Patents Examined by Kenneth A Bratland, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11961765
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate, including: (a) preparing an epitaxial substrate having a nitride semiconductor layer formed on a first main surface of a growth substrate and preparing a first support substrate, forming a resin adhesive layer between the first main surface of the growth substrate and a first main surface of the first support substrate, and bonding the epitaxial substrate to the first support substrate; (b) thinning a second main surface of the growth substrate; (c) forming a first protective thin film layer on the thinned growth substrate; (d) forming a second protective thin film layer on the first support substrate; (e) removing the thinned growth substrate; (f) bonding a second support substrate onto the nitride semiconductor layer; and (g) removing the first support substrate and the resin adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuichi Hiza, Kunihiko Nishimura, Masahiro Fujikawa, Yuki Takiguchi, Eiji Yagyu
  • Patent number: 11952678
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a novel method for manufacturing a SiC substrate, and a manufacturing device for said method. The present invention realizes: a method for manufacturing a SiC substrate, comprising heating two mutually opposing SiC single-crystal substrates and transporting a raw material from one SiC single-crystal substrate to the other SiC single-crystal substrate; and a manufacturing device for said method. Through the present invention, each of the mutually opposing SiC single-crystal substrate surfaces can be used as a raw material for crystal growth of the other SiC single-crystal substrate surface, and it is therefore possible to realize a highly economical method for manufacturing a SiC substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: KWANSEI GAKUIN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, TOYOTA TSUSHO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadaaki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11946159
    Abstract: A method of selectively controlling materials structure in solution based chemical synthesis and deposition of materials by controlling input energy from pulsed energy source includes determining solution conditions, searching and/or determining energy barrier(s) of a desired materials structure formation, applying precursor solution with selected solution condition onto a substrate, and applying determined input energy from a pulsed energy source with a selected condition to the substrate, thereby nucleating and growing the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Chunghorng Liu, Siyu Liu
  • Patent number: 11939231
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a high purity molybdenum oxychloride by including means of sublimating and reaggregating a raw material molybdenum oxychloride in a reduced-pressure atmosphere, or means of retaining a gaseous raw material molybdenum oxychloride, which was synthesized in a vapor phase, in a certain temperature range, and thereby growing crystals to obtain a higher purity molybdenum oxychloride having a high bulk density and high hygroscopicity resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: JX METALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11932936
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a group III compound substrate, including: a base substrate forming step for forming a group III nitride base substrate by a vapor phase synthesis method; a seed substrate forming step for forming a seed substrate on the base substrate; and a group III compound crystal forming step for forming a group III compound crystal on the seed substrate by a hydride vapor phase epitaxy method. The group III compound substrate of the present invention is produced by the method for producing a group III compound substrate of the present invention. According to the present invention, a large-sized and high-quality group III compound substrate can be obtained at a low cost while taking advantage of the high film formation rate characteristic of the hydride vapor phase epitaxy method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kubota, Kazutoshi Nagata
  • Patent number: 11926925
    Abstract: Methods and systems for growing thin films via molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) on substrates are provided. The methods and systems utilize a thermally conductive backing plate including an infrared-absorbing coating (IAC) formed, for example, on one side of the thermally conductive backing plate to provide an asymmetric emissivity that absorbs infrared radiation (IR) on the side having the IRC and does not on the non-coated side of the thermally conductive backing plate (e.g., refractive metal or alloy). The asymmetric emissivity shields the thin film being deposited on a substrate from the IR during formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: David B. Shrekenhamer, Adrian A. Podpirka, Michael C. Brupbacher
  • Patent number: 11926922
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method and an apparatus for crystal growth. The method for crystal growth may include: placing a seed crystal and a target source material in a growth chamber of an apparatus for crystal growth; executing a growth of a crystal based on the seed crystal and the target source material according to physical vapor transport; determining whether a preset condition is satisfied during the crystal growth process; and in response to determining that the preset condition is satisfied, replacing a sublimated target source material with a candidate source material. In the present disclosure, by replacing the sublimated target source material with the candidate source material, a crystal with large-size and high-quality can be grown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: MEISHAN BOYA ADVANCED MATERIALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu Wang, Tian Yang, Zhenxing Liang, Min Li
