Patent ID: 6461494
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: C25D,H01L

Abstract:
A method for electrochemically processing a wafer, comprising:selecting a contact assembly having at least one electrical contact and a yieldable sealing member, said yieldable sealing member having a bellows wall structure; engaging the surface of the wafer using the yieldable sealing member, said yieldable sealing member bearing against the surface of the wafer to form a barrier therewith that inhibits entry of processing fluid into a sealed space forming a first region that includes the at least one electrical contact, the yieldable sealing member also defining a second region external to said yieldable sealing member; contacting a contact point on the surface of the wafer with said electrical contact to form an electrically conductive connection between the contact assembly and said wafer, said contact point being disposed in the first region; contacting the surface of the wafer corresponding to the second region with an electrolyte pursuant to electrochemical processing of the surface; supplying electrical power through the electrical contact to the wafer to electrochemically process the portion of the wafer lying in the second region.