Patent · US Expired

Manufacturing semiconductor wafer devices by simultaneous slicing and etching

US4343662A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
5References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 1981
Grant dateAug 10, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/977
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of forming semiconductor devices incorporates etching during the slicing of a semiconductor ingot from which semiconductor wafers are formed. In addition, a partial slicing through the ingot yields partially cut wafers which are maintained integral beyond a diffusion step. Grinding is then employed to remove unwanted material, to shape, and to accomplish the separation of the wafers. A doped, silicon ingot is used with a solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide as the etchant. With the ingot in the [111] type of crystal orientation, the etching proceeds readily adjacent to the slicing cuts to facilitate the slicing, and proceeds slowly elsewhere to minimize material wastage. As a result, the formation of extremely thin wafers with minimal cutting loss is possible.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.