Systems and methods for inducing crystallization of thin films using multiple optical paths
First Claim
1. A system for processing a thin film, comprising:
- a beam steering element for directing laser beam pulses between at least one of a first optical path and a second optical path;
at least one first optical element for modulating energy beam characteristics of laser beam pulses directed onto said first optical path;
at least one second optical element for modulating energy beam characteristics of laser beam pulses directed onto said second optical path, wherein at least one of the first and second optical elements is selected to provide at least one energy beam characteristic of laser beam pulses directed onto said second optical path that is different than an energy beam characteristic of laser beam pulses directed onto said first optical path;
wherein said laser beam pulses directed onto said first optical path are directed to at least a portion of a first region of said thin film, and wherein said laser beam pulses directed onto said second optical path are directed to at least a portion of a second region of said thin film; and
a handling stage for controlling the position of said thin film relative to said laser beam pulses being directed via said first optical path and said second optical path, wherein said delivery of said first optical path-directed laser beam pulses and said second optical path-directed laser beam pulses to said thin film can induce melting and subsequent crystallization of said thin film.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for irradiating regions of a thin film sample(s) with laser beam pulses having different energy beam characteristics that are generated and delivered via different optical paths. Exemplary methods include the steps of generating a plurality of laser beam pulses having energy beam characteristics, directing a generated laser beam pulse onto a first optical path, modulating the energy beam characteristics of the first optical path-directed laser beam pulse, irradiating at least a portion of a first region of the thin film with the first optical path-directed laser beam pulse to induce crystallization of the portion of the first region, directing a generated laser beam pulse onto a second optical path, modulating the energy beam characteristics of the second optical path-directed laser beam pulse, wherein the energy beam characteristics of the second optical path-directed laser beam pulse is different from the energy beam characteristics of the first optical path-directed laser beam pulse, and irradiating at least a portion of a second region of the thin film with the second optical path-directed laser beam pulse to induce crystallization of the portion of the second region. An exemplary system includes a first optical path, a second optical path, a beam steering element for directing laser beam pulses onto the first optical path and the second optical path; and a handling stage for controlling the position of a thin film relative to the laser beam pulses being directed via the first and second optical paths.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for processing a thin film, comprising:
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a beam steering element for directing laser beam pulses between at least one of a first optical path and a second optical path; at least one first optical element for modulating energy beam characteristics of laser beam pulses directed onto said first optical path; at least one second optical element for modulating energy beam characteristics of laser beam pulses directed onto said second optical path, wherein at least one of the first and second optical elements is selected to provide at least one energy beam characteristic of laser beam pulses directed onto said second optical path that is different than an energy beam characteristic of laser beam pulses directed onto said first optical path; wherein said laser beam pulses directed onto said first optical path are directed to at least a portion of a first region of said thin film, and wherein said laser beam pulses directed onto said second optical path are directed to at least a portion of a second region of said thin film; and a handling stage for controlling the position of said thin film relative to said laser beam pulses being directed via said first optical path and said second optical path, wherein said delivery of said first optical path-directed laser beam pulses and said second optical path-directed laser beam pulses to said thin film can induce melting and subsequent crystallization of said thin film. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for processing a plurality of thin films, comprising:
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a beam steering element for directing laser beam pulses between at least first and second optical paths; at least one optical element for modulating energy beam characteristics of laser beam pulses directed onto said first optical path; at least one optical element for modulating energy beam characteristics of laser beam pulses directed onto said second optical path; a first handling stage for controlling the position of a thin film relative to said laser beam pulses being directed via said first optical path; a second handling stage for controlling the position of a thin film relative to said laser beam pulses being directed via said second optical path; wherein said laser beam pulses directed onto said first optical path are directed to at least a portion of a region of a thin film, and wherein said laser beam pulses directed onto said second optical path are directed to at least a portion of a region of a different thin film; and wherein said delivery of said first optical path-directed laser beam pulses and said second optical path-directed laser beam pulses to said thin film can induce melting and subsequent crystallization of said thin films. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification