| CPC H01L 21/78 (2013.01) [B26F 3/02 (2013.01); H01L 21/3065 (2013.01); H01L 21/67069 (2013.01); H01L 21/67092 (2013.01); H01L 21/67132 (2013.01); H01L 21/6836 (2013.01); H01L 2221/68336 (2013.01); H01L 2221/68381 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. An apparatus for singulating a layer of material on a semiconductor substrate comprising:
a compression chamber comprising a lower chamber wall, an upper chamber wall, and vertical sidewalls that extend upward from the lower chamber wall to the upper chamber wall; wherein:
the vertical sidewalls bound the compression chamber on all sides to maintain pressure within the compression chamber;
the upper chamber wall comprises an opening extending through the upper chamber wall; and
the lower chamber wall is configured for supporting a semiconductor substrate having a layer of material disposed on a major surface of the semiconductor substrate;
a bladder inside the compression chamber and comprising a bladder top side, a bladder lower side, and a bladder side extending between the bladder top side and the bladder lower side; and
a compression plate within the compression chamber adjacent to the bladder top side, wherein:
the compression plate is mounted for movement in response to a downward pressure from a fluid introduced through the opening; and
the compression plate is adapted to apply a controlled and substantially uniform pressure through the bladder towards the lower chamber wall.
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