Patent ID: 8604383

Claim:
A laser processing method comprising the steps of: irradiating a planar object to be processed with laser light while locating a light-converging point within the object so as to form a modified region functioning as a starting point region for cutting within the object along a cutting line in order to cut the object; and cutting the object along the cutting line after forming the modified region, wherein, in the step of irradiating the object with the laser light, the laser light is selectively switched between being continuously oscillated during a period of continuous oscillation and being oscillated pulsewise during a period of pulse oscillation, such that the laser light is oscillated pulsewise when irradiating a first part of the object along the cutting line, thereby forming the modified region in the first part of the object along the cutting line, and the laser light is continuously oscillated when irradiating a second part of the object along the cutting line, such that the modified region is not formed in the second part of the object, and wherein, in the step of cutting the object, the object is cut by generating at least one fracture extending from the modified region, and the first and the second parts of the object are cut along cutting line.