Method and apparatus for scribing a substantially planar semiconductor substrate with on-the-fly control of scribing alignment

1. A method of scribing a substantially planar substrate comprising semiconductor material along at least one scribeline parallel to a major surface of the substrate, comprising:

projecting a laser beam onto the major surface, a point of impingement of the beam constituting a light spot, the substrate being positioned with respect to the laser beam such that the light spot is disposed proximal to the scribeline;

causing relative motion of the substrate with respect to the laser beam, such that the light spot is caused to translate substantially along the scribeline,

whereby localized energy is transferred from the laser beam to the substrate along the course of the scribeline;

monitoring a position of the light spot with respect to the scribeline by:

illuminating at least a portion of the major surface proximal to the light spot using a flash of light, produced during the relative motion;

capturing an image of the portion during the illumination and including the light spot, using an image recording device;

analyzing the image and determining momentary position information for the light spot relative to the scribeline; and

using the momentary position information to regulate a setpoint for a position of the laser beam relative to the substrate.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the laser beam is a pulsed laser beam and the image is at least partially captured during a radiating pulse of the laser beam.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein, the flash of light comprises a wavelength different to that of the laser beam and the image recording device comprises a filter that substantially attenuates the wavelength of the laser beam but substantially transmits a wavelength of light from the flash of light reflected from the substrate.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the image recording device registers a location of the light spot with the aid of a localized glow generated by energetic interaction of the laser beam with at least one of: a material of the substrate, a fluid present at the location of the light spot, or combinations thereof.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the glow is generated proximal the light spot by a mechanism selected from the group comprising:

localized incandescence of substrate material, due to heating thereof;

localized luminescence of substrate material, due to recombination of electron-hole pairs generated therein;

fluorescence in a locally generated plasma,

and combinations thereof.

6. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the image recording device registers a location of the light spot with the aid of a localized glow generated by energetic interaction of the laser beam with at least one of: a material of the substrate, a fluid present at the location of the light spot, or combinations thereof and wherein the filter transmits at least a portion of light from the glow.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the laser beam is one member of a cluster of laser beams, all caused to concurrently impinge on the substrate at least proximal to the scribeline; and

the light spot is at least one member of a corresponding cluster of light spots associated with the cluster of laser beams.