning the wafer. Thus, with the present invention, costs and physical space are reduced while providing an efficient apparatus and method for carrying out multiple processes on the wafer surface using a containment chamber.