Patents by Inventor Hironori Daikoku

Hironori Daikoku 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).

  • Publication number: 20150225871
    Abstract: A SiC single crystal production apparatus is used in production of SiC single crystals by solution growth techniques. The apparatus includes: a seed shaft having a lower end surface to which a SiC seed crystal is to be attached; a crucible that contains a Si—C solution; a stirring member that is immersed in the Si—C solution; and drive sources that cause relative rotation between the crucible and the stirring member. The lower end of the stirring member is located lower than the lower end of the SiC seed crystal attached to the lower end surface of the seed shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Kazuhito Kamei, Nobuyoshi Yashiro, Nobuhiro Okada, Koji Moriguchi, Motohisa Kado, Hironori Daikoku, Hidemitsu Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20150225872
    Abstract: The production apparatus is used in production of single crystals by solution growth techniques. The production apparatus includes a seed shaft, a crucible, and a drive source. The seed shaft has a lower end surface to which a seed crystal is to be attached. The crucible contains a solution from which a single crystal is made. The drive source causes the crucible to rotate, and also varies the rotational speed of the crucible. The inner peripheral surface of the crucible includes a flow control surface which defines a non-circular cross-sectional shape. This single crystal production apparatus is capable of strongly stirring the solution contained in the crucible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhito Kamei, Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Nobuyoshi Yashiro, Nobuhiro Okada, Koji Moriguchi, Hironori Daikoku, Motohisa Kado, Hidemitsu Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9080254
    Abstract: In a method of producing a SiC single crystal, the SiC single crystal is grown on a SiC seed crystal by bringing the SiC seed crystal, which is fixed at a rotatable seed crystal fixing shaft, into contact with a solution produced by dissolving carbon in melt containing silicon in a rotatable crucible. The method includes starting rotation of the seed crystal fixing shaft, and starting rotation of the crucible after a predetermined delay time (Td); then stopping the rotation of the seed crystal fixing shaft and the rotation of the crucible simultaneously; then stopping the seed crystal fixing shaft and the crucible for a predetermined stop time (Ts); and repeating a rotation/stop cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Sakamoto, Hironori Daikoku, Yasuyuki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20150191848
    Abstract: A production apparatus is used for a solution growth method. The production apparatus includes a seed shaft and a crucible. The seed shaft has a lower end surface to which an SiC seed crystal is attached. The crucible contains an SiC solution. The crucible includes a cylindrical portion, a bottom portion, and an inner lid. The bottom portion is disposed at a lower end of the cylindrical portion. The inner lid is disposed in the cylindrical portion. The inner lid has a through hole and is positioned below a liquid surface of the SiC solution when the SiC solution is contained in the crucible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Yashiro, Kazuhito Kamei, Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Nobuhiro Okada, Koji Moriguchi, Hironori Daikoku, Hidemitsu Sakamoto, Motohisa Kado
  • Publication number: 20150167196
    Abstract: Provided are: a high-quality SiC single crystal ingot that suppresses the generation of inclusions; and a production method for said SiC single crystal ingot. The present invention pertains to a SiC single crystal ingot including a seed crystal substrate and a SiC growth crystal grown using the solution method and using the seed crystal substrate as the origin thereof, the growth crystal having a recessed crystal growth surface and not including inclusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Motohisa Kado, Hironori Daikoku, Hidemitsu Sakamoto, Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Nobuhiro Okada
  • Publication number: 20150152569
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for producing an SiC single crystal is used in the solution growth includes a seed shaft (28) and a crucible (14). The seed shaft (28) has a lower end surface (28S) to which an SiC seed crystal (32) is to be attached. The crucible (14) holds an Si—C solution (15). The seed shaft (28) includes a cylinder part (28A), a bottom part (28B), and a low heat conductive member (28C). The bottom part (28B) is located at the lower end of the cylinder part (28A) and has the lower end surface (28S). The low heat conductive member (28C) is arranged on the upper surface of the bottom part (28B) and has a thermal conductivity lower than that of the bottom part (28B). This production apparatus can make the temperature within the crystal growth surface of the SiC seed crystal less liable to vary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Okada, Kazuhito Kamei, Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Nobuyoshi Yashiro, Koji Moriguchi, Hironori Daikoku, Motohia Kado, Hidemitsu Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20150075419