  • Patent number: 11920256
    Abstract: In an embodiment method for growing a rare earth oxide crystal, a surface of a Si substrate is cleaned by carrying out treatments using chemical solutions such as a mixed sulfuric acid-hydrogen peroxide solution, hot nitric acid, or diluted hydrofluoric acid several times to remove impurities on the surface of the Si substrate. A silicon oxide layer including amorphous SiOx is formed on the Si substrate. A metal layer including a rare earth metal is formed in contact with an upper surface of the silicon oxide layer. The silicon oxide layer is reacted with the metal layer through heating to form a first crystal layer including a rare earth oxide crystal obtained by oxidizing the rare earth metal on the Si substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Inaba, Takehiko Tawara, Hiroo Omi
  • Patent number: 11913134
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a two-dimensional film of a group IV material having a hexagonal crystalline structure, in particular, graphene, comprises formation of a growth substrate, comprising the transfer of a single-crystal metal film suitable for the growth of the two-dimensional film on a support substrate, and epitaxial growth of the two-dimensional film on the metal film of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SOITEC
    Inventors: Bruno Ghyselen, Jean-Marc Bethoux
  • Patent number: 11905617
    Abstract: A method produces semiconductor wafers of monocrystalline silicon. The method includes: pulling a cylindrical section of a single silicon crystal from a melt contained in a crucible, wherein the oxygen concentration in the cylindrical section is not more than 5×1017 atoms/cm3; subjecting the melt to a horizontal magnetic field; rotating the crucible at a rotational velocity and in a rotational direction during the pulling of the cylindrical section of the single crystal; and removing the semiconductor wafers of monocrystalline silicon from the cylindrical section of the single crystal. An amount of rotational velocity, averaged over time, is less than 1 rpm and the rotational direction is changed continually and the amplitude of the rotational velocity before and after the change in the rotational direction is not less than 0.5 rpm and not more than 3.0 rpm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Walter Heuwieser, Karl Mangelberger, Juergen Vetterhoeffer
  • Patent number: 11901181
    Abstract: A method for removing a portion of a crystalline material (e.g., SiC) substrate includes joining a surface of the substrate to a rigid carrier (e.g., >800 ?m thick), with a subsurface laser damage region provided within the substrate at a depth relative to the surface. Adhesive material having a glass transition temperature above 25° C. may bond the substrate to the carrier. The crystalline material is fractured along the subsurface laser damage region to produce a bonded assembly including the carrier and a portion of the crystalline material. Fracturing of the crystalline material may be promoted by (i) application of a mechanical force proximate to at least one carrier edge to impart a bending moment in the carrier; (ii) cooling the carrier when the carrier has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the crystalline material; and/or (iii) applying ultrasonic energy to the crystalline material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: WOLFSPEED, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Donofrio, John Edmond, Hua-Shuang Kong, Elif Balkas
  • Patent number: 11885040
    Abstract: Some aspects relate to methods of forming an epitaxial layer. In some examples, the methods include ejecting atoms from a molten metal sputtering material onto a heated crystalline substrate and growing a single epitaxial layer on the substrate from the ejected atoms, where the atoms are ejected with sufficient energy that the grown epitaxial layer has at least a partial rhombohedral lattice, and wherein the crystalline substrate is heated to a temperature of about 600 degrees Celsius or less, or about 500 degrees or less. Other aspects relate to materials, such as a material including a single epitaxial layer on top of a crystalline substrate, the layer including one or more semiconductor materials and having at least a partial rhombohedral lattice, or a substantially rhombohedral lattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Hyun Jung Kim, Sang Hyouk Choi
  • Patent number: 11885039
    Abstract: Methods for preparing a monolayer or few-layer centimeter-scale crystalline black phosphorus film, products thereof, and electronic and optoelectronic devices including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jianhua Hao, Zehan Wu
  • Patent number: 11879184
    Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for a group-III nitride crystal, the manufacturing apparatus includes: a raw material chamber that produces therein a group-III element oxide gas; and a nurturing chamber in which a group-III element oxide gas supplied from the raw material chamber and a nitrogen element-containing gas react therein to produce a group-III nitride crystal on a seed substrate, wherein an angle that is formed by a direction along a shortest distance between a forward end of a group-III element oxide gas supply inlet to supply the group-III element oxide gas into the nurturing chamber and an outer circumference of the seed substrate placed in the nurturing chamber, and a surface of the seed substrate is denoted by “?”, wherein a diameter of the group-Ill element oxide gas supply inlet is denoted by “S”, wherein a distance between a surface, on which the seed substrate is placed, of a substrate susceptor that holds the seed substrate and a forward end of a first carrier gas supply inlet to supply a first
