JP2006287129A - Device and method for laser irradiation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser annealing device capable of preventing annealing from deteriorating in processing quality and decreasing in processing efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: A pulse laser light L emitted by a laser projection device 1 is incident on a patterned mask 2. The patterned mask 2 branches the pulse laser light L made incident on itself into 1st and 2nd pulse laser lights L<SB>1</SB>and L<SB>2</SB>sectioned in shapes and obtained by combining a plurality of quadrangles so that adjacent quadrangles contact each other only at their corners as to positions in the beams. The 1st pulse laser light L<SB>1</SB>is incident on a substrate W through a 1st mask 3 and a 1st convergence optical system 4. The 2nd pulse light L<SB>2</SB>is incident on the substrate W through a plane mirror 6, a 2nd mask 7, and a 2nd convergence optical system 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser irradiation apparatus and a laser irradiation method, and more particularly to a laser irradiation apparatus and a laser irradiation method for making a laser beam incident on an object to be irradiated through a mask that shapes the beam cross-sectional shape of the laser beam.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a laser annealing apparatus that makes a pulse laser beam emitted from a light source enter a substrate through a shielding mask and a focusing lens (see Patent Document 1). The shielding mask is formed by forming a through hole in the light shielding plate, and only the portion of the through hole allows passage of the pulse laser beam. The focusing lens forms an image of the through hole of the shielding mask on the surface of the substrate to be irradiated. The surface layer portion of the substrate is made of an amorphous semiconductor. The amorphous semiconductor in the region where the pulse laser beam is incident is melted and solidified to be crystallized.

  The shielding mask absorbs laser light and becomes high temperature. As a result, the shape of the through hole of the shielding mask is distorted, and the quality of the annealing result may be deteriorated. Therefore, a reflection type mask is known (see Patent Document 2). This reflective mask is formed by selectively forming a metal film having a reflectance of 70% or more on the surface of a transmission substrate that transmits laser light to be used. Since the metal film reflects the laser beam, the mask can be prevented from being overheated and the durability of the mask can be improved.

JP 2003-318111 A JP 2001-53021 A

  When the reflection type mask is used, the laser beam reflected by the metal film of the reflection type mask is returned to the optical system through which it reaches the reflection type mask, and the deterioration of the optical system is accelerated. There is a case. Further, since the laser beam reflected by the reflective mask does not reach the irradiated surface, a corresponding loss occurs. There is a demand for a technology that effectively uses laser light and increases the efficiency of annealing treatment.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of preventing deterioration of an optical system due to laser light reflected by a mask. Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of effectively using laser light and preventing a reduction in processing efficiency of laser processing.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the mask includes: a holding table that holds an object to be irradiated; a laser emitting device that emits laser light; and a mask surface on which the laser light emitted from the laser emitting device is incident. A reflection region for reflecting the laser beam and a passing region for allowing the laser beam to pass are defined within the laser beam incident region on a surface, and the mask surface is positioned at a position where the mask surface is incident on the mask surface. Both a patterned mask inclined with respect to a reference virtual plane orthogonal to the traveling direction, a passing laser beam that has passed through the passing area of the patterned mask, and a reflected laser beam reflected by the reflecting area of the patterned mask. A laser irradiation apparatus provided with a light guide optical system that guides the surface of the irradiated object held by the holding table, respectively.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, (i) a patterned mask is prepared in which a reflection region for reflecting the irradiation laser beam and a passage region for allowing the irradiation laser beam to pass are defined in the mask surface. (Ii) the laser beam for irradiation is incident obliquely on the mask surface of the patterned mask, the reflected laser beam reflected by the reflective region of the patterned mask, and the passing region of the patterned mask And a step of causing both of the passing laser beams that have passed through the laser beam to enter the irradiated surface.

