Involving Measuring, Analyzing, Or Testing Patents (Class 205/81)
  • Publication number: 20090057151
    Abstract: An additive breakdown product in an acid copper plating bath sample is detected by performing a voltammetric analysis for the leveler additive in two measurement solutions comprising different volume fractions of the copper plating bath sample in a background electrolyte. When the plating bath sample contains a substantial concentration of the additive breakdown product, the analyses for the first and second measurement solutions indicate different concentrations for the leveler additive in the plating bath sample. A comparison of the leveler additive concentrations indicated by the two analyses provides a measure of the concentration of the additive breakdown product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Eugene Shalyt, Michael Pavlov, Peter Bratin
  • Publication number: 20090057153
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally addresses the problem of controlling a plating profile in multi-step recipes and addresses, in particular, the problem of compensating for variations of the plating tool state to stabilize the plating results. The compensation is done by adjustments of corrections factors for currents of a plating tool in a multi-anode configuration. The described method enables control of recipes with different current ratios in each recipe step and models different deposition sensitivities in each recipe step. Generally, the method of the present disclosure requires a measurement step, where the tool state is determined, and a data processing step, where the correction factors are set based on models describing the plating process and the tool sate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Sylvia Boehlmann, Dirk Wollstein, Susanne Wehner
  • Publication number: 20080318081
    Abstract: The invention relates to a malleable, high mechanical strength aluminum alloy of the AlMgSi type which can be anodized in a decorative manner, to a semifinished product produced from said alloy, in the shape of strips, sheets or extruded profiles, and to a structural component produced from the above semifinished products, especially a reshaped component that has been anodized in a decorative manner. The invention also relates to a method for producing an aluminum alloy component of the above type. Said aluminum alloy has good malleability, achieved by weight percentages of strontium in the alloy and defined weight ratios of silicon to magnesium and iron to strontium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2005
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Reiner Steins
  • Patent number: 7427344
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining organic additive concentrations in a sample electrolytic solution, preferably a copper electroplating solution, by measuring the double layer capacitance of a measuring electrode in such sample solution. Specifically, the present invention utilizes the correlation between double layer capacitance and the organic additive concentration for concentration mapping, based on the double layer capacitance measured for the sample electrolytic solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianwen Han, MacKenzie E. King
  • Patent number: 7425255
    Abstract: Bipolar wave current, with both positive and negative current portions, is used to electrodeposit a nanocrystalline grain size deposit. Polarity Ratio is the ratio of the absolute value of the time integrated amplitude of negative polarity current and positive polarity current. Grain size can be precisely controlled in alloys of two or more chemical components, at least one of which is a metal, and at least one of which is most electro-active. Typically, although not always, the amount of the more electro-active material is preferentially lessened in the deposit during times of negative current. The deposit also exhibits superior macroscopic quality, being relatively crack and void free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Andrew J. Detor, Christopher A. Schuh
  • Patent number: 7384535
    Abstract: Analytical methods are disclosed for determining the quantity of brightener and leveler in an electroplating bath in the presence of other organic additives, such as accelerators, brighteners and suppressors. The methods improve the reproducibility of measuring brighteners and levelers in electroplating baths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC
    Inventors: Wade Sonnenberg, Leon R. Barstad, Raymond Cruz, Gary Hamm, Mark J. Kapeckas, Erik Reddington, Katie Price, Thomas Buckley, Trevor Goodrich
  • Publication number: 20080116075
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of assessing the risk of whiskers appearing on the surface of a metallic deposit, a pure metal deposit or an alloy deposit on a substrate, using a measurement of the electrochemical impedance of the metallic deposit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: David Mention, Stephane Menard
  • Patent number: 7371311
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for reducing within die thickness variations by modifying the concentration of components of a low-acid electroplating solution. For one embodiment, the leveler concentration is increased sufficiently to reduce within die thickness variations to a specified value. For one embodiment of the invention, the leveler and suppressor are increased to reduce within die thickness variations and substantially reduce a plurality of electroplating defects. In such an embodiment the combined concentration of leveler and suppressor is determined to maintain adequate gap fill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J Zierath, Vinay Chikarmane, Valery M Dubin
  • Patent number: 7371312
