Utilizing Wave Energy (e.g., Laser, Electron Beam, Etc.) Patents (Class 438/487)
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Patent number: 8411713Abstract: A process and system for processing a thin film sample are provided. In particular, a beam generator can be controlled to emit at least one beam pulse. The beam pulse is then masked to produce at least one masked beam pulse, which is used to irradiate at least one portion of the thin film sample. With the at least one masked beam pulse, the portion of the film sample is irradiated with sufficient intensity for such portion to later crystallize. This portion of the film sample is allowed to crystallize so as to be composed of a first area and a second area. Upon the crystallization thereof, the first area includes a first set of grains, and the second area includes a second set of grains whose at least one characteristic is different from at least one characteristic of the second set of grains. The first area surrounds the second area, and is configured to allow an active region of a thin-film transistor (“TFT”) to be provided at a distance therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the city of New YorkInventor: James S. Im
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Patent number: 8404408Abstract: A mask for sequential lateral solidification (SLS) which is capable of preventing an overlapping region and a diagonal stain based on a crystallization pattern of an active layer. The mask for SLS, which moves in a first direction and selectively transmits a laser beam emitted by a laser emitting device, includes slits which are formed such that the width of a slit in the first direction is smaller than the width of the slit in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the slits is tilted by a predetermined angle with respect to the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2011Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kwon-Hyung Lee, Cheol-Ho Park, In-Do Chung, Jae-Beom Choi
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Patent number: 8389388Abstract: A photonic device (200) and method (100) of making the photonic device (200) employs preferential etching of grain boundaries of a polycrystalline semiconductor material layer (210). The method (100) includes growing (110) the polycrystalline layer (210) on a substrate (201). The polycrystalline layer includes a transition region (212) of variously oriented grains and a region (214) of columnar grain boundaries (215) adjacent to the transition region. The method further includes preferentially etching (120) the columnar grain boundaries to provide tapered structures (220) of the semiconductor material that are continuous (217) with respective aligned grains (213) of the transition region. The tapered structures are predominantly single crystal. The method further includes forming (140) a conformal semiconductor junction (240) on the tapered structures and providing (160) first and second electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Hans S. Cho, Theodore I. Kamins, Nathaniel J. Quitoriano
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Patent number: 8384029Abstract: A first instrument (230) is used to image a first semiconductor article having a trench (110) of defined cross-section, while a second instrument (220) is used to simultaneously prepare a second semiconductor article with a trench of defined cross-section. Furthermore, a method is disclosed to prepare a trench (110) of defined cross-section in a semiconductor article by rough milling and subsequent fine milling.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2009Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Carl Zeiss NTS, LLCInventors: Rainer Knippelmeyer, Lawrence Scipioni, Christoph Riedesel, John Morgan, Ulrich Mantz, Ulrich Wagemann
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Patent number: 8383452Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method can include depositing a first amorphous film having a first impurity, depositing a third amorphous lower-layer film on the first amorphous film, forming microcrystals on the third amorphous lower-layer film, depositing a third amorphous upper-layer film on the third amorphous lower-layer film to cover the microcrystals, depositing a second amorphous film having a second impurity on the third amorphous upper-layer film, and radiating microwaves to crystallize the third amorphous lower-layer film and the third amorphous upper-layer film to form a third crystal layer, and crystallize the first amorphous film and the second amorphous film to form a first crystal layer and a second crystal layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Tomonori Aoyama, Kiyotaka Miyano, Yusuke Oshiki
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Patent number: 8378252Abstract: A method and apparatus is presented for obtaining high resolution positional feedback from motion stages 52 in indexing systems 10 without incurring the costs associated with providing high resolution positional feedback from the entire range of motion by combining low resolution/low cost feedback devices 72 with high resolution/high cost feedback devices 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.Inventor: Mehmet Ermin Alpay
