Patent ID: 12258673

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following will describe embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In the following described drawings, an identical reference numeral is attached to an identical or corresponding component and an overlapping description will be omitted.

<Overall Configuration of Plating Apparatus>

FIG.1is a perspective view illustrating the overall configuration of the plating apparatus of this embodiment.FIG.2is a plan view illustrating the overall configuration of the plating apparatus of this embodiment. As illustrated inFIGS.1and2, a plating apparatus1000includes load ports100, a transfer robot110, aligners120, pre-wet modules200, pre-soak modules300, plating modules400, cleaning modules500, spin rinse dryers600, a transfer device700, and a control module800.

The load port100is a module for loading a substrate housed in a cassette, such as a FOUP, (not illustrated) to the plating apparatus1000and unloading the substrate from the plating apparatus1000to the cassette. While the four load ports100are arranged in the horizontal direction in this embodiment, the number of load ports100and arrangement of the load ports100are arbitrary. The transfer robot110is a robot for transferring the substrate that is configured to grip or release the substrate between the load port100, the aligner120, the pre-wet module200, and the spin rinse dryers600. The transfer robot110and the transfer device700can perform delivery and receipt of the substrate via a temporary placement table (not illustrated) to grip or release the substrate between the transfer robot110and the transfer device700.

The aligner120is a module for adjusting a position of an orientation flat, a notch, and the like of the substrate in a predetermined direction. While the two aligners120are disposed to be arranged in the horizontal direction in this embodiment, the number of aligners120and arrangement of the aligners120are arbitrary. The pre-wet module200wets a surface to be plated of the substrate before a plating process with a process liquid, such as pure water or deaerated water, to replace air inside a pattern formed on the surface of the substrate with the process liquid. The pre-wet module200is configured to perform a pre-wet process to facilitate supplying the plating solution to the inside of the pattern by replacing the process liquid inside the pattern with a plating solution during plating. While the two pre-wet modules200are disposed to be arranged in the vertical direction in this embodiment, the number of pre-wet modules200and arrangement of the pre-wet modules200are arbitrary.

For example, the pre-soak module300is configured to remove an oxidized film having a large electrical resistance present on a surface of a seed layer formed on the surface to be plated of the substrate before the plating process by etching with a process liquid, such as sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid, and perform a pre-soak process that cleans or activates a surface of a plating base layer. While the two pre-soak modules300are disposed to be arranged in the vertical direction in this embodiment, the number of pre-soak modules300and arrangement of the pre-soak modules300are arbitrary. The plating module400performs the plating process on the substrate. There are two sets of the 12 plating modules400arranged by three in the vertical direction and by four in the horizontal direction, and the total 24 plating modules400are disposed in this embodiment, but the number of plating modules400and arrangement of the plating modules400are arbitrary.

The cleaning module500is configured to perform a cleaning process on the substrate to remove the plating solution or the like left on the substrate after the plating process. While the two cleaning modules500are disposed to be arranged in the vertical direction in this embodiment, the number of cleaning modules500and arrangement of the cleaning modules500are arbitrary. The spin rinse dryer600is a module for rotating the substrate after the cleaning process at high speed and drying the substrate. While the two spin rinse dryers are disposed to be arranged in the vertical direction in this embodiment, the number of spin rinse dryers and arrangement of the spin rinse dryers are arbitrary. The transfer device700is a device for transferring the substrate between the plurality of modules inside the plating apparatus1000. The control module800is configured to control the plurality of modules in the plating apparatus1000and can be configured of, for example, a general computer including input/output interfaces with an operator or a dedicated computer.

An example of a sequence of the plating processes by the plating apparatus1000will be described. First, the substrate housed in the cassette is loaded on the load port100. Subsequently, the transfer robot110grips the substrate from the cassette at the load port100and transfers the substrate to the aligners120. The aligner120adjusts the position of the orientation flat, the notch, or the like of the substrate in the predetermined direction. The transfer robot110grips or releases the substrate whose direction is adjusted with the aligners120to the pre-wet module200.

The pre-wet module200performs the pre-wet process on the substrate. The transfer device700transfers the substrate on which the pre-wet process has been performed to the pre-soak module300. The pre-soak module300performs the pre-soak process on the substrate. The transfer device700transfers the substrate on which the pre-soak process has been performed to the plating module400. The plating module400performs the plating process on the substrate.

The transfer device700transfers the substrate on which the plating process has been performed to the cleaning module500. The cleaning module500performs the cleaning process on the substrate. The transfer device700transfers the substrate on which the cleaning process has been performed to the spin rinse dryer600. The spin rinse dryer600performs the drying process on the substrate. The transfer robot110receives the substrate from the spin rinse dryer600and transfers the substrate, on which the drying process is performed, to the cassette at the load port100. Finally, the cassette housing the substrate is unloaded from the load port100.

<Configuration of Plating Module>

Next, a configuration of the plating modules400will be described. Since the 24 plating modules400according to this embodiment have the identical configuration, only one plating module400will be described.FIG.3is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of the plating module400of a first embodiment. As illustrated inFIG.3, the plating module400includes a plating tank410for housing a plating solution. The plating module400includes a membrane420that separates an inside of the plating tank410in the vertical direction. The inside of the plating tank410is divided into a cathode region422and an anode region424by the membrane420. The cathode region422and the anode region424are each filled with the plating solution. An anode430is disposed on a bottom surface of the plating tank410in the anode region424. An ionically resistive element450opposed to the membrane420is arranged in the cathode region422. The ionically resistive element450is a member for uniformizing the plating process on a surface to be plated Wf-a of a substrate Wf and configured by a plate-shaped member where many holes are formed.

Further, the plating module400includes a substrate holder440for holding the substrate Wf with the surface to be plated Wf-a facing downward. The substrate holder440includes a power feeding contact point (not illustrated) for feeding power from a power source to the substrate Wf. The plating module400includes an elevating mechanism442for moving up and down the substrate holder440. The elevating mechanism442can be achieved by a known mechanism, such as a motor. The plating module400is configured to perform the plating process on the surface to be plated Wf-a of the substrate Wf by immersing the substrate Wf in the plating solution in the cathode region422using the elevating mechanism442and applying voltage between the anode430and the substrate Wf.

Further, the plating module400includes a rotation mechanism446for rotating the substrate holder440such that the substrate Wf rotates about a virtual rotation axis extending perpendicularly in a center of the surface to be plated Wf-a. The rotation mechanism446can be achieved by a known mechanism, such as a motor.

<Configuration of Substrate Holder>

Next, the detail of the substrate holder440of this embodiment will be described.FIG.4is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of the substrate holder of this embodiment.FIG.5is an enlarged perspective view schematically illustrating a part of the substrate holder of this embodiment.

As illustrated inFIGS.4and5, the substrate holder440includes a supporting mechanism460for supporting an outer peripheral portion of the surface to be plated Wf-a of the substrate Wf, a back plate assembly470for holding the substrate Wf, and a rotation shaft448extending vertically upward from the back plate assembly470.

The back plate assembly470includes a circular plate-shaped floating plate472for sandwiching the substrate Wf with the supporting mechanism460. The floating plate472is arranged on a back surface side of the surface to be plated Wf-a of the substrate Wf. Further, the back plate assembly470includes floating mechanisms490and a pushing mechanism480. The floating mechanisms490are for biasing the floating plate472to a direction away from a back surface of the substrate Wf. The pushing mechanism480is for pressing the floating plate472to the back surface of the substrate Wf against a biasing force by the floating mechanisms490.

The pushing mechanism480includes a circular plate-shaped back plate474arranged on an upper side of the floating plate472and a flow passage476formed inside the back plate474. The flow passage476includes a first flow passage476-1and second flow passages476-2. The first flow passage476-1extends radially from a center portion of the back plate474toward an outer peripheral portion. The second flow passages476-2extend in the vertical direction so as to open from the first flow passage476-1to a lower surface of the back plate474. The pushing mechanism480includes diaphragms484arranged in the second flow passages476-2. The diaphragm484is a thin film-shaped member. The diaphragm484has an outer peripheral portion secured to the lower surface of the back plate474by a securing member483. The pushing mechanism480includes rods482, as an aspect of pressing members, arranged between the diaphragms484and the floating plate472. The rod482has a lower surface secured to the floating plate472by a bolt481, and the rod482has an upper surface in contact with a lower surface of the diaphragm484. The rod482has an upper portion covered with a cap485sandwiching the diaphragm484. The diaphragm484has a center portion sandwiched by the cap485and the rod482. A plurality of the diaphragms484, the rods482, and the caps485are disposed along the circumferential direction of the back plate assembly470. Note that while this embodiment has shown the example in which the rods482as different members from the floating plate472are secured to an upper surface of the floating plate472, it is not limited thereto. For example, projections may be formed on the upper surface of the floating plate472along the circumferential direction. In this case, the projections have a function as the pressing member similar to the rod482.

