Patents by Inventor Arvid Neil Arvidson

Arvid Neil Arvidson 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).

  • Patent number: 9909231
    Abstract: A method for recharging a crucible with polycrystalline silicon comprises adding flowable chips to a crucible used in a Czochralski-type process. Flowable chips are polycrystalline silicon particles made from polycrystalline silicon prepared by a chemical vapor deposition process, and flowable chips have a controlled particle size distribution, generally nonspherical morphology, low levels of bulk impurities, and low levels of surface impurities. Flowable chips can be added to the crucible using conventional feeder equipment, such as vibration feeder systems and canister feeder systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: HEMLOCK SEMICONDUCTOR OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Terence Lee Horstman, Michael John Molnar, Chris Tim Schmidt, Roger Dale Spencer, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150090178
    Abstract: A method for recharging a crucible with polycrystalline silicon comprises adding flowable chips to a crucible used in a Czochralski-type process. Flowable chips are polycrystalline silicon particles made from polycrystalline silicon prepared by a chemical vapor deposition process, and flowable chips have a controlled particle size distribution, generally nonspherical morphology, low levels of bulk impurities, and low levels of surface impurities. Flowable chips can be added to the crucible using conventional feeder equipment, such as vibration feeder systems and canister feeder systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: ARVID NEIL ARVIDSON, TERENCE LEE HORSTMAN, MICHAEL JOHN MOLNAR, CHRIS Tim SCHMIDT, ROGER DALE SPENCER, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8926749
    Abstract: A method for recharging a crucible with polycrystalline silicon comprises adding flowable chips to a crucible used in a Czochralski-type process. Flowable chips are polycrystalline silicon particles made from polycrystalline silicon prepared by a chemical vapor deposition process, and flowable chips have a controlled particle size distribution, generally nonspherical morphology, low levels of bulk impurities, and low levels of surface impurities. Flowable chips can be added to the crucible using conventional feeder equipment, such as vibration feeder systems and canister feeder systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hemlock Semi Conductor
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Terence Lee Horstman, Michael John Molnar, Chris Tim Schmidt, Roger Dale Spencer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8609058
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor and a Siemens reactor are used to produce polycrystalline silicon. The process includes feeding the vent gas from the Siemens reactor as a feed gas to the fluidized bed reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Michael Molnar
  • Publication number: 20110286906
    Abstract: A method for recharging a crucible with polycrystalline silicon comprises adding flowable chips to a crucible used in a Czochralski-type process. Flowable chips are polycrystalline silicon particles made from polycrystalline silicon prepared by a chemical vapor deposition process, and flowable chips have a controlled particle size distribution, generally nonspherical morphology, low levels of bulk impurities, and low levels of surface impurities. Flowable chips can be added to the crucible using conventional feeder equipment, such as vibration feeder systems and canister feeder systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Terence Lee Horstman, Michael John Molnar, Chris Tim Schmidt, Roger Dale Spencer, JR.
  • Patent number: 8021483
    Abstract: A method for recharging a crucible with polycrystalline silicon comprises adding flowable chips to a crucible used in a Czochralski-type process. Flowable chips are polycrystalline silicon particles made from polycrystalline silicon prepared by a chemical vapor deposition process, and flowable chips have a controlled particle size distribution, generally nonspherical morphology, low levels of bulk impurities, and low levels of surface impurities. Flowable chips can be added to the crucible using conventional feeder equipment, such as vibration feeder systems and canister feeder systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Terence Lee Horstman, Michael John Molnar, Chris Tim Schmidt, Roger Dale Spencer, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110189074
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor and a Siemens reactor are used to produce polycrystalline silicon. The process includes feeding the vent gas from the Siemens reactor as a feed gas to the fluidized bed reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Arvid Neil ARVIDSON, Michael Molnar
  • Patent number: 7935327
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor and a Siemens reactor are used to produce polycrystalline silicon. The process includes feeding the vent gas from the Siemens reactor as a feed gas to the fluidized bed reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Michael Molnar
  • Publication number: 20080056979
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor and a Siemens reactor are used to produce polycrystalline silicon. The process includes feeding the vent gas from the Siemens reactor as a feed gas to the fluidized bed reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Michael Molnar
  • Patent number: 7080742
