Edge arrangements for integrated circuit chips
First Claim
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1. A method of dicing a wafer comprising:
- providing the wafer including an active area and an inactive area around a perimeter of the active area;
providing a cut path including a metal and a dielectric material in the inactive area and around the perimeter of the active area, wherein a top surface of the cut path includes a pattern of the metal and the dielectric material;
removing, via ablation by the laser, a portion of the cut path to form an air gap; and
cutting through the wafer within the inactive area.
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Abstract
A method is provided for forming microelectronic devices. This may include providing a wafer device having metallization layers, a plurality of integrated circuits and a channel area provided around each of the integrated circuits. Materials from within each channel area may be removed by etching or by laser to form an air gap around a perimeter of each integrated circuit. Each air gap may prevent cracking and/or delamination problems caused by a subsequent dicing of the wafer device by a wafer saw into a plurality of devices.
50 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of dicing a wafer comprising:
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providing the wafer including an active area and an inactive area around a perimeter of the active area; providing a cut path including a metal and a dielectric material in the inactive area and around the perimeter of the active area, wherein a top surface of the cut path includes a pattern of the metal and the dielectric material; removing, via ablation by the laser, a portion of the cut path to form an air gap; and cutting through the wafer within the inactive area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of dicing a wafer comprising:
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providing the wafer including a channel area between two active areas, wherein the channel area includes a dielectric material between two metal walls on the wafer and a passivation layer over the dielectric material and the metal walls; forming a mask over the passivation layer that includes an opening over the dielectric material; etching, via an isotropic etch, the dielectric material to form an air gap, such that the metal walls remain; and cutting through the wafer in the channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification