Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080213978 | Debris management for wafer singulation - The present invention discloses methods and apparatuses for substrate singulation. Embodiments of the present invention comprise cryogenic-assist scribing or cutting mechanism for debris reduction, preferably cryogenic-assist laser scribe or cutting; controlling mechanism for debris flow and redeposition during laser process; and integrated, dry debris removal scribing process with breaking mechanism. An exemplary embodiment comprises an integrated housing for aligning a laser beam with the cryogenic cleaning beam. The integrated housing is preferably made of low thermal conductivity material to provide a high temperature gradient between the low temperature of the cryogenic fluid and the ambient temperature, preventing condensation of the moisture. The entire areas, or the critical areas of the apparatus can also be purged with flowing “dry” inert gases to further reduce the condensation moisture. Reactive gas can be introduced to react with debris, converting into gaseous form for ease of removal. | 09-04-2008 |
20080213979 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BREAKING SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE, METHOD FOR BREAKING SOLAR CELL AND METHOD FOR FABRICATION OF SOLAR CELL MODULE - A method and apparatus for breaking a semiconductor substrate along a predetermined area over which a split groove is formed. The breaking apparatus includes a table for placing a portion of the semiconductor substrate inside the predetermined area and a breaking blade being operable to move downward from a position above the semiconductor substrate placed on the table to thereby compress a portion of the semiconductor substrate outside the predetermined area so that the semiconductor substrate is broken along the split groove. The predetermined area of the semiconductor substrate has at least a neighboring pair of sides intersecting at an angle of less than 180 degrees, and the breaking blade has a projection which, when the semiconductor substrate is broken, compresses a portion of the semiconductor substrate outside the one side so that the one side is compressed ahead of the other side. | 09-04-2008 |
20080227272 | Wafer dividing method - A method of dividing a wafer having a plurality of streets which are formed in a lattice pattern on the front surface and having devices which are formed in a plurality of areas sectioned by the plurality of streets into individual devices along the streets, the method comprising the steps of applying a laser beam of a wavelength having permeability for the wafer along the streets to form a deteriorated layer along the streets in the inside of the wafer; forming a groove in areas corresponding to the streets from the rear side of the wafer; and exerting external force to the wafer where the deteriorated layer and the groove have been formed along the streets to divide the wafer into individual devices along the streets where the deteriorated layers and the grooves have been formed. | 09-18-2008 |
20080233711 | MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR DEVICES - A manufacturing method for devices including a wafer supporting step of mounting an adhesive film to the lower surface of a wafer and attaching the wafer through the adhesive film to the upper surface of a dicing tape mounted on an annular frame, a laser processing step of applying a pulsed laser beam having an absorption wavelength to the wafer along separation lines formed on the upper surface of the wafer after mounting the adhesive film to the dicing tape, thereby separating the wafer into the individual devices and cutting the adhesive film, and a pickup step of expanding the dicing tape after performing the laser processing step to thereby increase the spacing between any adjacent ones of the individual devices, and peeling off to pick up each of the individual devices from the dicing tape in the condition where the adhesive film is mounted on the lower surface of each device. | 09-25-2008 |
20080233712 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DEVICE - A method of manufacturing a device includes the steps of forming dividing grooves with a predetermined depth along planned dividing lines of a wafer, then grinding the backside surface of the wafer to expose the dividing grooves on the back side and to divide the wafer into individual devices, mounting a UV-curing adhesive film to the backside surface of the wafer divided into the individual devices, adhering the adhesive film side of the wafer to a dicing tape attached to an annular frame, radiating UV rays from the face side of the wafer to cure the regions of the adhesive film which correspond to the dividing grooves, expanding the dicing tape to exert tensile forces on the adhesive film, so as to split the adhesive film into the individual devices, with the cured regions of the adhesive film as starting points of splitting, and releasing the device from the dicing tape and thereby picking up the device. | 09-25-2008 |
20080233713 | METHOD OF PROCESSING SILICON WAFER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING LIQUID EJECTING HEAD - A break pattern is formed on a silicon wafer using an anisotropic etching process. The break pattern includes a plurality of through holes, each of having a first plane perpendicular to a plane defined by the silicon wafer, a second plane opposite to the first plane, a third plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the silicon wafer and intersects the first plane at an acute angle, and a fourth plane that is opposite to the third plane, is perpendicular to the plane of the silicon wafer, and intersects the second plane at an acute angle. The anisotropic etching is performed using a mask pattern having a predetermined shape to form, around the break pattern, a thin portion that has a smaller thickness than other portions of the silicon wafer. The silicon wafer is then divided into a plurality of silicon substrates along the break pattern. | 09-25-2008 |
20080233714 | METHOD FOR FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - An object of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating a semiconductor device to fabricate a semiconductor device. To achieve such an object, the present invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device composed of a hetero-junction substrate formed of a semiconductor substrate, and a heterogeneous substrate made of a material other than semiconductor bonded to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A dicing step of cutting the hetero-junction substrate into semiconductor chips comprises a first dicing step of forming grooves having a depth of at least the thickness of the semiconductor substrate on the surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a second dicing step of cutting the entire hetero-junction substrate along the grooves to divide the hetero-junction substrate into a plurality of semiconductor chips. | 09-25-2008 |
20080274603 | Semiconductor Package Having Through-Hole Via on Saw Streets Formed with Partial Saw - A method of forming through-hole vias in a semiconductor wafer involves forming a semiconductor wafer with many die having contact pads disposed on each die. The semiconductor wafer has saw street guides between each die. A trench is formed in the saw streets. The trench extends partially but not completely through the wafer. The uncut portion of the saw street guides below the trench along a backside of the wafer maintains structural support for the semiconductor wafer. The trench is filled with organic material. Via holes are formed in the organic material. Traces are formed between the contact pads and via holes. Conductive material is deposited in the via holes to form metal vias. The uncut portion of the saw streets below the trench along the backside of the semiconductor wafer portion is removed. The semiconductor wafer is singulated along the saw street guides to separate the die. | 11-06-2008 |
20080280421 | WAFER DIVIDING METHOD - A wafer dividing method that includes a modifying layer forming step in which a laser beam with a wavelength that can pass through the wafer is focused on the inside of the wafer from a rear surface side thereof, and applied along the street to form a modifying layer having a thickness corresponding to at least a device-finishing thickness from the front surface of the wafer; a rear surface grinding step in which an area, corresponding to the device area, of the rear surface of the wafer subjected to the modifying layer forming step is ground and formed to have a thickness corresponding to the device-finishing thickness and to have an annular reinforcing section at an area corresponding to the outer circumferential redundant area; a reinforcing section cutting step in which the wafer is cut along the inner circumference of the annular reinforcing section; a wafer support step in which the rear surface of the wafer whose annular reinforcing section is cut is stuck to a dicing tape attached to an annular frame; and a wafer rupture step in which an external force is applied to the wafer stuck to the dicing tape to rupture it along the street formed with the modifying layer. | 11-13-2008 |
20080293219 | Semiconductor wafer, semiconductor chip and dicing method of a semiconductor wafer - The metal wirings of the uppermost layer are exposed so as to be contactable to the probe and arranged so as to be spatially separated from one another via spaces that are approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the dicing area, and the position and size of the space is designed considering a thickness of a cutting edge of a blade and relative positioning error, and the blade does not cross any metal wirings when the blade passes through the dicing area, thereby preventing the generation of an abruption or a burr due to the dicing to enhance a yield in IC production. | 11-27-2008 |
20080311727 | METHOD OF CUTTING A WAFER - In a method of cutting a wafer, a supporting member is attached to an upper surface of the wafer on which semiconductor chips are formed. An opening is formed at a lower surface of the wafer along a scribe lane of the wafer. The lower surface of the wafer may be plasma-etched to reduce a thickness of the wafer. A tensile tape may be attached to the lower surface of the wafer. Here, the tensile tape includes sequentially stacked tensile films having different tensile modules. The supporting member is then removed. The tensile tape is cooled to increase the tensile modules between the tensile films. The tensile tape is tensed until the tensile films are cut using the tensile modules difference to separate the tensile tape from the semiconductor chips. Thus, the lower surface of the wafer may be plasma-etched without using an etching mask. | 12-18-2008 |
20080318395 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMAGING AND CUTTING SEMICONDUCTOR WAFERS AND OTHER SEMICONDUCTOR WORKPIECES - Methods and systems for imaging and cutting semiconductor wafers and other microelectronic device substrates are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system for singulating microelectronic devices from a substrate includes an X-ray imaging system having an X-ray source spaced apart from an X-ray detector. The X-ray source can emit a beam of X-rays through the substrate and onto the X-ray detector, and X-ray detector can generate an X-ray image of at least a portion of the substrate. A method in accordance with another embodiment includes detecting spacing information for irregularly spaced dies of a semiconductor workpiece. The method can further include automatically controlling a process for singulating the dies of the semiconductor workpiece, based at least in part on the spacing information. For example, individual dies can be singulated from a workpiece via non-straight line cuts and/or multiple cutter passes. | 12-25-2008 |
20080318396 | Grooving Bumped Wafer Pre-Underfill System - A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a bumped wafer. A plurality of grooves is formed in an active surface of the bumped wafer. A pre-underfill layer is disposed over the active surface, filling the plurality of grooves. A first adhesive layer is mounted to the pre-underfill layer, and a back surface of the bumped wafer is ground. A second adhesive layer is mounted to the back surface of the bumped wafer. The first adhesive layer is peeled from the active surface of the bumped wafer, or the second adhesive layer is mounted to the first adhesive layer. The bumped wafer is singulated into a plurality of segments by cutting the bumped wafer along the plurality of grooves. | 12-25-2008 |
20090004827 | LEAD CUTTER AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - Aimed at stably forming sheared surfaces of leads of semiconductor devices, and at raising ratio of formation of plated layers onto the sheared surfaces of the leads, a lead cutter has a die | 01-01-2009 |
20090017600 | WAFER DIVIDING METHOD USING LASER BEAM WITH AN ANNULAR SPOT - In a wafer dividing method of dividing a wafer into individual devices, the wafer being sectioned by streets to form the devices each made of a laminated body in which an insulating film and a function film are laminated on a front surface of a semiconductor substrate, the method includes a laser processing groove forming step for forming a laser processing groove on the laminated body so as to reach the semiconductor substrate by applying a laser beam formed with an annular spot to the laminated body side of the wafer along the street, the annular spot having an outer diameter larger than a width of a cutting blade and smaller than a width of the street; and a cutting step for allowing a cutting blade to cut the semiconductor substrate of the semiconductor wafer along the laser processing groove formed at the street. | 01-15-2009 |
20090029526 | Method of Exposing Circuit Lateral Interconnect Contacts by Wafer Saw - A method for fabricating wafer-level packages including lateral interconnects. The method includes precutting a cover wafer at the locations where the cover wafer will be completely cut through to separate the wafer-level packages. The cover wafer is bonded to the substrate wafer using bonding rings so as to seal the integrated circuit within a cavity between the cover wafer and the substrate wafer, where the precuts face the substrate wafer. The cover wafer is then cut at the precut locations to remove the unwanted portions of the cover wafer between the packages and expose contacts or probe pads for the lateral interconnects. The substrate wafer is then cut between the wafer-level packages to separate the packages. | 01-29-2009 |
20090061597 | SINGULATOR METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method for the singulation of hybrid circuits from a pre-scribed plate containing hybrid circuits or made of other brittle materials. The method includes the steps of providing a platen used to support the hybrid plate and which has a surface comprised of a series of sections each angled downward from its adjacent section, aligning the plate on the platen so that the scribe lines align with the surface discontinuities at the angles between the sections, securing the plate to the platen with vacuum pressure, creating a pressure differential between a space above the plate and a space below the plate, and applying the pressure differential to sequentially break the plate along the pre-scribed lines by forcing the plate against the angles. | 03-05-2009 |
20090061598 | WAFER-LEVEL PACKAGING CUTTING METHOD CAPABLE OF PROTECTING CONTACT PADS - A cutting method for wafer-level packaging capable of protecting the contact pad, in which several cavities and precutting lines are formed at the front surface of a cap wafer, and the depth of each precutting line is lesser than the thickness of the cap wafer, followed by the bonding of the cap wafer to the device wafer, which has several devices and several bonding pads disposed on the surface of the device wafer, followed by performing a wafer dicing process, along the precutting lines cutting through the cap wafer, and after removing a portion of the cap wafer that is not bonded to the device wafer, for exposing the bonding pads at the surface of the device wafer, and finally performing a dicing process for forming many packaged dies. | 03-05-2009 |
20090075457 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR APPARATUS - Alignment patterns are formed in scribe regions of a semiconductor substrate, and through grooves for exposing the scribe regions are disposed in an insulating layer formed on the semiconductor substrate. Formation positions of wiring patterns are aligned based on the alignment patterns, and a metal layer is patterned and the wiring patterns are formed. | 03-19-2009 |
20090087962 | METHOD OF FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING ALIGNMENT KEY AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE FABRICATED THEREBY - In a method of fabricating a semiconductor device having an alignment key and a semiconductor device fabricated thereby. The method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a scribe lane region and a cell region. An etch barrier pattern and a gate pattern are formed on the scribe lane region and the cell region respectively. A first interlayer insulating layer is formed to cover the etch barrier pattern and the gate pattern. A preliminary alignment key pattern and a bit line pattern are formed on the first interlayer insulating layer of the scribe lane region and the cell region respectively. A second interlayer insulating layer is formed to cover the preliminary alignment key pattern and the bit line pattern. The second interlayer insulating layer and the first interlayer insulating layer are patterned to expose the etch barrier pattern, thereby forming an alignment key pattern in the scribe lane region, and concurrently, forming a storage node contact opening in the cell region. | 04-02-2009 |
20090093104 | MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS - By forming dividing-groove portions in accordance with dividing regions on the second surface of a semiconductor wafer where an insulating film is placed in the dividing regions of the first surface and performing etching of the entire second surface and the surfaces of the dividing-groove portions by performing plasma etching from the second surface, corner portions on the second surface side are removed, while the insulating film is exposed from the etching bottom portion by removing the dividing-groove portions in the dividing regions. And by continuously performing the plasma etching in a state in which the exposed insulating film is surface charged with electric charge due to ions in plasma, corner portions on the first surface side put in contact with the insulating film are removed, and semiconductor chips that have a high transverse rupture strength are provided. | 04-09-2009 |
20090098712 | SUBSTRATE DIVIDING METHOD - A method of dividing a substrate | 04-16-2009 |
20090117710 | METHOD OF CUTTING SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER, SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP APPARATUS, AND CHAMBER TO CUT WAFER - A method of cutting a semiconductor wafer includes preparing a semiconductor wafer including a scribe region and a chip region, forming a groove in the scribe region, loading the semiconductor wafer with the groove formed therein in a chamber, and cutting the semiconductor wafer into a plurality of chips through increasing a pressure of the chamber by a first pressure change rate, and then reducing the pressure of the chamber by a second pressure change rate. | 05-07-2009 |
20090137097 | METHOD FOR DICING WAFER - A method for dicing a wafer including the following steps is provided. First, a carrier tape is attached to a first side of the wafer. Then, a patterned photoresist layer exposing a scribe line region of the wafer is formed on a second side of the wafer, in which the second side is the opposite side of the first side. After that, a cutting process is performed to the scribe line region from the second side of the wafer to the first side of the wafer through non-mechanical force. | 05-28-2009 |
20090137098 | Method of manufacturing semiconductor element - A step of forming a first auxiliary groove in a semiconductor element structure provided on a semiconductor substrate, a step of forming a second auxiliary groove in the semiconductor element structure, and a step of dividing the semiconductor substrate and the semiconductor element structure in a direction along the first auxiliary groove and the second auxiliary groove are provided, and in the dividing direction, a plurality of the second auxiliary grooves are arranged spaced apart from each other, and at least two first auxiliary grooves are arranged spaced apart from each other between at least a pair of adjacent second auxiliary grooves, and in the dividing step, a separation region interposed between the two first auxiliary grooves is divided, so as to improve such accuracy and suppress the problems such as a damage of the end surface due to cleavage of the substrate. | 05-28-2009 |
20090155981 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SINGULATING INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CHIPS - A method of singulating integrated circuit chips. The method includes forming, from a bottom surface of a substrate, trenches part way through the substrate in the kerf regions surrounding integrated circuit regions previously formed in the substrate; placing a top surface of the substrate on a singulation fixture having compartments, the walls of the compartments fitting into the trenches in the substrate; and thinning the bottom surface of the substrate until the individual integrated circuit regions are singulated into individual integrated circuit chips. | 06-18-2009 |
20090155982 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING SEMICONDUCTOR FORMATION REGIONS OF DIFFERENT PLANAR SIZES - A wafer process material is prepared which has a plurality of semiconductor formation regions of different planar sizes, each including a low dielectric constant film/wiring line stack structure component. A laser beam is applied onto a dicing street of the necessary semiconductor formation region and onto its straight extension in order to remove partial areas of the low dielectric constant film/wiring line stack structure components of the necessary semiconductor formation region and the unnecessary semiconductor formation region so that first groove and the second groove are formed. A protective film is formed in the second groove formed in the unnecessary semiconductor formation region and on the low dielectric constant film/wiring line stack structure component. An upper wiring line and a sealing film are formed on the protective film, and a semiconductor wafer is cut along the dicing street. | 06-18-2009 |
20090162993 | METHOD FOR FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - An object is to provide a technology capable of improving a manufacturing yield of semiconductor devices by preventing scattering of irregular-shaped scraps formed at the time of dicing. To achieve the above object, for dicing lines, by which an irregular-shaped outer periphery may possibly be cut off, among a plurality of dicing lines, formation of the dicing lines starts from an outside of a semiconductor wafer, and after the semiconductor wafer is cut off partway, formation of the dicing lines is ended before reaching the irregular-shaped outer periphery formed on a outer periphery of the semiconductor wafer. For other dicing lines, formation of the dicing lines starts from the outside of the semiconductor wafer, and after the semiconductor wafer is cut off, is ended outside the semiconductor wafer. | 06-25-2009 |
20090170288 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - After a semiconductor element is formed and before resin sealing is performed, a surface of a scribe line between the adjacent semiconductor elements of a semiconductor wafer is scraped thinly. A laser is irradiated on a broken layer of the surface of the scribe line thus scraped thinly to recrystallize the broken layer. | 07-02-2009 |
20090181520 | Method and Structure for Dividing a Substrate into Individual Devices - A method for obtaining individual dies from a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a device layer, and the device layer in turn includes active regions separated by predefined spacings. Thick metal is selectively formed on backside of the device layer such that thick metal is formed on backside of active regions but not on backside of the predefined spacings. The semiconductor structure is then cut along the predefined spacings to separate the active regions with thick metal on their backside into individual dies. | 07-16-2009 |
20090186465 | WAFER DIVIDING METHOD - A wafer dividing method for dividing a wafer into individual devices, the front side of the wafer being formed with a plurality of crossing streets for partitioning a plurality of areas where the devices are respectively formed. The wafer dividing method includes the steps of coating the front side of the wafer with a protective film, cutting the front side of the wafer with the protective film along the streets to form a plurality of kerfs each having a depth corresponding to the finished thickness of each device, removing chipping from each kerf by plasma etching, attaching a protective tape to the front side of the wafer, grinding the back side of the wafer to expose each kerf to the back side of the wafer, thereby dividing the wafer into the individual devices, and removing a grinding strain from the back side of the wafer. | 07-23-2009 |
20090191690 | Increasing Die Strength by Etching During or After Dicing - A semiconductor wafer having an active layer is mounted on a carrier with the active layer away from the carrier and at least partially diced on the carrier from a major surface of the semiconductor wafer. The at least partially diced semiconductor wafer is etched on the carrier from the said major surface with a spontaneous etchant to remove sufficient semiconductor material from a die produced from the at least partially diced semiconductor wafer to improve flexural bend strength of the die by removing at least some defects caused by dicing. | 07-30-2009 |
20090191691 | Method for singulating semiconductor devices - Disclosed is a method for singulating semiconductor devices. The substrate has a plurality of scribe lines between the substrate units. A protecting film is provided having a patterned adhesive layer formed thereon corresponding to the scribe lines. The protecting film is attached and aligned to the substrate in a manner that the patterned adhesive layer adheres to the scribe lines without covering the substrate units. The substrate is cut by a laser beam aimed at the protecting film firstly and cut through the substrate along the peripheries of the scribe lines to singulate the substrate units. Therefore, the residue films of the protecting film on the substrate units can easily be removed. The contaminations of the substrate units by the sputtered particles and the melted protecting film during laser cutting can be eliminated. The shapes of the substrate units can be diverse. | 07-30-2009 |
20090197393 | Method for dividing semiconductor wafer and manufacturing method for semiconductor devices - In a semiconductor wafer including a plurality of imaginary-divided-regions which are partitioned by imaginary-dividing-lines that are respectively arranged in a grid-like arrangement on the semiconductor wafer and a circumferential line that is the outer periphery outline of the semiconductor wafer, a mask is placed so as to expose an entirety of surfaces of the wafer corresponding to respective removal-regions, the removal-regions being regions in approximately triangular form partitioned by the circumferential line of the wafer and the imaginary-dividing-lines and being some of the imaginary-divided-regions, and then plasma etching is performed on a mask placement-side surface, by which the semiconductor wafer is divided into the individual semiconductor devices along dividing lines while portions correspond to the removal-regions in the wafer are removed. | 08-06-2009 |
20090197394 | WAFER PROCESSING - Methods for processing semiconductor wafers are described herein. One embodiment includes removing portions of a first side of the semiconductor wafer to form a number of trenches of a particular depth in rows and columns. The method further includes forming a passivation layer on side walls of the number of trenches. The method also includes cutting a second side of the semiconductor wafer in rows and columns aligned with the number of trenches such that the semiconductor wafer singulates into a number of dice. | 08-06-2009 |
20090203192 | Crack Stop Trenches - Structures and methods of forming crack stop trenches are disclosed. The method includes forming active regions disposed in cell regions of a substrate, the cell regions separated by dicing channels, and forming back end of line (BEOL) layers over the substrate, the BEOL layers being formed over the cell regions and the dicing channels. Crack stop trenches are then formed encircling the cell regions by etching a portion of the BEOL layers surrounding the cell regions. The wafer is diced along the dicing channels. | 08-13-2009 |
20090209087 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - In a method of manufacturing semiconductor chips by dicing individual semiconductor devices from a semiconductor wafer, masks formed for plasma dicing in which a semiconductor wafer is divided by conducting plasma etching are removed by mechanical grinding using a grinding head. Accordingly, by removing the masks for plasma dicing using mechanical grinding, generation of reaction products is prevented when removing the masks, so that the dicing can be conducted without causing quality deterioration due to the accumulated particles. | 08-20-2009 |
20090209088 | SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP FABRICATION METHOD - A semiconductor chip fabrication method including a modified layer forming step of applying a laser beam having a transmission wavelength to the semiconductor wafer from the back side of the semiconductor wafer along the streets formed on the front side of the semiconductor wafer so that a focal point of the laser beam is set inside the semiconductor wafer, thereby forming a modified layer in the semiconductor wafer along each street, a metal film deposition step of depositing a metal film on the back side of the semiconductor wafer after the modified layer forming step, a semiconductor wafer attaching step of attaching the semiconductor wafer to an adhesive tape supported to an annular frame, and a semiconductor wafer dividing step of applying an external force to the semiconductor wafer in the condition where the semiconductor wafer is attached to the adhesive tape to thereby divide the semiconductor wafer with the metal film into the individual semiconductor chips along the modified layer formed along each street. | 08-20-2009 |
20090215244 | Package Having Exposed Integrated Circuit Device - A package ( | 08-27-2009 |
20090227088 | SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor wafer | 09-10-2009 |
20090233419 | OPTICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - An optical device manufacturing method including the steps of: forming a groove with a depth corresponding to a finish thickness of the heat sink in a heat sink material at a position corresponding to an associated one of the streets sectioning the plurality of optical devices; joining the optical device layer of the optical device wafer to the heat sink material via a joining metal layer; cutting and dividing the optical device wafer along the streets into individual optical devices; sticking a protection member to the rear surface of the substrate of the optical device wafer; and grinding the rear surface of the heat sink material to expose the grooves to the rear surface to thereby divide the heat sink material into heat sinks corresponding to associated individual optical devices. | 09-17-2009 |
20090246938 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME - A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first chip region, a second chip region, and a scribe lane region between the first and second chip regions in a wafer, the wafer having a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface, and forming a penetrating extension hole and a scribe connector in the scribe lane region, the penetrating extension hole penetrating the wafer from the first surface to the second surface and extending along the scribe lane region, wherein the scribe connector connects the first and second chip regions spaced apart from each other by the penetrating extension hole. | 10-01-2009 |
20090263954 | Semiconductor Wafer Sawing System and Method - Semiconductor wafer sawing systems and methods are described in which a wafer may be secured in a sawing position having a surface exposed to incur sawing with at least a portion of the exposed wafer surface positioned below the center of gravity of the wafer such that prevailing force of gravity may be used to assist in the removal of contaminants from the wafer. | 10-22-2009 |
20090280622 | FABRICATION METHOD FOR DEVICE HAVING DIE ATTACH FILM ON THE BACK SIDE THEREOF - A device fabrication method for fabricating individual devices from a wafer, wherein the back side of each device is covered with an adhesive film for die bonding. The device fabrication method includes a wafer dividing step of dividing the wafer into the individual devices along a plurality of kerfs by using a dicing before grinding process, an adhesive film mounting step of mounting an adhesive film on the back side of the wafer after performing the wafer dividing step, and an adhesive film dividing step of applying a laser beam to the adhesive film along the kerfs after performing the adhesive film mounting step, thereby dividing the adhesive film along the kerfs. | 11-12-2009 |
20100009518 | Particle Free Wafer Separation - A method for singulating semiconductor wafers is disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises forming scrub lines on one side of the wafer and filling the scrub lines with a temporary fill material. The wafer is then thinned by removing material from the opposite side of the wafer from the scrub lines, thereby exposing the temporary fill material on the opposite side. The temporary fill material is then removed, and the individual die are removed from the wafer. | 01-14-2010 |
20100015781 | SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE, AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - In a semiconductor substrate | 01-21-2010 |
20100081255 | Methods for reducing defects through selective laser scribing - Embodiments of an apparatus and methods of reducing defects through selective laser scribing are described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. | 04-01-2010 |
20100081256 | Method for producing group III nitride compound semiconductor element - A method for producing a Group III nitride compound semiconductor element includes growing an epitaxial layer containing a Group III nitride compound semiconductor using a different kind of substrate as an epitaxial growth substrate, adhering a supporting substrate to the top surface of the epitaxial growth layer through a conductive layer, and then removing the epitaxial growth substrate by laser lift-off. Before adhesion of the epitaxial layer and the supporting substrate, a first groove that at least reaches an interface between the bottom surface of the epitaxial layer and the epitaxial growth substrate from the top surface of the epitaxial layer formed on the epitaxial growth substrate and acts as an air vent communicating with the outside of a wafer when the epitaxial layer and the supporting substrate are joined to each other. Next, the epitaxial layer is divided into each chip by separating the epitaxial growth substrate by laser lift-off, and then removing the epitaxial layer serving as the outer periphery of each chip. Next, the outer peripheral side surface of the epitaxial layer of each chip is at least completely covered with an insulating protective film. Next, the supporting substrate is separated into each chip. | 04-01-2010 |
20100081257 | DICE BY GRIND FOR BACK SURFACE METALLIZED DIES - Semiconductor device processing and methods for dicing a semiconductor wafer into a plurality of individual dies that can have back surface metallization are described. The methods comprise providing a wafer with pre-diced streets in the wafer's front surface, applying a sidewall masking mechanism to the front surface of the wafer so as to substantially fill the pre-diced streets, thinning the back surface of the wafer so as to dice the wafer (e.g., by grinding, etching, or both) and expose a portion of the sidewall masking mechanism from the back surface of the wafer, and applying a material, such as metal, to the back surface of the diced wafer. These methods can prevent the metal from being deposited on die sidewalls and may allow the separation of individual dies without causing the metal to peel from the back surface of one or more adjacent dies. Other embodiments are also described. | 04-01-2010 |
20100112787 | Method of manufacturing semiconductor device - A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing a substrate having a front surface where a circuit pattern is formed and a back surface opposite to the front surface, reading information of the circuit pattern formed at the front surface of the substrate over the back surface through the substrate by an image pickup member, forming a cutting part at the back surface of the substrate, grinding the back surface to form a portion of the cutting part as a dicing line, attaching an expanding tape to the back surface where the dicing line is formed, and expanding the expanding tape to separate the substrate into a plurality of chips along the dicing line. | 05-06-2010 |
20100120227 | SEMICONDUCTOR DIE SINGULATION METHOD - In one embodiment, semiconductor die are singulated from a semiconductor wafer by etching openings completely through the semiconductor wafer. | 05-13-2010 |
20100167501 | SEPARATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - A method of fabricating semiconductor devices is disclosed. The method comprises providing a substrate with a plurality of epitaxial layers mounted on the substrate and separating the substrate from the plurality of epitaxial layers while the plurality of epitaxial layers is intact. This preserves the electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of the plurality of epitaxial layers. | 07-01-2010 |
20100173474 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP - In a method in which a semiconductor wafer | 07-08-2010 |
20100178751 | LASER PROCESSING METHOD AND SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP - A laser processing method is provided, which, even when a substrate formed with a laminate part including a plurality of functional devices is thick, can cut the substrate and laminate part with a high precision. | 07-15-2010 |
20100197115 | METHOD OF SEGMENTING SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER - To provide a method of segmenting a semiconductor wafer, which is capable of preventing chippings. | 08-05-2010 |
20100221893 | METHOD FOR SEPARATING A SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER INTO INDIVIDUAL SEMICONDUCTOR DIES USING AN IMPLANTED IMPURITY - Provided is a method for separating a semiconductor wafer into individual semiconductor dies. The method for separating the semiconductor wafer, among other steps, may include implanting an impurity into regions of a semiconductor wafer proximate junctions where semiconductor dies join one another, the impurity configured to disrupt bonds in the semiconductor wafer proximate the junctions and lead to weakened regions. The method for separating the semiconductor wafer may further include separating the semiconductor wafer having the impurity into individual semiconductor dies along the weakened regions. | 09-02-2010 |
