Patent ID: 7781302
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, the method comprising: forming a mask pattern on a semiconductor substrate that contains silicon and which exposes defined regions of the semiconductor substrate; implanting oxygen ions into the defined regions of the semiconductor substrate using the mask pattern as an ion implantation mask; and annealing the oxygen ion implanted regions of the semiconductor substrate at one or more temperatures in a range to form silicon oxide substantially throughout the oxygen ion implanted regions by reacting the implanted oxygen ions with the silicon in the oxygen ion implanted regions, and to substantially prevent oxidation of the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the oxygen ion implanted regions, wherein annealing the oxygen ion implanted regions of the semiconductor substrate comprises steam annealing the oxygen ion implanted regions at one or more temperatures in a range of about 400° to about 800° C., and generating a laser beam that heats the oxygen ion implanted regions to react the implanted oxygen ions with silicon in the oxygen ion implanted regions of the semiconductor substrate, and preheating the semiconductor substrate before generating the laser beam to reduce a temperature gradient between the laser heated regions of the semiconductor substrate and peripheral regions of the semiconductor substrate.