Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting the presence or absence of unwanted metal deposits on a substrate holder of an electroplating apparatus are described herein. In various embodiments, a plating sensor is used to detect unwanted metal deposits. The plating sensor may be mounted relatively far away from the area that it measures (e.g., the sensor target area). For instance, the plating sensor may be on one side of the electroplating apparatus (in some cases mounted on a drip shield), and the sensor target area may be on the opposite side of the electroplating apparatus. In this way, the plating sensor can measure across the electroplating apparatus. This placement provides a relatively deep depth of focus for the plating sensor, and provides some physical separation between the plating sensor and the electroplating chemistry. Both of these factors lead to more reliable detection results.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting the presence or absence of unwanted metal deposits on a substrate holder of an electroplating apparatus are described herein. In various embodiments, a plating sensor is used to detect unwanted metal deposits. The plating sensor may be mounted relatively far away from the area that it measures (e.g., the sensor target area). For instance, the plating sensor may be on one side of the electroplating apparatus (in some cases mounted on a drip shield), and the sensor target area may be on the opposite side of the electroplating apparatus. In this way, the plating sensor can measure across the electroplating apparatus. This placement provides a relatively deep depth of focus for the plating sensor, and provides some physical separation between the plating sensor and the electroplating chemistry. Both of these factors lead to more reliable detection results.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and various apparatus components, such as base plates, lipseals, and contact ring assemblies are provided for reducing contamination of the contact area in the apparatuses. Contamination may happen during removal of semiconductor wafers from apparatuses after the electroplating process. In certain embodiments, a base plate with a hydrophobic coating, such as polyamide-imide (PAI) and sometimes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), are used. Further, contact tips of the contact ring assembly may be positioned further away from the sealing lip of the lipseal. In certain embodiments, a portion of the contact ring assembly and/or the lipseal also include hydrophobic coatings.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and various apparatus components, such as base plates, lipseals, and contact ring assemblies are provided for reducing contamination of the contact area in the apparatuses. Contamination may happen during removal of semiconductor wafers from apparatuses after the electroplating process. In certain embodiments, a base plate with a hydrophobic coating, such as polyamide-imide (PAI) and sometimes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), are used. Further, contact tips of the contact ring assembly may be positioned further away from the sealing lip of the lipseal. In certain embodiments, a portion of the contact ring assembly and/or the lipseal also include hydrophobic coatings.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and various apparatus components, such as base plates, lipseals, and contact ring assemblies are provided for reducing contamination of the contact area in the apparatuses. Contamination may happen during removal of semiconductor wafers from apparatuses after the electroplating process. In certain embodiments, a base plate with a hydrophobic coating, such as polyamide-imide (PAI) and sometimes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), are used. Further, contact tips of the contact ring assembly may be positioned further away from the sealing lip of the lipseal. In certain embodiments, a portion of the contact ring assembly and/or the lipseal also include hydrophobic coatings.

Abstract: A bonding method including pressing a pair of slices together with a liquid oxidant therebetween and subjecting the pair of slices to a temperature to bond the slices together. Preferably a liquid oxidant is applied to one of the slices before they are pressed together and then dried. The heating step for bonding is carried out at a sufficiently high temperature of at least 1100.degree. C. to make the slices pliable so as to comply with each other during the bonding step.

Abstract: A bonding method including pressing a pair of slices together with a liquid oxidant therebetween and subjecting the pair of slices to a temperature to bond the slices together. Preferably a liquid oxidant is applied to one of the slices before they are pressed together and then dried. The heating step for bonding is carried out at a sufficiently high temperature of at least 1100.degree. C. to make the slices pliable so as to comply with each other during the bonding step.