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described that use cell voltage and/or current as monitor to prevent electrochemical deposition (e.g., electroplating) tools from deplating wafers with no or poor metal (e.g., Cu) seed coverage. In one embodiment, the voltage of a plating cell including a reference wafer which has substantially complete Cu seed coverage is measured. A reference resistance of the plating cell with the reference wafer is determined. The voltage of the plating cell including a calibration wafer which has no or insufficient seed coverage at its edge is measured. A calibration resistance of the plating cell with the calibration wafer is determined. An error trigger based on a comparison of the reference resistance with the calibration resistance is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Yang Cao, Yue Ma, Jir-shyr Chen, Rajiv Rastogi
  • Publication number: 20080105560
    Abstract: A method for preparing nano metallic particles comprises the steps of dipping a conductive substrate in an electroplating solution containing metallic ions and performing an electroplating process to form the nano metallic particles on the conductive substrate by the reduction reaction of the metallic ions. The nano metallic particles can be used as a catalyst to perform a chemical vapor deposition process to form carbon nanotubes on the conductive substrate. Subsequently, fluorescent material can be positioned on the carbon nanotubes to form a light-emitting device. When a predetermined voltage is applied between the conductive substrate and the fluorescent material, the carbon nanotubes on the conductive substrate emit electrons due to the point discharge effect, and the electrons bombard the fluorescent material to emit light beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yu Tsan Tseng, Cheng Hsuan Lin, Po Ling Shiao
  • Patent number: 7291253
    Abstract: The 3-mercaptopropylsulfonic acid (MPSA) breakdown product of the bis(sodiumsulfopropyl)disulfide (SPS) additive used in acid copper plating baths accelerates copper electrodeposition and can be detected by cyclic voltammetric stripping (CVS) analysis. In the presence of oxygen, MPSA decomposes rapidly in acid copper sulfate baths so that the CVS stripping peak area (Ar) decreases on successive cycles. The slope of a plot of Ar vs. CVS cycle number (or time) or logarithm of the CVS cycle number (or time) provides a measure of the initial MPSA concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: ECI Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pavlov, Eugene Shalyt, Peter Bratin
  • Patent number: 7279084
    Abstract: A method for an electroplating cell which includes providing an anode chamber with at least two concentric anodes including an inner anode and an outer anode; generating a computer generated model with a simulation computer program; and selecting at least one current ratio from the computer generated model, with the computer generated model having a plurality of current ratios from which the at least one current ratio is selected and the one current ratio being a ratio of an inner electrical current to an outer electrical current. The method further includes applying the inner electrical current to the inner anode and the outer electrical current to the outer anode and adjusting the inner and outer electrical currents to incorporate the one current ratio. The generating of the computer generated model with the simulation computer program includes using a first iterative loop to determine a potential field in the anode chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Radek P. Chalupa, Harsono Siem Simka, Sadasivan Shankar, Daniel J. Zierath, Iouri Lantassov, Terry T. Buckley, Anand Durairajan
  • Patent number: 7189318
    Abstract: A facility for selecting and refining electrical parameters for processing a microelectronic workpiece in a processing chamber is described. The facility initially configures the electrical parameters in accordance with either a mathematical model of the processing chamber or experimental data derived from operating the actual processing chamber. After a workpiece is processed with the initial parameter configuration, the results are measured and a sensitivity matrix based upon the mathematical model of the processing chamber is used to select new parameters that correct for any deficiencies measured in the processing of the first workpiece. These parameters are then used in processing a second workpiece, which may be similarly measured, and the results used to further refine the parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Wilson, Paul R. McHugh, Robert A. Weaver, Thomas L. Ritzdorf
  • Patent number: 7189647
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing semiconductor wafers sequentially. Sequential processes employ multi-station processing modules, where particular encompassing wafer processes are divided into sub-processes, each optimized for increasing wafer to wafer uniformity, result quality, and overall wafer throughput. In one example, a copper electroplating module includes separate stations for wetting, initiation, seed layer repair, fill, overburden, reclaim, and rinse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan E. Patton, Theodore Cacouris, Eliot Broadbent, Steven T. Mayer
  • Patent number: 7186326
    Abstract: Suppressor and anti-suppressor additives in an acid copper sulfate plating bath are analyzed by the cyclic voltammetric stripping (CVS) method without cleaning or rinsing the cell between the two analyses. The suppressor analysis is performed first and the suppressor concentration in the resulting measurement solution is adjusted to a predetermined value corresponding to full suppression. This fully-suppressed solution is then used as the background electrolyte for the anti-suppressor analysis. This integrated analysis approach provides results comparable to those obtained with cell cleaning and rinsing between the analyses but significantly reduces the analysis time, consumption of expensive chemicals, and quantity of hazardous waste generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventors: Eugene Shalyt, Michael Pavlov, Peter Bratin, Alex Kogan, Michael James Perpich
