Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, there is semiconductor device assembled to resist mechanical damage. The semiconductor device comprises an active circuit defined on a top surface, contact areas providing electrical connection to the active circuit. There is a pedestal structure upon which the active circuit is mounted on an opposite bottom surface; the pedestal structure has an area smaller than the area of the active device. An encapsulation, consisting of a molding compound, surrounds the sides and the underside of the active device and it surrounds the contact areas. The encapsulation provides a resilient surface protecting the active device from mechanical damage. A feature of the embodiment is that the contact areas may have solder bumps defined thereon.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a method for preparing integrated circuit (IC) device die from a wafer substrate having a front-side with active devices and a back-side. The method comprises pre-grinding the backside of a wafer substrate to a thickness. The front-side of the wafer is mounted onto a protective foil. A laser is applied to the backside of the wafer, at first focus depth to define a secondary modification zone in saw lanes. To the backside of the wafer, a second laser process is applied, at a second focus depth shallower than that of the first focus depth, in the saw lanes to define a main modification zone, the secondary modification defined at a pre-determined location within active device boundaries, the active device boundaries defining an active device area. The backside of the wafer is ground down to a depth so as to remove the main modification zone. The IC device die are separated from one another by stretching the protective foil.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a method for assembling a wafer level chip scale processed (WLCSP) device from a wafer substrate, the method comprises grinding the back-side of the wafer substrate to a prescribed thickness. A plurality of trenches is sawed along a plurality of device die boundaries on a back-side surface of the wafer, the trenches having a bevel profile. The plurality of trenches is etched until the bevel profile of the plurality of trenches is rounded.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a method for assembling a wafer level chip scale processed (WLCSP) device from a wafer substrate, the method comprises grinding the back-side of the wafer substrate to a prescribed thickness. A plurality of trenches is sawed along a plurality of device die boundaries on a back-side surface of the wafer, the trenches having a bevel profile. The plurality of trenches is etched until the bevel profile of the plurality of trenches is rounded.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for processing a semiconductor wafer are described. In one embodiment, a method for processing a semiconductor wafer involves performing laser stealth dicing on the semiconductor wafer to form a stealth dicing layer within the semiconductor wafer and after performing laser stealth dicing, cleaning the semiconductor wafer from a back-side surface of the semiconductor wafer with a blade to remove at least a portion of the stealth dicing layer. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for processing a semiconductor wafer are described. In one embodiment, a method for processing a semiconductor wafer involves performing laser stealth dicing on the semiconductor wafer to form a stealth dicing layer within the semiconductor wafer and after performing laser stealth dicing, cleaning the semiconductor wafer from a back-side surface of the semiconductor wafer with a blade to remove at least a portion of the stealth dicing layer. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a method for assembling a wafer level chip scale processed (WLCSP) wafer; The wafer has a topside surface and an back-side surface, and a plurality of device die having electrical contacts on the topside surface. The method comprises back-grinding, to a thickness, the back-side surface the wafer. A protective layer of a thickness is molded onto the backside of the wafer. The wafer is mounted onto a sawing foil; along saw lanes of the plurality of device die, the wafer is sawed, the sawing occurring with a blade of a first kerf and to a depth of the thickness of the back-ground wafer. Again, the wafer is sawed along the saw lanes of the plurality of device die, the sawing occurring with a blade of a second kerf, the second kerf narrower than the first kerf, and sawing to a depth of the thickness of the protective layer. The plurality of device die are separated into individual device die.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a semiconductor device, having a topside surface and an underside surface, the semiconductor device comprises an active device of an area defined on the topside surface, the topside surface having a first area. A protective material is on to the underside surface of the semiconductor device, the protective material has an area greater than the first area. A laminating film attaches the protective material to the underside surface. The protective material serves to protect the semiconductor device from mechanical damage during handling and assembly onto a product's printed circuit board.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a semiconductor device, with an active device having a front-side surface and a backside surface; the semiconductor device of an overall thickness, comprises an active device with circuitry defined on the front-side surface, the front-side surface having an area. The back-side of the active device has recesses f a partial depth of the active device thickness and a width of about the partial depth, the recesses surrounding the active device at vertical edges. There is a protective layer of a thickness on to the backside surface of the active device, the protective material having an area greater than the first area and having a stand-off distance. The vertical edges have the protective layer filling the recesses flush with the vertical edges. A stand-off distance of the protective material is a function of the semiconductor device thickness and the tangent of an angle (?) of tooling impact upon a vertical face the semiconductor device.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, there is semiconductor device assembled to resist mechanical damage. The semiconductor device comprises an active circuit defined on a top surface, contact areas providing electrical connection to the active circuit. There is a pedestal structure upon which the active circuit is mounted on an opposite bottom surface; the pedestal structure has an area smaller than the area of the active device. An encapsulation, consisting of a molding compound, surrounds the sides and the underside of the active device and it surrounds the contact areas. The encapsulation provides a resilient surface protecting the active device from mechanical damage. A feature of the embodiment is that the contact areas may have solder bumps defined thereon.