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Patent number: 8377804Abstract: To provide a semiconductor substrate in which a semiconductor element having favorable crystallinity and high performance can be formed. A single crystal semiconductor substrate having an embrittlement layer and a base substrate are bonded with an insulating layer interposed therebetween; the single crystal semiconductor substrate is separated along the embrittlement layer by heat treatment; a single crystal semiconductor layer is fixed to the base substrate; the single crystal semiconductor layer is irradiated with a laser beam; the single crystal semiconductor layer is in a partially melted state to be recrystallized; and crystal defects are repaired. In addition, the energy density of a laser beam with which the best crystallinity of the single crystal semiconductor layer is obtained is detected by a microwave photoconductivity decay method.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2009Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junpei Momo, Kosei Nei, Hiroaki Honda, Masaki Koyama, Akihisa Shimomura
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Patent number: 8377805Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor thin film is provided which can form its crystal grains having a uniform direction of crystal growth and being large in size and a manufacturing equipment using the above method, and a method for manufacturing a thin film transistor. In the above method, by applying an energy beam partially intercepted by a light shielding element, melt and re-crystallization occur with a light-shielded region as a starting point. The irradiation of the beam gives energy to the light-shielded region of the silicon thin film so that melt and re-crystallization occur with the light-shielded region as the starting point and so that a local temperature gradient in the light-shielded region is made to be 1200° C./?m or more. In the manufacturing method, a resolution of an optical system used to apply the energy beam is preferably 4 ?m or less.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2012Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Getner Foundation LLCInventor: Hiroshi Tanabe
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Patent number: 8372762Abstract: In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, a manufacturing technique and a manufacturing apparatus of a semiconductor device which simplify a lithography step using a photoresist is provided, so that the manufacturing cost is reduced, and the throughput is improved. An irradiated object, in which a light absorbing layer and an insulating layer are stacked over a substrate, is irradiated with a multi-mode laser beam and a single-mode laser beam so that both the laser beams overlap with each other, and an opening is formed by ablation in part of the irradiated object the irradiation of which is performed so that both the laser beams overlap with each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2010Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirotada Oishi, Koichiro Tanaka
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Patent number: 8367527Abstract: A method of fabricating a polycrystalline silicon thin that includes a metal layer forming operation of forming a metal layer on an insulating substrate, a first silicon layer forming operation of stacking a silicon layer on the metal layer formed in the metal layer forming operation, a first annealing operation of forming a silicide layer using by moving catalyst metal atoms from the metal layer to the silicon layer using an annealing process, a second silicon layer forming operation of stacking an amorphous silicon layer on the silicide layer, and a crystallization operation of crystallizing the amorphous silicon layer into crystalline silicon through the medium of particles of the silicide layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Nokord Co., Ltd.Inventors: Won Tae Lee, Han Sick Cho, Hyung Su Kim
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Patent number: 8361890Abstract: Systems, methods, and products of processes consistent with the innovations herein relate to aspects involving crystallization of layers on substrates. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a method of fabricating a device. Moreover, such method may include placing an amorphous/poly material on a substrate and heating the material via a sub-melt laser anneal process to transform the material into crystalline form.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2010Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Gigasi Solar, Inc.Inventor: Venkatraman Prabhakar
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Patent number: 8357620Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a laser annealing method, including the steps of radiating a laser beam to an amorphous film on a substrate while scanning the laser beam for the amorphous film, crystallizing the amorphous film, detecting a light quantity of laser beam reflected from the substrate and a scanning speed of the laser beam while the radiation and the scanning of the laser beam are carried out for the amorphous film, and controlling a radiation level and the scanning speed of the laser beam based on results of comparison of the light quantity of laser beam reflected from the substrate, and the scanning speed of the laser beam with respective preset references.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2009Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Katsuji Takagi, Akio Machida, Toshio Fujino, Tadahiro Kono, Norio Fukasawa, Shinsuke Haga
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Patent number: 8357592Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate dedicated to a semiconductor device, in which multi-photon absorption is generated in a micro-region inside the semiconductor substrate by condensing laser beams in any micro-region inside the semiconductor substrate, and a gettering sink is formed by changing the crystal structure of only the micro-region.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2010Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Sumco CorporationInventor: Kazunari Kurita
