Abstract: A manufacturing process of an element chip comprises a preparing step for preparing a substrate having first and second sides opposed to each other, the substrate containing a semiconductor layer, a wiring layer and a resin layer formed on the first side, and the substrate including a plurality of dicing regions and element regions defined by the dicing regions. Also, the manufacturing process comprises a laser grooving step for irradiating a laser beam onto the dicing regions to form grooves so as to expose the semiconductor layer along the dicing regions. Further, the manufacturing process comprises a dicing step for plasma-etching the semiconductor layer along the dicing regions through the second side to divide the substrate into a plurality of the element chips. The laser grooving step includes a melting step for melting a surface of the semiconductor layer exposed along the dicing regions.

Abstract: An element chip manufacturing method includes a step of preparing a substrate including a semiconductor layer and a wiring layer formed on the semiconductor layer, the substrate having element regions and a dicing region defining the element regions, a laser grooving step of irradiating a laser beam to the wiring layer at the dicing region, to form an aperture exposing the semiconductor layer, and a step of etching the semiconductor layer exposed from the aperture, with plasma, to divide the substrate into a plurality of element chips. The laser grooving step includes a step of irradiating a first laser beam having a first pulse width, to remove the wiring layer in an edge portion of the dicing region, and a step of irradiating a second laser beam having a second pulse width which is longer than the first pulse width, to remove the wiring layer inside from the edge portion.

Abstract: An element chip manufacturing method includes a step of preparing a substrate including a semiconductor layer and a wiring layer formed on the semiconductor layer and having a plurality of element regions and a dicing region defining the element regions, a laser grooving step of irradiating a laser beam to the wiring layer at the dicing region, to form an aperture exposing the semiconductor layer, and an individualization step of etching the semiconductor layer exposed from the aperture, with plasma, to divide the substrate into a plurality of element chips. The laser grooving step including a step of irradiating a first laser beam, to form a first groove exposing the semiconductor layer in the dicing region, and a step of irradiating a second laser beam, with a beam center positioned outside a side wall of the first groove, to widen the first groove into the aperture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing element chips. The method includes: a preparing step of preparing a substrate 10 that is held on a holding sheet 22 that is supported by a frame 21, the substrate including element regions and dicing regions; a protective film forming step of forming a protective film 15 so as to cover the frame 21, the holding sheet 22, and the substrate 10; a patterning step of removing a part of the protective film 15 so as to expose the dicing regions of the substrate 10; a plasma dicing step including a process that uses a plasma that contains fluorine, the plasma dicing step being a step of individualizing the substrate 10 into a plurality of element chips; and a fluorine removing step of removing, together with the protective film 15, fluorine attached to the protective film 15 in the plasma dicing step.

Abstract: A plasma processing method, including: a trenched substrate preparation process of preparing a trenched substrate having trenches having a bottom exposing an oxide film; and an oxide film removal process of exposing the trenched substrate to a plasma, to remove the oxide film. The oxide film removal process includes a plurality of cycles, each cycle including: an oxide film etching step of etching the oxide film; and a cleaning step of removing an attached matter on inner walls of the trenches, after the oxide film etching step.

Abstract: A plasma processing method including: a process of placing a work piece on a stage provided in a chamber, the work piece including a substrate and a holding member having an adhesive layer on a surface and holding the substrate via the adhesive layer, and having an exposed portion where the adhesive layer is exposed outside the substrate; and a plasma etching process of etching the substrate with a plasma generated in the chamber, with the exposed portion exposed to the plasma. In response to occurrence of an interruption in the plasma etching process, a cleaning process of exposing a surface of the substrate to a plasma containing an oxidizing gas is performed, and then the plasma etching process is resumed.

Abstract: The element chip manufacturing method includes: a preparing process of preparing a substrate 1 including a plurality of element regions EA and a dividing region DA, the substrate 1 having a first principal surface 1X and a second principal surface 1Y; a groove forming process of forming a groove 13 in the dividing region DA from the first principal surface 1X side; and a grinding process of grinding the substrate 1 from the second principal surface 1Y side, to divide the substrate 1 into a plurality of element chips 20. The groove 13 includes a first region 13a constituted by a side surface having a first surface roughness, and a second region 13b constituted by a side surface having a second surface roughness larger than the first surface roughness. In the grinding process, grinding of the substrate 1 is performed until reaching the first region 13a of the groove 13.