The pushing mechanism480includes a fluid source488for supplying a fluid to the diaphragms484. The fluid may be a gas, such as air, or may be a liquid, such as water. In the rotation shaft448, a flow passage449extending along the gravity direction is formed, and the fluid source488is connected to an upper end of the flow passage449. The flow passage449has a lower end connected to the first flow passage476-1formed in the back plate474. The first flow passage476-1extends radially from a center of the back plate474and communicates with upper surfaces of the caps485via the second flow passages476-2. The fluid source488supplies the fluid to the diaphragms484via the flow passage449and the flow passage476. Then, the caps485and the rods482are pressed downward, whereby the floating plate472is pressed downward.

The supporting mechanism460includes a circular supporting member462for supporting the outer peripheral portion of the surface to be plated Wf-a of the substrate Wf. The supporting member462has a flange462aprotruding to an outer peripheral portion of a lower surface of the back plate assembly470. A circular sealing member464is arranged on the flange462a. The sealing member464is a member having elasticity. The supporting member462supports the outer peripheral portion of the surface to be plated Wf-a of the substrate Wf via the sealing member464. Sandwiching the substrate Wf between the sealing member464and the floating plate472seals between the supporting member462and the substrate Wf. Since the sealing member464has elasticity, the sealing member464is crushed in accordance with a pressing force of the substrate Wf by the pushing mechanism480to vary a thickness α.

The supporting mechanism460includes a circular clamper466held by the supporting member462. The clamper466can move up and down the back plate assembly470with respect to the supporting mechanism460when the substrate Wf is installed to/extracted from the substrate holder440. Further, the clamper466can restrict the back plate474from moving to an upward direction (the direction away from the back surface of the substrate Wf) when the fluid is supplied from the fluid source488to the diaphragms484. This point will be described below.

The back plate assembly470includes a slide ring478circularly disposed on the outer peripheral portion of an upper surface of the back plate474. The slide ring478is movable in the circumferential direction independently of the back plate474. The back plate assembly470includes slide plates479projecting from the slide ring478toward the clamper466.

On the other hand, hook-like cutouts466dare formed on a surface opposed to the slide ring478in the clamper466. The hook-like cutout466dhas a first groove466aand a second groove466b. The first groove466aextends in the vertical direction such that the slide plate479can be moved up and down. The second groove466bcommunicates with the first groove466aand extends along the circumferential direction of the clamper466. The second groove466bhas an upper surface on which an abutting surface466cis formed. The abutting surface466cabuts on an upper surface of the slide plate479moving in accordance with a movement in the upward direction of the back plate474when the fluid is supplied from the fluid source488to the diaphragms484. A plurality of the slide plates479and the cutouts466dare disposed along the circumferential direction of the substrate holder440.

When the substrate Wf is installed with respect to the substrate holder440, the back plate assembly470is positioned on an upper side with respect to the supporting mechanism460. When the substrate Wf is placed with respect to the supporting mechanism460in this state, the back plate assembly470can be moved down with respect to the supporting mechanism460by adjusting positions in the circumferential direction of the slide plates479to the first grooves466a. After the back plate assembly470is moved down, the slide plates479are fit in the second grooves466bby rotating the slide ring478in the circumferential direction. Since this causes the slide plates479to be opposed to the abutting surfaces466c, a movement in the upward direction of the back plate assembly470is restricted.

The floating mechanism490includes a shaft492extending from the floating plate472to the upper side via a through-hole474aof the back plate474. The shaft492has a lower end secured to the floating plate472. The floating mechanism490includes a flange495mounted on an upper portion of the shaft492with respect to the back plate474. The flange495is mounted on an upper end of the shaft492by a bolt493. The floating mechanism490includes a guide494disposed in the through-hole474a. The guide494has a hole slightly larger than an outer diameter of the shaft492and is mounted on an upper end of the through-hole474a. The guide494is configured to guide a movement in an elevating direction of the shaft492. By providing the guide494, generation of misalignment in a radial direction of the floating plate472and the back plate474can be suppressed.

The floating mechanism490includes a compression spring496mounted on an upper surface of the guide494and a lower surface of the flange495. The compression spring496may be disposed between the upper surface of the back plate474and the lower surface of the flange495. Since the compression spring496has a biasing force that lifts the flange495upward, the floating plate472is biased to the direction away from the back surface of the substrate Wf via the shaft492.

