Patent ID: 6277260
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: C25D,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
In a plating apparatus comprising a container, a cathode electrode, an anode electrode situated at a higher position within said container, and an intermediate electrode situated at an intermediate position within said container below said higher position, a method of plating an article situated at a lower position within said container below said intermediate position and having a metal seed layer in electrical contact with said cathode electrode, comprising:introducing plating fluid into said container to form a plating fluid bath;forming a positive voltage potential from said intermediate electrode to said cathode when said plating fluid bath is in contact with said intermediate electrode but not in contact with said anode electrode, wherein said positive voltage activates said plating fluid bath to reduce acidic etching of said metal seed layer; andforming a second positive voltage potential from said anode electrode to said cathode electrode when said plating fluid bath is in contact with said intermediate and anode electrodes, wherein said second positive voltage causes plating deposition to occur over said metal seed layer.