  According to the present invention, since the patterned mask is tilted with respect to the reference virtual plane, it is possible to prevent the reflected laser light from returning to the optical system that has passed through the patterned mask. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the optical element from being deteriorated due to the reflected laser beam. Moreover, since not only the passing laser beam but also the reflected laser beam can be incident on the irradiated surface, the laser beam can be used effectively. That is, the incident region of the reflected laser beam and the incident region of the passing laser beam on the irradiated surface can be processed at the same time, and a reduction in the processing efficiency of laser processing can be prevented.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a laser annealing apparatus according to an embodiment. The laser emitting device 1 emits pulsed laser light L. The laser emitting apparatus 1 makes the intensity distribution in the beam cross section of the excimer laser oscillator 11 and the pulse laser light emitted from the excimer laser oscillator 11 uniform, and the pulse laser light having the uniform intensity distribution is made into a parallel beam bundle. The homogenizer 12 to be emitted in a state of being closed, the limiting mask 13 for limiting the beam cross section of the pulse laser light emitted from the homogenizer 12 to a square shape, and the reflection for defining the optical path of the pulse laser light whose beam cross section has been shaped by the limiting mask 13 A mirror 14. The beam cross section S of the pulse laser beam L reflected by the reflecting mirror 14 has a quadrangular shape. The homogenizer 12 is constituted by an optical system in which a plurality of aspheric lenses are combined.

  The pulsed laser light L reflected by the reflecting mirror 14 enters the patterning mask 2. The patterned mask 2 includes a transmissive substrate 21 and a reflective film 22 formed on the transmissive substrate 21. The transmission substrate 21 is made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light, specifically, quartz. The reflective film 22 is made of a material that reflects ultraviolet light, specifically, Cr or a dielectric multilayer film. The patterned mask 2 is inclined with respect to a virtual plane (hereinafter referred to as a reference virtual plane) perpendicular to the traveling direction of the pulsed laser light L at a position incident on the patterned mask 2. The angle formed by the transmissive substrate 21 and the reference virtual plane is 45 °.

  In the incident area of the pulsed laser light L on the mask surface of the patterned mask 2, the area where the reflective film 22 is formed (hereinafter referred to as the reflective area), the reflective film 22 is not formed, and transmission is performed. A region where the surface of the substrate 21 is exposed (hereinafter referred to as a passing region) is defined. This will be specifically described. Since the pulse laser beam L has a quadrangular beam cross section S in the reference virtual plane, the incident region R of the pulse laser beam L on the mask surface of the patterned mask 2 also has a quadrangular shape. Consider that the rectangular incident region R is divided into nine small regions arranged in a matrix of 3 rows and 3 columns. Each of the small areas has a congruent square shape. Within the incident area R, the five small areas distributed in the shape of five dice are each a passing area, and the remaining four small areas are each a reflecting area.

Pulsed laser light (hereinafter referred to as first pulsed laser light) L _{1 that} has passed through the passage region of the patterned mask 2 is incident on the first mask 3. The first mask 3 includes a support plate 31 and a light shielding film 32 formed on the support plate 31. The support plate 31 is made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light, and the light shielding film 32 is made of a material that blocks ultraviolet light. The first mask 3 is disposed in an orientation perpendicular to the first traveling direction of the pulsed laser light L _1. In the light shielding film 32, five openings 32 a that penetrate the light shielding film 32 and expose the surface of the support plate 31 are formed. The opening area defined by the five openings 32a at the position of the mask surface of the first mask 3 coincides with the projection area obtained by orthographic projection of the passage area of the patterned mask 2 onto the mask surface of the first mask 3. To do.

The first pulsed laser light L ₁ that has passed through the opening 32 a of the first mask 3 is incident on the first focusing optical system 4. The first pulsed laser light L ₁ is incident on the surface of the substrate W through the first focusing optical system 4. The stage 5 holds the substrate W. The surface layer portion of the substrate W is made of amorphous silicon. Amorphous silicon region in which the first pulse laser beam L ₁ is incident on the surface of the substrate W is melted by solidifying amorphous silicon of the region is crystallized.