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Patent number: 8357598Abstract: The present invention provides an antenna with low resistance and a semiconductor device having an antenna whose communication distance is improved. A fluid containing conductive particles is applied over an object. After curing the fluid containing the conductive particles, the fluid is irradiated with a laser to form an antenna. As a method for applying the fluid containing the conductive particles, screen printing, spin coating, dipping, or a droplet discharging method is used. Further, a solid laser having a wavelength of 1 nm or more and 380 nm or less is used as the laser.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoyuki Aoki, Daiki Yamada
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Patent number: 8357597Abstract: Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv crystals in a mixed crystal state are formed. A method for manufacturing an easily processable Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv substrate, a method for manufacturing an epitaxial wafer, a Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv substrate, and an epitaxial wafer are provided. A method for manufacturing a Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv substrate 10a includes the following steps. First, a Si substrate 11 is prepared. A Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv layer 12 (0<v<1, 0<w<1, 0<x<1, and 0<v+w+x<1) is then grown on the Si substrate 11 by a pulsed laser deposition method.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2009Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Issei Satoh, Michimasa Miyanaga, Shinsuke Fujiwara, Hideaki Nakahata
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Patent number: 8349714Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to align the plane orientations of crystal grains of a semiconductor film crystallized by irradiation with a linear laser beam with a width of less than or equal to 5 ?m. By performing irradiation with the linear laser beam condensed by an aspheric cylindrical lens or a gradient index lens to completely melt the semiconductor film and scanning the linear laser beam, the completely melted semiconductor film is made to grow laterally. Because the linear beam is very narrow, the width of the semiconductor which is in a liquid state is also narrow, so the occurrence of turbulent flow in the liquid semiconductor is suppressed. Therefore, growth directions of adjacent crystal grains do not become disordered due to turbulent flow and are unformalized, and thus the plane orientations of the laterally grown crystal grains can be aligned.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2008Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Tomoaki Moriwaka, Takatsugu Omata, Junpei Momo
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Publication number: 20130005123Abstract: A laser annealing method for executing laser annealing by irradiating a semiconductor film formed on a surface of a substrate with a laser beam, the method including the steps of, generating a linearly polarized rectangular laser beam whose cross section perpendicular to an advancing direction is a rectangle with an electric field directed toward a long-side direction of the rectangle or an elliptically polarized rectangular laser beam having a major axis directed toward a long-side direction, causing the rectangular laser beam to be introduced to the surface of the substrate, and setting a wavelength of the rectangular laser beam to a length which is about a desired size of a crystal grain in a standing wave direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.Inventors: Ryusuke KAWAKAMI, Kenichirou NISHIDA, Norihito KAWAGUCHI, Miyuki MASAKI, Atsushi YOSHINOUCHI
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Publication number: 20120329255Abstract: A method of forming a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device includes forming an electrode on a substrate. The method includes forming a structural layer on the substrate. The structural layer is disposed about a perimeter of the electrode and has a residual film stress gradient. The method includes releasing the structural layer to form a resonator coupled to the substrate. The residual film stress gradient deflects a first portion of the resonator out of a plane defined by a surface of the electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Inventors: Emmanuel P. Quevy, David H. Bernstein, Mehrnaz Motiee
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Patent number: 8338278Abstract: To form a semiconductor film with a thickness of 50 nm or less, which includes a large grain crystal by totally melting the semiconductor film with a laser beam. A projection having a triangular cross section is formed on the surface of a semiconductor film. The shape of the projection is a conical shape or a triangular prismatic shape. A laser beam which has entered a projection of the semiconductor film travels toward a substrate while being greatly refracted and totally reflected at the interface between the projection and the air. Further, since the laser beam enters the semiconductor film from a projection, the laser beam which is incident on the interface between an insulating film and a semiconductor is very likely totally reflected. Thus, when a laser beam enters a semiconductor film from a projection, the time during which the laser beam propagates through the semiconductor film is longer, which can increase the absorptance of the semiconductor film.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Takatsugu Omata
