Surface planarization of thin silicon films during and after processing by the sequential lateral solidification method
US7220660B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 2004 |
| Grant date | May 22, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S438/942
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods for reducing a surface roughness of a polycrystalline or single crystal thin film produced by the sequential lateral solidification process are disclosed. In one arrangement, the system includes an excimer laser (110) for generating a plurality of excimer laser pulses of a predetermined fluence, an energy density modulator (120) for controllably modulating the fluence of the excimer laser pulses such that the fluence is below that which is required to completely melt the thin film, a beam homoginizer (144) for homoginizing modulated laser pulses in a predetermined plane, a sample stage (170) for receiving homoginized laser pulses to effect melting of portions of the polycrystalline or single crystal thin film corresponding to the laser pulses, translating means for controllably translating a relative position of the sample stage (170) with respect to the laser pulses, and a computer (110) for coordinating the excimer pulse generation and fluence modulation with the relative positions of the sample stage (170) to thereby process the polycrystalline or single crystal thin film by sequential translation of the sample stage (170) relative to the laser pulses.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.