Abstract: A color image of an inspection object is taken by an imaging means capable of taking a color image to obtain color information of an RGB color space. A gray-scale image of a color component of the RGB color space or another color space is generated, and the inspection object is detected by a pattern recognition technique. Alternatively, a binary image is generated from the generated gray-scale image, and the inspection object is detected by performing pattern recognition on the binary image. Color data of a pixel occupied by the detected inspection object is compared with color data of a non-defective inspection object which is previously prepared to judge whether or not the inspection object is defective. In addition, this judgment result is reflected in another manufacturing step through a network and product quality is improved.

Abstract: It is an object to obtain a crystalline silicon film having preferable characteristics for a thin film transistor. A crystalline silicon film having improved crystallinity is obtained by the following steps: forming a silicon nitride film substantially in contact with an amorphous silicon film on glass substrate; introducing a catalyst element such as nickel; performing an annealing treatment at a temperature of 500 to 600° C. for crystallization; and further irradiating it with a laser light, thereby a crystalline silicon film having improved crystallinity can be obtained. By using the crystalline silicon film thus obtained, a semiconductor device such as a TFT having improved characteristic can be obtained.

Abstract: The thin film transistor includes, over a substrate having an insulating surface, a gate insulating layer covering a gate electrode, an amorphous semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer including an impurity element imparting one conductivity type over the amorphous semiconductor layer. The amorphous semiconductor layer comprises an NH radical. Defects of the amorphous semiconductor layer are reduced by cross-linking dangling bonds with the NH radical in the amorphous semiconductor layer.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an oxide semiconductor which is suitable for use in a semiconductor device. Alternatively, it is another object to provide a semiconductor device using the oxide semiconductor. Provided is a semiconductor device including an In—Ga—Zn—O based oxide semiconductor layer in a channel formation region of a transistor. In the semiconductor device, the In—Ga—Zn—O based oxide semiconductor layer has a structure in which crystal grains represented by InGaO3(ZnO)m (m=1) are included in an amorphous structure represented by InGaO3(ZnO)m (m>0).

Abstract: A semiconductor device using a crystalline semiconductor film is manufactured. The crystalline semiconductor film is formed by providing an amorphous silicon film with a catalyst metal for promoting a crystallization thereof and then heated for performing a thermal crystallization, following which the crystallized film is further exposed to a laser light for improving the crystallinity. The concentration of the catalyst metal in the semiconductor film and the location of the region to be added with the catalyst metal are so selected in order that a desired crystallinity and a desired crystal structure such as a vertical crystal growth or lateral crystal growth can be obtained. Further, active elements and driver elements of a circuit substrate for an active matrix type liquid crystal device are formed by such semiconductor devices having a desired crystallinity and crystal structure respectively.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device that can effectively suppress the short channel effect without deterioration of carrier migration, an impurity ion is added from a direction of the <110> axis with respect to a silicon substrate on forming a punch through stopper under the gate electrode. In this invention, because the addition of the impurity is conducted by utilizing the principal of channeling, the impurity can be added with a small amount of scattering suppressing damage on the surface of the silicon substrate. A channel forming region having an extremely small impurity concentration and substantially no crystallinity disorder is formed.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, pining regions 105 are disposed along the junction portion of a drain region 102 and a channel forming region 106 locally in a channel width direction. With this structure, because the spread of a depletion layer from a drain side is restrained by the pining regions 105, a short-channel effect can be restrained effectively. Also, because a passage through which carriers move is ensured, high mobility can be maintained.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to solve problems of treatment time when using an SLS method or continuous-oscillation laser. An indispensable portion is scanned with a laser beam in order to crystallize a semiconductor film by driving a laser and so on in accordance with the positions of islands instead of scanning and irradiating the whole semiconductor film. The present invention makes it possible to omit the time for irradiating a portion to be removed through patterning after crystallizing the semiconductor film with a laser beam and greatly shorten the treatment time for one substrate.

Abstract: One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor film containing indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn), in which the contact resistance between the oxide semiconductor layer and a source and drain electrodes is reduced, and to provide a method for manufacturing the thin film transistor. An ohmic contact is formed by intentionally providing a buffer layer having a higher carrier concentration than the IGZO semiconductor layer between the IGZO semiconductor layer and the source and drain electrode layers.

Abstract: An embodiment is to include a staggered (top gate structure) thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film containing In, Ga, and Zn is used as a semiconductor layer and a buffer layer is provided between the semiconductor layer and a source and drain electrode layers. The buffer layer having higher carrier concentration than the semiconductor layer is provided intentionally between the source and drain electrode layers and the semiconductor layer, whereby an ohmic contact is formed.

