Utilizing Wave Energy (e.g., Laser, Electron Beam, Etc.) Patents (Class 438/487)
  • Patent number: 8017507
    Abstract: A TFT and the like capable of realizing performances such as a low threshold voltage value, high carrier mobility and a low leak current easily. A TFT consists of a polycrystalline Si film having a small heat capacity part and a large heat capacity part, and the small heat capacity part is used at least as a channel part. The polycrystalline Si film is formed of a crystal grain film through laser annealing of an energy density with which the small heat capacity part melts completely but the large heat capacity part does not melt completely. Since the channel part is formed of large crystal grains grown from the boundaries between the small heat capacity part and the large heat capacity parts, it is possible to realize performances such as a low threshold voltage value, high carrier mobility and a low leak current by using a typical laser annealing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Okumura
  • Patent number: 8012861
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to systems and methods for preparing epitaxially textured polycrystalline films. In one or more embodiments, the method for making a textured thin film includes providing a precursor film on a substrate, the film includes crystal grains having a surface texture and a non-uniform degree of texture throughout the thickness of the film, wherein at least a portion of the this substrate is transparent to laser irradiation; and irradiating the textured precursor film through the substrate using a pulsed laser crystallization technique at least partially melt the film wherein the irradiated film crystallizes upon cooling to form crystal grains having a uniform degree of texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventor: James S. Im
  • Patent number: 8008172
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a pattern having trenches on a semiconductor substrate; forming a semiconductor layer on the semiconductor device that fills the trenches; planarizing the semiconductor layer using a first planarization process without exposing the pattern; performing an epitaxy growth process on the first planarized semiconductor layer to form a crystalline semiconductor layer; and planarizing the crystalline semiconductor layer until the pattern is exposed to form a crystalline semiconductor pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Heun Lim, Chang-Ki Hong, Bo-Un Yoon, Seong-Kyu Yun, Suk-Hun Choi, Sang-Yeob Han
  • Patent number: 8008156
    Abstract: A method for making a nitride read only memory device with buried diffusion spacers is disclosed. An oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) layer is formed on top of a silicon substrate, and a polysilicon gate is formed over the ONO layer. The polysilicon gate is formed less than a length of the ONO layer. Two buried diffusion spacers are formed beside two sidewalls of the polysilicon gate and over the ONO layer. Two buried diffusion regions are implanted on the silicon substrate next to the two buried diffusion spacers. The two buried diffusion regions are then annealed such that the approximate interfaces of the buried diffusion regions are under the sidewalls of the polysilicon gate. The structure of a nitride read only memory device with buried diffusion spacers is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien Hung Liu
  • Publication number: 20110207303
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a semiconductor device are provided. In the methods, first material layers and second material layers may be alternatingly and repeatedly stacked on a substrate. An opening penetrating the first material layers and the second material layers may be formed. A semiconductor solution may be formed in the opening by using a spin-on process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Jin Ha Jeong, Jung Ho Kim, Kihyun Hwang, Yong-Hoon Son
  • Publication number: 20110207304
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device include alternatingly and repeatedly stacking sacrificial layers and first insulating layers on a substrate, forming an opening penetrating the sacrificial layers and the first insulating layers, and forming a spacer on a sidewall of the opening, wherein a bottom surface of the opening is free of the spacer. A semiconductor layer is formed in the opening. Related devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Jung Ho Kim, Kihyun Hwang, Sangryol Yang, Yong-Hoon Sang, Ju-Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 8003510
    Abstract: Fabrication methods for nano-scale chalcopyritic powders and polymeric thin-film solar cells are presented. The fabrication method for nano-scale chalcopyritic powders includes providing a solution consisting of group IB, IIIA, VIA elements on the chemistry periodic table or combinations thereof. The solution is heated by a microwave generator. The solution is washed and filtered by a washing agent. The solution is subsequently dried, thereby acquiring nano-scale chalcopyritic powders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Bing-Joe Hwang, Hsuan-Fu Wang, Chih-Chung Wu, Shih-Hong Chang
  • Patent number: 8003499
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for constantly setting the energy distribution of a laser beam on an irradiating face, and uniformly irradiating the laser beam to the entire irradiating face. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including this laser irradiating method in a process. Therefore, the present invention is characterized in that the shapes of plural laser beams on the irradiating face are formed by an optical system in an elliptical shape or a rectangular shape, and the plural laser beams are irradiated while the irradiating face is moved in a first direction, and the plural laser beams are irradiated while the irradiating face is moved in a second direction and is moved in a direction reverse to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20110198608
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a thin film transistor and a thin film diode on a same substrate. A semiconductor layer (109) of the thin film transistor and a semiconductor layer (110) of the thin film diode are crystalline semiconductor layers formed by crystallizing the same non-crystalline semiconductor film. The thickness of the semiconductor layer (110) of the thin film diode is greater than the thickness of the semiconductor layer (109) of the thin film transistor, and the surface of the semiconductor layer (110) of the thin film diode is rougher than the surface of the semiconductor layer (109) of the thin film transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Yamanaka, Hiroshi Nakatsuji, Naoki Makita
  • Publication number: 20110201183
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki MORIWAKA, Koichiro TANAKA
  • Patent number: 7998846
    Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication system and method are presented. A three dimensional multilayer integrated circuit fabrication method can include forming a first device layer and forming a second device layer on top of the first device layer with minimal detrimental heat transfer to the first layer by utilizing a controlled laser layer formation annealing process. A controlled laser crystallization process can be utilized and the controlled laser can include creating an amorphous layer; defining a crystallization area in the amorphous layer, where in the crystallization area is defined to promote single crystal growth (i.e. prevent multi-crystalline growth); and applying laser to the crystallization area, wherein the laser is applied in a manner that prevents undesired heat transfer to another layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Eunha Kim, Jeremy Wahl, Shenqing Fang, YouSeok Suh, Kuo-Tung Chang, Yi Ma, Rinji Sugino, Jean Yang
  • Patent number: 7998845
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device in which a semiconductor film having a leveled main surface is used as an active layer. A semiconductor film (5) having the leveled main surface with an rms of less than 10 nm and a P-V value of less than 70 nm which each indicate a surface roughness is formed by crystallizing a silicon film (3) containing germanium in a concentration of several %, preferably 0.1 to 10 atoms % and irradiating the film with a laser light. In a case of performing a crystallization by use of a metal element for accelerating the crystallization. The semiconductor film high in an orientation rate of the crystal as well as in levelness is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kasahara, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7998841
    Abstract: A dehydrogenation treatment method which includes forming a hydrogenated amorphous silicon film above a non-heat-resistant substrate, and eliminating bonded hydrogen from the hydrogenated amorphous silicon film by irradiating an atmospheric thermal plasma discharge to the hydrogenated amorphous silicon film for a time period of 1 to 500 ms. The surface of the substrate is heated at a temperature of 1000 to 2000° C. by irradiating the atmospheric thermal plasma discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced LCD Technologies Development Center Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Azuma, Hajime Shirai
  • Patent number: 7994029
    Abstract: A method for patterning crystalline indium tin oxide (ITO) using femtosecond laser is disclosed, which comprises steps of: (a) providing a substrate with an amorphous ITO layer thereon; (b) transferring the amorphous ITO layer in a predetermined area into a crystalline ITO layer by emitting a femtosecond laser beam to the amorphous ITO layer in the predetermined area; and (c) removing the amorphous ITO layer on the substrate using an etching solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Chung-Wei Cheng, Costas P. Grigoropoulos, David Jen Hwang, Moosung Kim
  • Patent number: 7994030
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Aoki, Daiki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20110186851
    Abstract: Memory devices include a stack of interleaved conductive patterns and insulating patterns disposed on a substrate. A semiconductor pattern passes through the stack of conductive patterns and insulating patterns to contact the substrate, the semiconductor pattern having a graded grain size distribution wherein a mean grain size in a first portion of the semiconductor pattern proximate the substrate is less than a mean grain size in a second portion of the semiconductor pattern further removed from the substrate. The graded grain size distribution may be achieved, for example, by partial laser annealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Yong-Hoon Son, Myoungbum Lee, Kihyun Hwang