    Abstract: A method for processing polycrystalline silicon workpieces to form size distributions of polycrystalline silicon pieces suitable for use in a Czochralski-type process includes: (1) preparing a polycrystalline silicon workpiece by a chemical vapor deposition process; (2) fracturing the polycrystalline silicon workpiece into a mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces, where the polycrystalline silicon pieces have varying sizes; and (3) sorting the mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces into at least two size distributions. Step (2) may be carried out by a thermal shock process. Step (3) may be carried out using a rotary indent classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Todd Stanley Graham, Kathryn Elizabeth Messner, Chris Tim Schmidt, Terence Lee Horstman
  • Patent number: 6874713
    Abstract: A method for processing polycrystalline silicon workpieces to form size distributions of polycrystalline silicon pieces suitable for use in a Czochralski-type process includes: (1) preparing a polycrystalline silicon workpiece by a chemical vapor deposition process; (2) fracturing the polycrystalline silicon workpiece into a mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces, where the polycrystalline silicon pieces have varying sizes; and (3) sorting the mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces into at least two size distributions. Step (2) may be carried out by a thermal shock process. Step (3) may be carried out using a rotary indent classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Todd Stanley Graham, Kathryn Elizabeth Messner, Chris Tim Schmidt, Terence Lee Horstman
  • Publication number: 20040251333
    Abstract: A method for processing polycrystalline silicon workpieces to form size distributions of polycrystalline silicon pieces suitable for use in a Czochralski-type process includes: (1) preparing a polycrystalline silicon workpiece by a chemical vapor deposition process; (2) fracturing the polycrystalline silicon workpiece into a mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces, where the polycrystalline silicon pieces have varying sizes; and (3) sorting the mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces into at least two size distributions. Step (2) may be carried out by a thermal shock process. Step (3) may be carried out using a rotary indent classifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Todd Stanley Graham, Kathryn Elizabeth Messner, Chris Tim Schmidt, Terence Lee Horstman
  • Publication number: 20040035960
    Abstract: A method for processing polycrystalline silicon workpieces to form size distributions of polycrystalline silicon pieces suitable for use in a Czochralski-type process includes: (1) preparing a polycrystalline silicon workpiece by a chemical vapor deposition process; (2) fracturing the polycrystalline silicon workpiece into a mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces, where the polycrystalline silicon pieces have varying sizes; and (3) sorting the mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces into at least two size distributions. Step (2) may be carried out by a thermal shock process. Step (3) may be carried out using a rotary indent classifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Todd Stanley Graham, Kathryn Elizabeth Messner, Chris Tim Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20030159647
    Abstract: A method for recharging a crucible with polycrystalline silicon comprises adding flowable chips to a crucible used in a Czochralski-type process. Flowable chips are polycrystalline silicon particles made from polycrystalline silicon prepared by a chemical vapor deposition process, and flowable chips have a controlled particle size distribution, generally nonspherical morphology, low levels of bulk impurities, and low levels of surface impurities. Flowable chips can be added to the crucible using conventional feeder equipment, such as vibration feeder systems and canister feeder systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Terence Lee Horstman, Michael John Molnar, Chris Tim Schmidt, Roger Dale Spencer
  • Patent number: 6605149
    Abstract: A process forms a single crystal silicon ingot from varying sized pieces of polycrystalline silicon source material according to the Czochralski method. The process comprises placing into a crucible on the bottom a generally polygonal-shaped concentric array of rod-shaped polycrystalline silicon pieces having obliquely cut ends. The method of stacking the polycrystalline silicon pieces in the crucible allows for a denser packing of silicon in the crucible, can be accomplished in a quicker time then conventional packing methods, and has the potential for less damage to the crucible bottom, when comparing to standard packing methods using a size assortment of irregular shaped silicon pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Arvid Neil Arvidson
  • Publication number: 20030131783
    Abstract: A process forms a single crystal silicon ingot from varying sized pieces of polycrystalline silicon source material according to the Czochralski method. The process comprises placing into a crucible on the bottom a generally polygonal-shaped concentric array of rod-shaped polycrystalline silicon pieces having obliquely cut ends. The method of stacking the polycrystalline silicon pieces in the crucible allows for a denser packing of silicon in the crucible, can be accomplished in a quicker time then conventional packing methods, and has the potential for less damage to the crucible bottom, when comparing to standard packing methods using a size assortment of irregular shaped silicon pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Arvid Neil Arvidson