When the fluid is supplied from the fluid source488, the pushing mechanism480presses the substrate Wf to the sealing member464with a force stronger than the biasing force by the floating mechanisms490. The pushing mechanism480can vary a holding position of the substrate Wf depending on a pressure of the fluid supplied from the fluid source488.

Since a crushing amount of the sealing member464increases as the pressure of the fluid supplied from the fluid source488increases, the thickness of the sealing member464becomes thinner in proportion to the increase of the pressure of the fluid supplied from the fluid source488. The thickness of the sealing member464becoming thinner means that the holding position of the substrate Wf is moved downward, resulting in a distance between the anode430and the substrate Wf becoming shorter. That is, by adjusting a flow rate of the fluid supplied from the fluid source488, the distance between the anode430and the substrate Wf can be adjusted. Therefore, with this embodiment, by adjusting the distance between the anode430and the substrate Wf according to a type of the substrate Wf, uniformity of a plating film thickness of the surface to be plated Wf-a can be improved. Further, as illustrated inFIG.5, the substrate holder440includes a removing mechanism471configured to provide a force to remove the substrate Wf from the back plate assembly470to the back surface of the surface to be plated Wf-a of the substrate Wf. The following will describe the removing mechanism471in detail.

<Configuration of Removing Mechanism>

FIG.6is an enlarged perspective view schematically illustrating a part of the substrate holder of this embodiment. As illustrated inFIG.6, the substrate holder440includes a pedestal467supported by the supporting mechanism460, and a contact469mounted on the pedestal467. The pedestal467is, for example, a circular member having a conductive property, such as stainless steel. The contact469is a member mounted on an inner peripheral surface of the pedestal467by a screw or the like and having a conductive property, and is electrically connected to a power source (not illustrated). Although not illustrated inFIG.6, a plurality of the contacts469are arranged along the inner peripheral surface of the pedestal467. A plurality of power feeding contact points469-aare formed in the contact469. The plurality of power feeding contact points469-aare brought into contact with the outer peripheral portion of the surface to be plated Wf-a of the substrate Wf and enables feeding power to the substrate Wf.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the removing mechanism471includes a removing member475arranged in a hole473opening to a surface (specifically a lower surface of the floating plate472) in contact with the back surface of the surface to be plated Wf-a of the substrate Wf of the back plate assembly470. Specifically, in this embodiment, the hole473is a through-hole penetrating the lower surface and the upper surface of the floating plate472. An opening in an upper side of the hole473is covered by a plate-shaped pedestal486. The pedestal486is secured to the floating plate472by a bolt487.

The hole473is formed including a first hole473-aopening in the lower surface of the floating plate472and having a first diameter, and a second hole473-bhaving a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter and communicating with the first hole473-a. The removing member475includes a removing pin475-ahaving a size corresponding to the first diameter, and a flange portion475-bhaving a size corresponding to the second diameter is formed in the removing pin475-a. A distal end portion of the removing pin475-ain contact with the substrate Wf is formed in a hemispherical shape. The removing member475can be constituted of, for example, a resin, such as PVC, PP, PPS, PEEK, or PTFE, or an antistatic grade resin.

The removing mechanism471includes an elastic member477that provides a force that causes the removing member475to project from the lower surface of the floating plate472. The elastic member477can be constituted of, for example, a compression spring. The elastic member477is inserted in a hole formed in a central portion of a base end of the removing pin475-a, and is mounted on a bottom surface of the hole and the pedestal486.

This embodiment allows suppressing the substrate Wf sticking to the back plate assembly470(the floating plate472). That is, when the substrate is installed to the substrate holder440while front and back surfaces of the substrate Wf are in a wet state due to a plating preprocess or the like, sticking (attaching) caused by a surface tension between the substrate Wf and the back plate assembly470occurs in some cases. In this case, when the back plate assembly470is raised after the plating process is completed, the substrate Wf may be raised together being stuck to the back plate assembly470, which may possibly result in a transfer failure of the substrate.

