Patent ID: 8623744

Claim:
A method for singulating a die from a semiconductor substrate having an oxide layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor layer disposed on the oxide layer, the method comprising the steps of: etching a first trench into one of the semiconductor substrate and the semiconductor layer around the die to be singulated, with the etching of the first trench being terminated proximate to the oxide layer; etching a second trench into the other of the semiconductor substrate and the semiconductor layer around the die to be singulated, with the etching of the second trench being terminated proximate to the oxide layer, and with at least a portion of the second trench being laterally offset from the first trench; etching away the oxide layer between the first trench and the second trench and thereby singulating the die from the semiconductor substrate; and providing a release fixture proximate to the semiconductor substrate during the step of etching away the oxide layer between the first trench and the second trench.