Patent ID: 7972485

Claim:
An apparatus for removing material from microelectronic substrates, the apparatus 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, with at least one of the electrodes being coupleable to a source of varying electrical signals; and 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 a predefined distance from the polishing surface but is not covered by the polishing surface.