  • Patent number: 7183787
    Abstract: A device for measuring resistances associated with electrical contacts of a contact ring used in a semiconductor wafer electroplating process. The device includes a substrate and a conductive pattern on the substrate. The conductive pattern is electrically contactable with the electrical contacts of the contact ring. Resistance measurement circuitry is connected to the conductive pattern. The resistance measurement circuitry is configured to send test signals to the conductive pattern, receive signals from the conductive pattern, and measure the resistances associated with the electrical contacts of the contact ring. A method of using such a device to measure resistances associated with electrical contacts of a contact ring used in a semiconductor wafer electroplating process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Berman, Steven E. Reder
  • Patent number: 7161689
    Abstract: A processing apparatus for processing a microelectronic workpiece includes a metrology unit and a control, signal-connected to the metrology unit. The control can modify a process recipe or a process sequence of the processing apparatus based on a feed forward or a feed back signal from the metrology unit. A seed layer deposition tool, a process layer electrochemical deposition tool, and a chemical mechanical polishing tool, arranged for sequential processing of a workpiece, can be controlled as an integrated system using one or more metrology units. A metrology unit can be located at each tool to measure workpiece parameters. Each of the metrology units can be used as a feed forward control and/or a feed back control at each of the tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Ritzdorf, Steve L. Eudy, Gregory J. Wilson, Paul R. McHugh
  • Patent number: 7144488
    Abstract: A counter electrode for use in an electrochemical cell suitable for analysis of an electroplating composition, the counter electrode comprising a conductor; a sheath disposed about the conductor; an electrolyte disposed within the sheath; and an optionally porous element on the sheath, the porous element providing signal communication between the electrolyte and an analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Shipley Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert A. Binstead, Osnat Younes-Metzler, David A. Valeri, Robert D. Mikkola
  • Patent number: 7093347
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) sensor having a decreased electrical profile due to a confining of the device sense current within a conductive nanoconstriction. The MR sensor includes a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) stack and a layer of high resistivity material within the GMR stack. The layer of high resistivity material includes a nanoconstriction precursor. When a punch current is applied at the nanoconstriction precursor, a conductive nanoconstriction is formed through the layer of high resistivity material at the nanoconstriction precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Janusz J. Nowak, Konstantin R. Nikolaev, Khoung T. Tran, Mark T. Kief
  • Patent number: 7094323
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process analyzer for analyzing composition of sample electrochemical deposition solutions, comprising at least one microelectrode having a radius of not more than about 5 ?m. The process analyzer preferably comprises: (1) two or more independent analytical modules for analyzing fluid samples, (2) a primary manifold communicatively connected to the analytical modules for introducing fluid samples thereinto, and (3) a computational device communicatively associated with the analytical modules for colleting and processing analytical data therefrom, and therefore can be used to conduct automatic and simultaneous analysis of two or more sample solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Mackenzie King, John Staples
  • Patent number: 7060203
    Abstract: An electrolyte solution for a particle measuring apparatus which comprises an inorganic salt, such as sodium chloride or calcium chloride, dissolved in an organic solvent. A substance that promotes dissolution of inorganic salts is added to provide the organic solvent with sufficient electric conductivity for electrical particle measurement. Such substances include either or both: Compound (a): a zwitterionic compound or compounds, and Compound (b): a compound or compounds including a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl or an amino group in the same molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventor: Kouhei Shiba
  • Patent number: 7041510
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manipulation of colloidal particulates and biomolecules at the interface between an insulating electrode such as silicon oxide and an electrolyte solution. Light-controlled electrokinetic assembly of particles near surfaces relies on the combination of three functional elements: the AC electric field-induced assembly of planar aggregates; the patterning of the electrolyte/silicon oxide/silicon interface to exert spatial control over the assembly process; and the real-time control of the assembly process via external illumination. The present invention provides a set of fundamental operations enabling interactive control over the creation and placement of planar arrays of several types of particles and biomolecules and the manipulation of array shape and size. The present invention enables sample preparation and handling for diagnostic assays and biochemical analysis in an array format, and the functional integration of these operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: BioArray Solutions Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Seul, Chiu Wo Chau
  • Patent number: 7022215
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for removing the matrix effects caused by variance in copper concentration and acidity during measurement of the organic additive concentration in a sample copper plating solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Cory Schomburg
