Patents by Inventor Harvey L. Conklin

Harvey L. Conklin 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).

  • Process for producing semiconductor spheres
    Patent number: 5431127
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor particles (30) of uniform mass. A template (12) is used to meter out uniform mass piles (28) of semiconductor feedstock upon a refractory layer (14). These piles (28) of semiconductor feedstock are then melted briefly to obtain semiconductor particles (30) of uniform mass. Silica is the preferred refractory layer, and is separated from the particles after the melt procedure. Subsequent melt procedures can be implemented to ultimately obtain perfect spheres of the semiconductor material. The present invention is well suited for forming semiconductor spheres to be implemented in photovoltaic solar cells. Semiconductor grade or metallurgical grade feedstock can be implemented to obtain particles of high purity. High yields of uniformly massed spheres can be obtained to produce high efficiency photovoltaic cells at a moderate cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary D. Stevens, Harvey L. Conklin