Patent ID: 6448154
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: B24B,B24D,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of providing a semiconductor wafer for use in the fabrication of semiconductor devices, which comprises the steps of:(a) providing a circular semiconductor wafer having a perimeter, a radius and a pair of opposing major surfaces; (b) providing a tool having a generally circular cross section and having body of a material having a hardness greater than said semiconductor wafer, said body having: (i) a generally rounded or paraboloidically shaped nose portion having a forwardmost tip portion of said nose portion defining the perimeter of said generally circular cross section; and (ii) a wing portion extending rearwardly of said tip portion and then extending outwardly from said body in a direction substantially conformal to said perimeter when said cross section is disposed along a radius of said wafer, said wing portion having a taper narrowing in the direction of said forwardmost tip portion; and (c) forming a notch in said perimeter of said semiconductor wafer with said tool having a rounded region extending between the major surfaces of said semiconductor wafer providing a junction of said notch with said perimeter of said semiconductor wafer.