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Patent number: 8329520Abstract: An island-shaped single crystal semiconductor layer whose top surface has a plane within ±10° from a {211} plane is formed on an insulating surface; a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer is formed in contact with the top surface and a side surface of the single crystal semiconductor layer and on the insulating surface; the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer is irradiated with laser light to melt the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer, and to crystallize the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer formed on the insulating surface with use of the single crystal semiconductor layer as a seed crystal, so that a crystalline semiconductor layer is formed. A semiconductor device having an n-channel transistor and a p-channel transistor formed with use of the crystalline semiconductor layer is provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Akiharu Miyanaga, Masahiro Takahashi, Takuya Hirohashi
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Patent number: 8329600Abstract: A method, system and scan lens for use therein are provided for high-speed, laser-based, precise laser trimming at least one electrical element along a trim path. The method includes generating a pulsed laser output with a laser, the output having one or more laser pulses at a repetition rate. A fast rise/fall time, pulse-shaped q-switched laser or an ultra-fast laser may be used. Beam shaping optics may be used to generate a flat-top beam profile. Each laser pulse has a pulse energy, a laser wavelength within a range of laser wavelengths, and a pulse duration. The wavelength is short enough to produce desired short-wavelength benefits of small spot size, tight tolerance, high absorption and reduced or eliminated heat-affected zone (HAZ) along the trim path, but not so short so as to cause microcracking. In this way, resistance drift after the trimming process is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2009Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: GSI Group CorporationInventors: Bo Gu, Jonathan S. Ehrmann, Joseph V. Lento, Bruce L. Couch, Yun Fee Chu, Shepard D. Johnson
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Publication number: 20120309140Abstract: A crystalline silicon thin film is formed by irradiating a silicon thin film with a laser beam. The laser beam is a continuous wave laser beam. An intensity distribution of the laser beam in a first region about a center of the intensity distribution is symmetric on an anterior side and a posterior side of the center. The intensity distribution in a second region about the center is asymmetric on the anterior side and the posterior side. The first region is from the maximum intensity of the laser beam at the center to an intensity half of the maximum intensity. The second region is at most equal to the half of the maximum intensity of the laser beam. In the second region, an integral intensity value on the posterior side is larger than on the anterior side.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Tomohiko ODA, Takahiro KAWASHIMA
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Patent number: 8324530Abstract: A method for heating a wafer that has at least one layer to be heated and a sub-layer. The method includes applying at least one light flux pulse to the wafer for heating the at least one layer in a manner such that the absorption coefficient of the flux by the layer is low as long as the temperature of the layer to be heated is in the low temperature range (PBT) but the absorption coefficient increases significantly when the temperature of the layer enters a high temperature range (PHT). Also, a sub-layer is selected such that the absorption coefficient of the applied light flux at the selected wavelength is high in the low temperature range (PBT) and the temperature enters the high temperature range (PHT) when the sub-layer is subjected to the light flux. The application of the light flux achieves improved heating of the wafer.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: SoitecInventor: Michel Bruel
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Patent number: 8324086Abstract: An SOI substrate having a single crystal semiconductor layer the surface of which has high planarity is manufactured. A semiconductor substrate is doped with hydrogen to form a damaged region containing a large amount of hydrogen. After a single crystal semiconductor substrate and a supporting substrate are bonded to each other, the semiconductor substrate is heated to separate the single crystal semiconductor substrate in the damaged region. While a heated high-purity nitrogen gas is sprayed on a separation surface of a single crystal semiconductor layer which is separated from the single crystal semiconductor substrate and irradiation with a microwave is performed from the back side of the supporting substrate, the separation surface is irradiated with a laser beam. The single crystal semiconductor layer is melted by irradiation with the laser beam, so that the surface of the single crystal semiconductor layer is planarized and re-single-crystallization thereof is performed.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihisa Shimomura, Naoki Tsukamoto
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Patent number: 8318536Abstract: A method, comprises drilling a set of one or more microvias in a semiconductor package with an aperture, wherein drilling the set of microvias comprises to use an aperture that has a phase shift region to reduce a spot size of a drilling beam that is used to form the set of microvias.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2007Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Yonggang Li
