Systems and methods for inducing crystallization of thin films using multiple optical paths
First Claim
1. A method of processing a thin film, comprising:
- (a) generating a plurality of laser beam pulses using a laser source having energy beam characteristics;
(b) directing a first generated laser beam pulse from the laser source onto a first optical path, wherein said first optical path includes at least one optical element;
(c) modulating said energy beam characteristics of said first optical path-directed laser beam pulse via said at least one optical element of said first optical path;
(d) irradiating at least a portion of a first region of said thin film with said first optical path-directed laser beam pulse to induce melting and a subsequent crystallization of said portion of said first region;
(e) directing a second generated laser beam pulse from the same laser source onto a second optical path, wherein said second optical path includes at least one optical element;
(f) modulating said energy beam characteristics of said second optical path-directed laser beam pulse via said at least one optical element of said second optical path, wherein said energy beam characteristics of said second optical path-directed laser beam pulse is different from said energy beam characteristics of said first optical path-directed laser beam pulse; and
(g) irradiating at least a portion of a second region of said thin film with said second optical path-directed laser beam pulse to induce melting and a subsequent crystallization of said portion of said second region.
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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. An exemplary method includes generating laser beam pulses having energy beam characteristics, directing a first pulse onto a first optical path, modulating the pulse'"'"'s energy beam characteristics, and irradiating at least a portion of a first region of the thin film with the pulse to induce crystallization of the portion of the first region. The method also includes directing a second pulse onto a second optical path, modulating the pulse'"'"'s energy beam characteristics so as to be different from the energy beam characteristics of the first pulse, and irradiating at least a portion of a second region of the thin film with the second pulse to induce crystallization of the portion of the second region.
239 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of processing a thin film, comprising:
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(a) generating a plurality of laser beam pulses using a laser source having energy beam characteristics; (b) directing a first generated laser beam pulse from the laser source onto a first optical path, wherein said first optical path includes at least one optical element; (c) modulating said energy beam characteristics of said first optical path-directed laser beam pulse via said at least one optical element of said first optical path; (d) irradiating at least a portion of a first region of said thin film with said first optical path-directed laser beam pulse to induce melting and a subsequent crystallization of said portion of said first region; (e) directing a second generated laser beam pulse from the same laser source onto a second optical path, wherein said second optical path includes at least one optical element; (f) modulating said energy beam characteristics of said second optical path-directed laser beam pulse via said at least one optical element of said second optical path, wherein said energy beam characteristics of said second optical path-directed laser beam pulse is different from said energy beam characteristics of said first optical path-directed laser beam pulse; and (g) irradiating at least a portion of a second region of said thin film with said second optical path-directed laser beam pulse to induce melting and a subsequent crystallization of said portion of said second region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of processing a plurality of thin films, comprising:
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(a) generating a plurality of laser beam pulses having energy beam characteristics; (b) directing a generated laser beam pulse onto a first optical path, wherein said first optical path includes at least one optical element; (c) modulating said energy beam characteristics of said first optical path-directed laser beam pulse via said at least one optical element of said first optical path; (d) irradiating a portion of a region of a first thin film with said first optical path-directed laser beam pulse to induce melting and a subsequent crystallization of said portion of said region of said first thin film; (e) directing a generated laser beam pulse onto a second optical path, wherein said second optical element includes at least one optical element; (f) modulating said energy beam characteristics of said second optical path-directed laser beam pulse via said at least one optical element of said second optical path, wherein said energy beam characteristics of said second optical path-directed laser beam pulse is different from said energy beam characteristics of said first optical path-directed laser beam pulse; and (g) irradiating a portion of a region of a second thin film with said second optical path-directed laser beam pulse to induce melting and a subsequent crystallization of said portion of said region of said second thin film. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification