Patent ID: 8859436

Claim:
On a supporting substrate, a semiconductor film processed by a method comprising: (a) generating a sequence of excimer laser pulses, each having a substantially predetermined size; (b) masking portions of each laser pulse in the sequence with a mask having one or more openings to generate a sequence of pulses of beamlets the shape of which at least partially corresponds to the shape of the one or more openings; (c) irradiating a thin film sample with the sequence of pulses of the beamlets having a predetermined size to effect melting of first portions of the thin film sample corresponding to the shape of the one or more openings in the mask; (d) based on dimensions of the openings of the mask, translating at least one of the thin film sample and the excimer laser pulses relative to the other one of the thin film sample and the excimer laser pulses so as to reach a further location; and (e) after (d), irradiating second portions of the thin film sample which correspond to sections of the further location using the sequence of pulses so as to at least partially melt the second portions, wherein the second portions partially overlap the first portions.