Patent ID: 6261426
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: C25D

Abstract:
An apparatus for uniformly electroplating or electroetching a thin metal film, said film being disposed on a non-conductive planar substrate and covering one surface of said substrate except for a narrow unmetallized portion of said substrate at the edge thereof, the apparatus comprising:an open top container containing an electrolytic bath;means for causing said bath to flow in a flow path upwardly in said container and to overflow at the open top of said container,means for supporting said substrate with the metal film surface thereof facing downwardly and in contact with the top of said bath,a flow-modifying baffle interposed across the flow path of said bath, disposed below said film, and spaced at a preselected distance from said film, said baffle having a plurality of flow openings, said openings distributed radially from the center of said flowpath,a shield disposed above said baffle and spaced a preselected distance from said film, said shield being shaped and positioned to prevent direct flow of said bath toward said unmetallized edge of said substrate and to permit direct flow of said bath toward the remainder of said substrate, including said metal film,the outer diameters of said baffle and said shield corresponding to the inner diameter of said container,said apparatus further including means for imposing an effective electroetching or electroplating voltage between said film and a counterelectrode disposed below said baffle.