Patent ID: 7220166

Claim:
An apparatus for removing material from microelectronic substrates, comprising: a support member configured to releasably carry a microelectronic substrate; a first electrode spaced apart from the microelectronic substrate when the microelectronic substrate is carried by the support member; a second electrode spaced apart from the microelectronic substrate when the microelectronic substrate is carried by the support member, the second electrode being spaced apart from the first electrode; a polishing medium, at least a portion of which is positioned between the electrodes and the support member, the polishing medium having a polishing surface positioned to contact the microelectronic substrate when the microelectronic substrate is carried by the support member, wherein at least a portion of the first and second electrodes is recessed from the polishing surface; and a source of varying electrical signals coupled to at least one of the first and second electrodes, the source providing an electrical signal having a power sufficient to remove conductive material from the microelectronic substrate while the polishing medium contacts the microelectronic substrate, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode and a portion of the polishing medium between the first and second electrodes are elongated along parallel axes.