The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 13, 2001
Daniel J. Woodruff, Kalispell, MT (US);
Kyle M. Hanson, Kalispell, MT (US);
Robert W. Batz, Jr., Kalispell, MT (US);
James T. Kuechmann, Kalispell, MT (US);
Semitool, Inc., Kalispell, MT (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for electroplating a workpiece is disclosed in which the apparatus includes a workpiece holding structure. The workpiece holding structure includes a workpiece support having at least one surface that is disposed to engage a front side of the workpiece and at least one electrical contact disposed for contact with at least one corresponding electrical contact on a back-side of the workpiece. The workpiece includes one or more electrically conductive paths between the at least one corresponding electrical contact and a front-side of the workpiece to facilitate electroplating of the front-side surface. An actuator is provided for driving the workpiece support between a first position in which the at least one electrical contact of the workpiece and the at least one contact of the workpiece holding structure are disengaged from one another, and a second position in which the at least one surface clamps the workpiece in a position in which the at least one electrical contact of the workpiece holding structure electrically engages the at least one electrical contact of the workpiece.