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Patent number: 8318575Abstract: In one embodiment a method of forming a compressive polycrystalline semiconductive material layer is disclosed. The method comprises forming a polycrystalline semiconductive seed layer over a substrate and forming a silicon layer by depositing silicon directly on the polycrystalline silicon seed layer under amorphous process conditions at a temperature below 600 C.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2011Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Wolfgang Lehnert, Stefan Pompl, Markus Meyer
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Publication number: 20120295426Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit with at least one p-FinFET device and at least one n-FinFET device. The method includes bonding a first silicon layer having a first crystalline orientation to a second silicon layer having a second crystalline orientation that is different from the first crystalline orientation. A first plurality of fins and a second plurality of fins are created. A spacer is formed around each fin in the first plurality of fins and second plurality of fins. A set of regions of the second layer between each fin in the first plurality of fins and the second plurality of fins are recessed to form a base with exposed sidewalls under each fin in the first plurality of fins and the second plurality of fins. The base under each fin and a set of exposed regions between each fin is oxidized.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Guy M. COHEN, Katherine L. SAENGER
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Patent number: 8314360Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for processing a substrate having an upper surface that includes a central region, a peripheral region, and an edge adjacent to the peripheral region. An image having an intensity sufficient to effect thermal processing of the substrate is scanned across the upper surface of the substrate. The image scanning geometry allows processing the central region of the substrate at a substantially uniform temperature without damaging the outer edge. In some instances, the image may be formed from a beam traveling over at least a portion of the central region so that no portion thereof directly illuminates any portion of the edge when the image is scanned across the periphery region. The substrate may be rotated 180° or the beam direction may be switched after part of the scanning operation has been completed.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2011Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Ultratech, Inc.Inventors: Boris Grek, David A. Markle
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Patent number: 8309474Abstract: Systems and methods for performing ultrafast laser annealing in a manner that reduces pattern density effects in integrated circuit manufacturing are disclosed. The method includes scanning at least one first laser beam over the patterned surface of a substrate. The at least one first laser beam is configured to heat the patterned surface to a non-melt temperature Tnonmelt that is within about 400° C. of the melt temperature Tmelt. The method also includes scanning at least one second laser beam over the patterned surface and relative to the first laser beam. The at least one second laser beam is pulsed and is configured to heat the patterned surface from the non-melt temperature provided by the at least one first laser beam up to the melt temperature.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Ultratech, Inc.Inventors: Yun Wang, Andrew M. Hawryluk
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Patent number: 8309443Abstract: It is an object to achieve continuous crystal growth without optical interference using a compact laser irradiation apparatus. A megahertz laser beam is split and combined to crystallize a semiconductor film. At this point of time, an optical path difference is provided between the split beams to reduce optical interference. The optical path difference is set to have a length equivalent to the pulse width of the megahertz laser beam or more and less than a length equivalent to the pulse repetition interval; thus, optical interference can be suppressed with a very short optical path difference. Therefore, laser beams can be applied continuously and efficiently without energy deterioration.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2009Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Hirotada Oishi
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Patent number: 8294158Abstract: A thin film transistor (TFT) includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate and including source and drain regions, each having a first metal catalyst crystallization region and a second metal catalyst crystallization region, and a channel region having the second metal catalyst crystallization region, a gate electrode disposed in a position corresponding to the channel region of the semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer interposed between the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode to electrically insulate the semiconductor layer from the gate electrode, and source and drain electrodes electrically insulated from the gate electrode and electrically connected to the source and drain regions, respectively. An OLED display device includes the thin film transistor and a first electrode, an organic layer, and a second electrode electrically connected to the source and drain electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Byoung-Keon Park, Jin-Wook Seo, Tae-Hoon Yang, Kil-Won Lee, Dong-Hyun Lee, Maxim Lisachenko, Ki-Yong Lee
