Lam Research Corporation

Lawrence Ossowski

Steven T Mayer

Mark E Emerson

Richard G Abraham

Gregory Kearns

A device for measuring electrical properties of electrical contacts within an electroplating apparatus has a disc-shaped structure like that of a wafer. Multiple conductive pads are formed to collectively circumscribe an outer periphery of the disc-shaped structure. Adjacently positioned ones of the conductive pads are electrically isolated from each other. The device includes a current source that supplies electric current at a first terminal and sinks electric current at a second terminal. The device includes measurement circuitry, having first and second input terminals, that determines a value of an electrical parameter based on signals present at the first and second input terminals. The device includes switching circuitry for connecting selected ones of the conductive pads to the first and second terminals of the current source and to the first and second input terminals of the measurement circuitry at a given time. The device also includes an onboard power supply.

Apparatus for measuring condition of electroplating cell components and associated methods

An apparatus for automatically generating a metal-containing electrolyte (e.g., an electrolyte containing Snions and an acid) includes an anolyte chamber configured to house an active anode (e.g., a metallic tin anode), an anolyte, and a sensor (e.g., one or more sensors) measuring a concentration of metal ions in the anolyte; a catholyte chamber configured to house a hydrogen-generating cathode and a catholyte; and a controller having program instructions for processing data from the sensor and for automatically generating an electrolyte having metal ions in a target concentration range in the anolyte chamber. In some embodiments, the apparatus is in communication with an electroplating apparatus and is capable to deliver the generated electrolyte to the electroplating apparatus on demand. In some embodiments, a densitometer and a conductivity meter are together used as sensors, and the apparatus is configured to generate low alpha tin electrolyte containing an acid.

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Tualatin, OR, United States of America

Lawrence Ossowski