Abstract: A plasma processing method including: exposing to a first plasma a substrate having a compound semiconductor layer and a mask partially covering a surface of the compound semiconductor layer, to form a protective film at least on the bottom of a groove formed in a region where the compound semiconductor layer is not covered with the mask; removing the protective film at the bottom by exposing the substrate to a second plasma, to expose the compound semiconductor layer; and removing the conductive semiconductor layer exposed at the bottom of the groove by exposing the substrate to a third plasma generated from a gas containing chlorine and/or bromine, while allowing a reaction product between the compound semiconductor layer and the third plasma to accumulate on an upper portion of the groove. The reaction product is removed by applying a high-frequency power to a stage on which the substrate is placed.

Abstract: An element chip smoothing method including: an element chip preparation step of preparing at least one element chip including a first surface covered with a resin film, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a sidewall connecting the first surface to the second surface and having ruggedness; a sidewall cleaning step of exposing the element chip to a first plasma, to remove deposits adhering to the sidewall, with the resin film allowed to continue to exist; a sidewall oxidation step of exposing the element chip to a second plasma, after the sidewall cleaning step, to oxidize a surface of the sidewall, with the resin film allowed to continue to exist; and a sidewall etching step of exposing the element chip to a third plasma, after the sidewall oxidation step, to etch the sidewall, with the resin film allowed to continue to exist.

Abstract: An element chip cleaning method including: an element chip preparation step of preparing at least one element chip having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface covered with a resin film; a first cleaning step of bringing a first cleaning liquid into contact with the resin film, the first cleaning liquid including a solvent that dissolves at least part of a resin component contained in the resin film; and a second cleaning step of spraying a second cleaning liquid against the resin film from the first surface side of the element chip, after the first cleaning step.

Abstract: A manufacturing process of an element chip comprises a preparing step for preparing a substrate having first and second sides opposed to each other, the substrate containing a semiconductor layer, a wiring layer and a resin layer formed on the first side, and the substrate including a plurality of dicing regions and element regions defined by the dicing regions. Also, the manufacturing process comprises a laser grooving step for irradiating a laser beam onto the dicing regions to form grooves so as to expose the semiconductor layer along the dicing regions. Further, the manufacturing process comprises a dicing step for plasma-etching the semiconductor layer along the dicing regions through the second side to divide the substrate into a plurality of the element chips. The laser grooving step includes a melting step for melting a surface of the semiconductor layer exposed along the dicing regions.

Abstract: An element chip manufacturing method including: a preparing step of preparing a substrate including a plurality of element regions and a dicing region defining the element regions, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a laser scribing step of applying a laser beam to the dicing region from a side of the first surface, to form a groove corresponding to the dicing region and being shallower than a thickness of the substrate; a cleaning step of exposing the first surface of the substrate to a first plasma, to remove debris on the groove; and a dicing step of exposing the substrate at a bottom of the groove to a second plasma after the cleaning step, to dice the substrate into element chips including the element regions. The first plasma is generated from a process gas containing a carbon oxide gas.

Abstract: A manufacturing process of an element chip comprises a preparing step for preparing a substrate having first and second sides opposed to each other, the substrate containing a semiconductor layer, a wiring layer and a resin layer formed on the first side, and the substrate including a plurality of dicing regions and element regions defined by the dicing regions. Also, the manufacturing process comprises a laser grooving step for irradiating a laser beam onto the dicing regions to form grooves so as to expose the semiconductor layer along the dicing regions. Further, the manufacturing process comprises a dicing step for plasma-etching the semiconductor layer along the dicing regions through the second side to divide the substrate into a plurality of the element chips. The laser grooving step includes a melting step for melting a surface of the semiconductor layer exposed along the dicing regions.

