Patent ID: 7960829

Claim:
A carrier system, comprising: a fabrication substrate comprising a semiconductor material and carrying a plurality of complete semiconductor devices; and a substantially planar rigid support structure comprising: a ring-like structure having an opening formed therein; and an attachment surface secured in superimposed relation to a portion of an active surface of the fabrication substrate, the attachment surface being secured to the portion of the active surface of the fabrication substrate adjacent to an outer peripheral edge of the fabrication substrate to expose an entirety of a back side of the fabrication substrate and to prevent flexing and bending of the fabrication substrate during or after a thickness of the fabrication substrate is reduced on the back side of the fabrication substrate opposing the active surface of the fabrication substrate, and wherein the opening formed in the rigid support structure exposes an interior section of the active surface; wherein an outer periphery of the support structure circumscribes a lateral extent of the plurality of complete semiconductor devices carried by the active surface, in substantially the same plane, at different lateral locations on the active surface.