Patent ID: 7521337

Claim:
A wafer laser processing method for forming a deteriorated layer in the inside of a wafer having streets formed in a lattice pattern on the front surface along the streets by using a laser beam processing machine comprising a chuck table having a holding surface for suction-holding the wafer, a laser beam application means having a condenser for applying a laser beam to the wafer suction-held on the holding surface of the chuck table, a focal point positioning means for moving the condenser of the laser beam application means in a direction perpendicular to the holding surface, a focal point position adjustment means for shifting the position of the focal point of a laser beam applied from the condenser of the laser beam application means, a height position detection means for detecting the height position of the top surface of the wafer held on the chuck table, and a control means for controlling the focal point position adjustment means based on a detection signal from the height position detection means, the method comprising: a wafer holding step for suction-holding the wafer on the chuck table in such a manner that the processing surface of the wafer faces up; an undulating area detection step for detecting an undulating area in the outer peripheral portion of the wafer suction-held on the chuck table by means of the height position detection means; an undulating area deteriorated layer forming step for activating the focal point positioning means to position the focal point of the laser beam applied from the condenser of the laser beam application means to a preset position and applying a laser beam along the streets to the undulating area of the wafer suction-held on the chuck table without activating the focal point position adjustment means to form a deteriorated layer along the streets in the inside of the undulating area of the wafer; and a stable holding area deteriorated layer forming step for applying a laser beam along the streets to a stable holding area other than the undulating area of the wafer suction-held on the chuck table while the focal point position adjustment means is controlled based on a detection signal from the height position detection means to form a deteriorated layer along the streets in the inside of the stable holding area of the wafer.