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Patent number: 8293627Abstract: The described system relates to a method for forming a layer of a mono-crystalline semiconductor material on a substrate, comprising providing a substrate, growing epitaxially a template comprising at least one monolayer of a semiconductor material on the substrate, thereafter depositing an amorphous layer of the semiconductor material on the template; performing a thermal treatment or a laser anneal, thereby converting substantially all of the amorphous layer of the semiconductor material into a mono-crystalline layer of the semiconductor material. According to an embodiment, the semiconductor material is Ge and the substrate is a Si substrate. The template is preferably a few monolayers thick.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: IMECInventor: Ruben Lieten
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Patent number: 8293626Abstract: It is an object to provide a homogeneous semiconductor film in which variation in the size of crystal grains is reduced. Alternatively, it is an object to provide a homogeneous semiconductor film and to achieve cost reduction. By introducing a glass substrate over which an amorphous semiconductor film is formed into a treatment atmosphere set at more than or equal to a temperature that is needed for crystallization, rapid heating due to heat conduction from the treatment atmosphere is performed so that the amorphous semiconductor film is crystallized. More specifically, for example, after the temperature of the treatment atmosphere is increased in advance to a temperature that is needed for crystallization, the substrate over which the semiconductor film is formed is put into the treatment atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideto Ohnuma, Naoki Okuno
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Patent number: 8288196Abstract: A process for fabricating a silicon-based thin-film photovoltaic cell, applicable for example in the energy generation field. The fabrication process includes a) depositing a p-doped or n-doped amorphous silicon film, the X-ray diffraction spectrum of which has a line centered at 28° that has a mid-height width, denoted by a, such that 4.7°?a<6.0°, on a substrate.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2009Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies AlternativesInventors: Cedric Ducros, Frederic Sanchette, Christophe Secouard
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Publication number: 20120256185Abstract: The semiconductor device (100A) of the present invention includes an insulating substrate (11), and a first and a second thin film transistors (10A and 10B) supported by the insulating substrate (11). The first and the second thin film transistors (10A and 10B) have respective channel regions (33a and 33b). The channel region (33a) of the first thin film transistor (10A) is formed in a first crystalline semiconductor layer (30A) having a first average grain diameter. The channel region (33b) of the second thin film transistor (10B) is formed in a second crystalline semiconductor layer (30B) having a second average grain diameter which is smaller than the first average grain diameter. The thickness of the first crystalline semiconductor layer (30A) is larger than the thickness of the second crystalline semiconductor layer (30B).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2010Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yoshinobu Nakamura
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Patent number: 8278739Abstract: A method for manufacturing is: forming an insulating film over a substrate; forming an amorphous semiconductor film over the insulating film; forming over the amorphous semiconductor film, a silicon nitride film in which a film thickness is equal to or more than 200 nm and equal to or less than 1000 nm, equal to or less than 10 atomic % of oxygen is included, and a relative proportion of nitrogen to silicon is equal to or more than 1.3 and equal to or less than 1.5; irradiating the amorphous semiconductor film with a continuous-wave laser light or a laser light with repetition rate of equal to or more than the wave length of 10 MHz transmitting the silicon nitride film to melt and later crystallize the amorphous semiconductor film to form a crystalline semiconductor film.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2007Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tomoaki Moriwaka
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Patent number: 8273644Abstract: A soldering method of soldering first and second members includes shooting a laser light to at least one part of an outer peripheral portion surrounding a soldering-target region of the first member thereby to form an oxide film, and bonding the second member with the soldering-target region through a solder. According to the method, the solder resist is never exfoliated even after cleaning with chemicals for removing flux residues contained in solder.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2008Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazunaga Onishi, Yoshitaka Nishimura, Tatsuo Nishizawa, Eiji Mochizuki
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Patent number: 8258050Abstract: A method of making a crystalline semiconductor structure provides a photonic device by employing low thermal budget annealing process. The method includes annealing a non-single crystal semiconductor film formed on a substrate to form a polycrystalline layer that includes a transition region adjacent to a surface of the film and a relatively thicker columnar region between the transition region and the substrate. The transition region includes small grains with random grain boundaries. The columnar region includes relatively larger columnar grains with substantially parallel grain boundaries that are substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The method further includes etching the surface to expose the columnar region having an irregular serrated surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Hans S. Cho, Theodore I. Kamins
