Patent ID: 9741619
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: H01L

Claim:
1. A method for dicing a wafer comprising: providing a wafer having first and second major surfaces, wherein the wafer is prepared with a plurality of dies on main device regions and are spaced apart from each other by dicing channels on the first major surface of the wafer, wherein providing a protective film over the second major surface of the wafer, wherein the protective film is patterned to cover areas of the wafer corresponding to the main device regions and expose areas of the wafer corresponding to the dicing channels; using the patterned protective film as an etch mask, performing a plasma etching process to remove exposed semiconductor material of the wafer and form trenches within the wafer, wherein the trenches extend through the wafer to expose portions of the passivation layer extending over the dicing channels; and performing a non-etching process on the passivation layer to singulate the plurality of dies.