Patent ID: 7662668

Claim:
A method for separating a semiconductor substrate into a plurality of chips along with a cutting line on the semiconductor substrate, the method comprising: irradiating a laser beam on the semiconductor substrate along with the cutting line so that a reforming region is formed at a focus point in the semiconductor substrate by a multi-photon absorbing effect; bonding the semiconductor substrate to a sheet; holding a periphery of the sheet with a frame; and locally pressing the sheet from a side of the sheet opposite to the semiconductor substrate so that the sheet is expanded and the semiconductor substrate is separated into the chips along with the reforming region, wherein locally pressing the sheet is performed from an outer periphery to a center of the substrate, locally pressing the sheet is performed by a plurality of pressing pins, and locally pressing the sheet further comprises: lifting up a first one of the pressing pins, which is located on an outermost circumferential side of the substrate so that an outer part of the sheet is expanded; lifting down the first one of the pressing pins; lifting up a second one of the pressing pins, which is located in the middle of the substrate so that a middle part of the sheet is expanded; lifting down the second one of the pressing pins; lifting up a third one of the pressing pins, which is located at the center of the substrate so that a center part of the sheet is expanded; and lifting down the third one of the pressing pins.