  • Publication number: 20110186854
    Abstract: High throughput systems and processes for recrystallizing thin film semiconductors that have been deposited at low temperatures on a substrate are provided. A thin film semiconductor workpiece (170) is irradiated with a laser beam (164) to melt and recrystallize target areas of the surface exposed to the laser beam. The laser beam is shaped into one or more beamlets using patterning masks (150). The mask patterns have suitable dimensions and orientations to pattern the laser beam radiation so that the areas targeted by the beamlets have dimensions and orientations that are conducive to semiconductor recrystallization. The workpiece is mechanically translated along linear paths relative to the laser beam to process the entire surface of the work piece at high speeds. Position sensitive triggering of a laser can be used generate laser beam pulses to melt and recrystallize semiconductor material at precise locations on the surface of the workpiece while it is translated on a motorized stage (180).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: James S. Im
  • Publication number: 20110183502
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed of making linear and cross-linked, HMW (high molecular weight) polysilanes and polygermanes, polyperhydrosilanes and polyperhydrogermanes, functional liquids containing the same, and methods of using the liquids in a range of desirable applications. The silane and germane polymers are generally composed of chains of Si and/or Ge substituted with R? substituents, where each instance of R? is, for example, independently hydrogen, halogen, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydrocarbyl, aromatic hydrocarbyl, heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbyl, SiR?3, GeR?3, PR?2, OR?, NR?2, or SR?; where each instance of R? is independently hydrogen or hydrocarbyl. The cross-linked polymers can be synthesized by dehalogenative coupling or dehydrocoupling. The linear polymers can be synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. The polymers can be further modified by halogenation and/or reaction with the source of hydride to furnish perhydrosilane and perhydrogermane polymers, which are used in liquid ink formulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Vladimir K. DIOUMAEV
  • Patent number: 7985635
    Abstract: A laser annealing process for recovering crystallinity of a deposited semiconductor film such as of silicon which had undergone morphological damage, said process comprising activating the semiconductor by irradiating a pulsed laser beam operating at a wavelength of 400 nm or less and at a pulse width of 50 nsec or less onto the surface of the film, wherein, said deposited film is coated with a transparent film such as a silicon oxide film at a thickness of from 3 to 300 nm, and the laser beam incident to said coating is applied at an energy density E (mJ/cm2) provided that it satisfies the relation: log10 N??0.02(E?350), where N is the number of shots of the pulsed laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hongyong Zhang, Hiroaki Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7985665
    Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a polycrystalline silicon thin film with improved electrical characteristics. The method includes forming an amorphous silicon thin film on a substrate, partially melting a portion of the amorphous silicon thin film by irradiating the portion of the amorphous silicon thin film with a laser beam having a low energy density, forming polycrystalline silicon grains with a predetermined crystalline arrangement by crystallizing the partially molten portion of the amorphous silicon thin film, completely melting a portion of the polycrystalline silicon grains and a portion of the amorphous silicon thin film by irradiation of a laser beam having a high energy density while repeatedly moving the substrate by a predetermined distance, and growing the polycrystalline silicon grains by crystallizing the completely molten silicon homogeneously with the predetermined crystalline arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-byum Kim, Se-jin Chung
  • Patent number: 7981701
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor thin film includes a highly sensitive inspection method for detecting lateral crystals and a crystallizing method. In the crystallizing method, the time-based pulse width of a laser SXL is modulated and an approximate band-like crystal silicon film SPSI is formed in a desired region while scanning the substrate SUB1 bidirectionally in the X and ?X directions. In the inspection method, an inspection beam PRO1 is irradiated to the substrate just after the laser SXL is turned off. A protrusion TOKI will be formed on the silicon film portion where the laser SXL is turned off if the state of the silicon film is that of a lateral crystal SPSI. The inspection beam PRO1 is scattered by the protrusion TOKI and observed by a detector. If the state of the silicon film is granular crystal GGSI or aggregated film AGSI, such a protrusion TOKI is not observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mutsuko Hatano, Shinya Yamaguchi, Mikio Hongo, Akio Yazaki, Takeshi Noda
  • Patent number: 7981778