    Abstract: A method for producing a SiC single crystal having a large growth thickness of 10 mm or greater by a solution process is provided. This is achieved by a method for producing a SiC single crystal, wherein a SiC seed crystal substrate is contacted with a Si—C solution with a temperature gradient, in which the temperature decreases from the interior toward the surface, to grow a SiC single crystal, and wherein the temperature gradient in the surface region of the Si—C solution is increased at least once while the SiC single crystal is grown with the (000-1) face as the growth surface, to grow a SiC single crystal having a growth thickness of 10 mm or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Motohisa Kado, Hironori Daikoku, Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Kazuhito Kamei
  • Publication number: 20140245945
    Abstract: Provided is a SiC single crystal manufacturing method whereby growing speed improvement required to have high productivity can be achieved, while maintaining flat growth in which uniform single crystal growth can be continued at the time of growing a SiC single crystal using a solution method. In this SiC single crystal manufacturing method, a SiC single crystal is grown in a crucible from a Si solution containing C. The SiC single crystal manufacturing method is characterized in alternately repeating: a high supersaturation degree growing period, in which the growth is promoted by maintaining the supersaturation degree of C in the Si solution higher than an upper limit critical value at which flat growth can be maintained, said supersaturation degree being at a growing interface between the Si solution and a SiC single crystal being grown; and a low supersaturation degree growing period, in which the growth is promoted by maintaining the supersaturation degree lower than the critical value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motohisa Kado, Hironori Daikoku, Kazuhiko Kusunoki
  • Publication number: 20140116324
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing an SiC single crystal includes a crucible for accommodating an Si—C solution and a seed shaft having a lower end surface where an SiC seed crystal (36) would be attached. The seed shaft includes an inner pipe that extends in a height direction of the crucible and has a first passage. An outer pipe accommodates the inner pipe and constitutes a second passage between itself and the inner pipe and has a bottom portion whose lower end surface covers a lower end opening of the outer pipe. One passage of the first and second passages serves as an introduction passage where coolant gas flows downward, and the other passage serves as a discharge passage where coolant gas flows upward. A region inside the pipe that constitutes the introduction passage is to be overlapped by a region of not less than 60% of the SiC seed crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Kazuhito Kamei, Nobuyoshi Yashiro, Nobuhiro Okada, Hironori Daikoku, Motohisa Kado, Hidemitsu Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20140116325
    Abstract: A region of an SiC solution in the vicinity of an SiC seed crystal is cooled while suppressing the temperature variation in a peripheral region of the SiC solution. An apparatus includes a seed shaft and a crucible for an SiC solution. The seed shaft has a lower end surface for attachment to an SiC seed crystal. The crucible comprises a main body, an intermediate cover, and a top cover. The main body includes a first cylindrical portion and a bottom portion at a lower end portion of the first cylindrical portion. The intermediate cover is within the first cylindrical portion and above the liquid level of the SiC solution in the main body. The intermediate cover has a first through hole for the seed shaft. The top cover is disposed above the intermediate cover and has a second through hole for the seed shaft to pass through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhito Kamei, Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Nobuyoshi Yashiro, Nobuhiro Okada, Hironori Daikoku, Motohisa Kado, Hidamisu Kasamoto
  • Publication number: 20140007807
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing SiC single crystals while maintaining a temperature gradient such that the temperature decreases from within an Si solution inside a graphite crucible toward the solution surface, with the SiC seed crystals that have contacted the solution surface serving as the starting point for crystal seed growth, wherein when the crystal growth surface of the SiC seed crystals, which serves as the starting point for SiC single crystal growth, contacts the solution surface, the height by which the solution rises to the side of the SiC seed crystals is within the range where the SiC single crystals that have grown from the crystal growth surface and the SiC single crystals that have grown from the side grow as one SiC single crystal unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Hironori Daikoku, Kazuhito Kamei
