Patents Examined by Hua Qi
  • Patent number: 9797066
    Abstract: A susceptor is disclosed that can increase a heat capacity of a susceptor outer peripheral portion by enlarging the thickness of the susceptor and equalize thermal conditions for an outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion of a wafer and a method for manufacturing an epitaxial wafer that uses this susceptor to perform vapor-phase epitaxy of an epitaxial layer. Back surface depositions have a close relationship with heat transfer that occurs between a wafer and a susceptor, i.e., a wafer outer peripheral portion has a higher temperature than a wafer inner peripheral portion since the wafer is in contact with or close to the susceptor at the wafer outer peripheral portion and hence the back surface depositions are apt to be generated. This is solved by equalizing thermal conditions for the wafer outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion of the wafer back surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masato Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 9773666
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for growing indium nitride (InN) materials by growing hexagonal and/or cubic InN using a pulsed growth method at a temperature lower than 300° C. Also described is a material comprising InN in a face-centered cubic lattice crystalline structure having an NaCl type phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Neeraj Nepal, Charles R. Eddy, Jr., Nadeemmullah A. Mahadik, Syed B Qadri, Michael J. Mehl
  • Patent number: 9738992
    Abstract: Dust that is accumulated in an exhaust passage provided in a chamber, the exhaust passage for discharging gas in the chamber of a semiconductor crystal manufacturing device, is removed by being sucked from the outside of the chamber. Moreover, an opening and closing valve for cleaning that is detachably attached to an opening of the exhaust passage, the opening facing the chamber, is opened and closed intermittently in a suction state. Furthermore, the opening and closing valve for cleaning is driven by a valve driving unit. The dust accumulated in the exhaust passage is removed efficiently, whereby the time required to clean the exhaust passage is shortened and fluctuations of the pressure inside the chamber when a semiconductor crystal is manufactured are suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Okita
  • Patent number: 9732417
    Abstract: A method for producing an array or bed of metallic nanotubes includes formation of nanowires made from sacrificial material on a growth support, deposition of a metal layer on the nanowires so as to form metallic nanotubes concentric with the nanowires, deposition of a polymer binding layer between the nanowires, elimination of the support, the binding layer supporting the metallic nanotubes, and etching of the sacrificial material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Florica Lazar, Arnaud Morin
  • Patent number: 9663873
    Abstract: A ceiling portion for use in a processing apparatus and an epitaxial growth apparatus having the ceiling portion are disclosed herein. In one embodiment the ceiling portion includes a ring shaped support and a ceiling plate. The ring shaped support includes an inner surface having a first slope portion decreasing from a top surface of the ring shaped support towards a center of the ring shaped support and a protrusion, protruding from the inner surface, having a second slope portion decreasing in a protruding direction towards the center of the ring shaped support. The ceiling plate is coupled to the support. In another embodiment, the first slope portion and the second slope portion meet at a point, wherein an angle formed by the first slope portion and the second slope portion is less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Okabe, Yoshinobu Mori
  • Patent number: 9637411
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible includes: a taking-out process of taking out the vitreous silica crucible from the mold, a honing process of removing the unfused silica powder layer on the outer surface of the vitreous silica crucible, and further comprising, after the taking-out process and before the honing process, a marking process of marking an identifier comprised of one or more groove line on the outer surface of the vitreous silica crucible, wherein the groove line after the honing process has a cross-sectional shape of an inverse trapezoid and a depth of 0.2 to 0.5 mm, and a width of 0.8 mm or more at the opening of the groove line. The groove line is formed by repeating shifting a focal point of a laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sudo, Taira Sato, Shuichi Ikehata, Manabu Shonai, Takuji Nishi, Takaya Satou, Shinsuke Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9637837
    Abstract: Methods of making electrically conductive, doped zinc oxide nanowires and nanowire films are provided. The methods comprises the steps of forming an aqueous solution comprising a dopant-containing precursor salt, a zinc-containing precursor salt and a pH buffering agent and heating the aqueous solution to a temperature below its boiling point in the presence of seed crystals, whereby doped zinc oxide nanowires are grown in situ from the seed crystals in the aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Xudong Wang, Fei Wang, Alexander V. Kvit