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for converting a doped amorphous silicon layer deposited onto a crystalline silicon substrate into crystalline silicon having the same grain structure and crystal orientation as the underlying crystalline silicon substrate upon which the amorphous silicon was initially deposited. Additional embodiments of the present invention provide depositing a dielectric passivation layer onto the amorphous silicon layer prior to the conversion. A temperature gradient is provided at a temperature and for a time period sufficient to provide a desired p-n junction depth and dopant profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Virendra V. Rana, Robert Z. Bachrach
  • Patent number: 7981733
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is obtaining a semiconductor film with uniform characteristics by improving irradiation variations of the semiconductor film. The irradiation variations are generated due to scanning while irradiating with a linear laser beam of the pulse emission. At a laser crystallization step of irradiating a semiconductor film with a laser light, a continuous light emission excimer laser emission device is used as a laser light source. For example, in a method of fabricating an active matrix type liquid crystal display device, a continuous light emission excimer laser beam is irradiated to a semiconductor film, which is processed to be a linear shape, while scanning in a vertical direction to the linear direction. Therefore, more uniform crystallization can be performed because irradiation marks can be avoided by a conventional pulse laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Koichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7977217
    Abstract: A method of crystallizing silicon including preparing a substrate having an amorphous silicon film formed thereon, aligning a mask having a first energy region and a second energy region over a first region of the amorphous silicon film formed on the substrate, irradiating a laser beam through the first and second energy regions of the mask onto the first region of the amorphous silicon film, crystallizing the first region of the amorphous silicon film by irradiating the laser beam through the first energy region of the mask, and activating the crystallized first region by irradiating the laser beam through the second energy region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: JaeSung You
  • Patent number: 7972943
    Abstract: A cap film is formed over semiconductor films formed over an insulating substrate; the semiconductor films are irradiated with a laser beam which is capable of completely melting the semiconductor film in a film-thickness direction to completely melt the semiconductor film. By controlling the laser beam, a crystalline semiconductor films are formed over the substrate, in each of which orientations of crystal planes are controlled. In addition, an n-channel thin film transistor is formed using a crystalline region in which crystal planes are oriented along {001} and a p-channel thin film transistor is formed using a crystalline region in which crystal planes are oriented along {211} or {101}.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Moriwaka
  • Publication number: 20110151601
    Abstract: A crystallization method, a method of manufacturing a thin-film transistor, and a method of manufacturing a display device are provided. The crystallization method comprises: 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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwang-Hae Kim, Moo-Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 7964480
    Abstract: A method of processing a polycrystalline film on a substrate includes generating laser pulses, directing the laser pulses through a mask to generate patterned laser beams, each having a length l?, a width w?, and a spacing between adjacent beams d?; irradiating a region of the film with the patterned beams, said beams having an intensity sufficient to melt and to induce crystallization of the irradiated portion of the film, wherein the film region is irradiated n times; and after irradiation of each film portion, translating the film and/or the mask, in the x- and y-directions. The distance of translation in the y-direction is about l?/n-?, where ? is a value selected to overlap the beamlets from one irradiation step to the next. The distance of translation in the x-direction is selected such that the film is moved a distance of about ?? after n irradiations, where ??=w?+d?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: James S. Im, Paul C. Van Der Wilt
  • Patent number: 7960262
    Abstract: To provide a low-cost high performance semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device, a separate single-crystal semiconductor layer having a first region and a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer having a second region are provided over a substrate. Further, it is preferable that a cap film is formed over either the separate single-crystal semiconductor layer or the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer, and the first region and the second region are irradiated with a laser beam by applying the laser beam from above the cap film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidekazu Miyairi
  • Patent number: 7960252
