Patent ID: 7153410

Claim:
An apparatus for electrochemical-mechanical processing of microelectronic workpieces, comprising: a workpiece holder configured to receive a microelectronic workpiece; a workpiece electrode configured to contact a processing side of the workpiece when the workpiece is received in the workpiece holder; a first remote electrode and a second remote electrode, the first and second remote electrodes being spaced apart from the workpiece holder; a mechanical medium having a bearing surface facing the workpiece holder and a backside facing the first and second remote electrodes; a switching assembly coupled to the workpiece electrode, the first remote electrode, and the second remote electrode; an AC power supply electrically coupled to the switching assembly to be in electrical communication with the first and second remote electrodes via the switching assembly forming a closed circuit; and a DC power supply electrically coupled to the switching assembly to be in electrical communication with the workpiece electrode at one polarity and at least one of the first and second remote electrodes at an opposite polarity via the switching assembly.