The first focusing optical system 4 images the opening 32 a of the first mask 3 on the surface of the substrate W. That is, the shape of the first illumination regions pulse laser light L ₁ on the surface of the substrate W, the passage area of the patterned mask 2 in the form a similar projection region obtained by orthographic to the reference virtual plane. The imaging magnification of the first focusing optical system 4 is 1/5, for example. Specifically, one of the five openings 32a formed in the first mask 3 has a size of 20 mm × 12 mm, and constitutes an irradiation region of the first pulse laser beam L _{1 on} the surface of the substrate W. The size of one of the five rectangular regions is 4 mm × 2.4 mm.

Pulse laser light (hereinafter referred to as second pulse laser light) L ₂ reflected by the reflective region of the patterned mask ₂ is incident on the plane mirror 6. The plane mirror 6 is arranged in parallel with the mask surface of the patterned mask 2. Since the patterning mask 2 is disposed in an inclined state with respect to the reference virtual plane, the second pulse laser beam L ₂ can be incident on the plane mirror 6 without returning to the laser irradiation apparatus 1. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the optical element constituting the laser irradiation apparatus 1 from being deteriorated due to the reflected laser beam.

The second pulse laser beam L ₂ reflected by the plane mirror 6 is incident on the second mask 7. The second mask 7 includes a support plate 71 and a light shielding film 72 formed on the support plate 71. The support plate 71 is made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light, and the light shielding film 72 is made of a material that blocks ultraviolet light. The second mask 7 is disposed in a posture perpendicular to the second traveling direction of the pulsed laser light L _2. The light shielding film 72 is formed with four openings 72 a that penetrate the light shielding film 72 and expose the surface of the support plate 71. The opening area defined by the four openings 72 a at the position of the mask surface of the second mask 7 is an orthographic projection of the image of the reflection area of the patterned mask 2 projected on the plane mirror 6 onto the mask surface of the second mask 7. It corresponds to the area obtained in this way. That is, the shape of the opening area defined by the four openings 72a at the position of the mask surface of the second mask 7 is the same as the shape of the area obtained by orthographic projection of the reflection area of the patterned mask 2 on the reference virtual plane. It is.

The second pulsed laser light L ₂ that has passed through the opening 72 a of the second mask 7 is incident on the second focusing optical system 8. The second pulse laser beam L ₂ is incident on the surface of the substrate W through the second focusing optical system 8. The incident position of the second pulse laser beam L ₂ is different from the first incident position of the pulsed laser light L _1. The second focusing optical system 8 images the opening 72 a of the second mask 7 on the surface of the substrate W. The imaging magnification is 1/5, which is the same as the imaging magnification of the first focusing optical system 4. Specifically, one of the four openings 72a formed in the second mask 7 has a size of 20 mm × 12 mm, and constitutes an irradiation region of the second pulsed laser light L _{2 on} the surface of the substrate W. The size of one of the four quadrangular regions is 4 mm × 2.4 mm.

That is, the shape of the irradiation region of the second pulsed laser light L _{2 on} the surface of the substrate W is different from the shape of the reflecting region of the patterned mask 2 from the shape of the passing region of the patterned mask 2. obtained by performing a geometric transformation operation the same geometric transformation operation to obtain the shape of the irradiation area of the L _1. Specifically, the shape of the second irradiation region of the pulse laser beam L ₂ is also the shape of the first illumination area of the pulsed laser light L ₁ also both projecting the patterned mask 2 to orthographic to the reference virtual plane It is obtained by performing a conversion operation and a reduction conversion operation for reducing the projection area to 1/5 times.

Next, the operation of the laser annealing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2D show the first pulse laser beam L ₁ emitted from the first focusing optical system 4 in FIG. ₁ and the second pulse laser emitted from the second focusing optical system 8. light L _2, a diagram showing a movement of the irradiated region on the substrate W surface.

