Patent ID: 7534699
Filing Date: 2009-05-19
Classification: H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of separating elongated semiconductor strips from a wafer of semiconductor material, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of elongated semiconductor strips formed in a wafer in a substantially parallel manner with respect to each other, said wafer having a substantially planar surface and a thickness dimension at a right angle to the substantially planar surface and a frame portion at opposite ends of said semiconductor strips connecting said strips to said wafer, said semiconductor strips each having a width at least substantially equal to the wafer thickness and a thickness dimension of said strip less than said width, a face of at least one of elongated semiconductor strips lengthwise forming an edge of said wafer or being nearest adjacent said edge; applying vacuum to said elongated semiconductor strip forming said edge or being adjacent to said edge; and displacing said wafer and a source of said vacuum relative to each other a predetermined distance to separate said elongated semiconductor strip having vacuum applied to said elongated semiconductor strip from said wafer.