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US5144938A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and device for resharpening saws especially used for making semiconductor wafers

Assignee: Siltronic AG
•
Filing: 1990-11-20
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Granted: 1992-09-08
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Expires: 2010-11-20
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Abstract

Abstract A device and method for resharpening the cutting edge of saws used in particular in the centerhole sawing of semiconductor bars. It contains a sharpening system which consists of at least one elongate sharpening stone facing the cutting edge with its end face, is movable laterally relative to the saw blade and has at the end face two working surfaces which are located opposite one another and, during sharpening, can be brought into contact laterally with the cutting-edge surface facing them. The device affords trouble-free operation and permits sharpening actions during the sawing operations.

Inventors

  • 👤 Helmut Seeburger
  • 👤 Peter Lehfeld
  • 👤 Wolf-Rudiger Kurtze

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 09:53
CPC Classifications
B; B28; B28D; B28D5/00; B28D5/02; B28D5/022; B28D5/028; B24; B24B; B24B53/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 163 words
A device for resharpening the cutting edge of a saw blade used in the sawing of wafers from bar-shaped or block-shaped semiconductor workpieces comprising: sharpening means, movable laterally with respect to the saw blade between an operative and inoperative position, including two elongate sharpening stones, each stone having an end face facing the cutting edge of the saw blade, each said end face having a working surface complementary to a portion of a desired shape of said cutting edge and in overlapping relation such that, during sharpening, said stones can be brought into contact laterally with the cutting edge of the saw blade facing them; means for moving said sharpening means between said inoperative and operative position, in the latter of which said sharpening means is positioned to sharpen said saw blade without interrupting the sawing of said wafers; and said sharpening means being applied in a non-rotational manner to said cutting edge to thereby dress the entire edge of the saw blade.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 163 words
A device for resharpening the cutting edge of a saw blade used in the sawing of wafers from bar-shaped or block-shaped semiconductor workpieces comprising: sharpening means, movable laterally with respect to the saw blade between an operative and inoperative position, including two elongate sharpening stones, each stone having an end face facing the cutting edge of the saw blade, each said end face having a working surface complementary to a portion of a desired shape of said cutting edge and in overlapping relation such that, during sharpening, said stones can be brought into contact laterally with the cutting edge of the saw blade facing them; means for moving said sharpening means between said inoperative and operative position, in the latter of which said sharpening means is positioned to sharpen said saw blade without interrupting the sawing of said wafers; and said sharpening means being applied in a non-rotational manner to said cutting edge to thereby dress the entire edge of the saw blade.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said device additionally includes means for moving said sharpening means laterally relative to the saw blade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the sharpening means is oriented radially toward the cutting edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the saw is a centerhole saw.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 51 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the sharpening means comprises two sharpening stones, which are arranged offset relative to one another and having end faces, each of which has a working surface located on opposite sides of the cutting edge, the working surface in each case facing the cutting edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The device according to claim 5, wherein the two stones are coupled and are movable in a coupled manner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The device according to claim 5, wherein the two stones are arranged substantially in parallel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device according to claim 5, wherein the sharpening stones are oriented radially toward the cutting edge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 13 words
The device according to claim 5, wherein the saw is a centerhole saw.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 126 words
A method of centerhole sawing bar-shaped or block-shaped workpieces which comprises: sawing said workpieces with a rotating centerhole saw; sharpening the rotating saw blade during sawing via sharpening means, movable laterally with respect to the saw blade and including two elongate sharpening stones, each stone having an end face facing the cutting edge of the saw blade, each said end face having a working surface complementary to a portion of a desired shape of said cutting edge and in overlapping relation, such that, during sharpening, said stones are brought into contact laterally with the cutting edge of the saw blade facing them; and applying said sharpening means in a non-rotational manner to said cutting edge to thereby dress the entire cutting edge of the saw blade.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 126 words
