METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING WAFER BREAKAGE DURING WAFER TRANSFER BY A VACUUM PAD

摘要

A method for eliminating wafer breakage during a wafer transfer process in a grinding apparatus by a wafer transfer pad and an apparatus for conducting such method are disclosed. In the method, a surface of the vacuum pad, or the wafer transfer pad, that is formed of sintered ceramic is first cleaned by contacting a rotating brush and a spray of cleaning solvent. The invention further discloses an apparatus for eliminating wafer breakage during the wafer transfer process by a vacuum pad by incorporating a pressure regulating valve situated in the vacuum conduit such that a vacuum pressure applied can be regulated at a rate not higher than 30 psi/sec. to the surface of the wafer transfer pad.