Provided are a laser annealing apparatus, a laser annealing method, and a mask with which scan nonuniformity can be decreased. According to the present invention, all or some openings of a plurality of openings are configured so that a partial subregion of a prescribed region is irradiated with laser light. The plurality of openings are configured so that, between prescribed regions irradiated with laser light via a group of openings in one row arranged in a row direction and prescribed regions irradiated with laser light via a group of openings in another row arranged in the row direction, the number of times of laser light radiations in subregions having the same occupying region is the same, and at least two openings of a group of openings arranged in a column direction have different positions or shapes.

A laser annealing process of a drive backplane includes: providing a mask, which has a light transmission area; and sequentially moving the mask to cover different areas of an amorphous silicon layer of the drive backplane, and annealing the amorphous silicon layer exposed in the light transmission area to form a poly-silicon pattern.

A laser irradiation apparatus (1) according to an embodiment includes an optical-system module (20) configured to apply laser light (L1) to an object to be irradiated, a shield plate (51) in which a slit (54) is formed, through which the laser light (L1) passes, and a reflected-light receiving component (61) disposed between the optical-system module (20) and the shield plate (51), in which the reflected-light receiving component (61) is able to receive, out of the laser light (L1), reflected light (R1) reflected by the shield plate (51).

A laser irradiation apparatus (1) according to an embodiment includes an optical-system module (20) configured to apply laser light (L1) to an object to be irradiated, a shield plate (51) in which a slit (54) is formed, through which the laser light (L1) passes, and a reflected-light receiving component (61) disposed between the optical-system module (20) and the shield plate (51), in which the reflected-light receiving component (61) is able to receive, out of the laser light (L1), reflected light (R1) reflected by the shield plate (51).

A laser annealing method includes: step A of providing a substrate having an amorphous semiconductor film formed on a surface thereof; and step B of selectively irradiating a portion of the amorphous semiconductor film with laser light. The step B includes a step of simultaneously forming, in the portion, two molten regions that have elongate shapes congruent to each other and are arranged in line symmetry with each other.

A laser irradiation device includes a light source that generates laser light; a projection lens that radiates the laser light to a predetermined region of an amorphous silicon thin film deposited on a thin film transistor; and a projection mask including a plurality of opening portions disposed on the projection lens and through which the laser light passes, wherein a predetermined pattern that is able to reduce diffraction of the laser light is formed at a peripheral edge portion of each of the plurality of opening portions.

A laser irradiation device includes a light source that generates a laser beam, a projection lens that irradiates a predetermined region of an amorphous silicon thin film, mounted on each of a plurality of thin-film transistors on a glass substrate moving in a predetermined direction, with the laser beam, and a projection mask pattern provided on the projection lens and has a plurality of columns each including a predetermined number of opening portions and provided parallel to the predetermined direction, in which the projection lens emits the laser beam through the projection mask pattern, and the projection mask pattern is configured such that at least some of the predetermined number of opening portions are not on a straight line parallel to the predetermined direction in each of the plurality of columns.

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a thin film transistor including processing of irradiating an amorphous silicon film 8 deposited on a substrate with laser light. The method comprises: a laser annealing step for forming a polysilicon film 9 including a channel region 52 by irradiating an area including a formation region of the region 52 in the film 8 with the laser light such that the area including the formation region is heated, melted, and recrystallized; and a removing step for etching off an area outside the region 52 from the polysilicon film 9. Thus, the present invention can provide a method for manufacturing a thin film transistor and a mask for use in the manufacturing method that are capable of promoting the recrystallization of the film 8 and thereby improving its electron mobility even when laser irradiation has to be performed under restricted irradiation conditions.

To provide a laser annealing device capable of performing annealing whereby electron mobility is different depending on the part, a mask, a thin film transistor, and a laser annealing method. A laser annealing device of the present invention is provided with a mask in which a plurality of openings are formed along the scanning direction, moves a substrate in the scanning direction, and irradiates the substrate with laser light via the openings. The openings respectively have first opening regions, which are aligned in the scanning direction, and which have a same shape, and some of the openings among the openings respectively have second opening regions continuous to the first opening regions in the predetermined direction with respect to the first opening regions.

A laser annealing process of a drive backplane includes: providing a mask, which has a light transmission area; and sequentially moving the mask to cover different areas of an amorphous silicon layer of the drive backplane, and annealing the amorphous silicon layer exposed in the light transmission area to form a poly-silicon pattern.