Patents by Inventor Clifford W. Groat

Clifford W. Groat has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Insulating and warming shield for a seed crystal and seed chuck
    Patent number: 6183556
    Abstract: A seed chuck for supporting a seed crystal for dipping in a hot melt has a main body including a dipping support formation for connection to a dipping apparatus and a seed support formation for supporting a seed crystal. A shield is coupled to the main body that insulates the seed crystal from cooling and heats the seed crystal with radiant energy emitted from the hot melt. The shield can be in the form of an insulating layer disposed against or inside of a portion of the seed chuck. In this case, the seed crystal is insulated from the cooler seed chuck and allowed to be warmed by the hot melt. The shield can also be a removable flange extending outwardly from the seed chuck and having an inverted cup shape or parabolic umbrella shape. In this case, the shield prevents cooling external gas flow from reaching the seed crystal while capturing and directing heat radiating from the hot melt onto the seed crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: SEH-America, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Aydelott, Clifford W. Groat
  • Insulating and warming shield for a seed crystal and seed chuck and method for using the device
    Patent number: 6106611
    Abstract: A seed chuck for supporting a seed crystal for dipping in a hot melt has a main body including a dipping support formation for connection to a dipping apparatus and a seed support formation for supporting a seed crystal. A shield is coupled to the main body that insulates the seed crystal from cooling and heats the seed crystal with radiant energy emitted from the hot melt. The shield can be in the form of an insulating layer disposed against or inside of a portion of the seed chuck. In this case, the seed crystal is insulated from the cooler seed chuck and allowed to be warmed by the hot melt. The shield can also be a removable flange extending outwardly from the seed chuck and having an inverted cup shape or parabolic umbrella shape. In this case, the shield prevents cooling external gas flow from reaching the seed crystal while capturing and directing heat radiating from the hot melt onto the seed crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: SEH-America, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Aydelott, Clifford W. Groat
  • Low oxygen heater
    Patent number: 5911825
    Abstract: A heater is configured to reduce oxygen in the melt near the growing crystal is provided by defining a high temperature region in an upper region of the heater, above a melt surface of semiconductor material from which a crystal is grown. This effectively shifts the heat balance of the system upwards, and alters thermal convections of oxygen within the melt. Accordingly, the primary vehicle for transporting oxygen to the growing crystal is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: SEH America, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford W. Groat, Atsushi Iwasaki