Patent ID: 7662253

Claim:
An apparatus for removing metal oxide from a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of devices for removing said metal oxide from said substrate when said substrate is being inserted into a plating system, said plurality of devices being external to said plating system, said plurality of devices forming at least a first linear aggregate discharge orifice set for providing a plasma curtain that contacts a slice of said substrate on a same side of said substrate when said substrate is inserted into said plating system, said substrate being configured to be inserted into said plating system in a first direction, said first linear aggregate discharge orifice set being perpendicular to said first direction when said substrate is inserted into said plating system, said first linear aggregate discharge orifice set being parallel to said slice of said substrate when said substrate is inserted into said plating system, said plurality of devices including at least a first device and a second device, wherein each device of said plurality of devices includes at least a powered electrode, a first dielectric layer, a first wire mesh disposed between said powered electrode and said first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer disposed between said first dielectric layer and said powered electrode, wherein said first wire mesh is sandwiched between said first dielectric layer and said second dielectric layer, and a grounded electrode, said grounded electrode including an orifice at one end of said grounded electrode, said orifice configured for providing plasma to remove at least a portion of said metal oxide, said first dielectric layer disposed between said first wire mesh and said grounded electrode.