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Patent number: 8247317Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods of solid phase recrystallization of thin film using a plurality of pulses of electromagnetic energy. In one embodiment, the methods of the present invention may be used to anneal an entire substrate surface or selected regions of a surface of a substrate by delivering a plurality of pluses of energy to a crystalline seed region or layer upon which an amorphous layer is deposited to recrystallize the amorphous layer so that it has the same grain structure and crystal orientation as that of the underlying crystalline seed region or layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2010Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Moffatt, Aaron Muir Hunter, Bruce E. Adams
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Publication number: 20120205659Abstract: An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a substrate, a thin film transistor, a reflective layer, and an organic emission device. The thin film transistor includes an active layer patterned on the substrate at a predetermined interval, a gate electrode, and source/drain electrodes. The reflective layer is between the substrate and the active layer. The organic emission device has sequentially stacked therein a pixel electrode electrically connected to the TFT, an intermediate layer including an emission layer, and an opposing electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2011Publication date: August 16, 2012Inventor: Kwon-Hyung LEE
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Patent number: 8242002Abstract: A layer including a semiconductor film is formed over a glass substrate and is heated. A thermal expansion coefficient of the glass substrate is greater than 6×10?7/° C. and less than or equal to 38×10?7/° C. The heated layer including the semiconductor film is irradiated with a pulsed ultraviolet laser beam having a width of less than or equal to 100 ?m, a ratio of width to length of 1:500 or more, and a full width at half maximum of the laser beam profile of less than or equal to 50 ?m, so that a crystalline semiconductor film is formed. As the layer including the semiconductor film formed over the glass substrate, a layer whose total stress after heating is ?500 N/m to +50 N/m, inclusive is formed.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2011Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihisa Shimomura, Hidekazu Miyairi, Yasuhiro Jinbo
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Patent number: 8236603Abstract: A semiconductor structure may include a polycrystalline substrate comprising a metal, the polycrystalline substrate having substantially randomly oriented grains, as well as a buffer layer disposed thereover. The buffer layer may comprise a plurality of islands having an average island spacing therebetween. A polycrystalline semiconductor layer is disposed over the buffer layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2009Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignees: Solexant Corp., Rochester Institute of TechnologyInventors: Leslie G. Fritzemeier, Ryne P. Raffaelle, Christopher Leitz
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Publication number: 20120196395Abstract: A method for crystallizing a thin film A gate insulating film formed on a substrate so as to cover a gate electrode. A light absorption layer is formed thereon through a buffer layer. Energy lines Lh are applied to the light absorption layer from a continuous-wave laser such as a semiconductor laser. This anneals only a surface side of the light absorption layer Lh and produces a crystalline silicon film obtained by crystallizing the amorphous silicon film using heat generated by thermal conversion of the energy lines Lh at the light absorption layer and heat of the annealing reaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2012Publication date: August 2, 2012Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Nobuhiko UMEZU, Koichi TSUKIHARA, Goh MATSUNOBU, Yoshio INAGAKI, Koichi TATSUKI, Shin HOTTA, Katsuya SHIRAI
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Patent number: 8227326Abstract: A crystallization method, a method of manufacturing a thin-film transistor, and a method of manufacturing a display device are provided. The crystallization method includes: forming a backup amorphous silicon layer on a substrate, forming nickel particles on the backup amorphous silicon layer, converting the backup amorphous silicon layer into an amorphous silicon layer by thermally processing the backup amorphous silicon layer so as to diffuse the nickel particles throughout said backup amorphous silicon layer; and irradiating the amorphous silicon layer with energy from a laser.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kwang-Hae Kim, Moo-Jin Kim
