Patent ID: 6251255
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: C25D

Abstract:
An apparatus for plating tin onto a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:a) a process cell including a process anode and a workpiece cathode electrically connected to each other by a process rectifier and a process electrolyte, wherein the process electrolyte includes at least one salt of a platable tin;b) a secondary cell including a secondary soluble anode of the platable metal and a secondary cathode electrically connected to each other by a secondary rectifier and a secondary electrolyte;c) a permeability-selective ion exchange membrane dividing the secondary cell into an anolyte compartment containing the secondary soluble anode and a catholyte compartment containing the secondary cathode;d) a first conduit in fluid flow communication from the anolyte compartment to the process cell;e) a second conduit in fluid flow communication from the process cell to the anolyte compartment; andf) a controller connected between the process rectifier and the secondary rectifier.