    Abstract: An apparatus for high-rate chemical vapor (CVD) deposition of semiconductor films comprises a reaction chamber for receiving therein a substrate and a film forming gas, a gas inlet for introducing the film forming gas into the reaction chamber, an incidence window in the reaction chamber for transmission of a laser sheet into the reaction chamber, a laser disposed outside the reaction chamber for generating the laser sheet and an antenna disposed outside the reaction chamber for generating a plasma therein. The film forming gas in the chamber is excited and decomposed by the laser sheet, which passes in parallel with the substrate along a plane spaced apart therefrom, and concurrent ionization effected by the antenna, thereby forming a dense semiconductor film on the substrate at high rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: Yung-Tin Chen
  • Patent number: 7960261
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a polycrystalline semiconductor film that can be used for a semiconductor device. In the method, an amorphous semiconductor film is irradiated with a femtosecond laser to be crystallized. By laser irradiation using a femtosecond laser, when an amorphous semiconductor film over which a cap film is formed is crystallized with a laser, it becomes possible to perform crystallization of the semiconductor film and removal of the cap film at the same time. Therefore, a step of removing the cap film in a later step can be omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takatsugu Omata
  • Patent number: 7960263
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved amorphization/templated recrystallization (ATR) method for fabricating low-defect-density hybrid orientation substrates. ATR methods for hybrid orientation substrate fabrication generally start with a Si layer having a first orientation bonded to a second Si layer or substrate having a second orientation. Selected regions of the first Si layer are amorphized and then recrystallized into the orientation of the second Si layer by using the second Si layer as a template. The process flow of the present invention solves two major difficulties not disclosed by prior art ATR methods: the creation of “corner defects” at the edges of amorphized Si regions bounded by trenches, and undesired orientation changes during a high temperature post-recrystallization defect-removal annealing of non-ATR'd regions not bounded by trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Edward Fogel, Katherine L. Saenger, Chun-Yung Sung, Haizhou Yin
  • Patent number: 7955934
    Abstract: A method for making a nitride read only memory device with buried diffusion spacers is disclosed. An oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) layer is formed on top of a silicon substrate, and a polysilicon gate is formed over the ONO layer. The polysilicon gate is formed less than a length of the ONO layer. Two buried diffusion spacers are formed beside two sidewalls of the polysilicon gate and over the ONO layer. Two buried diffusion regions are implanted on the silicon substrate next to the two buried diffusion spacers. The two buried diffusion regions are then annealed such that the approximate interfaces of the buried diffusion regions are under the sidewalls of the polysilicon gate. The structure of a nitride read only memory device with buried diffusion spacers is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien Hung Liu
  • Publication number: 20110129959
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a crystalline semiconductor layer on a substrate are provided. A semiconductor layer is formed by vapor deposition. A pulsed laser melt/recrystallization process is performed to convert the semiconductor layer to a crystalline layer. Laser, or other electromagnetic radiation, pulses are formed into a pulse train and uniformly distributed over a treatment zone, and successive neighboring treatment zones are exposed to the pulse train to progressively convert the deposited material to crystalline material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Moffatt
  • Publication number: 20110117731
    Abstract: A laser mask is disclosed. In one embodiment, the laser mask includes: a mask substrate including i) at least one light transmission portion configured to transmit light therethrough and ii) a plurality of light interruption portions separated by the light transmission portion interposed therebetween. The light interruption portions are configured to block light; and a plurality of protrusion and depression regions positioned on the light interruption portions of the mask substrate. The protrusion and depression regions comprise a plurality of concave portions and a plurality of convex portions which are alternately formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sun Park, Chun-Gi You, Jong-Hyun Park, Yul-Kyu Lee, Jin-Hee Kang
  • Patent number: 7943534
    Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method and a semiconductor device manufacturing system for irradiating a first laser light (50) and a second laser light (52) with a wavelength different from that of the first laser light to a substrate (46) to perform a thermal processing on the substrate are provided. In the step for performing the thermal processing, at least one of an irradiation intensity and an irradiation time of a first laser and a second laser is controlled to control a temperature distribution in the substrate or a film on the substrate in a depth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Phoeton Corp.
