Patent ID: 7238092

Claim:
A system for uniformly distributing an applied low force during processing a workpiece surface using an electrochemical mechanical process with a solution applied to the workpiece surface and a potential difference between an electrode and the workpiece surface, the system comprising: a workpiece carrier for holding the workpiece in position during the electrochemical mechanical processing; and a workpiece-surface-influencing-device (WSID) for uniformly distributing the applied low force to the workpiece surface, the WSID including a compressible material adapted to cause a top surface of the WSID to conform to the workpiece surface when contact and relative motion occurs between the top surface of the WSID and the workpiece surface, wherein the WSID includes: a flexible top layer as the top surface; a rigid bottom layer; and a compressible intermediate layer containing the compressible material disposed in between the flexible top layer and the rigid bottom layer, wherein the rigid bottom layer, the compressible layer, and the flexible top layer each include a plurality of openings through which the solution can pass, wherein the plurality of openings in the compressible layer form a plurality of channels, wherein at least some of the plurality of channels are parallel to each other, and wherein the flexible top layer further includes another plurality of channels in which at least some of the plurality of channels intersect with at least some of the another plurality of channels in a cross hatch configuration.