Stable plating performance in copper electrochemical plating
First Claim
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1. A system for maintaining stable plating performance in copper electrochemical plating IC devices comprising:
- an electrolyte tank containing the copper-plating electrolyte;
an electroplating cell receiving said copper plating electrolyte from said electrolyte tank, said cell adapted to receive the IC devices to be plated;
a micro-filter receiving said copper plating electrolyte from said cell;
a first valve interposed said cell and said micro-filter, said first valve is operable to control the flow of said copper plating electrolyte to said micro-filter;
a carbon-filter coupled to said cell for receiving said copper plating electrolyte from said cell, said carbon-filter for removing byproducts of additives from said electrolyte, said electrolyte flowing to said micro-filter from said carbon-filter;
a second valve interposed said cell and said carbon-filter, said second valve operable to control the flow of said copper plating electrolyte from said cell to said carbon-filter;
a programmable controller having a memory, input circuits, valve control circuits, output circuits, and analysis control circuits, said controller operable for controlling said first and second valves in such a manner that said copper plating electrolyte flows from said cell to one of said filters; and
an algorithm stored in said memory of said programmable controller and responsive to several inputs measuring a plating process for opening one of said valves and closing the other of said valves for controlling said flow of the copper plating electrolyte.
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Abstract
A real-time and in-line process control system maintains stable plating performance in copper electrochemical plating IC devices by using a real time, on-line programmable controller. Two or more valves to direct the flow of the electrolyte from the electroplating cell back to the reservoir connect an alternative carbon-filter as well as a mirco-filter. The programmable controller controls the operation of at least two in-line valves to direct the flow of the electrolyte within the system.
37 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A system for maintaining stable plating performance in copper electrochemical plating IC devices comprising:
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an electrolyte tank containing the copper-plating electrolyte;
an electroplating cell receiving said copper plating electrolyte from said electrolyte tank, said cell adapted to receive the IC devices to be plated;
a micro-filter receiving said copper plating electrolyte from said cell;
a first valve interposed said cell and said micro-filter, said first valve is operable to control the flow of said copper plating electrolyte to said micro-filter;
a carbon-filter coupled to said cell for receiving said copper plating electrolyte from said cell, said carbon-filter for removing byproducts of additives from said electrolyte, said electrolyte flowing to said micro-filter from said carbon-filter;
a second valve interposed said cell and said carbon-filter, said second valve operable to control the flow of said copper plating electrolyte from said cell to said carbon-filter;
a programmable controller having a memory, input circuits, valve control circuits, output circuits, and analysis control circuits, said controller operable for controlling said first and second valves in such a manner that said copper plating electrolyte flows from said cell to one of said filters; and
an algorithm stored in said memory of said programmable controller and responsive to several inputs measuring a plating process for opening one of said valves and closing the other of said valves for controlling said flow of the copper plating electrolyte. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 8)
a cyclic voltammetric stripping, CVS, system connected to said tank; and
a third valve operatively interposed said electrolyte tank and said cyclic voltammetric stripping system, said third valve operatively controlled by said valve controls in said programmable controller.
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3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said programmable controller operates in real time and on-line, wherein said programmable controller controls said flow and said byproducts from said electrolyte during said plating process.
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8. The system according to claim 1 wherein said micro-filter and said carbon-filter include sensors to provide information indicative of a condition of said electrolyte.
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4. A method for controlling the stability of the electrolyte in a copper electrochemical plating of IC devices comprising the steps of:
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supplying a tank of copper plating electrolyte;
flowing the copper-plating electrolyte from the electrolyte tank, to an electroplating cell;
placing the IC devices to be plated in the electroplating cell;
filtering through a micro-filter the copper-plating electrolyte flowing from the cell;
controlling through a first valve the flow of the copper-plating electrolyte to the micro-filter;
controlling through a second valve the flow of the copper-plating electrolyte from the cell;
removing additives from the electrolyte from the cell through a carbon-filter coupled to the cell and the second valve, said electrolyte flowing to said micro-filter from said carbon-filter;
controlling by a programmable controller the first and second valves in such a manner that the copper plating electrolyte flows from the cell to only one of the filters; and
storing in the memory of the programmable controller an algorithm responsive to several inputs measuring a plating process for opening one of the valves and closing the other of the valves for controlling the flow of the copper-plating electrolyte. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 9)
flowing the copper plating electrolyte through a cyclic voltammetric stripping, CVS, system connected to the tank; and
controlling the flow of the copper-plating electrolyte through a third valve from the electrolyte tank to the cyclic voltammetric stripping system by valve controls in the programmable controller.
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6. The method according to claim 4 wherein the step of controlling the first valve and the second valve is a mutually exclusive operation wherein only one of the valves is open and the other valve is closed.
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7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the first valve and second valve are mutually exclusive in operation.
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9. The method according to claim 4 wherein said micro-filter and said carbon-filter include sensors to provide information indicative of a condition of said electrolyte.
Specification