Lucent Technologies Inc.

Lars Goran Holmbom

Joseph Anthony Abys

Joseph John Maisano

An apparatus for measuring the throwing power of electroplating solutions which provides a nearly linear current density distribution across the panel. The apparatus includes a cylindrical body adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof, a cylindrical cathode arranged coaxially about a central portion of the cylindrical body, an anode coaxially positioned at a lower end portion of the cylindrical body, a conical shield coaxially arranged around an upper end portion of the cathode; and an annular disk-baffle coaxially arranged around a lower end portion of the cathode. The conical shield and the disk-baffle provide a substantially linear current distribution over the cathode. In another aspect, the invention includes a method for measuring the throwing power of an electrolyte comprising using the instrument of the invention to analyze the variation in the appearance of an electrodeposit over a wide range of current densities along test panel by providing a nearly linear current density distribution across the panel in order to determine optimal electroplating conditions.

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Linkoping, Sweden

Lars Goran Holmbom