Electroplating system and pressure device thereof

An electroplating system for depositing a plating material on an object includes a pressure device and an anode element. The pressure device includes a lid having first and second through holes and a base having a chamber, conduction holes and third through holes located in the chamber. Each of the conduction tubes includes a conduction hole connecting to one of the third through holes. The lid covers the chamber, the first through holes communicate with the chamber for spraying an electroplating solution toward the object and the second through holes reveal the conduction holes. A passage of electric force line is formed in the connected holes and the third through holes filled with the electroplating solution, and the anode element is located outside the passage of electric force line. The electroplating system can prevent defective plating and enhance plating efficiency.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an electroplating system and its pressure device. The electroplating system placed in an electroplating tank filling with plating solution is adapted to deposit a plating material on an object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In conventional electroplating process, a plating object and a metal anode element are placed in an electroplating tank and electrically connected to a cathode and an anode of a power supply, respectively. An electroplating solution filling in the electroplating tank is provided to deposit a plating material onto the plating object. For instance, the plating object is a wafer or a circuit board, the metal anode element is a copper sheet and the electroplating solution is CuSO4, and a copper layer or a copper wire can be formed on the surface of the plating object when powered on.

However, the plating rate of the conventional electroplating process is slower, and bubbles and/or impurities may remain in fine-pitch wires or blind holes of the wafer and circuit board during the conventional electroplating process, so plating defect may occur in the fine-pitch wires or blind holes.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is to prevent plating defect and enhance plating efficiency.

The electroplating system of the present invention is adapted to deposit a plating material on an object when placed in an electroplating tank with an electroplating solution. The electroplating system includes a pressure device and an anode element. The pressure device includes a lid and a base. The lid has a first surface, a second surface, first through holes and second through holes. The first surface faces toward the object, and the first and second surfaces are communicated with each other through the first and second through holes. The base has a third surface, a chamber recessed on the third surface, conduction tubes and third through holes. The third through holes are formed in the chamber and penetrate through the base. Each of the conduction tubes is positioned in the chamber and includes a conduction hole, and each of the conduction holes connects to one of the third through holes. The lid covers an opening of the chamber, the first through holes communicate with the chamber, and each of the second through holes reveals one of the conduction holes. When the electroplating solution is filled in the chamber, the electroplating solution in the chamber is sprayed toward the object through the first through holes. When the electroplating solution is filled in the conduction holes and the third through holes, the conduction holes and the third through hole connected with each other become a passage of electric force line. The anode element is disposed outside the pressure device, the object is located outside a first end of the passage of electric force line and the anode element is located outside a second end of the passage of electric force line.

The electroplating solution, filled and pressed in the chamber, can spray toward the object through the first through holes, and the electroplating solution spraying from the chamber can wash the bubbles and/or impurities remained on the object to prevent plating defect and enhance plating efficiency. Furthermore, the passage of electric force line formed in the conduction holes and the third through holes provides a benefit for the deposition of the plating material on the object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, an electroplating system10of the present invention can be placed in an electroplating tank20with an electroplating solution30to deposit a plating material on an object40. The object40is, but not limited to, a wafer or a circuit board.

With reference toFIGS. 1 to 3, the electroplating system10includes a pressure device100and an anode element200positioned outside the pressure device100. Preferably, the anode element200is a titanium basket which can accommodate a metal piece.

With reference toFIGS. 1 to 4, the electroplating system10further includes a carrier300and the pressure device100is connected to the carrier300in this embodiment. The carrier300has an accommodation space310where the anode element200is placed. Preferably, the electroplating system10further includes a frame400which is positioned in the accommodation space310, and the anode element200is placed in the frame400. Furthermore, the anode element200(e.g. titanium basket) and/or the frame400are replaceable.

