Patent ID: 8157978

Claim:
An electrochemical etching system for etching a workpiece, said electrochemical etching system comprising: a plurality of first containers, each first container having a first end and a second end, said first end having an opening; a plurality of first electrodes, each first electrode being positioned within a corresponding first container at said second end; a plurality of second electrodes; an electrolyte solution; a second container larger than said first containers, said first containers being discrete containers relative to said second container, said second container containing said electrolyte solution and further containing said workpiece, said first containers and said second electrodes submerged within said electrolyte solution, said second electrodes being positioned adjacent to a bottom surface of said workpiece, and said first containers each being positioned with said opening adjacent to a different region of a top surface of said workpiece opposite a corresponding one of said second electrodes such that said first electrodes and said second electrodes are arranged in multiple first electrode-second electrode pairs; and a plurality of individually controllable current sources, each current source being connected to a corresponding first electrode-second electrode pair and further being capable of providing a current flow through said electrolyte solution between said corresponding first electrode-second electrode pair in order to selectively etch a specific region of said top surface of said workpiece.