20100248450 | METHOD OF PRODUCING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A method of producing a semiconductor device includes: a dicing step of dicing a wafer member using a dicing blade to form a cut portion in the wafer member, in which the wafer member is formed of a wafer portion, a glass substrate, and an adhesive layer for bonding the wafer portion and the glass substrate in a thickness direction of the wafer member so that the cut portion penetrates the wafer portion and the adhesive layer and reaches a part of the glass substrate; and an individual piece dividing step of dividing the wafer member into a plurality of semiconductor devices with the cut portion as a fracture initiation portion. | 09-30-2010 |
20100261335 | PROCESS FOR WET SINGULATION USING A DICING MOAT STRUCTURE - A method includes receiving at least one wafer having a front side and a backside, where the front side has a plurality of integrated circuit chips thereon. The backside of the wafer is thinned, a pattern of material is removed from the backside of the wafer to form a plurality of dicing trenches. Each of the dicing trenches are positioned opposite a location on the front side of the wafer that corresponds to edges of each of the plurality of chips. The dicing trenches are filled with a filler material and a dicing support is attached to a front side of the wafer. The filler material is removed from the dicing trenches, and a force is applied to the dicing support to separate each of the plurality of chips on the wafer from each other along the dicing trenches. | 10-14-2010 |
20100261336 | Chip manufacturing method - A substrate table used for manufacturing a chip is provided. The substrate table includes a substrate stage, a substrate placement surface formed on the substrate stage, and on which a substrate is placed, and a guiding member that can project and retract from the substrate placement surface. The guiding member positions the substrate when the guiding member is at a projected position abutting an edge portion of the substrate placed on the substrate placement surface, and the guiding member retracts at a time of applying a tape to the substrate. | 10-14-2010 |
20100267219 | OPTICAL DEVICE WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - An optical device wafer processing method including a protective plate attaching step of attaching a transparent protective plate through a double-sided adhesive tape to the front side of a sapphire substrate constituting an optical device wafer, the double-sided adhesive tape being composed of a sheet capable of blocking ultraviolet radiation and adhesive layers formed on both sides of the sheet, wherein the adhesive force of each adhesive layer can be reduced by applying ultraviolet radiation; a sapphire substrate grinding step of grinding the back side of the sapphire substrate; a modified layer forming step of applying a laser beam to the sapphire substrate from the back side thereof to thereby form a modified layer in the sapphire substrate along each street; a protective plate removing step of removing the protective plate in the condition where the double-sided adhesive tape is left on the sapphire substrate; and a wafer dividing step of breaking the sapphire substrate along each street where the modified layer is formed, thus dividing the optical device wafer into individual optical devices in the condition where the double-sided adhesive tape is left on the sapphire substrate. | 10-21-2010 |
20100273312 | Method of manufacturing semiconductor device - In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first groove and a second groove each having a width less than that of a scribe line are formed along the scribe line in a first protective film provided below a second protective film which protects element forming regions when a wafer is divided into parts by a laser dicing, and the first groove and the second groove are filled with the second protective film. Then, the laser dicing is performed on a region between the first groove and the second groove along the scribe line from the surface where the second protective film is formed to form a cutting groove that reaches at least a predetermined depth of the multi-layer interconnect. | 10-28-2010 |
20100279490 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR LASER SCRIBING WAFERS - A method for singulating dies from a wafer includes laser scribing a continuous line on each side of the die, and laser ablating an area adjacent the laser scribed continuous line on each side of the die. The laser ablations in the area adjacent the laser scribed continuous line on each side of the die being spaced from one another. The method also includes sawing the laser abated area adjacent the continuous line. A method for singulating dies from a wafer includes laser scribing a first continuous line, laser scribing a second continuous line spaced apart from the first continuous line, and laser scribing a third continuous line. The third continuous line positioned between the first continuous line and the second continuous line. The third continuous line overlaps the second continuous line and the third continuous line. | 11-04-2010 |
20100297830 | LASER PROCESSING METHOD FOR SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER - A laser processing method for a semiconductor wafer including a groove forming step of applying a pulsed laser beam having an absorption wavelength to the semiconductor wafer along a division line formed on the semiconductor wafer to thereby form a laser processed groove along the division lines on the semiconductor wafer, wherein the pulse width of the pulsed laser beam to be applied in the groove forming step is set to 2 ns or less, and the peak energy density is set in the range of 5 to 200 GW/cm | 11-25-2010 |
20100311223 | Method Of Dicing Wafer Using Plasma - Provided is a method of dicing a wafer that is thin and includes a low-K material using plasma without causing chipping and cracking during sawing without using an etch mask and without performing a separate wafer coating process. The method includes recognizing scribe lines of a front side of the wafer by using an image recognizing unit to obtain recognition information, performing two etching processes, wherein at least one includes plasma etching, on a backside of the wafer by using the recognition information to separate the wafer into a plurality of semiconductor chips, and adhering the plurality of semiconductor chips to an extended tape or a die attach film. | 12-09-2010 |
20100311224 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of first trenches in a semiconductor substrate, forming an insulating member in the first trenches, removing a part of a portion of the insulating member, forming second trenches in the insulating member, and attaching a protection film. The semiconductor substrate has a first and a second main surface. The insulating member has an upper face located higher than the first main surface. The portion is located higher than the first main surface. | 12-09-2010 |
20110027970 | METHOD FOR DICING WAFER AND PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING LIQUID-DISCHARGING HEAD USING THE DICING METHOD - A method for dicing a wafer having a first face in which opening are arranged along dicing streets. The method includes a step of affixing a dicing tape to the first face such that the dicing tape lies over the openings and adhesive regions of the dicing tape are exposed in the openings and a step of treating the dicing tape to reduce the adhesive strength of the adhesive regions. | 02-03-2011 |
20110027971 | METHOD OF CUTTING A SUBSTRATE, METHOD OF PROCESSING A WAFER-LIKE OBJECT, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A laser beam machining method and a laser beam machining device capable of cutting a work without producing a fusing and a cracking out of a predetermined cutting line on the surface of the work, wherein a pulse laser beam is radiated on the predetermined cut line on the surface of the work under the conditions causing a multiple photon absorption and with a condensed point aligned to the inside of the work, and a modified area is formed inside the work along the predetermined determined cut line by moving the condensed point along the predetermined cut line, whereby the work can be cut with a rather small force by cracking the work along the predetermined cut line starting from the modified area and, because the pulse laser beam radiated is not almost absorbed onto the surface of the work, the surface is not fused even if the modified area is formed. | 02-03-2011 |
20110039397 | Structures and methods to separate microchips from a wafer - Structures and methods for separating chips or ICs from a wafer are disclosed. To save area and manufacturing costs, deep trench formation combining with mechanical bending or lateral etch is used to separate chips or ICs from a wafer. | 02-17-2011 |
20110045656 | SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR DICING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - An assembly for cutting a plurality of substrates into individual integrated circuit units includes a first block for receiving a first substrate. The first block is movable between a first loading position, a first alignment inspection station and a first cutting zone. A second block for receiving a second substrate is movable between a second loading position, a second alignment inspection station and a second cutting zone. A cutting device for cutting a substrate into individual integrated circuit units is movable between the first cutting zone and the second cutting zone. An alignment inspection device for determining the alignment of a substrate positioned on either the first or second block is movable between the first alignment inspection station and the second alignment inspection station. | 02-24-2011 |
20110059596 | SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER COAT LAYERS AND METHODS THEREFOR - Formulations and processes for forming wafer coat layers are disclosed. In one embodiment, an organic surface protectant is incorporated into a wafer coat formulation deposited onto a semiconductor wafer prior to the laser scribe operation. Upon removal of the wafer coat layer, the organic surface protectant remains on the bumps and thereby prevents oxidation of the bumps between die prep and chip and attach. In an alternative embodiment, an ultraviolet light absorber is added to the wafer coat formulation to enhance the wafer coat layer's energy absorption and thereby improve the laser's ability to ablate the wafer coat layer. In an alternative embodiment, a conformal wafer coat layer is deposited on the wafer and die bumps, thereby reducing wafer coat layer thickness variations that can impact the laser scribing ability. | 03-10-2011 |
20110081768 | WORKPIECE DIVIDING METHOD - In a workpiece dividing method, an expansion tape is stuck to an adhesive film side of a workpiece in a state where an adhesive film is stuck to the rear surface of a wafer. Respective positions of the predetermined dividing lines on the front surface of the wafer are detected. On the basis of information on the detected predetermined dividing lines, a laser beam passing through the wafer from the front surface of the wafer is focused on and directed to the front surface or inside of the adhesive film to form modified areas on the front surface of or in the inside of the adhesive film. On the basis of information on the detected predetermined dividing lines, a laser beam passing through the wafer from the front surface of the wafer is focused on and directed to the inside of the wafer to form modified areas in the inside of the wafer. The expansion tape is expanded to divide the workpiece along the predetermined dividing lines with the modified areas taken as start points. | 04-07-2011 |
20110097875 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer processing method for dividing a wafer into individual devices along a plurality of crossing streets formed on the front side of the wafer, the individual devices being respectively formed in a plurality of regions partitioned by the streets. The wafer processing method includes the steps of attaching the front side of the wafer to a dicing tape supported to an annular dicing frame, grinding the back side of the wafer to reduce the thickness of the wafer to a predetermined thickness, forming a break start point along each street from the back side of the wafer, applying an external force to the wafer to break the wafer along each street where the break start point is formed, thereby dividing the wafer into the individual devices, attaching the back side of the wafer to a front side of an adhesive tape supported to an annular frame and next removing the adhesive tape from the front side of the adhesive tape, and peeling off and picking up each device from the adhesive tape. | 04-28-2011 |
20110111576 | LASER-SCRIBING SYSTEM FOR STRUCTURING SUBSTRATES FOR THIN LAYER SOLAR MODULES - The invention relates to a laser scribing system ( | 05-12-2011 |
20110124180 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD COMPRISING A METAL PATTERN AND LASER MODIFIED REGIONS IN A CUTTING REGION - To divide a semiconductor wafer by stealth dicing, a test pad in a cutting region and an alignment target are collectively arranged along one side in a width direction of the cutting region, and a laser beam for forming a modified region is irradiated to a position away in plane from the test pad and the alignment target Am. In this manner, defects in cutting shape in a cutting process of a semiconductor wafer using stealth dicing can be reduced or prevented. | 05-26-2011 |
20110151645 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, including a first step of forming a first electrode pad at an external edge part of a semiconductor chip mounting area of a supporting board; a second step of fixing a rear surface of a semiconductor chip having a main surface, the main surface where a second electrode pad is formed, to an inside of an area of the main surface of the supporting board, the area where the first electrode pad is formed; a third step of forming a first internal connecting terminal on the first electrode pad, and forming a second internal connecting terminal on the second electrode pad; and a fourth step of forming a first insulation layer on the main surface of the supporting board. | 06-23-2011 |
20110177675 | METHOD OF FORMING A SEMICONDUCTOR DIE - In one embodiment, semiconductor die having non-rectangular shapes and die having various different shapes are formed and singulated from a semiconductor wafer. | 07-21-2011 |
20110201179 | METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR DIVIDING A SUBSTRATE INTO INDIVIDUAL DEVICES - A method for obtaining individual dies from a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a device layer, and the device layer in turn includes active regions separated by predefined spacings. Thick metal is selectively formed on backside of the device layer such that thick metal is formed on backside of active regions but not on backside of the predefined spacings. The semiconductor structure is then cut along the predefined spacings to separate the active regions with thick metal on their backside into individual dies. | 08-18-2011 |
20110217826 | METHOD OF FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A method of fabricating a semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes preparing a wafer having a plurality of chip areas, each chip area to become semiconductor chip, bonding the first side of the wafer to a support substrate through a removable adhesive, dividing the wafer into individually separate semiconductor chips, applying adhesive tape to the second side of the separate semiconductor chips, the second side being opposite to the first side bonded to the support substrate, and the adhesive tape being softer than the support substrate, removing the support substrate from the semiconductor chips, and picking up the separate semiconductor chips that are on the adhesive tape. | 09-08-2011 |
20110223744 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN OPTICAL SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND COMPOSITION FOR FORMING A PROTECTIVE LAYER OF AN OPTICAL SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - Provided is a composition for forming a protective layer which has an excellent acid resistance, an excellent cracking resistance and does not adversely affect semiconductor layers even when acid is used to remove deposits that arise during formation of separation trenches for separating a substrate into device units. Also provided is a method for manufacturing an optical semiconductor device using such a composition. The composition for forming a protective layer includes a siloxane polymer and an organic solvent. The method for manufacturing an optical semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a protective layer | 09-15-2011 |
20110244657 | SEMICONDUCTOR DIE SINGULATION METHOD - In one embodiment, a method of singulating semiconductor die from a semiconductor wafer includes forming a material on a surface of a semiconductor wafer and reducing a thickness of portions of the material. Preferably, the thickness of the material is reduced near where singulation openings are to be formed in the semiconductor wafer. | 10-06-2011 |
20110244658 | Crack Stops for Semiconductor Devices - Crack stops for semiconductor devices, semiconductor devices, and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a barrier structure for a semiconductor device includes a plurality of substantially V-shaped regions. Each of the plurality of substantially V-shaped regions is disposed adjacent another of the plurality of substantially V-shaped regions. | 10-06-2011 |
20110256689 | OPTICAL DEVICE WAFER PROCESSING METHOD AND LASER PROCESSING APPARATUS - An optical device wafer processing method including a laser processed groove forming step of applying a laser beam for performing ablation to the front side or back side of a substrate of an optical device wafer along streets, thereby forming a laser processed groove as a break start point on the front side or back side of the substrate along each street, and a wafer dividing step of applying an external force to the optical device wafer after performing the laser processed groove forming step to thereby break the wafer along each laser processed groove, thereby dividing the wafer into individual optical devices. In performing the laser processed groove forming step, an etching gas atmosphere for etching a modified substance produced by applying the laser beam to the substrate is generated, whereby an etching gas in the etching gas atmosphere is converted into a plasma by the application of the laser beam to thereby etch away the modified substance. | 10-20-2011 |
20110287607 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED WAFER SINGULATION - Laser singulation of electronic devices from semiconductor substrates including wafers is performed using up to 3 lasers from 2 wavelength ranges. Using up to 3 lasers from 2 wavelength ranges permits laser singulation of wafers held by die attach film while avoiding problems caused by single-wavelength dicing. In particular, using up to 3 lasers from 2 wavelength ranges permits efficient dicing of semiconductor wafers while avoiding debris and thermal problems associated with laser processing die attach tape. | 11-24-2011 |
20110287608 | METHOD FOR CUTTING SUBSTRATE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRONIC ELEMENT - An image pickup section picks up images of a pair of targets formed on a substrate with a cutting line interposed therebetween (S | 11-24-2011 |
20110300691 | WORKPIECE CUTTING METHOD - Fractures ( | 12-08-2011 |
20110312157 | WAFER DICING USING FEMTOSECOND-BASED LASER AND PLASMA ETCH - Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer. The mask is composed of a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask is patterned with a femtosecond-based laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits. | 12-22-2011 |