    Inventors: Akira Matsuno, Takashi Nire
  • Patent number: 7943885
    Abstract: By laser beam being slantly incident to the diffractive optics, an aberration such as astigmatism or the like is occurred, and the shape of the laser beam is made linear on the irradiation surface or in its neighborhood. Since the device has a very simple configuration, the optical adjustment is easier, and the device becomes compact in size. Furthermore, since the beam is slantly incident with respect to the irradiated body, the return beam can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Hidekazu Miyairi, Aiko Shiga, Akihisa Shimomura, Atsuo Isobe
  • Patent number: 7943533
    Abstract: A method for surface modification is disclosed. The method includes the step of irradiating a material with ultrashort pulse laser light to form a modified region including an amorphous region and/or a strain region on a surface of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20110111580
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method can include forming an amorphous layer on a portion of a first silicon substrate having a first plane orientation, and irradiating with micro wave on the amorphous layer to transform from the amorphous layer into a crystalline layer having the first plane orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Tomonori AOYAMA, Kiyotaka Miyano
  • Patent number: 7939435
    Abstract: In crystallizing an amorphous silicon film by illuminating it with linear pulse laser beams having a normal-distribution type beam profile or a similar beam profile, the linear pulse laser beams are applied in an overlapped manner. There can be obtained effects similar to those as obtained by a method in which the laser illumination power is gradually increased and then decreased in a step-like manner in plural scans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Kusumoto, Koichiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20110101364
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Venkatraman Prabhakar
  • Patent number: 7927983
    Abstract: Attenuation regions of laser light are removed or reduced in size using a slit located in the immediate vicinity of a surface to be irradiated so that a steep energy distribution is obtained in the end portions of the laser light. The reason why the slit is located in the immediate vicinity of the surface to be irradiated is to suppress the spread of the laser light. In addition, the attenuation regions of the laser light are folded by using a mirror instead of the slit to increase energy densities in the attenuation regions by one another so that a steep energy density distribution is obtained in the end portions of the laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Tomoaki Moriwaka
  • Patent number: 7927936
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: JaeSung You
  • Patent number: 7927935
    Abstract: Laser beams emitted by a plurality of laser sources are divided into a plurality of sub-beams, which are irradiated onto selected portions of an amorphous semiconductor on a substrate to crystallize the amorphous semiconductor. A difference in diverging angles between the laser beams is corrected by a beam expander. The apparatus includes a sub-beam selective irradiating system including a sub-beam dividing assembly and a sub-beam focussing assembly. Also, the apparatus includes laser sources, a focussing optical system, and a combining optical system. A stage for supporting a substrate includes a plurality of first stage members, a second stage member disposed above the first stage members, and a third stage member 38C, rotatably disposed above the second stage to support an amorphous semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Laser Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Sasaki, Tatsuya Uzuka
  • Patent number: 7923660
    Abstract: Disclosed is the method and apparatus for annealing semiconductor substrates. One embodiment provides a semiconductor processing chamber comprising a first substrate support configured to support a substrate, a second substrate support configured to support a substrate, a shuttle coupled to the first substrate support and configured to move the first substrate support between a processing zone and a first loading zone, wherein the processing zone having a processing volume configured to alternately accommodating the first substrate support and the second substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander N. Lerner, Timothy N. Thomas, Sundar Ramamurthy
  • Publication number: 20110079780
    Abstract: A method of crystallizing an amorphous semiconductor film, the method comprising the steps of: forming a gate electrode on a transparent insulating substrate; forming a gate insulating film on the transparent insulating substrate and on an upper part of the gate electrode; forming an amorphous semiconductor film on the gate insulating film; forming a light-transmissive insulating film on the amorphous semiconductor film; forming a metal film having an opening on the light-transmissive insulating film; irradiating laser light onto both a region of the light-transmissive insulating film exposed by the opening and the metal film, which is used as a mask for shielding the laser light; and performing laser annealing to make the laser light to be absorbed through the light-transmissive insulating film into a region of the amorphous semiconductor film exposed by the opening, so that the amorphous semiconductor film is heated and converted to a crystalline semiconductor film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazushi YAMAYOSHI, Toru Takeguchi, Kazutoshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 7919399
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device manufacturing method for performing an annealing process of irradiating a semiconductor film on which element forming areas including thin film transistor forming areas are arranged in a two-dimensional pattern with energy beams using a plurality of irradiating optical systems, wherein in the annealing process, an area irradiated with the energy beams is divided into a single beam irradiated area irradiated by each of the plurality of irradiating optical systems with an energy beam singly and a boundary area situated between single beam irradiated areas adjacent to each other and irradiated by both of two irradiating optical systems performing beam irradiation of the single beam irradiated areas with energy beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Arai
  • Patent number: 7919366
    Abstract: A laser crystallization method in which an amorphous silicon thin film 2 formed on a substrate 1 is irradiated with a laser beam, the method including the steps of providing the amorphous silicon thin film 2 with an absorbent to form an absorbent layer 3 on the desired specific local areas of the amorphous silicon thin film 2 and laser annealing for crystallizing the specific local areas of the amorphous silicon thin film 2 by irradiating the amorphous silicon thin film 2 including the specific local areas with a semiconductor laser beam L having a specific wavelength absorbable by the absorbent layer 3 and unabsorbable by the amorphous silicon thin film 2 for heating the absorbent layer 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignees: Osaka University, The Japan Steel Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahisa Jitsuno, Keiu Tokumura, Ryotaro Togashi, Toshio Inami, Hideaki Kusama, Tatsumi Goto
  • Publication number: 20110068342
    Abstract: A laser method is provided for minimizing variations in transistor threshold voltages. The method supplies a wafer with a laser-crystallized active semiconductor film having a top surface with a first surface roughness. The method laser anneals the active semiconductor film, and in response to the laser annealing, melts the top surface of the active semiconductor film. The result is a top surface with a second roughness, less than the first roughness. More explicitly, the wafer active semiconductor film is crystallized using a laser with a first fluence, and then laser annealed with a second fluence, less than the first fluence. As compared with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect (CMOSFET) thin-film transistor (TFT) structures formed in unprocessed regions of the active semiconductor film, the TFT threshold voltage standard deviation for TFTs in laser annealed portions of the active film are 60% less for n-channel and 30% less for p-channel TFTs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Themistokles Afentakis, Robert S. Sposili, Steven R. Droes
  • Patent number: 7910415
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a substrate; an insulating film formed thereon; a first semiconductor layer where strain is induced in the directions parallel to the surface of the substrate, the first semiconductor layer being on the insulating film; a source region and a drain region formed in the first semiconductor layer; and a gate layered body formed of a gate insulating film and a gate electrode on the first semiconductor layer is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) forming a second semiconductor layer by epitaxial growth on the first semiconductor layer; (b) heating the second semiconductor layer; and (c) removing the second semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer is different in lattice constant in an in-plane direction from the first semiconductor layer. Step (b) induces the strain in the first semiconductor layer by exposing the surface of the second semiconductor layer to energy lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Yasuyoshi Mishima
  • Patent number: 7910465
    Abstract: A surface of a single crystal semiconductor substrate is irradiated with ions to form a damaged region, an insulating layer is formed over the surface of the single crystal semiconductor substrate, and a surface of a substrate having an insulating surface is made to be in contact with a surface of the insulating layer to bond the substrate having an insulating surface to the single crystal semiconductor substrate. Then, the single crystal semiconductor substrate is separated at the damaged region by performing heat treatment to form a single crystal semiconductor layer over the substrate having an insulating surface, and the single crystal semiconductor layer is patterned to form a plurality of island-shaped semiconductor layers. One of the island-shaped semiconductor layers is irradiated with a laser beam which is shaped to entirely cover the island-shaped semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Tanaka