Patent ID: 6830993
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: B23K,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for reducing a surface roughness of a polycrystalline or single crystal thin film produced by the sequential lateral solidification process, comprising the steps of:(a) generating a plurality of excimer laser pulses of a predetermined fluence; (b) controllably modulating said fluence of said excimer laser pulses emitted by said excimer laser such that said fluence is below that which is required to completely melt said polycrystalline or single crystal thin film; (c) homogenizing said modulated laser pulses in a predetermined plane; (d) effecting partial melting of portions of said polycrystalline or single crystal thin film corresponding to said homogenized laser pulses; and (e) controllably translating a relative position of said polycrystalline or single crystal thin film with respect to said homogenized laser pulses to process said polycrystalline or single crystal thin film by sequential translation of said sample stage relative to said homogenized laser pulses at corresponding sequential locations thereon.