Patent ID: 7682845

Claim:
A method for calibrating a process for growing an epitaxial silicon-comprising film, the method comprising the steps of: epitaxially growing a first silicon-comprising film on a first silicon substrate that has an adjacent non-crystalline-silicon structure that extends from said first silicon substrate, wherein the step of epitaxially growing uses hydrochloric acid provided at a first hydrochloric acid flow rate for a first time period; determining if said first silicon-comprising film is pinned relative to an adjacent structure; measuring a thickness of said first silicon-comprising film; adjusting said first hydrochloric acid flow rate to a second hydrochloric acid flow rate based on whether said first silicon-comprising film is pinned relative to said adjacent structure; adjusting said first time period to a second time period based on said second hydrochloric acid flow rate and said thickness; and epitaxially growing for said second time period a second silicon-comprising film on a second silicon substrate using said second hydrochloric acid flow rate.