In contrast to this, with this embodiment, as illustrated inFIG.6, in a state where the back plate assembly470(the floating plate472) is pressing the substrate Wf, the elastic member477shrinks and the removing member475is pulled into the hole473. When the back plate assembly470is raised after the plating process is completed in this state, the elastic member477extends and presses the removing member475. In response, the removing member475moves downward until the flange portion475-bof the removing pin475-ais brought into contact with a step between the first hole473-aand the second hole473-b. Accordingly, the removing member475projects from the hole473(an opening in the lower surface of the floating plate472). As a result, the removing member475presses the substrate Wf to remove it from the back plate assembly470, and thus allows suppressing the substrate Wf sticking to the back plate assembly470.

FIG.7is a plan view schematically illustrating the substrate holder of this embodiment. As illustrated inFIG.7, a plurality (6 pieces in this embodiment) of the removing mechanisms471are disposed in an outer peripheral portion of the floating plate472along the circumferential direction. By the removing mechanisms471being arranged in the outer peripheral portion of the floating plate472, air becomes easier to enter between the substrate Wf and the floating plate472, and thus allows efficiently suppressing the sticking of the substrate Wf caused by the surface tension. Further, by the plurality of the removing mechanisms471being disposed, the substrate Wf sticking to the back plate assembly470can be suppressed with more certainty.

The above-described embodiment has shown the example of making the removing member475project from the lower surface of the floating plate472using the elastic member477, but it is not limited thereto. A modification of the removing mechanism471will be described below. Descriptions of configurations similar to the above-described embodiment will be omitted.

FIG.8is an enlarged perspective view schematically illustrating a part of a substrate holder of the modification. The removing mechanism471includes the removing member475arranged in the hole473similar to that of the above-described embodiment, and the fluid source488for supplying a fluid that provides a force that causes the removing member475to project from the lower surface (the lower surface of the floating plate472) of the back plate assembly470.

The removing member475includes the removing pin475-ahaving a size corresponding to the first diameter of the first hole473-a, and the flange portion475-bhaving a size corresponding to the second diameter is formed in the removing pin475-a, but unlike the above-described embodiment, the hole is not formed in the central portion of the base end of the removing pin475-a. A space491between the removing member475and the pedestal486communicates with the flow passage476via a flow passage497formed in the cap485, the rod482, and the floating plate472. Accordingly, the fluid supplied from the fluid source488is introduced into the space491. Due to the flow passage497being formed in the rod482and the floating plate472, an O-ring461is interposed between a lower surface of the rod482and the upper surface of the floating plate472so as to suppress leakage of the fluid. Further, an O-ring489is interposed between a side surface of the flange portion475-bof the removing member475and a side surface of the second hole473-bso as to suppress leakage of the fluid.

According to this modification, in a state where the fluid is supplied from the fluid source488and the back plate assembly470(the floating plate472) is pressing the substrate Wf, the removing member475is pulled into the hole473. By gradually reducing an amount of the fluid supplied from the fluid source488after the plating process is completed in this state, the biasing force by the floating mechanism490becomes larger than the pushing force of the pushing mechanism480, causing the back plate assembly470to be raised. At this point, since the fluid is still being supplied from the fluid source488to the space491, the removing member475is pressed. In response, the removing member475moves downward until the flange portion475-bof the removing in475-ais brought into contact with a step between the first hole473-aand the second hole473-b. Accordingly, the removing member475projects from the hole473(the opening in the lower surface of the floating plate472). As a result, the removing member475presses the substrate Wf to remove it from the back plate assembly470, and thus allows suppressing the substrate Wf sticking to the back plate assembly470.

FIG.9is an enlarged perspective view schematically illustrating a part of the substrate holder of the modification. The removing mechanism471includes a hole465opening in a surface in contact with the back surface of the surface to be plated Wf-a of the substrate Wf of the back plate assembly470, and the fluid source488configured to supply a gas to the back surface of the surface to be plated Wf-a of the substrate Wf via the hole465.

The hole465is formed including a first hole465-aopening in the lower surface of the floating plate472and having a first diameter, and a second hole465-bhaving a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter and communicating with the first hole465-a. The hole465(the second hole465-b) communicates with the flow passage476via the flow passage497formed in the cap485, the rod482, and the floating plate472. Thus, the fluid supplied from the fluid source488is introduced into the hole465(the second hole465-b). By the flow passage497being formed in the rod482and the floating plate472, the O-ring461is interposed between the lower surface of the rod482and the upper surface of the floating plate472so as to suppress leakage of the fluid. Further, an O-ring463is interposed between the lower surface of the floating plate472and an upper surface of the substrate Wf so as to suppress leakage of the fluid.

According to this modification, after the plating process is completed, by gradually reducing the amount of the fluid supplied from the fluid source488, the biasing force by the floating mechanism490becomes larger than the pushing force of the pushing mechanism480, causing the back plate assembly470to be raised. At this point, since the gas is still being supplied from the fluid source488to the hole465, the gas is supplied from the first hole465-ato the upper surface of the substrate Wf. Accordingly, the gas presses the substrate Wf to remove it from the back plate assembly470, and thus enables suppressing the substrate Wf sticking to the back plate assembly470.

The several embodiments of the present invention have been described above in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention without limiting the present invention. The present invention can be changed or improved without departing from the gist thereof, and of course, the equivalents of the present invention are included in the present invention. It is possible to arbitrarily combine or omit respective components described in the claims and specification in a range in which at least a part of the above-described problem can be solved, or a range in which at least a part of the effects can be exhibited.

This application, as one embodiment, discloses a plating apparatus that includes a plating tank, a substrate holder, and an elevating mechanism. The plating tank is configured to house a plating solution. The substrate holder is configured to hold a substrate with a surface to be plated facing downward. The elevating mechanism is configured to move up and down the substrate holder. The substrate holder includes a supporting mechanism, a back plate assembly, and a removing mechanism. The supporting mechanism is configured to support an outer peripheral portion of the surface to be plated of the substrate. The back plate assembly is arranged on a back surface side of the surface to be plated of the substrate. The back plate assembly is configured to sandwich the substrate with the supporting mechanism. The removing mechanism is configured to provide a force that removes the substrate from the back plate assembly to a back surface of the surface to be plated of the substrate.

Further, this application, as one embodiment, discloses a plating apparatus in which the removing mechanism includes a removing member arranged in a hole opening in a surface to be in contact with the back surface of the surface to be plated of the substrate of the back plate assembly, and an elastic member that provides a force that causes the removing member to project from a lower surface of the back plate assembly.

Further, this application, as one embodiment, discloses a plating apparatus in which the removing mechanism includes a removing member arranged in a hole opening in a surface to be in contact with the back surface of the surface to be plated of the substrate of the back plate assembly, and a fluid source for supplying a fluid that provides a force that causes the removing member to project from a lower surface of the back plate assembly.

Further, this application, as one embodiment, discloses a plating apparatus in which the removing mechanism includes a fluid source configured to supply a gas to the back surface of the surface to be plated of the substrate via a hole opening in a surface to be in contact with the back surface of the surface to be plated of the substrate of the back plate assembly.

Further, this application, as one embodiment, discloses a plating apparatus in which a plurality of the removing mechanisms are disposed in an outer peripheral portion of the back plate assembly along a circumferential direction.

Further, this application, as one embodiment, discloses a plating apparatus in which the back plate assembly includes a floating plate arranged on the back surface side of the surface to be plated of the substrate, a floating mechanism for biasing the floating plate to a direction away from a back surface of the substrate, and a pushing mechanism for pressing the floating plate to the back surface of the substrate against a biasing force by the floating mechanism, and the removing mechanism is configured to provide a force that removes the substrate from the floating plate to the back surface of the surface to be plated of the substrate.

Further, this application, as one embodiment, discloses a plating apparatus in which the pushing mechanism includes a back plate arranged on an upper side of the floating plate, a flow passage formed inside the back plate so as to open to a lower surface of the back plate, a diaphragm arranged in the flow passage, a pressing member arranged between the diaphragm and the floating plate, and a fluid source for supplying a fluid to the diaphragm via the flow passage.

Further, this application, as one embodiment, discloses a plating apparatus in which the floating mechanism includes a shaft that extends upward from the floating plate via a through-hole of the back plate, a flange mounted on an upper portion of the shaft with respect to the back plate, and a spring member mounted on an upper surface of the back plate and the flange.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

400. . . plating module410. . . plating tank440. . . substrate holder442. . . elevating mechanism460. . . supporting mechanism462. . . supporting member470. . . back plate assembly471. . . removing mechanism472. . . floating plate473. . . hole473-a. . . first hole473-b. . . second hole474. . . back plate475. . . removing member475-a. . . removing pin475-b. . . flange portion476. . . flow passage477. . . elastic member480. . . pushing mechanism482. . . rod484. . . diaphragm488. . . fluid source490. . . floating mechanism492. . . shaft495. . . flange1000. . . plating apparatusWf . . . substrateWf-a . . . surface to be plated