Abstract: An embodiment is to include an inverted staggered (bottom gate structure) thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film containing In, Ga, and Zn is used as a semiconductor layer and a buffer layer is provided between the semiconductor layer and a source and drain electrode layers. The buffer layer having higher carrier concentration than the semiconductor layer is provided intentionally between the source and drain electrode layers and the semiconductor layer, whereby an ohmic contact is formed.

Abstract: To offer a semiconductor device including a thin film transistor having excellent characteristics and high reliability and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device without variation. The summary is to include an inverted-staggered (bottom-gate structure) thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film containing In, Ga, and Zn is used for a semiconductor layer and a buffer layer is provided between the semiconductor layer and source and drain electrode layers. An ohmic contact is formed by intentionally providing a buffer layer containing In, Ga, and Zn and having a higher carrier concentration than the semiconductor layer between the semiconductor layer and the source and drain electrode layers.

Abstract: The thin film transistor includes a gate insulating layer covering a gate electrode, over a substrate having an insulating surface; a semiconductor layer forming a channel formation region, in which a plurality of crystal regions is included in an amorphous structure; an impurity semiconductor layer imparting one conductivity type which forms a source region and a drain region; and a buffer layer formed from an amorphous semiconductor, which is located between the semiconductor layer and the impurity semiconductor layer. The thin film transistor includes the crystal region which includes minute crystal grains and inverted conical or inverted pyramidal grain each of which grows approximately radially from a position away from an interface between the gate insulating layer and the semiconductor layer toward a direction in which the semiconductor layer is deposited in a region which does not reach the impurity semiconductor layer.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to solve problems of treatment time when using an SLS method or continuous-oscillation laser. An indispensable portion is scanned with a laser beam in order to crystallize a semiconductor film by driving a laser and so on in accordance with the positions of islands instead of scanning and irradiating the whole semiconductor film. The present invention makes it possible to omit the time for irradiating a portion to be removed through patterning after crystallizing the semiconductor film with a laser beam and greatly shorten the treatment time for one substrate.

Abstract: A little amount of nickel is introduced into an amorphous silicon film formed on a glass substrate to crystallize the amorphous silicon film by heating. In this situation, nickel elements remain in a crystallized silicon film. An amorphous silicon film is formed on the surface of the crystallized silicon film and then subjected to a heat treatment. With this heat treatment, the nickel elements are diffused in the amorphous silicon film, thereby being capable of lowering the concentration of nickel in the crystallized silicon film.

Abstract: To provide a method for manufacturing an SOI substrate having a single crystal semiconductor layer having a small and uniform thickness over an insulating film. Further, time of adding hydrogen ions is reduced and time of manufacture per SOI substrate is reduced. A bond layer is formed over a surface of a first semiconductor wafer and a separation layer is formed below the bond layer by irradiating the first semiconductor wafer with H3+ ions by an ion doping apparatus. H3+ ions accelerated by high voltage are separated to be three H+ ions at a semiconductor wafer surface, and the H+ ions cannot enter deeply. Therefore, H+ ions are added into a shallower region in the semiconductor wafer at a higher concentration than the case of using a conventional ion implantation method.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a semiconductor device comprising the steps of introducing into an amorphous silicon film, a metallic element which accelerates the crystallization of the amorphous silicon film; applying heat treatment to the amorphous silicon film to obtain a crystalline silicon film; irradiating a laser beam or an intense light to the crystalline silicon film; and heat treating the crystalline silicon film irradiated with a laser beam or an intense light.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a highly stable and reliable semiconductor, comprising: coating the surface of an amorphous silicon film with a solution containing a catalyst element capable of accelerating the crystallization of the amorphous silicon film, and heat treating the amorphous silicon film thereafter to crystallize the film.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a semiconductor device including the steps of: introducing into an amorphous silicon film, a metallic element which accelerates the crystallization of the amorphous silicon film; applying heat treatment to the amorphous silicon film to obtain a crystalline silicon film; irradiating a laser beam or an intense light to the crystalline silicon film; and heat treating the crystalline silicon film irradiated with a laser beam or an intense light.

Abstract: A semiconductor device using a crystalline semiconductor film is manufactured. The crystalline semiconductor film is formed by providing an amorphous silicon film with a catalyst metal for promoting a crystallization thereof and then heated for performing a thermal crystallization, following which the crystallized film is further exposed to a laser light for improving the crystallinity. The concentration of the catalyst metal in the semiconductor film and the location of the region to be added with the catalyst metal are so selected in order that a desired crystallinity and a desired crystal structure such as a vertical crystal growth or lateral crystal growth can be obtained. Further, active elements and driver elements of a circuit substrate for an active matrix type liquid crystal device are formed by such semiconductor devices having a desired crystallinity and crystal structure respectively.