With reference toFIGS. 2 to 6, the pressure device100includes a lid110and a base120. The lid110has a first surface111, a second surface112, first through holes113and second through holes114. The first surface111faces toward the object40when the electroplating system10is placed in the electroplating tank20filling with the electroplating solution30. With reference toFIGS. 3 to 5, the first and second surfaces111and112are communicated with each other via the first and second through holes113and114, in other words, the first and second through holes113and114penetrate through the lid110. Preferably, the first and second through holes113and114are aligned radially on the lid110, and the first through holes113have a diameter equal to or smaller than that of the second through holes114.

With reference toFIGS. 3 and 5, the base120includes a third surface121, a fourth surface122, a chamber123recessed on the third surface121, conduction tubes124and third through holes125. The third through holes125are formed in the chamber123and penetrate through the base120. There are an opening123aand a bottom123bin the chamber123, and the opening123areveals the bottom123b. In this embodiment, the third through holes125are formed on the bottom123band penetrate through the fourth surface122. The conduction tubes124are located in the chamber123and each includes a conduction hole124a. Preferably, the diameter of the first through holes113is equal to or smaller than that of the conduction holes124a, and each of the conduction holes124ais connected with one of the third through holes125.

With reference toFIGS. 3 and 5, each of the conduction tubes124in this embodiment includes a basal portion124band a connecting portion124c, and the conduction hole124ais formed in the basal portion124band the connecting portion124c. The basal portion124bis connected to the bottom123bof the chamber123, and the connecting portion124cis protruded from the third surface121.

With reference toFIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the lid110covers the opening123a, the first through holes113communicate with the chamber123and the second through holes114reveal the conduction holes124a. In this embodiment, the connecting portion124cof each of the conduction tubes124is inserted into one of the second through holes114, and the first surface111of the lid110and the fourth surface122of the base120are communicated with each other through the conduction holes124aand the third through holes125which are connected together. Moreover, each of the conduction tubes124in this embodiment further includes a supporting portion124dlocated between the basal portion124band the connecting portion124c. The supporting portion124dis adapted to support the lid110covering the opening123ain order to prevent the lid110from distorting.

With reference toFIGS. 3 and 6, the pressure device100in this embodiment further includes at least one feeding pipe130which is designed to communicate with the chamber123. When the lid110covers the opening123aof the chamber123, the feeding pipe130is provided to supply the electroplating solution30to the chamber123. Preferably, a motor is utilized to deliver the electroplating solution30in the electroplating tank20to the chamber123through the feeding pipe130.

With reference toFIGS. 4 to 6, owing to the connecting portion124cof each of the conduction tubes124is inserted into the second through hole114when the lid110covers the opening123aof the chamber123, the electroplating solution delivered to the chamber123by the feeding pipe130can be sprayed through the first through holes113. The higher the flow quantity or flow rate of the electroplating solution delivered to the chamber123through the feeding pipe130, the higher impact the electroplating solution30sprayed from the first through holes113. Besides, the smaller the diameter of the first through holes113, the higher impact the electroplating solution30sprayed from the first through holes113.

With reference toFIGS. 2 and 6, when the electroplating system10and the object40are placed in the electroplating tank20with the electroplating solution30and the conduction holes124aand the third through holes125are filled with the electroplating solution, the object40and the anode element200can be electrically connected to a cathode and a anode of a DC power supply respectively, allow the conduction holes124aand the third through holes125connected with each other to become a passage of electric force line P. The object40is located outside a first end P1of the passage of electric force line P and the anode element200is located outside a second end P2of the passage of electric force line P for the deposition of the plating material on the object40. Otherwise, when the electroplating solution30is delivered to the chamber123via the feeding pipe130, the electroplating solution filling in the chamber123can be sprayed toward the object40through the first through hole113to enhance the electroplating efficiency. And the electroplating solution30sprayed from the first through holes113also can wash the bubbles and/or impurities remained on the object40so as to prevent defective plating.

While this invention has been particularly illustrated and described in detail with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that is not limited to the specific features shown and described and various modified and changed in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.