  • Publication number: 20130305981
    Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus of a SiC single crystal which can suppress the generation of a polycrystal is provided. A jig (41) and a crucible (6) are accommodated in a chamber (1). A SiC solution (8) is housed in the crucible (6). The jig (41) includes a seed shaft (411) and a cover member (412). The seed shaft (411) can move up and down, and a SiC seed crystal (9) is attached to the lower surface thereof. The cover member (412) is attached to the lower end portion of the seed shaft (411). The cover member (412) is a housing which has an opening at its lower end, wherein the lower end portion of the seed shaft (411) is disposed in the cover member (412).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhito Kamei, Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Nobuyoshi Yashiro, Nobuhiro Okada, Motohisa Kado, Hidemitsu Sakamoto, Hironori Daikoku
  • Publication number: 20130284083
    Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for SiC single crystal has a control unit to control induction heating such that frequency f (Hz) of alternating current to be passed to the induction heating unit satisfies Formula (1); D1 (mm) is permeation depth of electromagnetic waves into a side wall of a crucible 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??(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 relative permeability of the SiC solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Okada, Kazuhito Kamei, Kazuhiko Kasunoki, Nobuyoshi Yashiro, Kouji Moriguchi, Hironori Daikoku, Hiroshi Suzuki, Tomokazu Ishii, Hidemitsu Sakamoto, Motohisa Kado, Yoichiro Kawai
  • Publication number: 20130220212
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an n-type SiC single crystal, enables the suppression of the variation in nitrogen concentration among a plurality of n-type SiC single crystal ingots manufactured. A method includes the steps of: providing a manufacturing apparatus (100) including a chamber (1) having an area in which a crucible (7) is to be disposed; heating the area in which the crucible (7) is to be disposed and evacuating the gas in the chamber (1); filling, after the evacuation, the chamber (1) with a mixed gas containing a noble gas and nitrogen gas; heating and melting a starting material housed in the crucible (7) disposed in the area to produce a SiC solution (8) containing silicon and carbon; and immersing a SiC seed crystal into the SiC solution under the mixed gas atmosphere to grow an n-type SiC single crystal on the SiC seed crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Kazuhito Kamei, Nobuyoshi Yashiro, Kouji Moriguchi, Nobuchiro Okada, Katsunori Danno, Hironori Daikoku
  • Publication number: 20110315073
    Abstract: In a method of producing an SiC single crystal, the SiC single crystal is grown on an SiC seed crystal by bringing the SiC seed crystal, which is fixed at a rotatable seed crystal fixing shaft, into contact with a solution produced by dissolving carbon in melt containing silicon in a rotatable crucible. The method includes starting rotation of the seed crystal fixing shaft, and starting rotation of the crucible after a predetermined delay time (Td); then stopping the rotation of the seed crystal fixing shaft and the rotation of the crucible simultaneously; then stopping the seed crystal fixing shaft and the crucible for a predetermined stop time (Ts); and repeating a rotation/stop cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Sakamoto, Hironori Daikoku, Yasuyuki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7608816
    Abstract: A light receiving module includes a substrate, a light receiving element mounted on the substrate, a resin package covering the light receiving element, and a shield cover into which the resin package is inserted in an insertion direction. The shield cover includes first and second press plates configured to press the resin package in two different directions that are perpendicular to the insertion direction. The first press plate and the second press plate include a first end and a second end, respectively, which are adjacent but different in position in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoharu Horio, Hironori Daikoku
  • Publication number: 20080099670
    Abstract: A light receiving module includes a substrate, a light receiving element mounted on the substrate, a resin package covering the light receiving element, and a shield cover into which the resin package is inserted in an insertion direction. The shield cover includes first and second press plates configured to press the resin package in two different directions that are perpendicular to the insertion direction. The first press plate and the second press plate include a first end and a second end, respectively, which are adjacent but different in position in the insertion direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoharu Horio, Hironori Daikoku
  • Patent number: D564975
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoharu Horio, Hironori Daikoku