Patent ID: 8785298

Claim:
A method of singulating a semiconductor wafer by partitioning it along a network of scribelines, the wafer having two substantially parallel major surfaces that are separated from one another by a thickness T<200 μm, said scribelines extending along a first of said major surfaces, comprising: adhering the second major surface of the wafer to an elastic foil, which is clamped to a wafer table so as to present the first major surface to a radiative scribing tool; using the radiative scribing tool to produce at least one pulsed laser beam having a pulse duration P≦75 ps; causing said laser beam to scan along each of said scribelines so as to create a radiative scribe with a depth D<T, thereby leaving the second major surface intact; and laterally stretching said foil so as to sever the second major surface along the path of said radiative scribes.