A method of forming a polycrystalline silicon layer includes: disposing a
mask over the amorphous silicon layer, the mask having a plurality of
transmissive regions, the plurality of transmissive regions being
disposed in a stairstep arrangement spaced apart from each other in a
first direction and a second direction substantially perpendicular from
the first direction, each transmissive region having a central portion
and first and second side portions that are adjacent to opposite ends of
the central portion along the first direction, and wherein each of the
portions has a length along the first direction and a width along the
second direction, and wherein the width of first and second portions
decreases away from the central portion along the first direction;
irradiating a laser beam onto the amorphous silicon layer a first time
through the mask to form a plurality of first irradiated regions
corresponding to the plurality of transmissive regions, each first
irradiated region having a central portion, and first and second side
portions at both sides of the central portion; moving the substrate and
the mask relative to one another such that the first side portion of each
transmissive region overlaps the central portion of each first irradiated
region; and irradiating the laser beam onto the amorphous silicon layer a
second time through the mask to form a plurality of second irradiated
regions corresponding to the plurality of transmissive regions.