Patent ID: 6139703
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: C25D,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for use in electroplating a wafer comprising:a rotor assembly;a cathode assembly disposed on the rotor assembly for co-rotation with the rotor assembly, the cathode assembly comprisinga plurality of conductive fingers disposed to contact and support the wafer,a plurality of conductive segments disposed to substantially surround a peripheral region of the wafer;a current controller disposed on the rotor assembly for co-rotation with the rotor assembly for selectively controlling current flow through each of the plurality of conductive fingers and each of the plurality of conductive segments on an individual basis during electroplating of the wafer, the current controller including an electromagnetic communications link;a stator assembly accepting the rotor assembly;a stator control system, the stator control system comprising an electromagnetic communications link for communicating information to the electromagnetic communications link of the current controller, the current controller using the received information to specify current set-points used for selectively controlling the current flow through each of the plurality of conductive fingers and each of the plurality of conductive segments on an individual basis during electroplating of the wafer.