20120003816 | WAFER DIVIDING METHOD - A method of dividing a wafer having devices formed in a plurality of regions demarcated by a plurality of streets formed in a grid pattern on a surface of the wafer, along the streets and into the individual devices. The wafer dividing method includes the steps of: forming grooves from the face side of the wafer along the streets and in a depth corresponding to the finished thickness of the devices; coating the surface of the wafer with an acrylic liquid resin curable by irradiation with UV rays to fill the grooves with the acrylic liquid resin and disposing a protective film on the acrylic liquid resin; performing irradiation with UV rays from the protective film side so as to cure the acrylic liquid resin; grinding the back side of the wafer so as to expose the grooves on the back side and divide the wafer into the individual devices; adhering the back side of the wafer to a surface of an adhesive tape adhered to an annular frame; and peeling the acrylic resin from the surface of the wafer together with the protective film. | 01-05-2012 |
20120003817 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WAFER DICING METHOD - An integrated circuit wafer dicing method is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of integrated circuits and a plurality of test-keys on a wafer substrate, wherein the plurality of test-keys are disposed between the adjacent integrated circuits; forming a patterned protective film on the wafer to cover the plurality of integrated circuits and expose the plurality of test-keys; etching the plurality of test-keys by using the patterned protective film as a mask; and dicing an area between the plurality of integrated circuits to form a plurality of discrete integrated circuit dies. | 01-05-2012 |
20120034760 | Metallization for Chip Scale Packages in Wafer Level Packaging - In one embodiment, a method for forming the semiconductor device includes forming a first trench from a front side of a substrate. The substrate has a front side and an opposite back side, and the first trench having sidewalls and a bottom surface. A insulator layer is formed over the sidewalls and the bottom surface. A first conductive layer is formed over a top portion of the sidewalls of the first trench. The substrate is separated along the first trench. | 02-09-2012 |
20120040510 | Dicing Before Grinding Process for Preparation of Semiconductor - A method for preparing a semiconductor wafer into individual semiconductor dies using both a dicing before grinding operation and a wafer back side adhesive coating includes the step of applying a water or organic solvent soluble material into the partially cut/etched dicing lines and over the top surface of the circuits to prevent the ingress of wafer back side coating into the dicing streets and interference during singulation. | 02-16-2012 |
20120064695 | DICING A SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER - A method of dicing a semiconductor wafer comprises scribing at least one dielectric layer along dice lanes to remove material from a surface of the wafer using a laser with a pulse-width between 1 picosecond and 1000 picoseconds and with a repetition frequency corresponding to times between pulses shorter than a thermal relaxation time of the material to be scribed. The wafer is then diced through a metal layer and at least partially through a substrate of the semiconductor wafer. | 03-15-2012 |
20120064696 | WAFER MACHINING METHOD - A wafer provided on a face side thereof with a device region where devices are demarcated by planned dividing lines and with a peripheral surplus region surrounding the device region is divided into the individual devices. In performing the dividing process, the back side of the device region is ground to form an annular reinforcement part on the outer peripheral side thereof, a dicing tape is adhered to the back side of the wafer, the wafer is irradiated with a laser beam from the face side so as to divide the wafer into the devices and to form break starting points in the annular reinforcement part, and the dicing tape is expanded so as to disassembly the annular reinforcement part, with the break starting points as starting points, thereby separating the annular reinforcement part from the device region, and to widen the interval between the adjacent devices. Since the annular reinforcement part is remaining at the time of dividing the wafer into the individual devices, handleability during the dividing process is not spoiled. | 03-15-2012 |
20120064697 | METHOD FOR PACKAGING CIRCUITS - A method for packaging integrated circuit chips (die) is described that includes providing a base substrate with package level contacts, coating a base substrate with adhesive, placing dies on the adhesive, electrically connecting the die to the package level contacts, and removing the backside of the base substrate to expose the backside of the package level contacts. Accordingly, an essentially true chip scale package is formed. Multi-chip modules are formed by filling gaps between the chips with an encapsulant. In an embodiment, chips are interconnected by electrical connections between package level contacts in the base substrate. In an embodiment, substrates each having chips are adhered back-to-back with through vias formed in aligned saw streets to interconnect the back-to-back chip assembly. | 03-15-2012 |
20120100693 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device formed by fractionization and division after a plurality of semiconductor elements are formed over a semiconductor substrate, includes forming a first resist portion over the semiconductor substrate prior to its fractionization. Trenches are formed in areas for dicing the semiconductor substrate. A second resin portion different in composition from the first resin portion is formed in each of the trenches. The semiconductor substrate is diced with respect to the second resin portion with widths each narrower than the trench thereby to bring the semiconductor device into fractionization and division. | 04-26-2012 |
20120100694 | DIVIDING METHOD FOR WAFER HAVING DIE BONDING FILM ATTACHED TO THE BACK SIDE THEREOF - A wafer is divided into individual devices along division lines formed on the front side of the wafer. The devices are respectively formed in a plurality of regions partitioned by the division lines. A protective member is provided on the front of the wafer, and the back of the wafer is ground to a predetermined thickness. A laser beam is applied to the wafer from the back side of the wafer along the division lines with the focal point of the laser beam set inside the wafer at a position corresponding to each division line, thereby forming a plurality of modified layers inside the wafer along the division lines. The wafer is divided along the modified layers into the individual devices, and the back side of the wafer is ground to remove the modified layers and reduce the thickness of each device to the finished thickness. | 04-26-2012 |
20120115307 | METHODS OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS - A method of manufacturing semiconductor chips includes providing a semiconductor substrate including circuit regions, irradiating the semiconductor substrate with a laser beam onto to form a frangible layer, and polishing the semiconductor substrate to separate the circuit regions of the semiconductor substrate from one another into semiconductor chips. The frangible layer may be removed completely during the polishing of the semiconductor substrate. | 05-10-2012 |
20120142165 | Method of Avoiding Resin Outflow from the Wafer Scribe line in WLCSP - A preparation process of wafer level chip scale packaging that prevents damaging a wafer in molding process is disclosed. In this process, a grinding grove is formed at a top side and around the edge of a wafer before molding is performed. The grinding groove effectively prevents the molding material from overflowing to the edge of the wafer, which avoids the damage of the wafer. | 06-07-2012 |
20120220103 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor device provided on a semiconductor substrate includes an element region including an element, a moisture-resistant frame surrounding the element region, an insulating layer provided between the moisture-resistant frame and an outer peripheral edge of the semiconductor device and on the semiconductor substrate, a first metal line extending along the outer peripheral edge and provided in the insulating layer, and a groove provided in the insulating layer. | 08-30-2012 |
20120220104 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A semiconductor IC includes grooves formed in a substrate to define a first dummy region and second dummy regions formed at a scribing area, and third dummy regions and a fourth dummy region formed at a product area. A width of the first dummy region is greater than widths of each of the second and third dummy regions and a width of the fourth dummy region is greater than widths of each of the third dummy regions. A conductor pattern is formed over the first dummy region for optical pattern recognition. The first dummy region is formed under the conductor pattern so the grooves are not formed under the conductor pattern. The second dummy regions are spaced from one another by a predetermined spacing at the scribing area, and the third dummy regions are spaced from one another by a predetermined spacing at the product area. | 08-30-2012 |
20120225538 | METHODS OF DISPOSING ALIGNMENT KEYS AND METHODS OF FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS USING THE SAME - A method of disposing alignment keys may include preparing a substrate including a shot group which includes a plurality of chip regions, and each of chip regions includes a key region. The method further includes forming at least one alignment key in each of the key regions of the substrate. Each of the alignment keys may be adapted to be used for at least one of a plurality of exposure processes which may be different from each other, and center points of the key regions may be located at points shifted from center points of the chip regions by the same distance along the same direction. | 09-06-2012 |
20120244680 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises the steps of forming a film on a main face of a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of device forming regions for forming semiconductor devices, the film having a coefficient of thermal expansion different from that of the semiconductor substrate and including a cutout on a region between the plurality of device forming regions; forming the semiconductor devices in the respective device forming regions by using the film; and dividing the semiconductor substrate into the respective device forming regions. | 09-27-2012 |
20120244681 | SEMICONDUCTOR DIE SINGULATION METHOD - In one embodiment, a method of singulating semiconductor die from a semiconductor wafer includes forming a material on a surface of a semiconductor wafer and reducing a thickness of portions of the material. Preferably, the thickness of the material is reduced near where singulation openings are to be formed in the semiconductor wafer. | 09-27-2012 |
20120264276 | METHOD OF PROCESSING A WAFER BY USING AND REUSING PHOTOLITHOGRAPHIC MASKS - A method of processing a wafer includes establishing a fine of symmetry defining left and right die areas on a front side of the wafer and left and right die areas on a back side. A first mask is used to form a first interconnection layer on the left and right die areas comprising a first portion on the left die area and second portion different than the first portion on the right die area. A second mask is used to form a second interconnection layer on the left and right die areas comprising a third portion on the left die area and fourth portion different than the third portion on the right die area. The first mask is reused to form a third interconnection layer on the left and right die areas on a back side, and the second mask to form a fourth interconnection layer on the left and right die areas on a back side. | 10-18-2012 |
20120289026 | SPLITTING METHOD FOR OPTICAL DEVICE WAFER - In a splitting method for an optical device wafer, the wafer having optical devices formed individually in regions partitioned by a plurality of crossing scheduled splitting lines provided on a front surface and having a reflective film formed on a reverse surface, a focal point of a laser beam is positioned to the inside of the optical device wafer and the laser beam is irradiated along the scheduled splitting lines from the reverse surface side of the wafer to form modification layers in the inside of the wafer. An external force is applied to the wafer to split the wafer along the scheduled splitting lines and form a plurality of optical device chips. The laser beam has a wavelength that produces transmittance through the reflective film equal to or higher than 80%. | 11-15-2012 |
20120309168 | LASER BEAM PROCESSING METHOD FOR A WAFER - A processing method for a wafer which has, on a surface thereof, a device region in which a plurality of devices are formed and partitioned by division lines and an outer periphery excess region surrounding the device region, includes a dividing groove formation step of irradiating a laser beam of a wavelength having absorbability by a wafer along the division lines to form dividing grooves serving as start points of cutting, and a dividing step of applying external force to the wafer on which the dividing grooves are formed to cut the wafer into the individual devices. At the dividing groove formation step, the dividing grooves are formed along the division lines in the device region while a non-processed region is left in the outer periphery excess region on extension lines of the division lines. | 12-06-2012 |
20120309169 | LASER PROCESSING METHOD FOR WAFER - A processing method for a wafer on which a plurality of devices are formed and partitioned by scheduled division lines includes a dividing groove by irradiating a laser beam of a wavelength to which the wafer has absorbency along the scheduled division lines to form dividing grooves which are to be used as start points of division. An external force divides the wafer into individual devices. The dividing grooves are formed by irradiating a laser beam of a first energy which is comparatively low upon a selected scheduled division line to form a first dividing groove which is to be used as a start point of division, and irradiating another laser beam of a second energy which is higher than the first energy upon scheduled division lines other than the selected scheduled division line to form second dividing grooves which are to be used as start points of division. | 12-06-2012 |
20120322232 | MULTI-STEP AND ASYMMETRICALLY SHAPED LASER BEAM SCRIBING - Methods of dicing substrates by both laser scribing and plasma etching. A method includes laser ablating material layers, the ablating leading with a first irradiance and following with a second irradiance, different than the first. An asymmetrically shaped beam having an asymmetrical spatial profile along the direction of travel, multiple passes of a beam adjusted to have different irradiance levels, and multiple laser beams having various irradiance levels may be utilized to ablate at least a mask with the first irradiance and expose the substrate with the second irradiance. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322233 | WATER SOLUBLE MASK FOR SUBSTRATE DICING BY LASER AND PLASMA ETCH - Methods of dicing substrates having a plurality of ICs. A method includes forming a mask comprising a water soluble material layer over the semiconductor substrate. The mask is patterned with a femtosecond laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the substrate between the ICs. The substrate is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the IC and the water soluble material layer washed off. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322234 | IN-SITU DEPOSITED MASK LAYER FOR DEVICE SINGULATION BY LASER SCRIBING AND PLASMA ETCH - Methods of dicing substrates by both laser scribing and plasma etching. A method includes forming an in-situ mask with a plasma etch chamber by accumulating a thickness of plasma deposited polymer to protect IC bump surfaces from a subsequent plasma etch. Second mask materials, such as a water soluble mask material may be utilized along with the plasma deposited polymer. At least some portion of the mask is patterned with a femtosecond laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with trenches. The patterning exposing regions of the substrate between the ICs in which the substrate is plasma etched to singulate the IC and the water soluble material layer washed off. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322235 | WAFER DICING USING HYBRID GALVANIC LASER SCRIBING PROCESS WITH PLASMA ETCH - Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer. The mask is composed of a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask is patterned with a galvanic laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322236 | WAFER DICING USING PULSE TRAIN LASER WITH MULTIPLE-PULSE BURSTS AND PLASMA ETCH - Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer. The mask is composed of a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask is patterned with a pulse train laser scribing process using multiple-pulse bursts to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322237 | LASER AND PLASMA ETCH WAFER DICING USING PHYSICALLY-REMOVABLE MASK - Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer. The mask covers and protects the integrated circuits. The mask is patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to form singulated integrated circuits. The patterned mask is then separated from the singulated integrated circuits. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322238 | LASER AND PLASMA ETCH WAFER DICING USING WATER-SOLUBLE DIE ATTACH FILM - Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is disposed on a water-soluble die attach film. The mask covers and protects the integrated circuits. The mask is patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to form singulated integrated circuits. The water-soluble die attach film is then patterned with an aqueous solution. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322239 | HYBRID LASER AND PLASMA ETCH WAFER DICING USING SUBSTRATE CARRIER - Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer, the mask composed of a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is supported by a substrate carrier. The mask is then patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps, exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits while supported by the substrate carrier. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322240 | DAMAGE ISOLATION BY SHAPED BEAM DELIVERY IN LASER SCRIBING PROCESS - Methods and apparatuses for dicing substrates by both laser scribing and plasma etching. A method includes laser ablating material layers, the ablating by a laser beam with a centrally peaked spatial power profile to form an ablated trench in the substrate below thin film device layers which is positively sloped. In an embodiment, a femtosecond laser forms a positively sloped ablation profile which facilitates vertically-oriented propagation of microcracks in the substrate at the ablated trench bottom. With minimal lateral runout of microcracks, a subsequent anisotropic plasma etch removes the microcracks for a cleanly singulated chip with good reliability. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322241 | MULTI-LAYER MASK FOR SUBSTRATE DICING BY LASER AND PLASMA ETCH - Methods of dicing substrates having a plurality of ICs. A method includes forming a multi-layered mask comprising a first mask material layer soluble in a solvent over the semiconductor substrate and a second mask material layer, insoluble in the solvent, over the first mask material layer. The multi-layered mask is patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the substrate between the ICs. The substrate is then plasma etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the IC with the second mask material layer protecting the first mask material layer for at least a portion of the plasma etch. The soluble material layer is dissolved subsequent to singulation to remove the multi-layered mask. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322242 | MULTI-STEP AND ASYMMETRICALLY SHAPED LASER BEAM SCRIBING - Methods of dicing substrates by both laser scribing and plasma etching. A method includes laser ablating material layers, the ablating leading with a first irradiance and following with a second irradiance, lower than the first. Multiple passes of a beam adjusted to have different fluence level or multiple laser beams having various fluence levels may be utilized to ablate mask and IC layers to expose a substrate with the first fluence level and then clean off redeposited materials from the trench bottom with the second fluence level. A laser scribe apparatus employing a beam splitter may provide first and second beams of different fluence from a single laser. | 12-20-2012 |
