A manufacturing process of an element chip comprises a preparing step for preparing a substrate having first and second sides opposed to each other, the substrate containing a semiconductor layer, a wiring layer and a resin layer formed on the first side, and the substrate including a plurality of dicing regions and element regions defined by the dicing regions. Also, the manufacturing process comprises a laser grooving step for irradiating a laser beam onto the dicing regions to form grooves so as to expose the semiconductor layer along the dicing regions. Further, the manufacturing process comprises a dicing step for plasma-etching the semiconductor layer along the dicing regions through the second side to divide the substrate into a plurality of the element chips. The laser grooving step includes a melting step for melting a surface of the semiconductor layer exposed along the dicing regions.

A manufacturing process of an element chip comprises a preparing step for preparing a substrate having first and second sides opposed to each other, the substrate containing a semiconductor layer, a wiring layer and a resin layer formed on the first side, and the substrate including a plurality of dicing regions and element regions defined by the dicing regions. Also, the manufacturing process comprises a laser grooving step for irradiating a laser beam onto the dicing regions to form grooves so as to expose the semiconductor layer along the dicing regions. Further, the manufacturing process comprises a dicing step for plasma-etching the semiconductor layer along the dicing regions through the second side to divide the substrate into a plurality of the element chips. The laser grooving step includes a melting step for melting a surface of the semiconductor layer exposed along the dicing regions.

A method of manufacturing a metal silicide layer comprises performing laser thermal annealing of a surface region of a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate, exposing a surface of a thus obtained silicon layer, depositing a metal layer above the exposed silicon layer, and/or thermally treating a stack of layers, comprising the silicon layer and the metal layer, to form a metal silicide layer. Alternatively and/or additionally, the method may comprise depositing a silicon layer above a SiC substrate, depositing a metal layer, and/or performing laser thermal annealing of the SiC substrate and a stack of layers above the SiC substrate to form a metal silicide layer, wherein the stack of layers comprises the silicon layer and the metal layer. Moreover, a semiconductor device is described, comprising a SiC substrate, a metal silicide layer, and a polycrystalline layer in direct contact with the SiC substrate and the metal silicide layer.

A method and apparatus are provided. In an example, a volume portion of the solid body is exposed to light waves of different wavelengths, wherein the light waves are partly reflected at surfaces of the solid body. Light parameters of the reflected light waves are at least partly acquired using a sensor device. Distance information and/or intensity information are/is ascertained from at least a portion of the acquired light parameters. A thickness and/or a transmittance of the solid body in the volume portion are/is determined based upon the distance information and/or the intensity information. Laser radiation is introduced into the volume portion to produce a modification in the interior of the solid body, wherein at least one laser parameter of the laser radiation is set at least depending on the thickness and/or the transmittance such that the modification is at a predefined distance from a surface of the solid body.

A method and apparatus are provided. In an example, a volume portion of the solid body is exposed to light waves of different wavelengths, wherein the light waves are partly reflected at surfaces of the solid body. Light parameters of the reflected light waves are at least partly acquired using a sensor device. Distance information and/or intensity information are/is ascertained from at least a portion of the acquired light parameters. A thickness and/or a transmittance of the solid body in the volume portion are/is determined based upon the distance information and/or the intensity information. Laser radiation is introduced into the volume portion to produce a modification in the interior of the solid body, wherein at least one laser parameter of the laser radiation is set at least depending on the thickness and/or the transmittance such that the modification is at a predefined distance from a surface of the solid body.

A workpiece-separating device includes: a holding member which detachably holds one of the workpiece and the supporting body; a laser irradiation part which irradiates the separating layer with the laser beam through the other of the supporting body and the workpiece of the laminated body being held by the holding member; and a controlling part which controls an operation of the laser irradiation part, wherein the laser irradiation part has a laser scanner which moves the spot like laser beam along the laminated body, an entire irradiated face of the separating layer in an area of the laser beam irradiated from the laser scanner toward the laminated body is divided into a plurality of irradiation areas each having a band shape that is elongated in one of two directions intersecting a light irradiation direction from the laser irradiation part.

A workpiece-separating device includes: a holding member which detachably holds one of the workpiece and the supporting body; a laser irradiation part which irradiates the separating layer with the laser beam through the other of the supporting body and the workpiece of the laminated body being held by the holding member; and a controlling part which controls an operation of the laser irradiation part, wherein the laser irradiation part has a laser scanner which moves the spot like laser beam along the laminated body, an entire irradiated face of the separating layer in an area of the laser beam irradiated from the laser scanner toward the laminated body is divided into a plurality of irradiation areas each having a band shape that is elongated in one of two directions intersecting a light irradiation direction from the laser irradiation part.

A metal layer is deposited on a wafer that has silicon carbide, wherein the metal layer forms a contact face. A laser annealing is performed at the contact face using a laser beam application that causes the metal layer to react with the wafer and form a silicide layer. The laser beam has a footprint having a size. To laser anneal the contact face, a first portion of the contact face is irradiated, the footprint of the laser beam is moved by a step smaller than the size of the footprint, and a second portion of the contact face is irradiated, thereby causing the first portion and the second portion of the contact face to overlap.

A processing method of a workpiece used when the workpiece is processed is provided. The processing method of a workpiece includes a disposing step of disposing the workpiece in a gas containing a substance that generates an active species that reacts with the workpiece, a measurement step of measuring the distribution of the thickness of the workpiece disposed in the gas, and a laser beam irradiation step of irradiating the workpiece in the gas with a laser beam of which the power is adjusted based on the distribution of the thickness measured in the measurement step. In the laser beam irradiation step, the removal amount by which a region irradiated with the laser beam in the workpiece is removed by the active species is controlled by irradiating the workpiece with the laser beam of which the power is adjusted.

A processing method of a workpiece used when the workpiece is processed is provided. The processing method of a workpiece includes a disposing step of disposing the workpiece in a gas containing a substance that generates an active species that reacts with the workpiece, a measurement step of measuring the distribution of the thickness of the workpiece disposed in the gas, and a laser beam irradiation step of irradiating the workpiece in the gas with a laser beam of which the power is adjusted based on the distribution of the thickness measured in the measurement step. In the laser beam irradiation step, the removal amount by which a region irradiated with the laser beam in the workpiece is removed by the active species is controlled by irradiating the workpiece with the laser beam of which the power is adjusted.