A method of centerhole sawing bar-shaped or block-shaped workpieces which comprises: sawing said workpieces with a rotating centerhole saw; sharpening the rotating saw blade during sawing via sharpening means, movable laterally with respect to the saw blade and including two elongate sharpening stones, each stone having an end face facing the cutting edge of the saw blade, each said end face having a working surface complementary to a portion of a desired shape of said cutting edge and in overlapping relation, such that, during sharpening, said stones are brought into contact laterally with the cutting edge of the saw blade facing them; and applying said sharpening means in a non-rotational manner to said cutting edge to thereby dress the entire cutting edge of the saw blade.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the workpieces to be cut are semiconductor workpieces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the sharpening is carried out on the cutting-edge lateral surface facing a nominal cutting line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 31 words
The device according to claim 5, wherein said two sharpening stones have a contact surface with the cutting edge, the contact surface having a length in the range of 3-10 mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 31 words
The device according to claim 13, wherein said two sharpening stones have a contact surface with the cutting edge, the contact surface having a length in the range of 4-6 mm.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 202 words
A device for resharpening the cutting edge of a saw blade used in the sawing of wafers from bar-shaped or block-shaped semiconductor workpieces comprising: sharpening means, movable laterally with respect to the saw blade between an operative and inoperative position, including two elongate sharpening stones, each stone having an end face facing the cutting edge of the saw blade, each said end face having a working surface complementary to a portion of a desired shape of said cutting edge and in overlapping relation, such that, during sharpening, said stones can be brought into contact laterally with the cutting edge of the saw blade facing them; means for moving said sharpening means between said inoperative and operative position, in the latter of which said sharpening means is positioned to sharpen said saw blade without interrupting the sawing of said wafers; control and sensor means for monitoring the deviation of the saw blade relative to a nominal cutting line while it saws through the workpiece to slice off a desired wafer, and effecting movement of said means for moving; and said sharpening means being applied in a non-rotational manner to the cutting edge to thereby dress the entire cutting edge of the saw blade.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 202 words
A device for resharpening the cutting edge of a saw blade used in the sawing of wafers from bar-shaped or block-shaped semiconductor workpieces comprising: sharpening means, movable laterally with respect to the saw blade between an operative and inoperative position, including two elongate sharpening stones, each stone having an end face facing the cutting edge of the saw blade, each said end face having a working surface complementary to a portion of a desired shape of said cutting edge and in overlapping relation, such that, during sharpening, said stones can be brought into contact laterally with the cutting edge of the saw blade facing them; means for moving said sharpening means between said inoperative and operative position, in the latter of which said sharpening means is positioned to sharpen said saw blade without interrupting the sawing of said wafers; control and sensor means for monitoring the deviation of the saw blade relative to a nominal cutting line while it saws through the workpiece to slice off a desired wafer, and effecting movement of said means for moving; and said sharpening means being applied in a non-rotational manner to the cutting edge to thereby dress the entire cutting edge of the saw blade.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 166 words
A device for resharpening the cutting edge of a saw blade used in the sawing of wafers from bar-shaped or block-shaped semiconductor workpieces comprising: sharpening means, movable laterally with respect to the saw blade between an operative and inoperative position, including at least one elongate sharpening stone having an end face facing the cutting edge of the saw blade, said end face having two working surfaces disposed opposite to one another which, during sharpening, can be brought into contact laterally with the cutting edge of the saw blade facing them, said surfaces complementary to a portion of a desired shape of said cutting edge and in overlapping relation; means for moving said sharpening means between said inoperative and operative position, in the latter of which said sharpening means is positioned to sharpen said saw blade without interrupting the sawing of said wafers; and said sharpening means being applied in a non-rotational manner to said cutting edge to thereby dress the entire edge of the saw blade.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 166 words
