Patent ID: 7090751

Claim:
A processing chamber for electrochemical processing of a microelectronic workpiece, comprising: a reaction vessel including an electro-reaction cell configured to hold a processing solution and a virtual electrode unit in the electro-reaction cell, wherein the virtual electrode unit has an opening that defines a virtual electrode; an electrode assembly disposed relative to the electro-reaction cell to be in fluid communication with the virtual electrode unit, the electrode assembly including an interface element; and an electrode in the electrode assembly, wherein the interface element is between the electrode and the virtual electrode unit, wherein the electrode assembly further comprises a plurality of remote electrode compartments separate from the electro-reaction cell including a first remote electrode compartment and a second remote electrode compartment; the electro-reaction cell further comprises a plurality of virtual electrodes including a first virtual electrode and a second virtual electrode; the processing chamber further comprises a flow control system having a first fluid passageway between the first remote electrode compartment and the first virtual electrode and a second fluid passageway between the second remote electrode compartment and the second virtual electrode; and the electrode comprises a first electrode in the first remote electrode compartment and the processing chamber further comprises a second electrode in the second remote electrode compartment.