Patent ID: 7396430
Filing Date: 2008-07-08
Classification: C25F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A proximity head for confined area planarization, comprising: a chamber defined to maintain an electrolyte solution; a cathode disposed within the chamber in exposure to the electrolyte solution; a cation exchange membrane disposed over a lower opening of the chamber, a top surface of the cation exchange membrane to be in direct exposure to the electrolyte solution to be maintained within the chamber; a fluid supply channel defined to expel fluid at a first location adjacent to a lower surface of the cation exchange membrane; and a vacuum channel defined to provide suction at a second location adjacent to the lower surface of the cation exchange membrane such that fluid to be expelled from the fluid supply channel at the first location is made to flow over the lower surface of the cation exchange membrane to the second location, wherein the second location is opposite the first location relative to a width of the cation exchange membrane across the lower opening of the chamber, wherein the cation exchange membrane is defined to be controllably flexible in a direction away from the lower opening of the chamber in response to a Bernoulli effect caused by the flow of the fluid over the lower surface of the cation exchange membrane from the first location to the second location.