Patent ID: 7816235

Claim:
A method for producing a semiconductor chip, comprising: providing a semiconductor wafer including a plurality of semiconductor chip positions arranged in rows and columns in a grid pattern, the semiconductor chip positions including a front face with integrated circuits and chip contact pads and a passive rear face, wherein the semiconductor chip positions are separated from adjacent positions in the wafer by singulation alleys; attaching a first adhesive tape to a rear face of the wafer, the rear face of the wafer including the rear faces of the semiconductor chip positions; making a first bevel cut in a singulation trench in the front face of the wafer; and separating the semiconductor chips from the wafer such that each chip includes at least one edge disposed between two mutually essentially perpendicular faces of the semiconductor chip, wherein the at least one edge includes a surface, wherein separating the semiconductor chips includes: making a straight sided cut approximately aligned with a lateral center of the first bevel cut; attaching a second adhesive tape to a front face of the wafer, the second adhesive tape being in direct contact with the front face of the wafer including the front faces of the semiconductor chip positions; inverting the wafer and removing the first adhesive tape; grinding the rear face of the wafer to separate the semiconductor chips from the wafer; and plasma etching a surface of the rear faces of the individual semiconductor chips, thereby forming a rounded edge between the rear face and side edges of the semiconductor chip.