Patent ID: 7406994

Claim:
An automatic high-precision layer cutting device for separating a layer from a semiconductor substrate comprising: a fixed positioning member for receiving at least a portion of a semiconductor substrate that has a weakened area therein and a peripheral annular notch that is located away from the weakened area, the positioning member maintaining a predetermined position of the substrate on a movable support; and a cutting mechanism having at least one blade for contacting the substrate and for inducing a cleaving wave into the substrate, the cutting mechanism being operatively associated with the positioning member so that the at least one blade contacts the annular notch and the positioning member prevents movement of the substrate laterally due to contact by the at least one blade, so that the at least one blade can induce a cleaving wave of sufficient intensity to both divide the substrate at the notch into first and second parts and detach the layer from the substrate along the weakened area while the support moves away from the substrate so as to not restrict vertical movement of the divided substrate, wherein the positioning member comprises at least one shim oriented vertically with respect to the support with the shim having a contour that covers at least one quarter of the periphery of the substrate to hold the wafer when contacted by the blade, and wherein the at least one blade has a leading edge that has a contour that corresponds to the contour of the semiconductor substrate and covers at least one quarter of the periphery of the substrate.