Patents by Inventor Steven John Ferguson

Steven John Ferguson 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).

  • Crystal puller for inhibiting melt contamination
    Patent number: 10060046
    Abstract: A crystal puller for growing a crystal ingot includes a housing, insulation, a crucible assembly, a heat shield, and a dust barrier. The housing encloses a growth chamber, and has an upper wall with an inner surface and an aperture. The insulation separates an inside of the housing into an upper area and a lower area, and has a central opening. The crucible assembly is within the lower area to contain the melt. The heat shield is adjacent the central opening of the insulation, and forms a labyrinth gas path with the crucible assembly. The dust barrier extends from the inner surface of the upper wall to one of the insulation and the heat shield, and forms a seal with the upper wall around the aperture to inhibit particles from entering the growth chamber through the upper area of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Corner Star Limited
    Inventors: Steven Lawrence Kimbel, Benjamin Michael Meyer, Salvador Zepeda, Steven John Ferguson
  • CRYSTAL PULLER FOR INHIBITING MELT CONTAMINATION
    Publication number: 20160083864
    Abstract: A crystal puller for growing a crystal ingot includes a housing, insulation, a crucible assembly, a heat shield, and a dust barrier. The housing encloses a growth chamber, and has an upper wall with an inner surface and an aperture. The insulation separates an inside of the housing into an upper area and a lower area, and has a central opening. The crucible assembly is within the lower area to contain the melt. The heat shield is adjacent the central opening of the insulation, and forms a labyrinth gas path with the crucible assembly. The dust barrier extends from the inner surface of the upper wall to one of the insulation and the heat shield, and forms a seal with the upper wall around the aperture to inhibit particles from entering the growth chamber through the upper area of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Lawrence Kimbel, Benjamin Michael Meyer, Salvador Zepeda, Steven John Ferguson