Patent ID: 7364616

Claim:
A wafer release method in which an uppermost wafer is released from a wafer laminate obtained by laminating a plurality of wafers, the method comprising the steps of: providing an uppermost wafer, said uppermost wafer having a defined edge, said uppermost wafer having a first vacuum position located at a first spaced location from said edge, said uppermost wafer having a second vacuum position located at a second spaced location from said edge, said first vacuum position being opposite said second vacuum position such that the alignment of said first vacuum position and said second vacuum position define a crystal habit line axis; defining an uppermost wafer pressing axis along said uppermost wafer, said uppermost wafer pressing axis being offset at an angle with respect to said crystal habit line axis, said angle being 45 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to said crystal habit line axis; pressing the uppermost wafer along said uppermost wafer pressing axis; bending upwardly a peripheral portion of the uppermost wafer such that a bending stress is provided along said uppermost wafer pressing axis; blowing a fluid into a space defined by a lower surface of the uppermost wafer and an upper surface of a lower wafer adjacent thereto; and raising the uppermost wafer for releasing.