  • Patent number: 9623628
    Abstract: A method comprises shaping an aluminum oxide ceramic material into a component for an electronic device. The component has first and second major surfaces. A selected region of one or both of the first and second major surfaces is heated to an annealing temperature. The selected region is then cooled below the annealing temperature, so that residual compressive stress is generated in the selected region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Kelvin Kwong
  • Patent number: 9617655
    Abstract: An apparatus for SIC single crystal has an induction heating control unit such that frequency f (Hz) of alternating current to the induction heating unit satisfies Formula (1); D1 (mm) is permeation depth of electromagnetic waves into a crucible side wall by the heating unit, D2 (mm) is permeation depth of electromagnetic waves into a SIC solution, T (mm) is thickness of the crucible side wall of the crucible, and R (mm) is crucible inner radius: (D1?T)×D2/R>1.5??(1) where, D1 is defined by Formula (2) and D2 by Formula (3): D1=503292×(1/(f×?c×?c))1/2??(2) D2=503292×(1/(f×?s×?s))1/2??(3); ?c is electric conductivity (S/m) of the sidewall, ?s is electric conductivity (S/m) of the SiC solution; ?c is relative permeability of the sidewall, and ?s is relative permeability of the SIC solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Okada, Kazuhito Kamei, Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Nobuyoshi Yashiro, Kouji Moriguchi, Hironori Daikoku, Hiroshi Suzuki, Tomokazu Ishii, Hidemitsu Sakamoto, Motohisa Kado, Yoichiro Kawai
  • Patent number: 9613802
    Abstract: A method for making an epitaxial structure includes the following steps. A substrate having an epitaxial growth surface is provided. A buffer layer is formed on the epitaxial growth surface. A carbon nanotube layer is placed on the buffer layer. A first epitaxial layer is epitaxially grown on the buffer layer. The substrate and the buffer layer are removed to expose a second epitaxial growth surface. A second epitaxial layer is epitaxially grown on the second epitaxial growth surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 9605356
    Abstract: Plate-like samples each having as a principal plane thereof a cross section perpendicular to the long axis direction of a polycrystalline silicon rod grown by the deposition using a chemical vapor deposition method are sampled; an X-ray diffraction measurement is performed omnidirectionally in the plane of each of the plate-like samples thus sampled; and when none of the plate-like samples has any X-ray diffraction peak with a diffraction intensity deviating from the average value ±2×standard deviation (?±2?) found for any one of the Miller indices <111>, <220>, <311> and <400>, the polycrystalline silicon rod is selected as the raw material for use in the production of single-crystalline silicon. The use of such a polycrystalline silicon raw material suppresses the local occurrence of the portions remaining unmelted, and can contribute to the stable production of single-crystalline silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Miyao, Junichi Okada, Shigeyoshi Netsu
  • Patent number: 9593433
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with a support on a gripping member, the support being composed of linear springs which elastically support an engaging portion. Thus, the support can be reused, and generation of rupture and dislocation of a single crystal ingot from a gripping part of the engaging portion can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ayumi Suda, Takuya Yotsui
  • Patent number: 9595438
    Abstract: A method for producing a monolithic template comprises a Si wafer with a layer of a III/V semiconductor epitaxially applied to its surface. The III/V semiconductor has a lattice constant differing by less than 10% from that of Si. The method includes epitaxially growing a layer of a III/V semiconductor on the surface of the Si wafer at a wafer temperature from 350 to 650° C., a growth rate from 0.1 to 2 ?m/h, and a layer thickness from 1 to 100 nm. A layer of another III/V semiconductor, identical to or different from the previously applied III/V semiconductor, is epitaxially grown on the III/V semiconductor layer at a wafer temperature from 500 to 800° C., a growth rate from 0.1 to 10 ?m/h, and a layer thickness from 10 to 150 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: NASP III/V GMBH
    Inventor: Bernardette Kunert
  • Patent number: 9587327
    Abstract: A method of production of a SiC single crystal uses the solution method to prevent the formation of defects due to seed touch, i.e., causing a seed crystal to touch the melt, and thereby cause growth of a SiC single crystal reduced in defect density. According to the method, a SiC seed crystal touches a melt containing Si in a graphite crucible to thereby cause growth of the SiC single crystal on the SiC seed crystal. The method includes making the SiC seed crystal touch the melt, and then making the melt rise in temperature once to a temperature higher than the temperature at the time of touch and also higher than the temperature for causing growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Danno, Akinori Seki, Hiroaki Saitoh, Yoichiro Kawai