  • Patent number: 7001497
    Abstract: A spent anode is replaced with a new anode in an electrolysis cell having an anode bus bar and an anode rod contacting the bus bar. A desired distance (D4) from the bus bar to a reference point on or adjacent to an anode rod for the new anode is calculated, the spent anode is replaced with a new anode so that the reference point on the new anode rod is spaced from the bus bar by an actual distance (D5), and the actual distance (D5) is measured at least once by means of a vision system. The actual distance (D5) is preferably adjusted using a feedback control loop in a computer so that D5 approaches the desired distance (D4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Alcoa,Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Pierre Gagné, Gilles Dufour, Bertrand St-Laurent, Claude Gauthier, Jacques Denis, Robin Boulianne, Pierre Bouchard, Jacques Pelletier
  • Patent number: 6991941
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manipulation of colloidal particulates and biomolecules at the interface between an insulating electrode such as silicon oxide and an electrolyte solution. Light-controlled electrokinetic assembly of particles near surfaces relies on the combination of three functional elements: the AC electric field-induced assembly of planar aggregates; the patterning of the electrolyte/silicon oxide/silicon interface to exert spatial control over the assembly process; and the real-time control of the assembly process via external illumination. The present invention provides a set of fundamental operations enabling interactive control over the creation and placement of planar arrays of several types of particles and biomolecules and the manipulation of array shape and size. The present invention enables sample preparation and handling for diagnostic assays and biochemical analysis in an array format, and the functional integration of these operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: BioArray Solutions Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Seul
  • Patent number: 6984299
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining organic additive concentrations in a sample electrolytic solution, preferably a copper electroplating solution, by measuring the double layer capacitance of a measuring electrode in such sample solution. Specifically, the present invention utilizes the correlation between double layer capacitance and the organic additive concentration for concentration mapping, based on the double layer capacitance measured for the sample electrolytic solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Material, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianwen Han, Mackenzie E. King
  • Patent number: 6969672
    Abstract: A method of controlling a conductive layer deposition process includes depositing a conductive layer onto a semiconductor wafer based upon a deposition recipe, measuring a thickness of the conductive layer deposited on the semiconductor wafer, determining whether the measured thickness of the conductive layer is within a predetermined tolerance, and revising the deposition recipe if the thickness of the conductive layer is not within the predetermined tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Joyce S. Obey Hewett, Alexander James Pasadyn
  • Patent number: 6936157
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining concentrations of various organic additives in metal electroplating solutions, by utilizing a mathematical correction model in combination with the conventional PCGA chrono-potentiometric analysis method, to eliminate the interaction between the observed electrochemical behavior of various organic additives, and to achieve accurate concentration determination of such additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter M. Robertson
  • Patent number: 6926816
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a film thickness distribution analysis method that ensures quick and effective prediction of film thickness distribution by computer simulation in the pattern plating process. On the circuit pattern of a printed circuit board, in the method for analyzing the thickness distribution of metal film plated selectively, hypothetically dividing the printed circuit board into one or more regions, introducing pattern density ?j=Aj/Sj (Sj: the area Sj of a desired region j, and Aj: the area of the plated surface inside the area j), and calculating the approximate average current density or film thickness distribution based on “approximation averaged by pattern density”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Sano, Kinya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6911136
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a uniform current density across an immersed surface of a substrate during an immersion process. The method includes the steps of determining a time varying area of an immersed portion of the substrate during the immersion process, and supplying a time varying current to the substrate during the immersion process, wherein the time varying current is proportional to the time varying area and is configured to provide a constant current density to the immersed portion of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Zheng, Rajeev Bajaj, Zhonghui Alex Wang
  • Patent number: 6899805
    Abstract: A method for determining the concentration of an additive X of an electrochemical bath that includes at least one further component Y is set forth. In accordance with the method, a predetermined amount of a starting solution is provided. The starting solution comprises virgin makeup solution that is saturated with the further additive, or forms a mixed solution that is saturated with the further additive when combined with an amount of the electrochemical bath for measurement that is extracted for measurement. A predetermined amount of the extracted electrochemical bath is then added to the predetermined amount of the starting solution to form the mixed solution. At least one electroanalytical measurement cycle it is then executed using the mixed solution and the results of the measurement cycle are compared with a known measurement standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: LinLin Chen, Lyndon W. Graham
