Patent ID: 7465645

Claim:
A method of detaching a layer from a wafer, which comprises: creating a weakened zone in a wafer to define the layer to be detached and a remainder portion of the wafer, such that the weakened zone includes a main region and a localized super-weakened region that is more weakened than the main region, wherein the super-weakened region is created by implanting an overdose of the atomic species compared to the dose of atomic species implanted in the main region; and initiating detachment of the layer from the remainder portion at the super-weakened region by applying a controlled detachment force obtained by heating at least the weakened zone wherein the heat is applied substantially evenly over substantially the entire weakened zone, and wherein the heating is controlled for evening the heating applied to weakened zone such that the detachment initiates and propagates from the super-weakened region through the main region to detach the layer from the remainder portion; and wherein the detachment force is applied to both the super-weakened region and the main region.