Patent ID: 6916412

Claim:
A method of modifying an electrochemical processing chamber from a first configuration for treating a first workpiece to a second configuration for treating a different second workpiece, the electrochemical processing chamber initially comprising a reaction vessel having a plurality of electrodes positioned in electrically separate electrode compartments and a first virtual electrode unit defining a first set of virtual electrodes having predefined relative positions adapted for treating the first workpiece, each of the virtual electrodes being in fluid communication with one of the electrode compartments, the method comprising: providing a second virtual electrode unit defining a second set of virtual electrodes having predetermined relative positions adapted for treating the second workpiece, the relative positions of the virtual electrodes in the first set differing from the relative positions of the virtual electrodes in the second set; and replacing the first virtual electrode unit with the second virtual electrode unit, thereby modifying an effective electric field of the electrochemical processing chamber for treatment of the second workpiece without necessitating modification of the electrodes.