20120329246 | ETCHING A LASER-CUT SEMICONDUCTOR BEFORE DICING A DIE ATTACH FILM (DAF) OR OTHER MATERIAL LAYER - Semiconductor die break strength and yield are improved with a combination of laser dicing and etching, which are followed by dicing an underlying layer of material, such as die attach film (DAF) or metal. A second laser process or a second etch process may be used for dicing of the underlying layer of material. Performing sidewall etching before cutting the underlying layer of material reduces or prevents debris on the kerf sidewalls during the sidewall etching process. A thin wafer dicing laser system may include either a single laser process head solution or a dual laser process head solution to meet throughput requirements. | 12-27-2012 |
20120329247 | LASER PROCESSING METHOD - For modulating laser light for forming a modified region SD | 12-27-2012 |
20130005116 | EDGE-EXCLUSION SPALLING METHOD FOR IMPROVING SUBSTRATE REUSABILITY - A method to minimize edge-related substrate breakage during spalling using an edge-exclusion region where the stressor layer is either non-present (excluded either during deposition or removed afterwards) or present but significantly non-adhered to the substrate surface in the exclusion region is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes forming an edge exclusion material on an upper surface and near an edge of a base substrate. A stressor layer is then formed on exposed portions of the upper surface of the base substrate and atop the edge exclusion material, A portion of the base substrate that is located beneath the stressor layer and which is not covered by the edge exclusion material is then spalled. | 01-03-2013 |
20130011999 | COATING ADHESIVES ONTO DICING BEFORE GRINDING AND MICRO-FABRICATED WAFERS - A method for preparing a semiconductor wafer into individual semiconductor dies uses both a dicing before grinding step and/or via hole micro-fabrication step, and an adhesive coating step. | 01-10-2013 |
20130012000 | SUBSTRATE DIVIDING METHOD - A substrate dividing method which can thin and divide a substrate while preventing chipping and cracking from occurring. This substrate dividing method comprises the steps of irradiating a semiconductor substrate | 01-10-2013 |
20130017668 | WAFER DICING USING HYBRID SPLIT-BEAM LASER SCRIBING PROCESS WITH PLASMA ETCHAANM Lei; Wei-ShengAACI San JoseAAST CAAACO USAAGP Lei; Wei-Sheng San Jose CA USAANM Eaton; BradAACI Menlo ParkAAST CAAACO USAAGP Eaton; Brad Menlo Park CA USAANM Yalamanchili; Madhava RaoAACI Morgan HillAAST CAAACO USAAGP Yalamanchili; Madhava Rao Morgan Hill CA USAANM Singh; SaravjeetAACI Santa ClaraAAST CAAACO USAAGP Singh; Saravjeet Santa Clara CA USAANM Kumar; AjayAACI CupertinoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Kumar; Ajay Cupertino CA USAANM Iyer; AparnaAACI SunnyvaleAAST CAAACO USAAGP Iyer; Aparna Sunnyvale CA US - Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer. The mask is composed of a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask is patterned with a split-beam laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits. | 01-17-2013 |
20130017669 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A method to prevent contamination of the principal surface side in a process of grinding the back surface side of a semiconductor wafer. At an intersection of a scribe region of a semiconductor wafer whose back surface side is to be ground, a plurality of insulating layers is laminated over the principal surface in the same manner as an insulating layer constituting a wiring layer laminated over a device region. Moreover, in the same layer as an uppermost wiring disposed at the uppermost layer among a plurality of the wiring layers formed for a device region, a metal pattern is formed. Furthermore, a second insulating layer covering the uppermost wiring is also formed over the metal pattern so as to cover the same. | 01-17-2013 |
20130029476 | DICING PROCESS AND DICING APPARATUS - A dicing process is provided for cutting a wafer along a plurality of predetermined scribe lines into a plurality of dies that are releasably adhered to a release film. The dicing process includes: (a) disposing a wafer-breaking carrier on a supporting device, the wafer-breaking carrier having a chipping unit; (b) disposing the wafer above the supporting device such that the chipping unit is at a position corresponding to the scribe lines; and (c) adhering a release surface of the release film to the wafer by applying a force to the release film to contact the chipping unit of the wafer-breaking carrier with the wafer, such that the wafer is split along the scribe lines into the dies. | 01-31-2013 |
20130059428 | WAFER DIVIDING METHOD - A wafer is divided by setting the focal point of a laser beam inside the wafer at positions corresponding to division lines, thereby forming modified layers inside the wafer along the division lines. Each modified layer has a thickness ranging from the vicinity of the front side of the wafer to the vicinity of the back side of the wafer. An etching gas or an etching liquid is supplied to the wafer to erode the modified layers, thereby dividing the wafer into individual devices. The modified layers are not crushed, so fine particles are not generated in dividing the wafer. Accordingly, fine particles do not stick to the surface of each device and cause a reduction in quality. Further, since the modified layers are removed by etching, it is possible to prevent a reduction in die strength of each device due to the remainder of the modified layers. | 03-07-2013 |
20130122687 | LASER SCRIBING SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS - Scribing apparatus are disclosed. In one aspect, a dual-stage scribing apparatus has a first stage adapted to receive a first substrate, a second stage adapted to receive a second substrate, and one or more lasers adapted to emit a laser beam towards the first stage and the second stage and adapted to scribe the substrates. Scribing can be undertaken on the first stage while an orientation process may take place on the other. In another aspect, as dual-laser scribing apparatus is disclosed. Electronic device processing systems and methods including scribing apparatus are described, as are numerous other aspects. | 05-16-2013 |
20130149841 | WAFER DICING EMPLOYING EDGE REGION UNDERFILL REMOVAL - In one embodiment, a dielectric material layer embedding metal structures is ablated from the chip-containing substrate by laser grooving, which is performed on dicing channels of the chip-containing substrate. Subsequently, an underfill layer is formed over the dielectric material layer in a pattern that excludes the peripheral areas of the chip-containing substrate. The physically exposed dicing channels at the periphery can be employed to align a blade to dice the chip-containing substrate. In another embodiment, an underfill layer is formed prior to any laser grooving. Mechanical cutting of the underfill layer from above dicing channels is followed by laser ablation of the dicing channels and subsequent mechanical cutting to dice a chip-containing substrate. | 06-13-2013 |
20130164914 | LASER PROCESSING METHOD FOR WAFER - A wafer has a device area where a plurality of devices are formed, and a peripheral marginal area surrounding the device area. These devices are formed on the front side of the wafer so as to be partitioned by a plurality of division lines. A modified layer is formed by applying a laser beam along the division lines with the focal point of the laser beam set inside the wafer, thereby forming a modified layer as a division start point inside the wafer along each division line. The wafer is transported to a position where the next step is to be performed. In the modified layer forming step, the modified layer is not formed in the peripheral marginal area of the wafer to thereby form a reinforcing portion in the peripheral marginal area. Accordingly, breakage of the wafer from the modified layer in the transporting step can be prevented. | 06-27-2013 |
20130203239 | METHODS FOR SCRIBING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES WITH IMPROVED SIDEWALL PASSIVATION - A method of singulating semi-conductor devices in the close proximity to active structures by controlling interface charge of semiconductor device sidewalls is provided that includes forming a scribe on a surface of a semi-conductor devices, where the scribe is within 5 degrees of a crystal lattice direction of the semi-conductor device, cleaving the semiconductor device along the scribe, where the devices are separated, using a coating process to coat the sidewalls of the cleaved semiconductor device with a passivation material, where the passivation material is disposed to provide a fixed charge density at a semiconductor interface of the sidewalls, and where the fixed charge density interacts with charge carriers in the bulk of the material. | 08-08-2013 |
20130210215 | PACKAGING METHOD WITH BACKSIDE WAFER DICING - A packaging method with backside wafer dicing includes the steps of forming a support structure at the front surface of the wafer then depositing a metal layer on a centre area of the backside of the wafer after grinding the wafer backside to reduce the wafer thickness; detecting from the backside of the wafer sections of scribe lines formed in the front surface in the region between the edge of the metal layer and the edge of the wafer and cutting the wafer and the metal layer from the wafer backside along a straight line formed by extending a scribe line section detected from the wafer backside. | 08-15-2013 |
20130217209 | METHOD FOR FORMING A CLEAVED FACET OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - Embodiments disclose a method including forming at least one compound semiconductor layer on a top r-face of a substrate, forming a line for cleavage on a bottom r-face of the substrate along a length of a guide line, wherein the guide line extends in a (11-22)-plane direction of the substrate, wherein the guide line extends from one portion of an edge to another portion of the edge, and wherein the edge is disposed between the top r-face and the bottom r-face of the substrate, and applying a force to the bottom r-face of the substrate to cleave the substrate along the line for cleavage in the (11-22)-plane direction and to form a cleaved facet along a c-plane of the at least one compound semiconductor. | 08-22-2013 |
20130244403 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CUTTING SEMICONDUCTOR WAFERS - A method for cutting a semiconductor wafer into semiconductor chips that reduces defects at the semiconductor chip corners. The method includes a pre-cutting processing step of trimming the semiconductor chip corners so that mechanical stress is reduced at the corners. The method includes dicing channels on a semiconductor wafer thereby defining the geometrical shape of one of the semiconductor chips, modifying the corners of the one of the semiconductor chips, and cutting the semiconductor wafer to separate the one of the semiconductor chips from other semiconductor chips. | 09-19-2013 |
20130244404 | METHOD OF SINGULATING A THIN SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER - A method of singulating a semiconductor wafer having two surfaces separated by a thickness T<200 μm includes partitioning it along a network of scribelines on one side. The other side is secured to an elastic foil, which is clamped to a wafer table. A radiative scribing tool is used to produce at least one laser beam having a pulse duration P≦75 ps, and causing the laser beam to scan along each of the scribelines so as to create a scribe with a depth D09-19-2013 | |
20130280888 | Methods of Forming Semiconductor Devices - In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming openings in a substrate. The method includes forming a dummy fill material within the openings and thinning the substrate to expose the dummy fill material. The dummy fill material is removed. | 10-24-2013 |
20130280889 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD CAPABLE OF SCRIBING CHIPS WITH HIGH YIELD - A semiconductor device comprising scribe areas that include dicing areas for separating chip areas, a groove forming area surrounding each chip area, and includes interlayer insulating lamination disposed above the semiconductor wafer; a multilayer wiring structure formed in the interlayer insulating lamination, the multilayer wiring structure including wiring layers disposed in the chip area, and dummy wirings disposed in the chip area and the scribe area, the wiring layers and the dummy wirings being formed from same mother layers; a cover layer including a passivation layer, the cover layer covering the multilayer wiring structure; and a groove formed in each groove forming area, the groove surrounding the chip areas and extending from a surface of the semiconductor wafer and at least through the passivation layer; wherein the multilayer wiring structure includes no dummy wirings in the groove forming area at least in an uppermost wiring layer. | 10-24-2013 |
20130309844 | LASER BEAM PROCESSING METHOD FOR WAFER - A laser beam processing method for a wafer includes a first processed groove forming step in which a laser beam is radiated along a planned dividing line so that the overlapping rate of condensed beam spots is equal to or less than 95%, to thereby form a first laser beam processed groove. The laser beam processing method for a wafer further includes a second processed groove forming step in which a laser beam is radiated along the first laser beam processed groove in such a manner that the overlapping rate of condensed beam spots is equal to or more than 97%, to thereby form a second laser beam processed groove at a bottom portion of the first laser beam processed groove. | 11-21-2013 |
20130323908 | METHOD FOR FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, wherein the method comprises steps as follows: Firstly, a device wafer is provided and a patterned bonding layer is then formed within a scribe line region of the device wafer. Subsequently a handle wafer is bonded to the device wafer by the patterned bonding layer. Next, a dicing process is performed along the scribe line region in order to divide the device wafer into a plurality of dices and remove the patterned bonding layer simultaneously, whereby the divided dices can be separated from the handle wafer. | 12-05-2013 |
20130330909 | METHOD FOR CUTTING BRITTLE SHEET-SHAPED STRUCTURE - A method for cutting brittle sheet-shaped structure is disclosed. A brittle sheet-shaped structure having a cutting surface including a first cutting line on the cutting surface of the brittle sheet-shaped structure is formed. The cutting surface is divided into a first section and a second section, wherein the first section has a predetermined shape. At least one second cutting line is formed on the second section along part of the first cutting line or a tangent line of the first cutting line. A number of third cutting lines are formed on the second section by taking the first cutting line as endpoints. A brittle sheet-shaped structure having the predetermined shape is finally obtained by splitting the brittle sheet-shaped structure along the first cutting line, the at least one second cutting line, and the third cutting lines. | 12-12-2013 |
20130330910 | DICING DIE BOND FILM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - The present invention provides a dicing die bond film in which yielding and breaking of the dicing film are prevented and in which the die bond film can be suitably broken with a tensile force. In the dicing die bond film of the present invention, the tensile strength of the contact part in which the outer circumference of the push-up jig contacts the dicing film at 25° C. is 15 N or more and 80 N or less and the yield point elongation is 80% or more, the tensile strength of the wafer bonding part of the dicing film at 25° C. is 10 N or more and 70 N or less and the yield point elongation is 30% or more, [(the tensile strength of the contact part)−(the tensile strength of the wafer bonding part)] is 0 N or more and 60 N or less, and the breaking elongation rate of the die bond film at 25° C. is more than 40% and 500% or less. | 12-12-2013 |
20130337633 | SEMICONDUCTOR DIE SINGULATION METHOD - In one embodiment, semiconductor die are singulated from a semiconductor wafer by forming trenches along singulation lines and initiating a cracks from within the trenches, which propagate through the semiconductor wafer in a more controlled manner. | 12-19-2013 |
20130344683 | Method and Apparatus for Plasma Dicing a Semi-conductor Wafer - The present invention provides a method for plasma processing a substrate, the method comprising providing a process chamber having a wall; providing a plasma source adjacent to the wall of the process chamber; providing a work piece support within the process chamber; loading a work piece onto the work piece support, the work piece having a support film, a frame and the substrate; providing at least two cutting regions on the substrate, the cutting regions being positioned between all adjacent device structures on the substrate; generating a plasma using the plasma source; and processing the work piece using the generated plasma. | 12-26-2013 |
20140017878 | METHOD OF PROCESSING A DEVICE SUBSTRATE - Methods of processing a device substrate are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of processing a device substrate can include bonding a first surface of a device substrate to a carrier with a polymeric material. The device substrate may have a plurality of first openings extending from the first surface towards a second surface of the device substrate opposite from the first surface. Then, material can be removed at the second surface of the device substrate, wherein at least some of the first openings communicate with the second surface at least one of before or after performing the removal of the material. Then, at least a portion of the polymeric material disposed between the first surface and the carrier substrate can be exposed to a substance through at least some first openings to debond the device substrate from the carrier substrate. | 01-16-2014 |
20140017879 | UNIFORM MASKING FOR WAFER DICING USING LASER AND PLASMA ETCH - Uniform masking for wafer dicing using laser and plasma etch is described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits having bumps or pillars includes uniformly spinning on a mask above the semiconductor wafer, the mask composed of a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask is then patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps, exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits. | 01-16-2014 |
