Patent ID: 6573531
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A system for processing an amorphous silicon thin film sample into a single or polycrystalline silicon thin film, comprising:(a) an excimer laser for generating a plurality of excimer laser pulses of a predetermined fluence; (b) an energy density modulator, optically coupled to said excimer laser, for controllably modulating said fluence of said excimer laser pulses emitted by said excimer laser; (c) a beam homogenizer, optically coupled to said energy density modulator, for homogenizing said modulated laser pulses in a predetermined plane; (d) a mask, optically coupled to said beam homogenizer, for masking portions of said homogenized modulated laser pulses into patterned beamlets, (e) a sample stage, optically coupled to said mask, for receiving said patterned beamiets to effect melting of portions of any amorphous silicon thin film sample placed thereon corresponding to said beamlets; (f) translating means, coupled to one or more of the group consisting of said sample stage and said mask, for controllably translating a relative position of said sample stage with respect to a position of said mask; and (g) a computer, coupled to said excimer laser, said energy density modulator, and said translating means, for controlling said controllable fluence modulation of said excimer laser pulses and said controllable relative positions of said sample stage and said mask, and for coordinating said excimer pulse generation and said fluence modulation with said relative positions of said sample stage and said mask, to thereby process said amorphous silicon thin film sample into a single or polycrystalline silicon thin film by sequential translation of said sample stage relative to said mask and irradiation of said sample by patterned beamlets of varying fluence at corresponding sequential locations thereon.