Patent ID: 7462094

Claim:
A method of grinding a wafer having a device formation region provided with a plurality of devices on the front surface thereof, said method comprising the steps of: holding said wafer on a rotatable chuck table with its back surface exposed; grinding a region of the back surface of said wafer, corresponding to said device formation region of the front surface, by a plurality of first grindstones arranged in an annular shape to form a circular recess on the back surface of said wafer with an annular projected part remaining in a periphery region of said device formation region, each of said first grindstones including a plurality of first abrasive grains having a first average diameter; and grinding a whole area of the back surface of said wafer inclusive of said annular projected part by a plurality of second grindstones arranged in an annular shape, each of said second grindstones including a plurality of second abrasive grains having a second average diameter smaller than said first average diameter.