1. A system configured to provide current to a conductive surface of a wafer during an electrochemical process, the system comprising:
a first electrode spaced apart from the conductive surface;
a conductive liquid wetting only a circumferential edge portion of the conductive surface and the first electrode, wherein the current flows between the electrode and the conductive surface through the conductive liquid; and
a second electrode having an electrical polarity opposite of a polarity of the first electrode, the second electrode facing the conductive surface.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductive liquid is an acidic solution.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the conductive liquid is a sulfuric acid solution.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductive liquid is a salt solution.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductive liquid is a liquid metal.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power supply connected to the first electrode.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the power supply is connected to the second electrode.
8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a second liquid in liquid contact with the second electrode and the conductive surface.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second liquid is a plating solution.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductive liquid is in a liquid chamber.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first electrode is immersed in the conductive liquid.
12. A liquid contact configured to apply potential to a conductive surface of a wafer during an electrochemical process, comprising a liquid conductor configured to contact only a circumferential edge portion of the conductive surface and a first electrode, wherein the first electrode is spaced from the wafer and the first electrode is connected to a power supply connected to a second electrode having a polarity opposite a polarity of the conductive surface.
13. The liquid contact of claim 12, wherein the liquid conductor is in a liquid chamber.
14. The liquid contact of claim 13, wherein the first electrode is immersed in the liquid conductor.
15. The liquid contact of claim 12, further comprising a liquid in liquid contact with the second electrode and the conductive surface.
16. The liquid contact of claim 12, wherein the first electrode is a cathode and the second electrode is an anode.
17. The liquid contact of claim 12, wherein the first electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes connected to the power supply.
18. A system configured to provide current to a conductive surface of a wafer during an electrochemical process, the system comprising:
a first electrode spaced from the conductive surface;
a source of conductive liquid configured to supply a conductive liquid to be in
liquid contact with only a circumferential edge portion of the conductive surface and the first electrode; and
a second electrode facing the conductive surface and having an electric polarity opposite of a polarity of the first electrode.
19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a power supply connected to the first electrode.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the power supply is connected to the second electrode.
21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a plating solution in liquid contact with the second electrode and the conductive surface.
22. A system configured to provide current to a conductive surface of a wafer during an electrochemical process, the system comprising:
a first electrode spaced from the conductive surface;
a source of conductive liquid configured to supply a conductive liquid to be in liquid contact with at least a portion of the conductive surface and the first electrode;
a second electrode facing the conductive surface and having an electric polarity opposite of a polarity of the first electrode;
a liquid chamber having an interior configured to hold the conductive liquid from the source of conductive liquid such that the conductive liquid contacts a circumferential edge of the conductive surface;
a first seal configured to provide a seal between a back surface of the wafer and the interior of the liquid chamber; and
a second seal positioned near the circumferential edge of the conductive surface, the seal being configured to provide a seal between the interior of the liquid chamber and a central portion of the conductive surface.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A computer-implemented method of administering a wagering game, comprising:
providing a gaming table with a gaming surface, a plurality of player areas on the gaming surface, a processor for administering the game, and a card-handling device capable of reading cards, wherein each player area comprises a player display and a user interface in communication with the processor;
accepting an indication of at least one first wager to play a first wagering game from at least one individual player at a user interface corresponding to each individual player and displaying each individual player’s first wager on a first wager area displayed on the individual player’s display;
accepting indications of second wagers from each of at least two players to play the wagering game against one another at each of at least two user interfaces, wherein accepting indications of the second wagers comprises allocating a first portion of each second wager to a first pot and a second portion of each second wager to a second pot, an amount of the first pot displayed on a first pot meter and an amount of the second pot displayed on a second pot meter;
dealing randomized physical playing cards from the card-handling device to at least each player, wherein the card-handing device receives card rank and suit information by reading the cards, and wherein at least one of the processor for administering the game and another processor coupled to the user interface is further programmed with game rules applicable to the first and second wagers;
the processor for administering the game resolving the first wager for each player according to the game rules applicable to the first wager;
the processor for administering the game resolving the second wager for the at least two players who played the wagering game against one another according to the game rules applicable to the second wager, wherein at least a portion of the first pot is awarded to at least one player at a conclusion of each round of play by crediting at least one player account with a payout amount;
the processor for administering the game awarding at least a portion of the second pot to at least one player holding a winning hand according to the game rules applicable to the second wager by crediting at least one player account with a payout amount; and
retaining the portions of the second wagers allocated to the second pot in the second pot when no player holds a predetermined winning hand according to the game rules applicable to the second wagers, making that portion of the second wagers available for a player to win in a future round of play.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the game rules applicable to the first wager require the dealer to receive a hand of cards, and when the player holds a higher ranking hand as compared to the dealer, the first wager is awarded to the player.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of game rules applicable to the second wager comprises identifying a plurality of predetermined winning hands and corresponding payout odds.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising a predetermined winning hand that qualifies the player to win an entire amount of the second pot.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein accepting indications of the second wagers comprises requiring each player to make the second wager to participate in the wagering game.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein accepting indications of the second wagers comprises accepting the indications of the second wagers from fewer than all players participating in the wagering game.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein awarding the at least a portion of the second pot comprises requiring the at least two players have placed the second wager for each round of play subsequent to a round of play during which the second pot was empty to be eligible to be awarded the at least a portion of the second pot.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein awarding the at least a portion of the second pot comprises awarding an entire amount of the second pot.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein awarding the entire amount of the second pot comprises dividing the second pot among at least two players.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein awarding the at least a portion of the second pot comprises awarding fixed-odds payouts comprising a portion of the second pot.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the wagering game comprises a five-card poker game or a variant of poker, wherein the game rules applicable to the second wager comprise determining if a player holds a predetermined winning hand of a five-card straight or higher-ranked hand.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the wagering game comprises blackjack or a variant of blackjack, wherein the game rules applicable to the second wager comprise determining if a player holds a predetermined winning hand of any hand ranking equal to 21.
13. A gaming table for administering a wagering game, comprising:
a playing surface including at least one player interface;
at least one dealer interface; and
at least one processor programmed to:
accept a first wager from individual players to play a first wagering game according to a first set of game rules;
accept a second wager from at least two players to play the wagering game against one another according to a second set of game rules;
place a portion of the second wager in a first pot;
place a portion of the second wager in a second pot;
resolve the first wager for each player according to a first set of game rules;
resolve the second wager for the at least two players against one another according to a second set of game rules, wherein at least a portion of the first pot is awarded to at least one player at a conclusion of each round of play;
generate an instruction to award at least a portion of the second pot to at least one player when the at least one player holds a winning hand according to the second set of game rules; and
generate an instruction to retain all remainders of all second wagers in the second pot when no player holds a winning hand according to the second set of game rules, wherein all remainders of all second wagers in the first pot are accumulated for a future round of play.
14. The gaming table of claim 13, further comprising a player display, wherein the player interface is integrated into the player display.
15. The gaming table of claim 14, wherein the player interface is a touchscreen interface.
16. The gaming table of claim 13, wherein the first set of game rules comprises a game against a dealer hand.
17. The gaming table of claim 13, wherein the first set of game rules comprises a plurality of predetermined winning hands with corresponding payout odds.
18. The gaming table of claim 17, wherein the second set of game rules defines a predetermined winning hand that pays an entire amount of the second pot.
19. The gaming table of claim 13, wherein the second set of game rules comprises a five-card poker game, wherein a highest-ranking hand wins the second pot.
20. The gaming table of claim 13, further comprising a card-handling device capable of reading cards.