Patent ID: 6168693
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: C25D,Y10S

Abstract:
An electroplating system for plating at least one metal on at least one substrate, said electroplating system comprising: at least one plating tank containing a plating solution including said at least one metal to be plated on said at least one substrate; at least one anode arranged in said at least one plating tank, said at least one anode being at least partially immersed within said plating solution during plating of said at least one metal; at least one cathode including at least one workpiece portion in contact with said at least one substrate, said at least one cathode also including at least one thief portion arranged adjacent said at least one workpiece portion and adjacent at least one portion of said at least one substrate, said at least one workpiece portion and said at least one thief portion controlling plating of said at least one metal on said at least one portion of said at least one substrate; at least one power supply connected to said at least one cathode; and at least one controller separately controlling a flow of power to said at least one workpiece portion of said cathode and said at least one thief portion of said cathode, said at least one controller includes a first timer for controlling a flow of power to said workpiece portion of said at least one cathode and said at least one substrate, and a second timer for controlling a flow of power to said at least one thief portion of said at least one cathode.