As shown in FIG. 2A, when the first pulse laser L is emitted from the laser emission device 1 of FIG. 1, the first pulse laser light L emitted from the first focusing optical system 4 is emitted. ₁ is incident on the area a _1, the second pulse laser beam L ₂ emitted from the second focusing optical system 8 is incident on the area B _1. As a result, each of the regions A ₁ and B ₁ is crystallized. Since the irradiation regions of the first and second pulsed laser beams L ₁ and L ₂ branched by the patterning mask 2 can be crystallized at the same time, the efficiency of annealing can be improved.

Here, in the surface of the substrate W, the separation direction of the region A ₁ and the region B ₁ (the horizontal direction in FIG. 2), that is, the first focusing optical system 4 and the second focusing optical system 8 in FIG. Consider an XY orthogonal coordinate system in which the separation direction between the central axes is the X direction. The direction from left to right in FIG. 2 is the positive direction of the X axis. While the first and second pulsed laser beams L ₁ and L ₂ are incident on the surface of the substrate W, the irradiation regions of the first and second pulsed laser beams L ₁ and L ₂ are X-axis positive on the surface of the substrate W. The stage 5 moves the substrate W in the negative X-axis direction so as to move in the direction.

The full width in the X direction of the irradiation region of the _first pulsed laser light L1 is equal to the full width in the X direction of the irradiation region of the _second pulsed laser light L2. The full width of the X-direction expressed by _{H x.} When the substrate W is moved in the X direction, the amount of movement of the substrate W between pulses is made to coincide with H _X. Further, the first focusing optical system 4 in FIG. 1 is arranged so that the distance from the end on the X axis positive direction side of the region A ₁ to the end on the X axis negative direction side of the region B ₁ is n × H _X. The distance between the central axes of the second focusing optical system 8 is designed. Here, n is a natural number.

As shown in FIG. 2B, when the (n + 2) th pulse laser L is emitted from the laser emission device 1 of FIG. 1, the second pulse laser light L emitted from the second focusing optical system 8 is emitted. _Two irradiation areas B _{n + 2} are arranged at positions corresponding to the already irradiated areas A ₁ . As a result, a quadrangular irradiated region combining the incident region B _{n + 2 of} the second pulse laser beam L ₂ and the irradiated region A ₁ is completed. The first and second pulse laser beams L ₁ and L ₂ are applied to the surface of the substrate W so that such quadrangular regions (hereinafter referred to as “combination regions”) are sequentially completed in the positive direction of the X axis. The substrate W is moved in the negative direction of the X axis while being incident. In this way, a desired number (m) of combination regions are formed in the X direction.

As shown in FIG. 2C, when the (n + m + 1) th pulse laser L is emitted from the laser emitting device 1 of FIG. 1, the incident region B _{n + m + 1 of} the second pulse laser beam L ₂ and the already irradiated region are emitted. The _m-th combination area is completed by Am. Next, the stage 5 moves the substrate W in the positive direction of the Y axis. The total width in the Y direction of the irradiation region of the _first pulsed laser light L1 is equal to the total width in the Y direction of the irradiation region of the _second pulsed laser light L2. The full width of the Y direction represented by _{H Y.} When moving the substrate W in the Y direction, the moving amount of the substrate W between the pulses to coincide with H _Y. Next, the laser emitting apparatus 1 in FIG. 1 emits the (n + m + 2) th pulse laser L. As a result, the region A _{n + m + 2} and the region B _{n + m + 2} are crystallized.

As shown in FIG. 2D, the first and second pulse laser beams L ₁ and L ₂ are then incident while the first and second pulse laser beams L ₁ and L ₂ are incident on the surface of the substrate W. The substrate W is moved in the X-axis positive direction so that the irradiation region moves in the X-axis negative direction on the surface of the substrate W. In this way, every time m number of combination regions are completed in the X direction, the substrate W is moved in the positive direction of the Y axis to form a desired number of combination regions on the surface of the substrate W.

As mentioned above, although the Example was described, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the first and second masks 3 and 7 in FIG. 1 may be omitted. However, by arranging the first and second mask 3 and 7, as compared with the case not place them, the first and second irradiation regions of the pulsed laser light L ₁ and L ₂ on the surface of the substrate W There is an advantage that the contour can be sharpened and the processing quality can be further improved.

  In addition, the first pulse laser beam L1 and the second pulse laser beam L2 are incident on the same substrate W, but may be incident on different substrates. In this method, two substrates can be processed simultaneously.

  Further, the restriction mask 13 in FIG. 1 can be omitted. When the restriction mask 13 is omitted, the laser light protruding from the rectangular region R defined on the mask surface of the patterned mask 2 may be shielded by the patterned mask 2 or the first mask 3.

Further, the shape of the irradiation region of the first and second pulse laser beams L ₁ and L ₂ is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. The shape of the irradiation region of the first and second pulsed laser beams L ₁ and L ₂ can be changed depending on how the reflective region and the passing region of the patterned mask 2 in FIG. 1 are defined.

FIG. 3 shows the shapes of the irradiation areas of the first and second pulse laser beams L ₁ and L _{2 according} to another embodiment. 3A shows an irradiation area A of the _first pulsed laser beam L1, and FIG. 3B shows an irradiation area B of the _second pulsed laser beam L2. As shown in FIG. 3 (a) and (b), each of the first and second irradiation regions of the pulsed laser light L ₁ and L _2, a long elongated shape in one direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3) A plurality (six in this case) are arranged in the short direction. As shown in FIG. 3 (c), when the irradiation regions shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are combined, a square combination region can be formed.

  FIG. 4A shows a plan view of a patterned mask 81 according to still another embodiment. Within the mask surface of the patterned mask 81, a passing area 82 and a reflecting area 83 that are long in one direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 4) are defined. When this patterned mask 81 is used, both the shape of the irradiation region of the first pulse laser light that has passed through the passage region 82 and the shape of the irradiation region of the second pulse laser light reflected by the reflection region 83 are both measured on the substrate. It can be made into a long shape that is long in one direction on the surface. For example, the irradiation region of the first pulse laser beam partially overlaps the irradiation region of the first pulse laser beam of the previous shot in the short direction, and the irradiation region of the second pulse laser beam is the previous shot. The irradiation pattern can be arranged on the substrate surface so as to partially overlap the irradiation region of the second pulse laser beam in the short direction.

  FIG. 4B shows a plan view of a patterned mask 91 according to still another embodiment. In the mask surface of the patterned mask 91, a passing area 92 and a reflecting area 93 each extending in one direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4) are defined. Each of the passage region 92 and the reflection region 93 has a shape meandering in a crank shape. The passage area 92 and the reflection area 93 are in contact with each other so as to fit each other. The region 94 other than the passage region 92 and the reflection region 93 in the mask surface is a light shielding region. Even if this patterned mask 91 is used, the irradiation region of the first pulse laser beam partially overlaps the irradiation region of the first pulse laser beam of the previous shot in the short direction, and the second pulse laser beam The irradiation pattern can be arranged on the surface of the substrate so that the irradiation region partially overlaps with the irradiation region of the second pulse laser beam of the previous shot in the short direction.

  Although the crystallization annealing of amorphous silicon has been described above, the present invention can be applied not only to the modification of the surface of the irradiated object, but also to the removal processing of the surface of the irradiated object. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, improvements, combinations, and the like can be made.

It is the schematic of the laser annealing apparatus by an Example. It is a top view of the board | substrate which should be annealed. It is a diagram which shows the irradiation area | region of the 1st and 2nd pulsed laser beam by another Example. It is a top view of the patterning mask by another Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Laser emitting apparatus, 11 ... Excimer laser oscillator (light source), 12 ... Homogenizer, 13 ... Restriction mask, 14 ... Reflection mirror, 2 ... Patterning mask, 21 ... Transmission substrate, 22 ... Reflection film, 3 ... 1st Mask 31, support plate 32, light-shielding film 32 a aperture, 4 first focusing optical system 5 stage (holding base) 6 plane mirror (reflection optical element) 7 second mask 71 ... support plate 72 ... light shielding film, 72a ... opening, 8 ... second focusing optical system, L ... pulsed laser beam, a beam cross section of S ... pulsed laser beam incident area of R ... pulsed laser beam L 1 _... first 1 pulse laser beam (passing laser beam), L ₂ ... Second pulse laser beam (reflection laser beam), W... Substrate (irradiated object).

Claims (6)

A holding table for holding the irradiated object;
A laser emitting device for emitting laser light;
A mask surface on which the laser beam emitted from the laser emitting device is incident, and a reflection region for reflecting the laser beam and a passing region for allowing the laser beam to pass within the incident region of the laser beam on the mask surface; Is defined, and the mask surface is inclined with respect to a reference virtual plane orthogonal to the traveling direction of the laser light at a position incident on the mask surface;
A light guide that guides both the passing laser beam that has passed through the passing area of the patterned mask and the reflected laser beam reflected by the reflecting area of the patterned mask to the surface of the irradiated object held by the holding table. A laser irradiation apparatus provided with an optical system. The shape of the irradiation region of the passing laser beam on the surface of the irradiated object is similar to the shape of the projection region obtained by projecting the passing region of the patterned mask onto a plane parallel to the reference virtual plane,
The shape of an irradiation region of the reflected laser beam on the surface of the object to be irradiated is similar to the shape of a projection region obtained by projecting the reflection region of the patterned mask onto a plane parallel to the virtual plane. 2. The laser irradiation apparatus according to 1. The light guide optical system is
A first focusing optical system that receives the passing laser beam and focuses the passing laser beam toward the surface of the irradiated object;
A second focusing optical system that receives the reflected laser beam and focuses the reflected laser beam toward the surface of the irradiated object;
It is arranged in the optical path from the passing area of the patterned mask to the first focusing optical system or in the optical path from the reflecting area of the patterned mask to the second focusing optical system, and is parallel to the mask surface The laser irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reflective optical element having a planar reflecting surface. The light guide optical system is
A mask surface disposed in an optical path from a passing region of the patterned mask to the first focusing optical system, on which the passing laser beam is incident, and a beam cross-sectional shape of the passing laser beam in the mask surface A first mask having a shape that is the same as that of the first mask and that defines a permissible region that allows the passage of the passing laser beam and a light-shielding region that shields the passing laser beam. When,
A mask surface disposed in an optical path from the reflective region of the patterned mask to the second focusing optical system, and having the mask surface on which the reflected laser beam is incident, and a beam cross-sectional shape of the reflected laser beam in the mask surface; And a second mask that defines a permissible region that allows passage of the reflected laser light and a remaining region in the mask surface, and a light shielding region that shields the reflected laser light. And
The first focusing optical system forms an image of the allowable area of the first mask on the surface of the irradiation object, and the second focusing optical system applies the irradiation area of the second mask to the irradiation area. The laser irradiation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an image is formed on a surface of an object. (I) preparing a patterned mask in which a reflection region for reflecting the irradiation laser beam and a passing region for allowing the irradiation laser beam to pass are defined in the mask surface;
(Ii) The irradiation laser beam is obliquely incident on the mask surface of the patterned mask, and passes through the reflected laser beam reflected by the reflective region of the patterned mask and the passing region of the patterned mask. And a step of causing both passing laser beams to enter the irradiated surface. The irradiated surface is made of an amorphous semiconductor,
6. The laser irradiation method according to claim 5, wherein in the step (ii), the amorphous semiconductor in a region where the reflected laser beam and the passing laser beam are incident is crystallized.

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