20140017880 | LASER, PLASMA ETCH, AND BACKSIDE GRIND PROCESS FOR WAFER DICING - Front side laser scribing and plasma etch are performed followed by back side grind to singulate integrated circuit chips (ICs). A mask is formed covering ICs formed on the wafer, as well as any bumps providing an interface to the ICs. The mask is patterned by laser scribing to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer, below thin film layers from which the ICs are formed. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to advance a front of an etched trench partially through the semiconductor wafer thickness. The front side mask is removed, a backside grind tape applied to the front side, and a back side grind performed to reach the etched trench, thereby singulating the ICs. | 01-16-2014 |
20140024199 | SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER DICING METHOD - A method of producing semiconductor dies includes providing a semiconductor wafer having front and back faces and an array of integrated circuits fabricated on it. The integrated circuits having active faces at the front face of the wafer. Grooves are cut mechanically from the back face partially through the wafer along saw streets between the integrated circuits. The integrated circuits are then singulated by scanning a laser beam on the front face within and along the saw streets, which scribes the wafer from the front face, and then singulating the integrated circuits by mechanically cleaving the wafer along the saw streets. | 01-23-2014 |
20140038390 | THROUGH SILICON VIA GUARD RING - The present disclosure relates to forming a plurality of through silicon vias guard rings proximate the scribes streets of a microelectronic device wafer. The microelectronic device wafer includes a substrate wherein the through silicon via guard ring is fabricated by forming vias extending completely through the substrate. The through silicon via guard rings act as crack arresters, such that defects caused by cracks resulting from the dicing of the microelectronic wafer are substantially reduced or eliminated. | 02-06-2014 |
20140038391 | III-Nitride Wafer Fabrication - A method for fabrication of a III-nitride film over a silicon wafer that includes forming control joints to allow for overall stress relief in the III-nitride film during the growth thereof. | 02-06-2014 |
20140045320 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A method of forming a semiconductor IC includes forming grooves in a substrate to define a first dummy region and second dummy regions formed at a scribing area, and third dummy regions and a fourth dummy region formed at a product area. A width of the first dummy region is greater than widths of each of the second and third dummy regions and a width of the fourth dummy region is greater than widths of each of the third dummy regions. A conductor pattern is formed over the first dummy region for optical pattern recognition. The first dummy region is formed under the conductor pattern so the grooves are not formed under the conductor pattern. The second dummy regions are spaced from one another by a predetermined spacing at the scribing area, and the third dummy regions are spaced from one another by a predetermined spacing at the product area. | 02-13-2014 |
20140051233 | METHODS OF THINNING AND/OR DICING SEMICONDUCTING SUBSTRATES HAVING INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PRODUCTS FORMED THEREON - One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a plurality of die above a crystalline semiconducting substrate, irradiating and cooling an edge region of the substrate to form an amorphous region in the edge region of the substrate and, after forming the amorphous region, performing at least one process operation to reduce the thickness of the substrate. | 02-20-2014 |
20140065797 | IN-SITU DEPOSITED MASK LAYER FOR DEVICE SINGULATION BY LASER SCRIBING AND PLASMA ETCH - Methods of dicing substrates by both laser scribing and plasma etching. A method includes forming an in-situ mask with a plasma etch chamber by accumulating a thickness of plasma deposited polymer to protect IC bump surfaces from a subsequent plasma etch. Second mask materials, such as a water soluble mask material may be utilized along with the plasma deposited polymer. At least some portion of the mask is patterned with a femtosecond laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with trenches. The patterning exposing regions of the substrate between the ICs in which the substrate is plasma etched to singulate the IC and the water soluble material layer washed off. | 03-06-2014 |
20140080286 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SEMICONDUCTOR BODY - A method of producing a semiconductor body includes providing a semiconductor wafer having at least two chip regions and at least one separating region arranged between the chip regions, wherein the semiconductor wafer includes a layer sequence, an outermost layer of which has, at least within the separating region a transmissive layer transmissive to electromagnetic radiation, carrying out at least one of: removing the transmissive layer within the separating region, applying an absorbent layer within the separating region, increasing the absorption coefficient of the transmissive layer within the separating region, and separating the chip regions along the separating regions by a laser. | 03-20-2014 |
20140106542 | LASER AND PLASMA ETCH WAFER DICING WITH PARTIAL PRE-CURING OF UV RELEASE DICING TAPE FOR FILM FRAME WAFER APPLICATION - Methods and systems of laser and plasma etch wafer dicing using UV-curable adhesive films. A method includes forming a mask covering ICs formed on the wafer. The semiconductor wafer is coupled to a film frame by a UV-curable adhesive film. A pre-cure of the UV-curable adhesive film cures a peripheral portion of the adhesive extending beyond an edge of the wafer to improve the exposed adhesive material's resistance to plasma etch and reduce hydrocarbon redeposition within the etch chamber. The mask is patterned by laser scribing to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer, below thin film layers from which the ICs are formed. The semiconductor wafer is plasma etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the ICs. A center portion of the UV-curable adhesive is then cured and the singulated ICs detached from the film. | 04-17-2014 |
20140106543 | LASER PROCESSING METHOD FOR WAFER - A wafer processing method divides a wafer into a plurality of individual devices along a plurality of crossing division lines formed on the front side of the wafer. The wafer has a substrate, a functional layer formed on the front side of the substrate, and a film formed on the back side of the substrate. The method includes a modified layer forming step of applying a laser beam having a wavelength transmitting through the substrate and the functional layer and reflecting on the film along the division lines from the side of the functional layer. The laser beam is first focused at a virtual point set outside the substrate beyond the film and is reflected on the film to focus the beam inside the substrate, thereby forming a modified layer inside the substrate along each division line. | 04-17-2014 |
20140106544 | SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER WITH ASSISTING DICING STRUCTURE AND DICING METHOD THEREOF - A semiconductor wafer with an assisting dicing structure. The wafer comprises a substrate having a front surface and a rear surface. The front surface of the substrate comprises at least two device regions separated by at least one dicing lane. The rear surface of the substrate comprises at least one pre-dicing trench formed therein and substantially aligned with the dicing lane. A method for dicing a semiconductor wafer is also disclosed. | 04-17-2014 |
20140113435 | USE OF REPELLENT MATERIAL TO PROTECT FABRICATION REGIONS IN SEMI CONDUCTOR ASSEMBLY - A method of preparing semiconductor dies from a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of fabrication regions separated by dicing lines on the top side of the wafer, and an adhesive coating on the back side of the wafer, comprises applying a repellent material to the fabrication regions and dicing lines where the adhesive coating is not intended to be printed; applying the adhesive coating to the back side of the wafer; removing the repellent material; and separating the wafer along the dicing lines into individual dies. | 04-24-2014 |
20140120696 | IN-STREET DIE-TO-DIE INTERCONNECTS - The present disclosure relates to the field of microelectronic die packaging, particularly multi-chip packaging, wherein on-substrate modularity is enabled by using in-street die-to-die interconnects to facilitate signal routing between microelectronic dice. These in-street die-to-die interconnects may allow for manufacturing of several products on a single microelectronic substrate, which may lead to improved microelectronic die and/or microelectronic module harvesting and increased product yields. | 05-01-2014 |
20140120697 | WAFER DICING USING FEMTOSECOND-BASED LASER AND PLASMA ETCH - Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer, the mask including a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask and a portion of the semiconductor wafer are patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask and to form trenches partially into but not through the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. Each of the trenches has a width. The semiconductor wafer is plasma etched through the trenches to form corresponding trench extensions and to singulate the integrated circuits. Each of the corresponding trench extensions has the width. | 05-01-2014 |
20140120698 | WAFER DICING USING HYBRID MULTI-STEP LASER SCRIBING PROCESS WITH PLASMA ETCH - Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer. The mask is composed of a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask is patterned with a multi-step laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits. | 05-01-2014 |
20140127882 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer processing method includes: a protective member providing step of providing a protective member on the front side of a wafer; a wafer quarter generating step of cutting the wafer along the division line extending in a first direction through the center of the wafer and along the division line extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction through the center of the wafer, thereby generating four sectorial wafer quarters; a back grinding step of grinding the back side of each wafer quarter to reduce the thickness of the wafer quarter; a frame providing step of supporting the wafer quarter through an adhesive tape to an annular frame; and a wafer quarter dividing step of fully cutting the wafer quarter along all of the division lines extending in the first and second directions, thereby dividing the wafer quarter into the individual devices. | 05-08-2014 |
20140127883 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - In a wafer processing method, a wafer is cut along a division line extending in a first direction through the center of the wafer and along a division line extending in a second direction through the center of the wafer, thereby generating four sectorial wafer quarters. Grooves are formed on the front side of each wafer quarter along other division lines extending in a grid, each groove having a depth corresponding to a finished thickness of each device formed on the wafer quarter. A protective member is provided on the front side of each wafer quarter; and the wafer quarter is held through the protective member on a chuck table. The back side is then ground to reduce the thickness of the wafer quarter until the grooves are exposed to the back side of the wafer quarter, thereby dividing the wafer quarter into the individual devices. | 05-08-2014 |
20140127884 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - In a wafer processing method, grooves are formed on the front side of a wafer along all division lines extending in a first direction and along all division lines extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each groove has a depth corresponding to a finished thickness of each device in the wafer. The wafer is cut into four sectorial wafer quarters. A protective member is provided on the front side of each wafer quarter; and the back side of the wafer quarter is ground to reduce the thickness of the wafer quarter to the finished thickness until the grooves are exposed to the back side of the wafer quarter, thereby dividing the wafer quarter into the individual devices. | 05-08-2014 |
20140141596 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer processing method divides a wafer into individual devices along crossing streets formed on the front side of the wafer. The wafer has a substrate and a functional layer formed on the front side of the substrate. The individual devices are formed from the functional layer and are partitioned by the streets. A laser beam is applied along the streets from the front side of the functional layer to thereby remove the functional layer along the streets. A resist film is formed on the front side of the functional layer except on each street. The substrate of the wafer is plasma-etched along each street where the functional layer is absent to the depth corresponding to the finished thickness of each device, thereby forming a division groove along each street and also etching off a modified layer formed on the opposite sides of each street. | 05-22-2014 |
20140141597 | CHIPS WITH HIGH FRACTURE TOUGHNESS THROUGH A METAL RING - A method of making an edge-reinforced microelectronic element is disclosed. The steps include mechanically cutting along dicing lanes of a substrate at least partially through a thickness thereof to form a plurality of edge surfaces extending away from a front surface thereof and forming a continuous monolithic metallic edge-reinforcement ring that covers each of the plurality of edge surfaces and extends onto the front surface. The front surface may have a plurality of contacts thereat and the substrate may embody a plurality of microelectronic elements. | 05-22-2014 |
20140154870 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR WAFERS - A method of manufacturing semiconductor wafers is provided which facilitates formation of orientation flat lines and allows beveling work without problems. | 06-05-2014 |
20140206177 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer processing method divides a wafer into individual devices along crossing streets formed on the front side of the wafer. The wafer has a substrate and a functional layer formed on the substrate, the individual devices being formed from the functional layer and partitioned by the streets. In a functional layer dividing step, a laser beam is applied along both sides of each street to form two parallel grooves. Each groove reaches the substrate, thereby dividing the functional layer. In a division groove forming step, a division groove is formed in the functional layer and the substrate along each street so that the division groove extends between the two grooves. The wavelength of the laser beam in the functional layer dividing step is 300 nm or less, at an absorption wavelength of a passivation film. | 07-24-2014 |
20140213040 | LASER PROCESSING METHOD - A laser processing method for performing laser processing to a workpiece. The laser processing method includes: a filament forming step of applying a first pulsed laser beam having a transmission wavelength to the workpiece to thereby form a filament as an optical transmission line in the workpiece so that the filament extends from the surface of the workpiece to be irradiated with the first pulsed laser beam to the inside of the workpiece, the filament having a refractive index higher than that of the workpiece; and a laser processing step of applying a second pulsed laser beam to the filament after performing the filament forming step to thereby transmit the second pulsed laser beam along the filament, thereby processing the workpiece with the second pulsed laser beam. | 07-31-2014 |
20140213041 | LASER AND PLASMA ETCH WAFER DICING WITH ETCH CHAMBER SHIELD RING FOR FILM FRAME WAFER APPLICATIONS - Laser and plasma etch wafer dicing where a mask is formed covering ICs formed on the wafer, as well as any bumps providing an interface to the ICs. The semiconductor wafer is coupled to a film frame by an adhesive film. The mask is patterned by laser scribing to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The laser scribing exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer, below thin film layers from which the ICs are formed. The semiconductor wafer is plasma etched through the gaps in the patterned mask while the film frame is maintained at an acceptably low temperature with a chamber shield ring configured to sit beyond the wafer edge and cover the frame. The shield ring may be raised and lowered, for example, on lifter pins to facilitate transfer of the wafer on frame. | 07-31-2014 |
20140213042 | SUBSTRATE DICING BY LASER ABLATION & PLASMA ETCH DAMAGE REMOVAL FOR ULTRA-THIN WAFERS - Methods of dicing substrates having a plurality of ICs. A method includes forming a mask, patterning the mask with a femtosecond laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps, and ablating through an entire thickness of a semiconductor substrate to singulate the IC. Following laser-based singulation, a plasma etch is performed to remove a layer of semiconductor sidewall damaged by the laser scribe process. In the exemplary embodiment, a femtosecond laser is utilized and a 1-3 μm thick damage layer is removed with the plasma etch. Following the plasma etch, the mask is removed, rendering the singulated die suitable for assembly/packaging. | 07-31-2014 |
20140235035 | Methods of Forming Semiconductor Devices - In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming openings in a substrate. The method includes forming a dummy fill material within the openings and thinning the substrate to expose the dummy fill material. The dummy fill material is removed. | 08-21-2014 |
20140273401 | SUBSTRATE LASER DICING MASK INCLUDING LASER ENERGY ABSORBING WATER-SOLUBLE FILM - Methods of dicing substrates having a plurality of ICs. A method includes forming a mask comprising a laser energy absorbing material layer soluble in water over the semiconductor substrate. The laser energy absorbing material layer may be UV curable, and either remain uncured or be cured prior to removal with a water rinse. The mask is patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the substrate between the ICs. The substrate may then be plasma etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the IC with the laser energy absorbing mask protecting the ICs for during the plasma etch. The soluble mask is then dissolved subsequent to singulation. | 09-18-2014 |
20140287568 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND EXPOSURE MASK USED IN THE SAME METHOD - A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed in which the probability of occurrence of a crack is reduced and in which manufacturing cost is also reduced. An exposure mask used in the method is disclosed. Protrusion portions are formed in intersections of scribe lines in an outermost periphery of a scribe line pattern of a surface protection film of the exposure mask, to thereby stick out toward an outer circumference. In this manner, the probability of occurrence of a crack occurring in a device formation section can be reduced so that a reduction in the manufacturing cost can be achieved. | 09-25-2014 |
20140295643 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - In a wafer processing method, a modified layer is formed inside a wafer along planned dividing lines by irradiating the wafer with a laser beam with such a wavelength as to be transmitted through the wafer from the back surface side of the wafer along the dividing lines. A first modified layer is formed near the back surface of the wafer by irradiating the wafer with the light focal point of the laser beam positioned near the back surface of the wafer. The wafer is then irradiated with the light focal point of the laser beam positioned on the front surface side. Then plural second modified layers are formed in a multi-layering manner with sequential movement of the light focal point toward an area leading to the first modified layer. The wafer is divided into individual devices along the dividing lines by applying an external force to the wafer. | 10-02-2014 |