  • Patent number: 6899802
    Abstract: In the conventional plating process, plating solutions are newly prepared and the plating solutions used previously are dumped as industrial wastes, which is accompanied by environmental loads, effluent costs, costs for purchasing new solutions, and the like, and the present invention can recycle a foemer plating solution to prepare a new plating solution, for example, in the following order: a process for preparing a Sn—Bi alloy plating solution (S1); a process for an active carbon treatment to remove the completing agent (S2); a process for removing Bi (S3); a process for a sedimenting treatment (S4); and a process for analyzing and correcting Sn plating solution. The recycling of plating solutions eliminates their effluent treatment and reduces environmental loads, effluent costs, and costs for purchasing new solutions. In the administration of the plating solution compositions, the conventional data can be utilized to facilitate the administrating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koujiro Kameyama
  • Patent number: 6896784
    Abstract: A process for electroplating metallic features of different density on a surface of a substrate comprises providing an electroplating bath having an anode, immersing the substrate into the electroplating bath, spaced from the anode, the substrate comprising a cathode. Positioned in the electroplating bath between the substrate and the anode, and adjacent to and separated from the substrate surface is a second cathode that includes a wire mesh screening portion having openings of different sizes conforming to the metallic features to be electroplated. The second cathode screening portion has openings of larger size adjacent areas of higher density of features to be electroplated and openings of smaller size adjacent areas of lower density of features to be electroplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tien-Jen Cheng, Todd M. Fowler, Ajay P. Giri, Anton Nenadic, Blessen Samuel, Keith Kwong Hon Wong
  • Patent number: 6896783
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for combinatorially producing a library of materials by means of an electrochemical deposition in an array. The inventive library is made from an array of containers that consist of an electroconductive material, are open to the top and are electroconductively connected to a shared current supply device and is made from a corresponding array of auxiliary electrodes that are electroconductively connected to a shared current supply device and are arranged in such a way that an auxiliary electrode plunges into a container respectively or can be introduced therein without touching said container. The inventive method comprises the following steps: filling the containers with electrolytes having different compositions and containing electrolytically separable elements and applying an electric voltage between the current supply devices of the containers and auxiliary electrodes for obtaining an electrolytic deposition on the surfaces of the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: hte Aktiengesellschaft the high throughput experimentation company
    Inventors: Stephan A. Schunk, Dirk Demuth, Hartmut Hibst
  • Patent number: 6893548
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for analyzing or conditioning an electrochemical bath. One aspect of the invention provides a method for analyzing an electrochemical bath in an electrochemical deposition process including providing a first electrochemical bath having a first bath composition, utilizing the first electrochemical bath in an electrochemical deposition process to form a second electrochemical bath having a second bath composition and analyzing the first and second compositions to identify one or more constituents generated in the electrochemical deposition process. Additive material having a composition that is substantially the same as all or at least some of the one or more constituents generated in the electrochemical deposition process may be added to another electrochemical bath to produce a desired chemical composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Cheung, Daniel A. Carl, Liang-Yuh Chen, Yezdi Dordi, Paul F. Smith, Ratson Morad, Peter Hey, Ashok Sinha
  • Patent number: 6884333
    Abstract: The invention relates to the analysis of the performance and properties of electrochemical processes, and specifically, to electrolytic solutions and electrode processes. The invention discloses a device and a method for obtaining qualitative and quantitative information for the kinetics of the electrode reactions, the transport processes, the thermodynamic properties of the electrochemical processes taking place in the cell. When a deposition reaction takes place, the device provides also valuable information about the relationship between the current density and deposit properties including but not limited to the deposit color, luster, and other aspects of its appearance. The device disclosed herein typically is comprised of a multiplicity of cathodic or anodic regions where one or more electrochemical reactions take place simultaneously, but at a different rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Inventor: Uziel Landau
  • Patent number: 6884332
