Patent ID: 6322678
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: C25D,H01L

Abstract:
In an apparatus for electroplating a microelectronic workpiece comprising a substrate formed from a semiconductor or insulator material, the microelectronic workpiece further including at least one electrical contact at a back-side thereof formed to electrically connect power applied thereto to one or more conductive portions at a front-side of the microelectronic workpiece, a workpiece holding structure comprising:a workpiece support having at least one surface disposed to engage a front side of the microelectronic workpiece;at least one electrical contact disposed proximate the workpiece support and being aligned for contacting the at least one electrical contact at a back side of the microelectronic workpiece,an automatically operated actuator for driving the workpiece support between a workpiece loading position in which the workpiece support surface is distal said at least one electrical contact and a processing position in which said at least one electrical contact electrically contacts the at least one electrical contact at the back-side of the microelectronic workpiece to thereby hold the microelectronic workpiece between the electrical contact and the at least one support surface during microelectronic workpiece processing.