20140315372 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer processing method including a wafer supporting step of attaching a front side of a dicing tape formed of synthetic resin to a back side of a wafer and supporting a peripheral portion of the dicing tape to an annular frame, a dicing tape heating step of heating a back side of the dicing tape attached to the wafer to soften the dicing tape, thereby flattening the back side of the dicing tape, and a modified layer forming step of applying a laser beam having a transmission wavelength to the wafer through the dicing tape from the back side thereof along the division lines in the condition where the focal point of the laser beam is set inside the wafer, thereby forming a modified layer inside the wafer along each division line. | 10-23-2014 |
20140357055 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING A SEMICONDUCTOR WORKPIECE - A method for processing a semiconductor workpiece is provided, which may include: providing a semiconductor workpiece including a metallization layer stack disposed at a side of the semiconductor workpiece, the metallization layer stack including at least a first layer and a second layer disposed over the first layer, wherein the first layer contains a first material and the second layer contains a second material that is different from the first material; patterning the metallization layer stack, wherein patterning the metallization layer stack includes wet etching the first layer and the second layer by means of an etching solution that has at least substantially the same etching rate for the first material and the second material. | 12-04-2014 |
20140363952 | LASER, PLASMA ETCH, AND BACKSIDE GRIND PROCESS FOR WAFER DICING - Front side laser scribing and plasma etch are performed followed by back side grind to singulate integrated circuit chips (ICs). A mask is formed covering ICs formed on the wafer, as well as any bumps providing an interface to the ICs. The mask is patterned by laser scribing to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer, below thin film layers from which the ICs are formed. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to advance a front of an etched trench partially through the semiconductor wafer thickness. The front side mask is removed, a backside grind tape applied to the front side, and a back side grind performed to reach the etched trench, thereby singulating the ICs. | 12-11-2014 |
20140377937 | METHOD OF COATING WATER SOLUBLE MASK FOR LASER SCRIBING AND PLASMA ETCH - Methods of using a hybrid mask composed of a first water soluble film layer and a second water-soluble layer for wafer dicing using laser scribing and plasma etch described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits involves forming a hybrid mask above the semiconductor wafer. The hybrid mask is composed of a first water-soluble layer disposed on the integrated circuits, and a second water-soluble layer disposed on the first water-soluble layer. The method also involves patterning the hybrid mask with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned hybrid mask with gaps, exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The method also involves etching the semiconductor wafer through the gaps in the patterned hybrid mask to singulate the integrated circuits. | 12-25-2014 |
20150011073 | LASER SCRIBING AND PLASMA ETCH FOR HIGH DIE BREAK STRENGTH AND SMOOTH SIDEWALL - In embodiments, a hybrid wafer or substrate dicing process involving an initial laser scribe and subsequent plasma etch is implemented for die singulation. The laser scribe process may be used to cleanly remove a mask layer, organic and inorganic dielectric layers, and device layers. The laser etch process may then be terminated upon exposure of, or partial etch of, the wafer or substrate. In embodiments, a hybrid plasma etching approach is employed to dice the wafers where an isotropic etch is employed to improve the die sidewall following an anisotropic etch with a plasma based on a combination of NF | 01-08-2015 |
20150011074 | METHODS OF FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING WRAPPING LAYER - A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having first areas and second areas, forming first metal wires on the first areas of the substrate, forming second metal wires on the second areas of the substrate, forming an interlayer insulation layer to cover the first and second metal wires, forming pad patterns on the first metal wires, forming a passivation layer to cover the pad patterns on the interlayer insulation layer, and forming a wrapping layer on the passivation layer. The wrapping layer includes first openings that are vertically aligned with the pad patterns, and second openings that are disposed on the second areas and that horizontally connect the first openings with each other. | 01-08-2015 |
20150024575 | Wafer Alignment Methods in Die Sawing Process - A method includes forming a molding compound molding a lower portion of an electrical connector of a wafer therein. The molding compound is at a front surface of the wafer. The molding compound covers a center region of the wafer, and leaves an edge ring of the wafer not covered. An opening is formed to extend from the front surface of the wafer into the wafer, wherein the opening is in the edge ring of the wafer. A backside grinding is performed on the wafer until the opening is revealed through a back surface of the wafer. The method further includes determining a position of a scribe line of the wafer using the opening as an alignment mark, and sawing the wafer from a backside of the wafer by sawing through the scribe line. | 01-22-2015 |
20150031191 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - To enhance reliability in assembling a semiconductor device. There is provided a wiring substrate including a target mark, which is not provided on an extension line of a dicing region provided between a first semiconductor device region and a second semiconductor device region but is provided between the extension line of the dicing region and a first imaginary extension line of a first outermost peripheral land row and between the extension line of the dicing region and a second imaginary extension line of a second outermost peripheral land row. Furthermore, after mounting a semiconductor chip, wire bonding is performed, resin sealing is performed and a solder ball is mounted. After that, the dicing region is specified on the basis of the target mark, and the wiring substrate is cut along the dicing region. | 01-29-2015 |
20150044856 | METHOD OF SEPARATING SEMICONDUCTOR DIE USING MATERIAL MODIFICATION - A method for separating semiconductor die includes forming a porous region on a semiconductor wafer and separating the die at the porous region using mechanical or other means. | 02-12-2015 |
20150064877 | METHODS FOR PROCESSING A SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER - A method for processing a semiconductor wafer in accordance with various embodiments may include: providing a semiconductor wafer including at least one chip and at least one kerf region adjacent to the at least one chip, the kerf region including at least one auxiliary structure; applying a mask layer to the semiconductor wafer; removing the at least one auxiliary structure in the at least one kerf region; removing the applied mask layer; and separating the semiconductor wafer along the at least one kerf region. | 03-05-2015 |
20150064878 | WAFER DICING METHOD FOR IMPROVING DIE PACKAGING QUALITY - In embodiments, a hybrid wafer or substrate dicing process involving an initial laser scribe and subsequent plasma etch is implemented for die singulation while also removing an oxidation layer from metal bumps on the wafer. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a mask over the semiconductor wafer covering the plurality of ICs, the plurality of ICs including metal bumps or pads with an oxidation layer. The method includes patterning the mask with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps, exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the ICs. The method includes plasma etching the semiconductor wafer through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the plurality of ICs and remove the oxidation layer from the metal bumps or pads. | 03-05-2015 |
20150072506 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer is divided into a plurality of individual devices along a plurality of crossing division lines formed on the front side of the wafer. The wafer has a substrate, a functional layer formed on the front side of the substrate, and an SiO | 03-12-2015 |
20150072507 | DEVICE WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A device wafer has a plurality of devices individually formed in a plurality of separate regions on the front side of the wafer, the separate regions being defined by a plurality of crossing division lines. The wafer is processed by imaging the front side of the wafer to detect and store a target pattern, holding the front side of the wafer and grinding the back side of the wafer to thereby reduce the thickness to a predetermined thickness, imaging the front side of the wafer and next positioning the wafer with respect to a ring frame according to the target pattern stored so that the wafer is oriented to a predetermined direction, and attaching an adhesive tape to the back side of the wafer to thereby mount the wafer through the adhesive tape to the ring frame. | 03-12-2015 |
20150079760 | ALTERNATING MASKING AND LASER SCRIBING APPROACH FOR WAFER DICING USING LASER SCRIBING AND PLASMA ETCH - Alternating masking and laser scribing approaches for wafer dicing using laser scribing and plasma etch are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits includes forming a first mask above the semiconductor wafer. The first mask is patterned with a first laser scribing process to provide a patterned first mask with a first plurality of scribe lines exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. Subsequent to patterning the first mask with the first laser scribing process, a second mask is formed above the patterned first mask. The second mask is patterned with a second laser scribing process to provide a patterned second mask with a second plurality of scribe lines exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The second plurality of scribe lines is aligned with and overlaps the first plurality of scribe lines. The semiconductor wafer is plasma etched through the second plurality of scribe lines to singulate the integrated circuits. | 03-19-2015 |
20150079761 | Wafer Dicing from Wafer Backside and Front Side - Approaches for backside laser scribe plus front side laser scribe and plasma etch dicing of a wafer or substrate are described. For example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits on a front side thereof and metallization on a backside thereof involves patterning the metallization on the backside with a first laser scribing process to provide a first plurality of laser scribe lines on the backside. The method also involves forming a mask on the front side. The method also involves patterning, from the front side, the mask with a second laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with a second plurality of scribe lines exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits, wherein the second plurality of scribe lines is aligned with the first plurality of scribe lines. The method also involves plasma etching the semiconductor wafer through the second plurality of scribe lines to singulate the integrated circuits. | 03-19-2015 |
20150093882 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer processing method of processing a wafer having a plurality of devices formed on the front side of the wafer, the devices being respectively formed in a plurality of separate regions defined by a plurality of crossing division lines. The wafer processing method includes a support member providing step of providing a support member on the back side of the wafer, the support member having substantially the same size as that of the wafer, and a dividing step of dicing the wafer from the front side thereof along the division lines after performing the support member providing step, thereby dividing the wafer into a plurality of chips. | 04-02-2015 |
20150099346 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - In a wafer processing method, the back side of the wafer is ground to reduce the thickness of the wafer to a predetermined thickness. A modified layer is formed by applying a laser beam to the wafer from the back side of the wafer along each division line with the focal point of the laser beam set inside the wafer. The wafer is mounted on a reinforcing sheet having an insulating function on the back side of the wafer and a dicing tape is attached to the reinforcing sheet. The peripheral portion of the dicing tape is supported by an annular frame. The wafer is heated, which also heats the reinforcing sheet, thereby hardening the reinforcing sheet. An external force is applied to the wafer to divide the wafer into individual devices along each division line and to also break the reinforcing sheet along the individual devices. | 04-09-2015 |
20150104929 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DICING WAFERS HAVING THICK PASSIVATION POLYMER LAYER - Methods of and apparatuses for dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a front surface having a plurality of integrated circuits thereon involves forming a mask layer above the front surface of the semiconductor wafer. The method also involves laser scribing the mask layer and the front surface of the semiconductor wafer to provide scribe lines in the mask layer and partially into the semiconductor wafer. The laser scribing involves use of a dual focus lens to provide a dual focus spot beam. The method also involves etching the semiconductor wafer through the scribe lines to singulate the integrated circuits. | 04-16-2015 |
20150104930 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer processing method divides a wafer into a plurality of individual devices along a plurality of crossing division lines formed on the front side of the wafer. The method includes a functional layer removing step of applying a CO | 04-16-2015 |
20150111363 | MASKLESS HYBRID LASER SCRIBING AND PLASMA ETCHING WAFER DICING PROCESS - Maskless hybrid laser scribing and plasma etching wafer dicing processes are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a front surface with a plurality of integrated circuits thereon and having a passivation layer disposed between and covering metal pillar/solder bump pairs of the integrated circuits involves laser scribing, without the use of a mask layer, the passivation layer to provide scribe lines exposing the semiconductor wafer. The method also involves plasma etching the semiconductor wafer through the scribe lines to singulate the integrated circuits, wherein the passivation layer protects the integrated circuits during at least a portion of the plasma etching. The method also involves thinning the passivation layer to partially expose the metal pillar/solder bump pairs of the integrated circuits. | 04-23-2015 |
20150111364 | MASKLESS HYBRID LASER SCRIBING AND PLASMA ETCHING WAFER DICING PROCESS - Maskless hybrid laser scribing and plasma etching wafer dicing processes are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a front surface with a plurality of integrated circuits thereon and having a passivation layer disposed between and covering metal pillar/solder bump pairs of the integrated circuits involves laser scribing, without the use of a mask layer, the passivation layer to provide scribe lines exposing the semiconductor wafer. The method also involves plasma etching the semiconductor wafer through the scribe lines to singulate the integrated circuits, wherein the passivation layer protects the integrated circuits during at least a portion of the plasma etching. The method also involves thinning the passivation layer to partially expose the metal pillar/solder bump pairs of the integrated circuits. | 04-23-2015 |
20150118827 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming electrodes on a first major surface of a semiconductor substrate having first and second major surfaces facing in opposite directions; and forming a cleavage-inducing pattern on the first major surface of the semiconductor substrate. The cleavage-inducing pattern extends over a target cleavage position located between the electrodes, has a recess extending over the target cleavage position, and is made of a material different from the material of the semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a scribed groove in the second major surface of the semiconductor substrate and in a position facing the target cleavage position; and cleaving the semiconductor substrate having the scribed groove and the cleavage-inducing pattern by applying pressure, through a cleaving blade, to the first major surface of the semiconductor substrate. | 04-30-2015 |
20150140784 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer processing method for dividing a wafer into individual devices along a plurality of crossing division lines, including a frame preparing step of preparing a frame having a plurality of crossing partitions corresponding to the division lines of the wafer, a resin covering step of spreading a resin powder on the wafer and positioning the partitions of the frame in alignment with the division lines, thereby covering with the resin powder the regions of the wafer other than the regions corresponding to the division lines, a masking step of melting and curing the resin powder supplied to the wafer processed by the resin covering step and next removing the frame, thereby masking the regions other than the regions corresponding to the division lines, and an etching step of plasma-etching the wafer processed by the masking step to thereby divide the wafer into the individual devices along the division lines. | 05-21-2015 |
20150294911 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING A SEMICONDUCTOR WORKPIECE - A method for processing a semiconductor workpiece is provided, which may include: providing a semiconductor workpiece including a metallization layer stack disposed at a side of the semiconductor workpiece, the metallization layer stack including at least a first layer and a second layer disposed over the first layer, wherein the first layer contains a first material and the second layer contains a second material that is different from the first material; patterning the metallization layer stack, wherein patterning the metallization layer stack includes wet etching the first layer and the second layer by means of an etching solution that has at least substantially the same etching rate for the first material and the second material. | 10-15-2015 |
20150303111 | DICING WAFERS HAVING SOLDER BUMPS ON WAFER BACKSIDE - Approaches for hybrid laser scribe and plasma etch dicing process for a wafer having backside solder bumps are described. For example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having integrated circuits on a front side thereof and corresponding arrays of metal bumps on a backside thereof involves applying a dicing tape to the backside of the semiconductor wafer, the dicing tape covering the arrays of metal bumps. The method also involves, subsequently, forming a mask on the front side of the semiconductor wafer, the mask covering the integrated circuits. The method also involves forming scribe lines on the front side of the semiconductor wafer with a laser scribing process, the scribe lines formed in the mask and between the integrated circuits. The method also involves plasma etching the semiconductor wafer through the scribe lines to singulate the integrated circuits, the mask protecting the integrated circuits during the plasma etching. | 10-22-2015 |
