Patent ID: 8956956
Filing Date: 2015-02-17
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A wafer processing method for dividing a wafer having a diameter of at least about 450 mm into a plurality of individual devices along a plurality of division lines extending in a first direction on a front side of said wafer and a plurality of division lines extending in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction on the front side of said wafer, said individual devices being respectively formed in a plurality of regions partitioned by said division lines extending in said first direction and said division lines extending in said second direction, said wafer processing method comprising: a protective member providing step of providing a protective member on the front side of said wafer; a first holding step of holding said wafer with said protective member provided on the front side of said wafer by a first chuck table having two straight relief grooves intersecting at right angles to each other at the center of an upper surface of said chuck table and four sectional suction holding portions partitioned by said relief grooves; a wafer quarter generating step of cutting said wafer and the protective member along said division line extending in said first direction through the center of said wafer and along said division line extending in said second direction through the center of said wafer after performing said protective member providing step, thereby generating four sectorial wafer quarters; a second holding step of holding said wafer quarter by a second chuck table having a sectorial suction holding portion corresponding to said wafer quarter, said second chuck table being mounted in a grinding apparatus configured for holding a wafer with a diameter no greater than 300 mm; a back grinding step of grinding a back side of a single wafer quarter to reduce the thickness of said wafer quarter after performing said wafer quarter generating step; a frame providing step of preparing an annular frame having an opening capable of accommodating said wafer quarter after performing said back grinding step, next placing said wafer quarter in said opening of said annular frame, next attaching an adhesive tape to said annular frame and a back side of said wafer quarter, and next peeling said protective member from the front side of said wafer quarter, thereby supporting said wafer quarter through said adhesive tape to said annular frame; and a wafer quarter dividing step of fully cutting said wafer quarter along all of said division lines extending in said first direction and along all of said division lines extending in said second direction after performing said frame providing step, thereby dividing said wafer quarter into said individual devices, whereby said at least about 450 mm wafer exceeds a wafer diameter size that can be held on said second chuck table configured for holding a wafer with a diameter no greater than 300 mm.