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Patent number: 8222126Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser irradiation apparatus being able to irradiate the irradiation object with the laser beam having homogeneous energy density without complicating the optical system. The laser irradiation apparatus of the present invention comprises a laser oscillator, an optical system for scanning repeatedly a beam spot of the laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator in a uniaxial direction over the surface of the irradiation object, and a position controlling means for moving the position of the irradiation object relative to the laser beam in a direction perpendicular to the uniaxial direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2010Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Yoshiaki Yamamoto
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Patent number: 8216892Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing a crystalline semiconductor film. An insulating film is formed over a substrate; an amorphous semiconductor film is formed over the insulating film; a cap film is formed over the amorphous semiconductor film; the amorphous semiconductor film is scanned and irradiated with a continuous wave laser beam or a laser beam with a repetition rate of greater than or equal to 10 MHz, through the cap film; and the amorphous semiconductor film is melted and crystallized At this time, an energy distribution in a length direction and a width direction in a laser beam spot is a Gaussian distribution, and the amorphous semiconductor film is scanned with the laser beam so as to be irradiated with the laser beam for a period of greater than or equal to 5 microseconds and less than or equal to 100 microseconds per region.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoaki Moriwaka, Koichiro Tanaka
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Publication number: 20120171795Abstract: A method of performing irradiation of laser light is given as a method of crystallizing a semiconductor film. However, if laser light is irradiated to a semiconductor film, the semiconductor film is instantaneously melted and expands locally. The temperature gradient between a substrate and the semiconductor film is precipitous, distortions may develop in the semiconductor film. Thus, the film quality of the crystalline semiconductor film obtained will drop in some cases. With the present invention, distortions of the semiconductor film are reduced by heating the semiconductor film using a heat treatment process after performing crystallization of the semiconductor film using laser light. Compared to the localized heating due to the irradiation of laser light, the heat treatment process is performed over the entire substrate and semiconductor film. Therefore, it is possible to reduce distortions formed in the semiconductor film and to increase the physical properties of the semiconductor film.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2012Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Toru Mitsuki, Tamae Takano
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Method of processing substrate and method of manufacturing substrate for use in liquid ejection head
Patent number: 8211719Abstract: A substrate processing method includes preparing a substrate, a first mask adjacent to a first surface of the substrate and including a first light transmitting portion allowing light to be transmitted therethrough, a condenser adjacent to the first surface, a second mask including a second light transmitting portion, and a photo detecting member including a photo detecting portion detecting light having passed through the second light transmitting portion, the condenser condensing light having passed through the first light transmitting portion toward the second light transmitting portion, the second light transmitting portion allowing the light condensed by the condenser to be transmitted therethrough, and forming a recess in the substrate by laser beam irradiation from a direction opposite to the first surface. When an intensity of the laser beam detected by the photo detecting portion is at or above a specific intensity, the irradiation of the laser beam is stopped.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Morimoto, Masahiko Kubota -
Patent number: 8207050Abstract: A crystallization method includes providing a substrate having a silicon thin film; positioning a laser mask having first to fourth blocks on the substrate, each block having a periodic pattern including a plurality of transmitting regions and a blocking region; and crystallizing the silicon thin film by irradiating a laser beam through the laser mask. A polycrystalline silicon film crystallized by this method is substantially free from a shot mark, and has uniform crystalline characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2011Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.Inventor: JaeSung You
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Patent number: 8207055Abstract: A method for generating an electrode layer pattern in an organic functional device (101; 201) comprising a first transparent electrode layer (103; 203), a second electrode layer (104; 204) and an organic functional layer (102; 202) sandwiched between said first and second electrode layers (103, 104; 203, 204). The method comprises the steps of arranging (601) a laser (704; 804) to irradiate said organic functional device (701; 801) through said first transparent electrode layer (103; 203), selecting (602) a set of laser parameters in order to enable said laser (704; 804) to locally modify an electric conductivity of said second electrode layer (104; 204), and locally modifying, by said laser (704; 804) in accordance with said set of laser parameters, the electric conductivity of said second electrode layer (104; 204), thereby generating said electrode layer pattern.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2006Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Michael Büchel, Ivar Jacco Boerefijn, Edward Willem Albert Young, Adrianus Sempel