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Laser rounding a sharp semiconductor projection

Assignee: RCA Corp
•
Filing: 1979-06-18
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Granted: 1981-02-10
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Expires: 1999-06-18
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Abstract

Abstract A method of rounding a sharp semiconductor projection jutting out from a principal body of semiconductor material comprises the step of irradiating the projection with a laser pulse having an energy density of less than about 1.5 joules/cm 2 .

Inventors

  • 👤 George L. Schnable
  • 👤 Chung P. Wu

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 06:38
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D86/00; H10D86/01; H10D86/03; H10P; H10P34/00; H10P34/40; H10P34/42; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S148/00; Y10S148/093; Y10S438/00; Y10S438/974; Y10S438/978

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 38 words
A method of rounding a sharp semiconductor projection on a principal body of semiconductor material comprising the step of irradiating said projection with a laser pulse having an energy density of less than about 1.5 joules/cm 2 .
Claim 2
Independent Claim 38 words
A method of rounding a sharp semiconductor projection on a principal body of semiconductor material comprising the step of irradiating said projection with a laser pulse having an energy density of less than about 1.5 joules/cm 2 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said sharp semiconductor projection comprises a spike or hillock protruding from a surface of said semiconductor body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said laser beam strikes said projection at an angle acute to the plane of said semiconductor surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said semiconductor surface comprises a surface of an epitaxially deposited layer of silicon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said sharp semiconductor projection comprises an edge or corner of a semiconductor island disposed on an insulating substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method as recited in claim 5 wherein said semiconductor island comprises silicon and wherein said insulating substrate comprises sapphire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said laser pulse has a pulse duration time of between about 10 and about 50 nanoseconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method as recited in claim 7 wherein said laser is a Q-switched ruby laser having a pulse energy density of between about 0.2 and 0.8 joule/cm 2 , and a pulse duration time of about 30 nanoseconds.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3404253A Cited
US4004949A Cited
US4059461A Cited
US4113516A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-02-10 1984-08-11 1985-02-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-02-10 1988-08-11 1989-02-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-02-10 1992-08-11 1993-02-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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