Patent ID: 8598016
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
Classification: B23K,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of dicing a substrate comprising a plurality of ICs, the method comprising: forming a mask, over the substrate covering and protecting the ICs; patterning at least a portion of the mask thickness with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with trenches, exposing regions of the substrate between the ICs; and plasma etching the substrate through the trenches in the patterned mask to singulate the ICs, wherein forming the mask further comprises plasma depositing a polymer over the substrate, wherein forming the mask further comprises applying a second mask material layer by spin coating the second mask material prior to plasma depositing the layer of polymer, the spin coating of the second mask material layer leaving a top surface of a copper bump on the IC with a mask thickness insufficient to protect the bump through the full duration of the plasma etching, wherein the second mask material layer is a water soluble polymer, wherein patterning at least a portion of the mask with a laser scribing process further comprises ablating the second mask material to form the trenches, and wherein etching the semiconductor substrate comprises etching the trenches with an etch process during which the water soluble polymer mask material layer is maintained below 100° C.