Patent ID: 7071082
Filing Date: 2006-07-04
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of crystallizing an amorphous silicon film using a mask with a light absorptive portion and a plurality of stripe-shaped light transmitting portions, the method comprising; locating a substrate having an amorphous silicon film in a sequential lateral solidification (SLS) apparatus; functionally dividing the amorphous silicon film into a driving region for driving devices and a display region for thin film transistors; irradiating the driving region using a laser beam that passes through the mask such that laterally grown grains are formed in the driving region, wherein laterally grown grains form a first grain region, a second grain region, and a first middle section between the first and second grains regions; moving the mask relative to the substrate by a translation distance that is less than half the width of the light transmitting portions and such that the light transmitting portions expose a portion of the first grain region, the first middle section, and the second grain region; performing a second crystallization on the driving region such that grains formed in the first irradiation of the driving region grow by a second irradiation of the driving region; irradiating the display region using a laser beam that passes through the mask such that laterally grown grains are formed in the display region, wherein laterally grown grains form a third grain region, a fourth grain region, and a second middle section between the third and fourth grains regions; moving the mask relative to the substrate by a translation distance that is greater than half the width of the light transmitting portions and such that the light transmitting portions exposes a portion of the fourth grain region; and performing a second crystallization on the display region such that grains formed in the first irradiation of the display region grow by a second irradiation of the display region.