Patent ID: 9062388
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: C25D,G01N

Abstract:
1. An electroplating apparatus comprising: a bath containing a plating electrolyte; an anode present in a first portion of the bath containing the plating electrolyte; a cathode present in a second portion of the bath containing the plating electrolyte, wherein the cathode is engaged to a sidewall of the bath containing the plating electrolyte by a holder; a control system to bias the cathode and the anode to provide a potential; a thief electrode mounted to the holder and present at a perimeter of said cathode; a reference electrode mounted to the holder and present at a perimeter of said cathode, said reference electrode is located in close proximity to the cathode and is separated from the cathode by a radial gap, wherein the reference electrode is positioned between the cathode and the thief electrode, and wherein the reference electrode is not biased by the control system; and a measuring system in electrical communication with the reference electrode to measure the potential by measuring a potential difference between the reference electrode and the cathode.