A device for resharpening the cutting edge of a saw blade used in the sawing of wafers from bar-shaped or block-shaped semiconductor workpieces comprising: sharpening means, movable laterally with respect to the saw blade between an operative and inoperative position, including at least one elongate sharpening stone having an end face facing the cutting edge of the saw blade, said end face having two working surfaces disposed opposite to one another which, during sharpening, can be brought into contact laterally with the cutting edge of the saw blade facing them, said surfaces complementary to a portion of a desired shape of said cutting edge and in overlapping relation; means for moving said sharpening means between said inoperative and operative position, in the latter of which said sharpening means is positioned to sharpen said saw blade without interrupting the sawing of said wafers; and said sharpening means being applied in a non-rotational manner to said cutting edge to thereby dress the entire edge of the saw blade.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 129 words
A method of centerhole sawing bar-shaped or block-shaped workpieces which comprises: sawing said workpieces with a rotating centerhole saw; sharpening the rotating saw blade during sawing via sharpening means, movable laterally with respect to the saw blade and including at least one elongate sharpening stone having an end face facing the cutting edge of the saw blade, said end face having two working surfaces disposed opposite to one another which, during sharpening, is brought into contact laterally with the cutting edge of the saw blade facing them, said surfaces complementary to a portion of a desired shape of said cutting edge and in overlapping relation; and applying said sharpening means in a non-rotational manner to said cutting edge to thereby dress the entire cutting edge of the saw blade.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 129 words
A method of centerhole sawing bar-shaped or block-shaped workpieces which comprises: sawing said workpieces with a rotating centerhole saw; sharpening the rotating saw blade during sawing via sharpening means, movable laterally with respect to the saw blade and including at least one elongate sharpening stone having an end face facing the cutting edge of the saw blade, said end face having two working surfaces disposed opposite to one another which, during sharpening, is brought into contact laterally with the cutting edge of the saw blade facing them, said surfaces complementary to a portion of a desired shape of said cutting edge and in overlapping relation; and applying said sharpening means in a non-rotational manner to said cutting edge to thereby dress the entire cutting edge of the saw blade.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 206 words
A device for resharpening the cutting edge of a saw blade used in the sawing of wafers from bar-shaped or block-shaped semiconductor workpieces comprising: sharpening means, movable laterally with respect to the saw blade between an operative and inoperative position, including at least one elongate sharpening stone having an end face facing the cutting edge of the saw blade, said end face having two working surfaces disposed opposite to one another which, during sharpening, can be brought into contact laterally with the cutting edge of the saw blade facing them, and said surfaces complementary to a portion of a desired shape of said cutting edge and in overlapping relation; mean for moving said sharpening means between said inoperative and operative position, in the latter of which said sharpening means is positioned to sharpen said saw blade without interrupting the sawing of said wafers; control and sensor means for monitoring the deviation of the saw blade relative to a nominal cutting line while it saws through the workpiece to slice off a desired wafer, and effecting movement of said means for moving; and said sharpening means being applied in a non-rotational manner to the cutting edge to thereby dress the entire cutting edge of the saw blade.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 206 words
A device for resharpening the cutting edge of a saw blade used in the sawing of wafers from bar-shaped or block-shaped semiconductor workpieces comprising: sharpening means, movable laterally with respect to the saw blade between an operative and inoperative position, including at least one elongate sharpening stone having an end face facing the cutting edge of the saw blade, said end face having two working surfaces disposed opposite to one another which, during sharpening, can be brought into contact laterally with the cutting edge of the saw blade facing them, and said surfaces complementary to a portion of a desired shape of said cutting edge and in overlapping relation; mean for moving said sharpening means between said inoperative and operative position, in the latter of which said sharpening means is positioned to sharpen said saw blade without interrupting the sawing of said wafers; control and sensor means for monitoring the deviation of the saw blade relative to a nominal cutting line while it saws through the workpiece to slice off a desired wafer, and effecting movement of said means for moving; and said sharpening means being applied in a non-rotational manner to the cutting edge to thereby dress the entire cutting edge of the saw blade.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US3662732A Cited
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SU1098773A1 Cited
JPS59136886A Cited
US4811722A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-09-08 1996-03-09 1996-09-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-09-08 2000-03-09 2000-09-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-09-08 2004-03-09 2004-09-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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