Patent ID: 8138066

Claim:
A method for removing dislocations from a semiconductor device, comprising: directing a light-emitting beam locally onto a surface portion of a semiconductor body that includes active regions of the semiconductor device; and manipulating a plurality of dislocations located proximate to the surface portion of the semiconductor body utilizing the light-emitting beam, the light-emitting beam being characterized as having a scan speed; wherein manipulating the plurality of dislocations comprises directly scanning the plurality of dislocations with the light-emitting beam to drive the plurality of dislocations away from the surface portion of the semiconductor body and into a buried oxide layer, the buried oxide layer is disposed as a continuous and uninterrupted layer below the semiconductor body including the active regions and below silicon trench isolation regions disposed adjacent to the active regions, and the scanning enabling the elimination of the plurality of dislocations from the surface portion of the semiconductor body.