Patent ID: 7102524

Claim:
A method for forming a die frame, comprising: (a) forming a ring shaped groove in a first surface of a wafer around a plurality of dies formed in the first surface of the wafer; (b) scribing the first surface of the wafer to form a grid of grooves in the first surface of the wafer that separates the plurality of dies, wherein the grid intersects with the ring shaped groove; (c) applying a solidifiable material to the first surface of the wafer to substantially fill the ring shaped groove and the grooves of the grid; (d) causing the solidifiable material to harden into a ring shaped hardened material in the ring shaped groove and into a grid shaped hardened material in the grooves of the grid; and (e) thinning the wafer so that the grid shaped hardened material removably holds the plurality of dies such that the grid shaped hardened material remains substantially intact as the plurality of dies are removed.