Patent ID: 7415916

Claim:
A method for scribing a semiconductor wafer or other microelectronic substrate workpiece, said method comprising the steps of: supporting a microelectronic substrate workpiece on a support; positioning a scribing tool adjacent to a surface of the supported workpiece, said scribing tool including a tool body and a scribing member held by said tool body; moving said tool body and scribing member to bring said scribing member into engagement with the surface; exerting pressure on said workpiece with said scribing member at said surface; while maintaining pressure on said workpiece with said scribing member, causing relative movement between said scribing tool and said workpiece to form a scribe line in said workpiece while maintaining said tool body spaced from said surface; and during formation of said scribe line, applying a vacuum to said surface to create a vacuum induced, high velocity airflow in the immediate vicinity of the surface of said workpiece between the tool body and the surface of said workpiece and past said scribing member to entrain and remove particles produced by scribing by said scribing tool from the surface and transport said removed particles to a selected location spaced from said workpiece, said tool body defining a space and said scribing member being in said space and projecting outwardly therefrom, said method additionally including the step of partially covering said space with at least one shield connected to said tool body and having a distal end whereby the distal end of said shield and the surface are cooperable to form a restricted opening and the further step of utilizing said vacuum to produce said vacuum induced, high velocity air flow through said restricted opening into said space.