Abstract: An etching method including: a preparation step of preparing a resin layer and an electronic component supported thereby; and a resin etching step of etching the resin layer. The electronic component has a first surface covered with a protective film, a second surface opposite thereto, and a sidewall therebetween. The second surface is facing the resin layer. The resin layer is larger than the electronic component when seen from the first surface side. The resin etching step includes: a deposition step of depositing a first film, using a first plasma, on a surface of the protective film and a surface of the resin layer; and a removal step of removing, using a second plasma, the first film deposited on the resin layer and at least part of the resin layer. The deposition and removal steps are alternately repeated, with the protective film allowed to continue to exist.

Abstract: A plasma processing method, including: a trenched substrate preparation process of preparing a trenched substrate having trenches having a bottom exposing an oxide film; and an oxide film removal process of exposing the trenched substrate to a plasma, to remove the oxide film. The oxide film removal process includes a plurality of cycles, each cycle including: an oxide film etching step of etching the oxide film; and a cleaning step of removing an attached matter on inner walls of the trenches, after the oxide film etching step.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus for plasma processing a substrate held on a conveying carrier, the carrier including a holding sheet and a frame supporting an outer periphery of the holding sheet. The apparatus includes a controller that controls a plasma generator, an electrostatic adsorption mechanism, and a lifting system, to sequentially execute: an adsorption step allowing the substrate to be adsorbed electrostatically to a stage; an etching step of exposing the substrate adsorbed electrostatically to the stage to an etching plasma; a frame separation step of lifting the support, to separate the frame away from the stage, with at least part of the holding sheet kept in contact with the stage; a holding sheet separation step of separating the holding sheet away from the stage; and a static elimination step of exposing the substrate separated away from the stage to a static elimination plasma.

Abstract: An element chip manufacturing method including: a preparing step of preparing a first conveying carrier including a holding sheet and a frame, and a substrate held on the holding sheet, the holding sheet having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the frame attached to at least part of a peripheral edge of the holding sheet; a placing step of placing the first conveying carrier holding the substrate, on a second conveying carrier; a preprocessing step of preprocessing the substrate, after the placing step; a removing step of removing the second conveying carrier, after the preprocessing step; and a dicing step of subjecting the substrate held on the first conveying carrier to plasma exposure, after the removing step, to form a plurality of element chips from the substrate.

Abstract: An element chip smoothing method including: an element chip preparation step of preparing at least one element chip including a first surface covered with a resin film, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a sidewall connecting the first surface to the second surface and having ruggedness; a sidewall cleaning step of exposing the element chip to a first plasma, to remove deposits adhering to the sidewall, with the resin film allowed to continue to exist; a sidewall oxidation step of exposing the element chip to a second plasma, after the sidewall cleaning step, to oxidize a surface of the sidewall, with the resin film allowed to continue to exist; and a sidewall etching step of exposing the element chip to a third plasma, after the sidewall oxidation step, to etch the sidewall, with the resin film allowed to continue to exist.

Abstract: A manufacturing process of an element chip comprises steps of preparing a substrate including a plurality of etching regions and element regions each containing a plurality of convex and concave portions, holding the substrate and a frame with a holding sheet, forming a protective film by applying a first mixture to form a coated film above the substrate and by drying the coated film to form the protective film along the convex and concave portions, the first mixture containing a water-soluble first resin, water and a water-soluble organic solvent and has a vapor pressure higher than water, removing the protective film by irradiating a laser beam thereon to expose the substrate in the etching regions, plasma-etching the substrate along the etching regions while maintaining the protective film in the element regions to individualize the substrate, and removing the protective film by contacting the protective film with an aqueous rinse solution.

Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing process of an element chip, which comprises a preparation step, a setting step for setting the substrate on a stage, and a plasma-dicing step for dividing the substrate into a plurality of element chips, wherein the plasma-dicing step is achieved by repeatedly implementing etching routines each including an etching step for etching the second layer along the street regions to form a plurality of grooves and a depositing step for depositing a protective film on inner walls of the grooves, wherein the plasma-dicing step includes a first etching step for forming the grooves each having a first scallop on the inner wall thereof at a first pitch, and a second etching step for forming the grooves each having a second scallop on the inner wall thereof at a second pitch, and wherein the second pitch is greater than the first pitch.