Patent ID: 7598120

Claim:
A method for holding a semiconductor wafer by applying the semiconductor wafer on a ring frame through a adhesive tape, the method comprising: applying a protective tape on a surface of the semiconductor wafer having a pattern formation process performed thereto and subsequently cutting the protective tape along with a contour of the semiconductor wafer; back grinding a back side of the semiconductor wafer having the protective tape applied thereto, simultaneously leaving annularly an outer peripheral part un-ground; separating the protective tape from a surface of the semiconductor wafer having an annular projected part formed by the back grinding in the outer peripheral part of the back side; applying a holding tape over the surface of the semiconductor wafer from which the protective tape having been separated and a surface of the ring frame having the semiconductor wafer disposed in a center thereof, removing the annular projected part of the semiconductor wafer having been applied and held on the holding tape; applying an adhesive tape over the back side of the semiconductor wafer having been made flat by removal of the annular projected part and a back side of the ring frame; and separating the holding tape having been applied over the surface of the ring frame and the surface of the semiconductor wafer.