Wafer Peripheral Tape Application With UV Peeling and Roller Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge of protecting the peripheral portion of larger-diameter wafers during processing, such as in plating processes, is exacerbated by the lifting of protective films, leading to contamination and performance failure, while existing tape sticking and peeling systems face issues with damage to the substrate and adhesive residue.

Innovation Solution

A tape sticking system and method utilizing a substrate holder, side and first/second rollers, and a roller-driving motor to rotate the substrate, combined with UV irradiation for adhesive curing, to minimize substrate damage and facilitate efficient tape peeling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective film is attached to the back surface of the wafer to prevent plating solution penetration, then the wafer is protected from contamination, but the protective film peels off due to thermal expansion mismatch and adhesive degradation at high temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidadhesive bonding stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The protective coverage is segmented into two separate components: a protective film on the back surface and a protective tape on the peripheral portion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and environmental conditions, with the protective tape providing thermal and mechanical stability at the edges where temperature gradients are highest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different protective measures are applied to different locations of the wafer. The protective film covers the back surface where chemical protection is needed, while the protective tape with higher heat resistance covers the peripheral portion where thermal stress and adhesion failure are most critical.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the wafer diameter is increased to meet automotive electrification demands, then larger wafers can be processed, but the peripheral portion becomes more susceptible to protective film lifting and contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewafer processing capacityVSAvoidperipheral portion protection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protection strategy extends from the two-dimensional back surface into the third dimension by wrapping the protective tape around the peripheral portion and bevel surfaces. This three-dimensional protection ensures that the peripheral edges, which are most vulnerable in larger wafers, are shielded from plating solution penetration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional mechanical peeling methods are used to remove protective tape, then the process is simple, but adhesive residue remains on the wafer surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeeling process simplicityVSAvoidsurface cleanliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical peeling process is replaced with UV irradiation to remove the protective tape. The UV light breaks down the adhesive bonds, allowing the tape to be removed without leaving residue on the wafer surface, thereby maintaining surface cleanliness without complex mechanical peeling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Manufacturing precision

If the wafer is rotated during tape sticking to improve coverage, then uniform adhesive application is achieved, but centrifugal force may damage the wafer structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetape placement uniformityVSAvoidwafer structural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The wafer rotation is implemented as a controlled dynamic process with adjustable speed and duration. The rotation is performed at low speeds sufficient to achieve uniform adhesive distribution but low enough to prevent centrifugal damage to the wafer structure, optimizing both tape placement quality and wafer integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system reduces substrate damage and shortens tape peeling time, preventing adhesive residue by applying rotational force and curing the adhesive with UV rays, ensuring stable processing and high yield.

Implementation Method 1

a UV irradiation module configured to irradiate ultraviolet light to the protective tape stuck on the peripheral portion of the substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUV curing: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP4657513A2Tape sticking system, tape sticking method, tape peeling system, and tape peeling method
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 EBARA CORP
  • EP4657513A2 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4657513A2 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4657513A2 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a tape sticking system for sticking a protective tape for protecting a peripheral portion of a substrate, such as a wafer. The tape sticking apparatus (10) includes a substrate holder (21) for sticking, a side roller (43), a first roller (46), a second roller (47), a roller-driving motor (49) coupled to the second roller (47), and a nipping mechanism (60) for nipping the peripheral portion of the substrate (W) with the first roller (46) and the second roller (47). The tape sticking apparatus (10) is configured to cause the second roller (47) to be rotated by use of the roller-driving motor (49) while nipping the peripheral portion of the substrate, held to the substrate holder (21) for sticking, with the first roller (46) and the second roller (47), to thereby rotate the substrate.