  • Patent number: 9567693
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a Group III nitride semiconductor single crystal having excellent crystallinity, and a method for producing a GaN substrate having excellent crystallinity, the method including controlling melting back. Specifically, a mask layer is formed on a GaN substrate serving as a growth substrate. Then, a plurality of trenches which penetrate the mask layer and reach the GaN substrate are formed through photolithography. The obtained seed crystal and raw materials of a single crystal are fed to a crucible and subjected to treatment under pressurized and high temperature conditions. Portions of the GaN substrate exposed to the trenches undergo melting back with a flux. Through dissolution of the GaN substrate, the dimensions of the trenches increase, to provide large trenches. The GaN layer is grown from the surface of the mask layer as a starting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Nagai, Miki Moriyama, Shohei Kumegawa, Shiro Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9567692
    Abstract: The distance between the heat shield and the melt level of the melt can be regulated in a high precision. The real image includes at least the circular opening of the heat shield provided in such a way that the heat shield covers a part of the melt level of the silicon melt. The mirror image is a reflected image of the heat shield on the surface of the silicon melt. Based on the distance between the obtained real image and the mirror image, the melt level position of the silicon melt is computed, and the distance between the heat shield and the melt level position is regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi Takanashi, Ken Hamada
  • Patent number: 9553221
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electromagnetic casting method of polycrystalline silicon which is characterized in that polycrystalline silicon is continuously cast by charging silicon raw materials into a bottomless cold mold, melting the silicon raw materials using electromagnetic induction heating, and pulling down the molten silicon to solidify it, wherein the depth of solid-liquid interface before the start of the final solidification process is decreased by reducing a pull down rate of ingot in a final phase of steady-state casting. By adopting the method, the region of precipitation of foreign substances in the finally solidified portion of ingot can be reduced and cracking generation can be prevented upon production of a polycrystalline silicon as a substrate material for a solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Maegawa, Tomohiro Onizuka, Mitsuo Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 9546416
    Abstract: An oxide semiconductor film with excellent crystallinity is formed. At the time when an oxide semiconductor film is formed, as a substrate is heated to a temperature of higher than or equal to a first temperature and lower than a second temperature, a part of the substrate having a typical length of 1 nm to 1 ?m is heated to a temperature higher than or equal to the second temperature. Here, the first temperature means a temperature at which crystallization occurs with some stimulation, and the second temperature means a temperature at which crystallization occurs spontaneously without any stimulation. Further, the typical length is defined as the square root of a value obtained in such a manner that the area of the part is divided by the circular constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9534318
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible including: a taking-out process of taking out the vitreous silica crucible from the mold, a honing process of removing the unfused silica powder layer on the outer surface of the vitreous silica crucible, and further comprising, after the taking-out process and before the honing process, a marking process of marking an identifier comprised of one or more groove line on the outer surface of the vitreous silica crucible, wherein the groove line after the honing process has a depth of 0.2 to 0.5 mm, and a width of 0.8 mm or more at the opening of the groove line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sudo, Taira Sato, Shuichi Ikehata, Manabu Shonai, Takuji Nishi, Takaya Satou, Shinsuke Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9534315
    Abstract: Diamond is grown on a substrate (S) from a mixture of a carbon-containing gas and hydrogen gas, by a DC plasma enhanced CVD process of applying a DC voltage between a stage electrode (12) for holding the substrate (S) and a voltage-applying electrode (13). During the step of growing diamond by applying a DC voltage, a single pulse voltage of opposite polarity to the DC voltage for diamond growth is applied between the stage electrode and the voltage-applying electrode at a predetermined timing. Diamond of quality is produced at a stable growth rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Noguchi