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Mori, Masashi Yoshimura, Masayuki Imanishi, Shigeyoshi Usami, Junichi Takino, Masayuki Hoteida, Shunichi Matsuno
  • Patent number: 11877514
    Abstract: A process for producing a crystalline layer of PZT material, comprising the transfer of a monocrystalline seed layer of SrTiO3 material to a carrier substrate of silicon material, followed by epitaxial growth of the crystalline layer of PZT material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventor: Bruno Ghyselen
  • Patent number: 11869767
    Abstract: A gallium nitride vapor phase epitaxy apparatus capable of doping magnesium is provided. The apparatus is used in vapor phase epitaxy not using organic metal as a gallium raw material. The apparatus comprises a reactor vessel and a wafer holder. The apparatus comprises a first raw material gas supply pipe configured to supply a first raw material gas containing gallium. The apparatus comprises a second raw material gas supply pipe configured to supply a second raw material gas, which contains nitrogen and configured to react with the first raw material gas. The apparatus comprises a third raw material gas supply pipe configured to supply a third raw material gas containing magnesium. The third raw material gas supply pipe is configured capable of placing a magnesium-based oxide on its supply path. The apparatus comprises a first heating unit configured to heat the magnesium-based oxide in a first temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKAI NATIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH SYSTEM
    Inventors: Shugo Nitta, Kazuki Onishi, Yuki Amano, Naoki Fujimoto, Hiroshi Amano
  • Patent number: 11859305
    Abstract: A method of growing a semi-insulating SiC single crystal ingot, the method comprising the steps of: (1) placing a dopant coated with silicon carbide (SiC) and a carbon-based material into a reaction vessel containing a seed crystal fixed thereto; and (2) growing a SiC single crystal on the seed crystal, thereby yielding a high-quality semi-insulating SiC single crystal ingot with a uniform thickness-based doping concentration. In addition, another embodiment relates to a method of growing a semi-insulating silicon carbide single crystal ingot, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing in a reaction vessel, a composition comprising a carbon-containing polymer resin, a solvent, a dopant, and silicon carbide (SiC); (b) solidifying the composition; and (c) growing a SiC single crystal ingot on a seed crystal fixed to the reaction vessel, thereby yielding a high-quality semi-insulating SiC single crystal ingot with a uniform thickness-based doping concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SENIC Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Woo Choi, Jung-Gyu Kim, Kap-Ryeol Ku, Sang Ki Ko, Byung Kyu Jang
  • Patent number: 11859312
    Abstract: Provided are a method of cleaning a group III nitride single crystal substrate which enables the roughness of a nitrogen-polar face of the group III nitride single crystal substrate to be suppressed to remove foreign substances, and a method of producing a group III nitride single crystal substrate. The method of cleaning a group III nitride single crystal substrate having a group III element-polar face, and the nitrogen-polar face opposite the group III element-polar face includes: cleaning the nitrogen-polar face with a detergent including a fluoroorganic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOKUYAMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Fukuda, Reo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11859311
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a group-III nitride crystal, the manufacturing method includes: preparing a seed substrate; increasing temperature of the seed substrate placed in a nurturing chamber; and supplying a group-III element oxide gas produced in a raw material chamber connected to the nurturing chamber by a connecting pipe and a nitrogen element-containing gas into the nurturing chamber to grow a group-III nitride crystal on the seed substrate, wherein a flow amount y of a carrier gas supplied into the raw material chamber at the temperature increase step satisfies following two relational equations (I) and (II), y<[1?k*H(Ts)]/[k*H(Ts)?j*H(Tg)]*j*H(Tg)*t (I), y?1.58*10?4*(22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Mori, Masashi Yoshimura, Masayuki Imanishi, Shigeyoshi Usami, Junichi Takino, Shunichi Matsuno
  • Patent number: 11851784
    Abstract: A high-purity semi-insulating silicon carbide crystal growing apparatus and a method therefor are provided, the apparatus comprising a growth crucible, a bottom part of the growth crucible having inserted a gas pipe, a top part of the growth crucible being provided with a growth crucible cover, a feedstock crucible having a bowl-shaped structure being disposed in the growth crucible, an upper part of the feedstock crucible being provided with a baffle, a bottom part of the feedstock crucible being provided with a ring-shaped supporting feedstock crucible bottom foot, the diameter of the feedstock crucible bottom foot being ? the diameter of the feedstock crucible, and the feedstock crucible bottom foot having disposed thereon 8-36 evenly distributed gas holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Fujian Beidian Material Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huarong Chen, Jie Zhang, Hongji Liao, Zebin Chen