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating an aqueous electroplating bath solution. The method comprises continuously agitating the solution; adjusting the pH of the solution, adjusting the temperature of the solution while adding an amount of hydrogen peroxide sufficient to promote dissolution of the hydrogen peroxide and generation of hydroxyl radicals; and adding an amount of an iron-containing compound so as to increase the rate of dissolution of the hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radicals so as to oxidize the organic compounds; whereby the total amount of organic carbon compounds in the solution is reduced. The apparatus comprises a treatment vessel, a pump for transferring a portion of the solution from the vessel to a mixing tank and for transferring a second portion of the solution to a heat exchanger for heating or cooling the second portion of the solution and a pump for transferring hydrogen peroxide to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Kuntz Electroplating Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Forth, Art Vibert, Madeline Busch, Sarah Stevenson, Hussain Al-Ekabi
  • Patent number: 6827839
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for determining the quantity of leveler in an electroplating bath in the presence of other organic additives, such as accelerators, brighteners and suppressors. Such methods are fast, work over a broad concentration range of components and can be performed in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Shipley Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Wade Sonnenberg, Mark J. Kapeckas, David L. Jacques, Raymond Cruz, Leon R. Barstad, Elie H. Najjar, Eugene N. Step, Robert A. Binstead
  • Publication number: 20040231993
    Abstract: An anodizing system for forming a anodized coating on at least a portion of a substrate thereby creating an anodized substrate is disclosed. The anodizing system includes a bath, a coating thickness monitor, at least one probe and at least one controller. The coating thickness monitor includes at least one radiation source directed at at least a portion of the anodized substrate; at least one probe for capturing at least a portion of the radiation reflected and refracted by the anodized coating on the anodized substrate, the captured radiation being at least a portion of the radiation directed the anodized substrate from the radiation source; and at least one detector in communication with the at least one probe, the at least one detector capable of processing the captured radiation to allow a determination of at least the thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph K. Price
  • Patent number: 6814847
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining electro-deposition of metal on a cathode in an electrolytic cell. The cell comprises a metal anode, a cathode, an electrolytic bath and a main power supply to apply an electric potential across the anode and cathode resulting in a forward current and deposition of metal from said anode to the cathode. An auxiliary power supply is also provided for connection to the cell. In cases where the mains power supply falls below a predetermined value, the auxiliary power supply maintains a predetermined direction and quantity of current flow in the cell. The auxiliary power supply may be continuous or activated only when the current flow and/or direction of current falls below said predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Copper Refineries Pty Ltd
    Inventors: John Cutmore, David Bailey
  • Patent number: 6814848
    Abstract: A method for determining a quantity of each of alloy phases in the plating layer includes subjecting each alloy phase in the plating layer to constant potential electrolysis in each of a plurality of ranges of potentials obtained on the basis of the immersion potential of each alloy phase and the immersion potential of a basis metal, by using a plated metal material having different kinds of alloy phases in the plating layer as the anode, to determine the quantity of each alloy phase in the plating layer on the basis of the quantity of electricity consumed in each range of the potentials during the electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoko Fujimoto, Makoto Shimura, Yoichi Tobiyama, Kazuaki Kyono
  • Patent number: 6814855
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a target constituent of an electroplating solution using an electroanalytical technique is set forth. In accordance with the method, at least two electrodes are employed to execute the electroanalytical technique. Gasses that are trapped or generated at the surface of one or both of the electrodes of the pair are reduced and/or removed by directing a flow of solution toward the electrode surface. This flow of solution against the electrode surface acts to automatically flush the generated gasses (typically in the form of small bubbles) from the electrode surface and generally eliminates the need for manual purging by an operator. Elimination of these gasses reduces or eliminates variability in the open circuit potential, and concomitant noise that would otherwise occur in the electroanalytical measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Lyndon W. Graham, Dakin Fulton
  • Patent number: 6808611
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electro-analytical method for determining the concentration of an organic additive in an acidic or basic metal plating bath using an organic chemical analyzer. The method includes preparing a supporting-electrolyte solution, preparing a testing solution including the supporting-electrolyte solution and a standard solution, measuring an electrochemical response of the supporting-electrolyte solution using the organic chemical analyzer, and implementing an electro-analytical technique to determine the concentration of the organic additive in the plating bath from the electrochemical response measurements. The method is performed for independently analyzing one organic additive component in a plating bath containing multi-component organic additives, regardless of knowledge of the concentration of other organic additives and with minimal interference among organic additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi-wen Sun, Chunman Yu, Brian Metzger, David W. Nguyen, Girish Dixit