20150303113 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A processing method for a wafer has a substrate and a laminated layer formed on the substrate. The laminated layer forms a plurality of crossing division lines and a plurality of devices formed in separate regions defined by the division lines. A groove is formed in the laminated layer along each division line by using a cutting blade. A modified layer is formed by applying a laser beam to the substrate along the division lines from the back side of the wafer in the condition where the focal point of the laser beam is set inside the substrate, thereby forming a modified layer inside the substrate along each division line. An external force is applied to the wafer, thereby dividing the wafer along each division line to obtain a plurality of individual chips. | 10-22-2015 |
20150332969 | SEMICONDUCTOR DIE SINGULATION METHOD AND APPARATUS - In one embodiment, die are singulated from a wafer having a back layer by placing the wafer onto a first carrier substrate with the back layer adjacent the carrier substrate, forming singulation lines through the wafer to expose the back layer within the singulation lines, and using a mechanical device to apply localized pressure to the wafer to separate the back layer in the singulation lines. The localized pressure can be applied through the first carrier substrate proximate to the back layer, or can be applied through a second carrier substrate attached to a front side of the wafer opposite to the back layer. | 11-19-2015 |
20150332970 | CARRIER WITH THERMALLY RESISTANT FILM FRAME FOR SUPPORTING WAFER DURING SINGULATION - Methods of and carriers for dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a carrier for supporting a wafer or substrate in an etch process includes a frame having a perimeter surrounding an inner opening. The frame is composed of a thermally resistant material. The carrier also includes a carrier tape coupled to the frame and disposed at least within the inner opening of the frame. The carrier tape includes a base film. | 11-19-2015 |
20150348921 | Processing of Thick Metal Pads - In an embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a first chip region and a second chip region. A first contact pad is formed over the first chip region and a second contact pad is formed over the second chip region. The first and the second contact pads are at least as thick as the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes dicing through the semiconductor substrate between the first and the second contact pads. The dicing is performed from a side of the semiconductor substrate including the first contact pad and the second contact pad. A conductive liner is formed over the first and the second contact pads and sidewalls of the semiconductor substrate exposed by the dicing. | 12-03-2015 |
20150357224 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - In a wafer processing method, a protective film is formed by applying a liquid resin to the front side of a wafer. A protective tape is adhered to a surface of the protective film. A modified layer is formed by applying a laser beam having such a wavelength as to be transmitted through the wafer along each of division lines, with a focal point positioned inside the wafer. The modified layer is formed inside the wafer along each of the division lines. The back side of the wafer is ground while supplying grinding water to thin the wafer to a predetermined thickness and to crack the wafer along the division lines using the modified layers as crack starting points so as to divide the wafer into individual device chips, after the protective film is formed, the protective tape is adhered, and the modified layer is formed. | 12-10-2015 |
20150357241 | METHOD OF REDUCING RESIDUAL CONTAMINATION IN SINGULATED SEMICONDUCTOR DIE - In one embodiment, semiconductor die are singulated from a semiconductor wafer by placing the semiconductor wafer onto a carrier tape, forming singulation lines through the semiconductor wafer, and reducing the presence of residual contaminates on the semiconductor wafer. | 12-10-2015 |
20150357242 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer is divided into individual device chips along crossing division lines, the division lines being formed on the front side of the wafer to thereby define separate regions where devices are respectively formed. A division groove having a depth corresponding to the finished thickness of each device chip is formed along each division line on the front side of the wafer. The back side of the wafer is ground until the division groove along each division line is exposed to the back side of the wafer, thereby dividing the wafer into the individual device chips. An adhesive film for die bonding is mounted on the back side of the wafer and a dicing tape is attached to the adhesive film. The dicing tape is expanded to thereby break the adhesive film along the individual device chips. | 12-10-2015 |
20150364375 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - Disclosed herein is a wafer processing method including a wafer supporting step of mounting an adhesive film for die bonding on the back side of a wafer, attaching a dicing tape to the adhesive film, and supporting the peripheral portion of the dicing tape to an annular frame, wherein the wafer has already been divided into individual device chips along division lines formed on the front side or a break start point has already been formed inside the wafer along each division line, a protective film forming step of applying a water-soluble resin to the front side of the wafer and/or the peripheral portion of the adhesive film projecting from the outer circumference of the wafer, thereby forming a protective film from the water-soluble resin, and an adhesive film breaking step of expanding the dicing tape to thereby break the adhesive film along the individual device chips. | 12-17-2015 |
20160013105 | METHOD OF DICING THIN SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATES | 01-14-2016 |
20160035577 | MULTI-LAYER MASK INCLUDING NON-PHOTODEFINABLE LASER ENERGY ABSORBING LAYER FOR SUBSTRATE DICING BY LASER AND PLASMA ETCH - Methods of dicing substrates having a plurality of ICs. A method includes forming a multi-layered mask comprising a laser energy absorbing, non-photodefinable topcoat disposed over a water-soluble base layer disposed over the semiconductor substrate. Because the laser light absorbing material layer is non-photodefinable, material costs associated with conventional photo resist formulations may be avoided. The mask is direct-write patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the substrate between the ICs. Absorption of the mask layer within the laser emission band (e.g., UV band and/or green band) promotes good scribe line quality. The substrate may then be plasma etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the IC with the mask protecting the ICs during the plasma etch. The soluble base layer of the mask may then be dissolved subsequent to singulation, facilitating removal of the layer. | 02-04-2016 |
20160042996 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer processing method includes forming a resist film on the front side of a wafer in an area except division lines, plasma etching the wafer to form a groove on the front side of the wafer along each division line, the groove having a depth greater than a finished thickness, removing the resist film from the front side of the wafer by cleaning, and grinding the back side of the wafer to reduce the thickness of the wafer to the finished thickness, so that the groove is exposed to the back side of the wafer to thereby divide the wafer into individual device chips. In the resist film removing step, a chemical fluid is sprayed to the resist film formed on the front side of the wafer, thereby removing the resist film. | 02-11-2016 |
20160042999 | METHOD FOR SEPARATING AND TRANSFERRING IC CHIPS - A method for separating a multiple number of semiconductor devices or semiconductor integrated circuits from a wafer on which the multiple number of semiconductor devices or semiconductor integrated circuits are formed is provided. The method includes separating each of the semiconductor devices or semiconductor integrated circuits. Each of the separated semiconductor devices or semiconductor integrated circuits is non-rectangular shaped, and the step of separating each of the semiconductor devices or semiconductor integrated circuits is performed by dry etching. A test device is formed on an area of a groove width required for separating the semiconductor devices or semiconductor integrated circuits, and the semiconductor devices or semiconductor integrated circuits are separated without a waste of space except for the area of the groove width required for separating the semiconductor devices or semiconductor integrated circuits, with the test device being separated from the semiconductor devices or semiconductor integrated circuits. | 02-11-2016 |
20160056080 | SEMICONDUCTOR PIECE MANUFACTURING METHOD AND SUBSTRATE DICING METHOD - A semiconductor piece manufacturing method includes: a process of forming a groove on a front surface side including a first groove portion having a first width from a front surface of a substrate and a second groove portion that is positioned in a lower part that communicates with the first groove portion and has a second width larger than the first width; and a process of forming a groove on a rear surface side having a width greater than the first width along the second groove portion from a rear surface of the substrate by a rotating cutting member. | 02-25-2016 |
20160071768 | Method for Preventing Delamination and Cracks in Group III-V Wafers - In an exemplary implementation, a method includes growing a III-Nitride body over a group IV substrate in a semiconductor wafer. The method includes forming at least one device layer over the III-Nitride body. The method also includes etching grid array trenches in the III-Nitride body, where the etching of the grid array trenches may extend into the group IV substrate. The method can also include forming an edge trench around a perimeter of the semiconductor wafer. The method further includes forming separate dies by cutting the semiconductor wafer approximately along the grid array trenches. | 03-10-2016 |
20160071769 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE DEVICE, AND LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY - In order to shield the light incident from the chip side surface or chip rear surface of a semiconductor chip that forms an LCD driver, a light-shielding film is formed over the chip side surface and chip rear surface of the semiconductor chip itself, not using a light-shielding tape that is a component separate from the semiconductor chip. Accordingly, the light-shielding tape as a separate component is not used, and hence the trouble that the light-shielding tape may protrude from the surface of a glass substrate whose thickness has been made small can be solved. As a result, the thinning of a liquid crystal display, and the subsequent thinning of the mobile phone in which the liquid crystal display is mounted can be promoted. | 03-10-2016 |
20160079121 | PERFORATION OF FILMS FOR SEPARATION - A method for separation of semiconductor device cell units from fabricated large-area cell units, together with a corresponding tile unit structure, are provided in which the tile unit is cut along cell unit boundaries while leaving intact a set of specified tab sections distributed along the cell unit boundaries. The tile unit may be a multi-layer composite of a semiconductor layer with a conductive metallic base supported upon a polymer layer and adhered thereto by an adhesive film, wherein tab sections are cut completely through the semiconductor layer and its metallic base from above and may also be cut partially through the polymer layer from below, leaving at least a portion of the polymer layer in place at tab sections. Tile units can be handled such that component cell units are held together by the tab sections, until a physical final separation of selected cell units. | 03-17-2016 |
20160079122 | Preventing Delamination and Cracks in Fabrication of Group III-V Devices - In an exemplary implementation, a method includes growing a III-Nitride body over a group IV substrate in a semiconductor wafer. The method includes forming at least one device layer over the III-Nitride body. The method also includes etching grid array trenches in the III-Nitride body, where the etching of the grid array trenches may extend into the group IV substrate. The method can also include forming an edge trench around a perimeter of the semiconductor wafer. The method further includes forming separate dies by cutting the semiconductor wafer approximately along the grid array trenches. | 03-17-2016 |
20160086851 | HYBRID WAFER DICING APPROACH USING AN ADAPTIVE OPTICS-CONTROLLED LASER SCRIBING PROCESS AND PLASMA ETCH PROCESS - Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits involves forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer, the mask composed of a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask is then patterned with an adaptive optics-controlled laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps, exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then plasma etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits. | 03-24-2016 |
20160086852 | PROXIMITY CONTACT COVER RING FOR PLASMA DICING - Methods of and carriers for dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a cover ring for protecting a carrier and substrate assembly during an etch process includes an inner opening having a diameter smaller than the diameter of a substrate of the carrier and substrate assembly. An outer frame surrounds the inner opening. The outer frame has a bevel for accommodating an outermost portion of the substrate of the carrier and substrate assembly. | 03-24-2016 |
20160086900 | Semiconductor Devices and Methods of Manufacture Thereof - Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, and a plurality of contact pads disposed over the substrate. The contact pads may be arranged in a ball grid array (BGA), and the may include a plurality of corners. A metal dam is disposed around each of the plurality of corners, such as corners of the BGA. | 03-24-2016 |
20160126138 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer is formed with a plurality of division lines on a front surface of a single crystal substrate having an off angle and formed with devices in a plurality of regions partitioned by the division lines. The wafer is processed by setting a numerical aperture (NA) of a focusing lens for focusing a pulsed laser beam so that a value obtained by dividing the numerical aperture (NA) by a refractive index (N) of the single crystal substrate falls within the range from 0.05 to 0.2. The pulsed laser beam is applied along the division lines, with a focal point of the pulsed laser beam positioned at a desired position from a back surface of the single crystal substrate, so as to form shield tunnels each composed of a pore and a pore-shielding amorphous portion along the division lines from the focal point positioned inside the single crystal substrate. | 05-05-2016 |
20160133519 | TRANSFER ARM FOR FILM FRAME SUBSTRATE HANDLING DURING PLASMA SINGULATION OF WAFERS - Methods of and apparatuses for dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a plasma etch apparatus includes a plasma etch chamber. The plasma etch chamber includes a plasma source disposed in an upper region of the plasma etch chamber, a cathode assembly disposed below the plasma source, and a support pedestal for supporting a substrate carrier below the plasma source. The plasma etch apparatus also includes a transfer chamber coupled to the plasma etch chamber. The transfer chamber includes a transfer arm for supporting a substantial portion of a dicing tape of the substrate carrier, the transfer arm configured to transfer a sample from the support pedestal following an etch singulation process. | 05-12-2016 |
20160133520 | METHOD OF SEVERING A SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE COMPOSITE - A method of severing a semiconductor device composite includes a carrier having a main surface and a semiconductor layer sequence arranged on the main surface including forming a separating trench in the semiconductor device composite by a first laser cut such that the separating trench only partially severs the semiconductor device composite in a vertical direction running perpendicular to the main surface, and severing the semiconductor device composite completely along the separating trench with a severing cut with a laser. | 05-12-2016 |
20160133521 | Method of Manufacturing a Semiconductor Device - A semiconductor device manufacturing method comprising the steps of providing a matrix substrate having a main surface with plural device areas formed thereon, fixing plural semiconductor chips to the plural device areas respectively, then sealing the plural semiconductor chips all together with resin to form a block sealing member, dividing the block sealing member and the matrix substrate for each of the device areas by dicing, thereafter rubbing a surface of each of the diced sealing member portions with a brush, then storing semiconductor devices formed by the dicing once into pockets respectively of a tray, and conveying the semiconductor devices each individually from the tray. Since the substrate dividing work after block molding is performed by dicing while vacuum-chucking the surface of the block sealing member, the substrate division can be done without imposing any stress on an external terminal mounting surface of the matrix substrate. | 05-12-2016 |
20160141210 | WAFER DICING USING FEMTOSECOND-BASED LASER AND PLASMA ETCH - Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer, the mask including a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask and a portion of the semiconductor wafer are patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask and to form trenches partially into but not through the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. Each of the trenches has a width. The semiconductor wafer is plasma etched through the trenches to for corresponding trench extensions and to singulate the integrated circuits. Each of the corresponding trench extensions has the width. | 05-19-2016 |
20160163597 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD - A wafer processing method for dividing a wafer into individual device chips along division lines is disclosed. The wafer processing method includes a back grinding step of grinding the back side of the wafer in the condition where a protective tape is attached to the front side of the wafer, thereby reducing the thickness of the wafer to a predetermined thickness, and a reinforcing insulation seal mounting step of mounting a reinforcing insulation seal capable of transmitting infrared light on the back side of the wafer. The wafer processing method further includes a modified layer forming step of applying a laser beam along each division line to thereby form a modified layer inside the wafer along each division line and a wafer dividing step of applying an external force to the wafer to thereby divide the wafer into the individual device chips along each division line. | 06-09-2016 |
20160172203 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP AND METHOD FOR POSITIONING CUTTING MEMBER | 06-16-2016 |
20160172243 | WAFER MATERIAL REMOVAL | 06-16-2016 |
20160172306 | METHOD OF MARKING A SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE | 06-16-2016 |
20160172312 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD | 06-16-2016 |
20160181141 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD | 06-23-2016 |
20160197015 | HYBRID WAFER DICING APPROACH USING A POLYGON SCANNING-BASED LASER SCRIBING PROCESS AND PLASMA ETCH PROCESS | 07-07-2016 |