IP Library Granted Patent US 8,816,351
Granted Patent B2
US 8,816,351 · App. 13/301,374 · Granted Aug 26, 2014

Semiconductor device having a laser annealed semiconductor layer

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,816,351
App. No.
13/301,374
Granted
Aug 26, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A laser annealing method includes forming a nitrogen-doped layer on a semiconductor layer, the nitrogen-doped layer having a nitrogen concentration of at least 3×10 20 atoms/cc, irradiating a first area of the nitrogen-doped layer in a low oxygen environment with a laser beam and irradiating a second area of the nitrogen-doped layer in a low oxygen environment with a laser beam, a part of the second area overlapping with the first area.

Claims (23)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a laser-annealed semiconductor layer comprising a first polycrystalline silicon layer, and a second polycrystalline silicon layer integrally formed on the first polycrystalline silicon layer and doped with nitrogen,

the laser-annealed semiconductor layer comprising a first area laser-annealed and a second area laser-annealed wherein a part of the first area overlaps with a part of the second area in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the laser-annealed semiconductor layer and the overlap region is laser-annealed by two times, the laser-annealed semiconductor layer having a nitrogen concentration of at least 3×10 20 atoms/cc on the second polycrystalline silicon layer and a root mean square (rms) value of grain protrusion height is less than 20nm.

2. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen concentration is in the range of 5×10 20 to 3×10 22 atoms/cc.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 2 , wherein the nitrogen concentration is in the range of 5×10 20 to 5×10 21 atoms/cc.

4. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor layer has an oxygen concentration in the range of 3×10 21 to 7×10 22 atoms/cc at the surface thereof.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 4 , wherein the oxygen concentration is in the range of 5×10 21 to 5×10 22 atoms/cc.

6. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor device is one of a plurality of semiconductor devices formed in a display region of a display device.

7. A semiconductor device comprising:

a laser-annealed semiconductor layer comprising a first polycrystalline silicon layer, and a second polycrystalline silicon layer integrally formed on the first polycrystalline silicon layer and doped with nitrogen, the laser-annealed semiconductor layer comprising a first area laser-annealed and a second area laser-annealed wherein a part of the first area overlaps with a part of the second area in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the laser-annealed semiconductor layer and the overlap region is laser-annealed by two times, the laser-annealed semiconductor layer having a first surface formed of the second polycrystalline silicon layer and second surface formed of the first polycrystalline silicon layer, and being disposed on a substrate such that the second surface is adjacent to the substrate;

a gate electrode disposed over the laser-annealed semiconductor layer and adjacent to the first surface;

a gate insulating layer separating the gate electrode and the first surface; and

source and drain electrodes connected to the laser-annealed semiconductor layer;

wherein a nitrogen concentration at the first surface of the laser-annealed semiconductor layer is at least 3×10 20 atoms/cc and a root mean square (rms) value of grain protrusion height is less than 20nm.

8. A semiconductor device comprising:

a laser-annealed semiconductor layer comprising a first polycrystalline silicon layer, and a second polycrystalline silicon layer integrally formed on the first polycrystalline silicon layer and doped with nitrogen,

the laser-annealed semiconductor layer comprising a first area laser-annealed and a second area laser-annealed wherein a part of the first area overlaps with a part of the second area in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the laser-annealed semiconductor layer and the overlap region is laser-annealed by two times,

wherein a grain protrusion across the overlap region is higher than a grain protrusion in regions other than the overlap region, and the laser-annealed semiconductor layer has a nitrogen concentration of at least 3×10 20 atoms/cc on the second polycrystalline silicon layer and a root mean square (rms) value of grain protrusion height is less than 20nm.

9. The semiconductor device of claim 8 , wherein the nitrogen concentration is in the range of 5×10 20 to 3×10 22 atoms/cc.

10. The semiconductor device of claim 9 , wherein the nitrogen concentration is in the range of 5×10 20 to 5×10 21 atoms/cc.

11. The semiconductor device of claim 8 , wherein the semiconductor layer has an oxygen concentration in the range of 3×10 21 to 7×10 22 atoms/cc at the surface thereof.

12. The semiconductor device of claim 11 , wherein the oxygen concentration is in the range of 5×10 21 to 5×10 22 atoms/cc.

13. The semiconductor device of claim 8 , wherein the semiconductor device is one of a plurality of semiconductor devices formed in a display region of a display device.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2025
From: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
To: MAGNOLIA WHITE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072130/0313 →
MERGER Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: JAPAN DISPLAY CENTRAL INC.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
Reel/Frame 031163/0573 →
CORPORATE ADDRESS CHANGE Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
Reel/Frame 031163/0611 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 8, 2012
From: TOSHIBA MATSUSHITA DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
To: TOSHIBA MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 028339/0273 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 8, 2012
From: TOSHIBA MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY CENTRAL INC.
Reel/Frame 028339/0316 →