Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for handling fragile semiconductor wafers

US5273615A · kind A · utility

51Cited by
11References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 6, 1992
Grant dateDec 28, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 6, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T279/11
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus (60) which handles fragile semiconductor wafers (21) adhesively mounted to a submount (22) using a high temperature wax is provided. The apparatus (60) includes a vacuum chuck (24) for holding a first surface of the wafer (21) and a solvent chamber (11, 11') for applying solvent to the back surface of the submount (22). The apparatus (60) includes an enclosure (29) for providing an inert gas environment around the solvent chamber (11, 11'), the wafer (21), and the vacuum chuck (24). The apparatus (60) further includes a means for remounting (30) the wafer (21) to a submount (22) using a low temperature wax after the high temperature wax is dissolved. The wafer (21) is then released from the vacuum chuck (24) and the first surface of the wafer (21) is mounted to an adhesive tape (34). Following the mounting, the low temperature wax is dissolved or melted to demount the wafer (21 ) from the submount (22), leaving the wafer (21) securely mounted on the adhesive tape (34) for sawing.

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