Backside metal photolithographic patterning die singulation systems and related methods
Implementations of die singulation systems and related methods may include forming a plurality of die on a first side of a substrate, forming a backside metal layer on a second side of a substrate, applying a photoresist layer over the backside metal layer, patterning the photoresist layer along a die street of the substrate, and forming a groove at the pattern of the photoresist layer only partially through a thickness of the backside metal layer. The groove may be located in the die street of the substrate. The method may also include etching through a remaining portion of the backside metal layer located in the die street, removing the photoresist layer, and singulating the plurality of die included in the substrate by removing substrate material in the die street.
1. A method of singulating a plurality of die comprised in a substrate, the method comprising:
forming a plurality of die on a first side of a substrate;
forming a backside metal layer on a second side of the substrate;
applying a patternable layer over the backside metal layer;
patterning the patternable layer along a die street of the substrate;
forming a groove at a pattern of the patternable layer only partially through a thickness of the backside metal layer, wherein the groove is located in the die street of the substrate;
after forming the groove, etching through a remaining portion of the backside metal layer located in the die street;
removing the patternable layer; and
singulating the plurality of die comprised in the substrate by removing substrate material in the die street.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising thinning the second side of the substrate.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the backside metal layer is 15 micrometers.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the groove is formed using one of a laser beam or a saw blade.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein etching further comprises wet etching through the remaining portion of the backside metal layer, wherein the backside metal layer comprises copper.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing substrate material in the die street further comprises using one of a laser beam or a saw blade.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising remote plasma healing a sidewall of the plurality of die.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing substrate material in the die street further comprises plasma etching.
9. A method of singulating a plurality of die comprised in a substrate, the method comprising:
forming a plurality of die on a first side of a substrate;
forming a backside metal layer on a second side of the substrate;
applying a patternable layer over the backside metal layer;
patterning the patternable layer along a die street of the substrate;
forming a groove at a pattern of the patternable layer only partially through a thickness of the backside metal layer, wherein the groove is located in a die street of the substrate;
after forming the groove, etching the backside metal layer, wherein the etching exposes a portion of the substrate in the die street;
removing the patternable layer; and
singulating the plurality of die comprised in the substrate through plasma etching at the portion of the substrate exposed by the etching.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising thinning the second side of the substrate, wherein the substrate is thinned to less than 50 micrometers thick.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising thinning the second side of the substrate, wherein the substrate is thinned to less than 30 micrometers thick.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising aligning the substrate from a backside of a substrate.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein etching further comprises wet etching the backside metal layer, wherein the backside metal layer comprises copper.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein a portion of the backside metal layer is between the groove and the substrate, the portion having a thickness of five micrometers.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the backside metal layer has a thickness of 15 micrometers.
16. A method of singulating a plurality of die comprised in a substrate, the method comprising:
forming a plurality of die on a first side of a substrate;
forming a backside metal layer on a second side of the substrate;
applying a patternable layer over the backside metal layer;
patterning the patternable layer along a die street of the substrate;
forming a groove partially through the backside metal layer in a die street using one of a laser beam or a saw blade at the pattern of the patternable layer;
wet etching the backside metal layer, wherein the etching exposes a portion of the substrate in the die street;
removing the patternable layer; and
singulating the plurality of die comprised in the substrate by removing substrate material in the die street.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein removing substrate material in the die street further comprises plasma etching.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the backside metal layer comprises copper.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising aligning the substrate from a backside of the substrate.
20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising monitoring the forming of the groove using a camera facing the second side of the substrate.