  • Patent number: 6790331
    Abstract: A finite element model of the environment of electrodeposit coating is prepared by a simulation method, change of an electric field in an electrolytic cell for the case of electrodeposit coating is simulated, the distribution of currents then flowing through individual parts of a finite element model of a to-be-coated object is obtained, the electric variables of currents flowing through the respective surfaces of the finite elements of the to-be-coated object are obtained and accumulated according to the current distribution, the thickness of an electrodeposition coating film is calculated as h=&Sgr;KFICC.E.&Dgr;t/&rgr; if the cumulative electric variable is higher than a deposition starting electric variable such that a fixed concentration is attained by OH− or H+.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: C. Uyemura & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Katsumaru, Kiyotaka Yagesawa, Takashi Wada, Katsuhiko Ohara
  • Publication number: 20040168925
    Abstract: The invention relates to the analysis of the performance and properties of electrochemical processes, and specifically, to electrolytic solutions and electrode processes. The invention discloses a device and a method for obtaining qualitative and quantitative information for the kinetics of the electrode reactions, the transport processes, the thermodynamic properties of the electrochemical processes taking place in the cell. When a deposition reaction takes place, the device provides also valuable information about the relationship between the current density and deposit properties including but not limited to the deposit color, luster, and other aspects of its appearance. The device disclosed herein typically is comprised of a multiplicity of cathodic or anodic regions where one or more electrochemical reactions take place simultaneously, but at a different rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Uziel Landau
  • Patent number: 6773569
    Abstract: A cyclic voltammetric method for measuring the concentration of additives in a plating solution. The method generally includes providing the plating solution, having an unknown concentration of an additive to be measured therein and cycling the potential of an inert working electrode through a series of measurement steps. The series of measurement steps includes a metal stripping step including pulsing from an open circuit potential to a metal stripping potential between about 0.2 V and about 0.8 V, and holding the metal stripping potential until a corresponding current nears 0 mA/cm. The series of measurement steps further includes a cleaning step including pulsing from the metal stripping potential to a cleaning potential between about 1.2 V and about 1.6 V, and holding the cleaning potential for about 2 seconds to about 10 seconds. The series of measurement steps then includes a pre-plating step including pulsing from the cleaning potential to a pre-plating potential between about −0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi-Wen Sun, Nicolay Kovarsky, Chunman Yu, Girish Dixit
  • Patent number: 6770184
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solder plating system with automatic monitoring of wash fluid pressure. The system automatically activates an alarm and/or initiates shutdown of a solder plating machine when the pressure reading indicates a failure of the wash fluid supply. The system thereby reduces the number of parts that are affected by failures in the wash fluid supply system. In some cases, problems with the wash fluid supply are detected before any parts are affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Watcharin Pinlam, Chalor Moogdaharn, Youthachai Bupparit
  • Patent number: 6761812
    Abstract: In an electroplating apparatus for semiconductor wafers, the currents to each of a plurality of contact portions contacting the wafer edge are individually adjustable and/or a parameter indicative of the current flow in each contact portion may be determined. Moreover, for precise control of the currents, means are provided for monitoring the currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Axel Preusse, Gerd Marxsen
  • Patent number: 6758955
    Abstract: The present invention relates to PCGA analytical procedure, in which each PCGA plating/measuring cycle is performed with the stripping and cleaning of test electrode immediately conducted before the equilibrium step, so as to use the metal plate layer formed during a previous plating/measuring cycle as a protective layer for the test electrode. The present invention also relates to PCGA calibration measurement protocol, in which both the calibration measurements and the sample measurement are conducted after a background measurement step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter M. Robertson
  • Patent number: RE39123
    Abstract: The plating apparatus has a plating section in which a plating process is performed and a control section for regulating the plating solution. The plating section includes a plating bath containing plating solution, an anode provided in the plating solution, and a plating object serving as a cathode placed in the plating solution opposite the anode. The control section includes a regulating tank for regulating the composition and/or concentration of the plating solution, and a replenishing tank for injecting solution into the plating solution in the regulating tank. The plating apparatus also includes a mechanism for circulating plating solution between the regulating tank in the control section and the plating bath in the plating section. The plating section is installed in a first room, while the control section is installed in a second room, which is separate from the first room Accordingly, contamination in the plating section is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Kuriyama, Hiroyuki Ueyama, Junitsu Yamakawa, Kenichi Suzuki, Atsushi Chono