Patents by Inventor Makiko KODAMA

Makiko KODAMA 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: 9809902
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for evaluating a vitreous silica crucible which can measure a three-dimensional shape of the inner surface of the crucible in a non-destructive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sudo, Tadahiro Sato, Ken Kitahara, Eriko Kitahara, Makiko Kodama
  • Patent number: 9115445
    Abstract: Provided is a vitreous silica crucible which has a special region for suppressing vibration of melt surface during pulling of a silicon single crystal and at the same time, a marking capable of accurately monitoring a changed position of the melt surface when passing through the special region. The special region for preventing sloshing of silicon melt is provided on an inner wall of a straight body portion, and the marking is provided at least at an upper end and a lower end of the special region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sudo, Hiroshi Kishi, Makiko Kodama
  • Patent number: 8936685
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vitreous silica crucible which can suppress the sidewall lowering of the crucible under high temperature during pulling a silicon single crystal, and a method of manufacturing such a vitreous silica crucible. The vitreous silica crucible 10 includes an opaque vitreous silica layer 11 provided on the outer surface side of the crucible and containing numerous bubbles, and a transparent vitreous silica layer 12 provided on the inner surface side. The opaque vitreous silica layer 11 includes a first opaque vitreous silica portion 11a provided on the crucible upper portion, and a second opaque vitreous silica portion 11b provided on the crucible lower portion. The specific gravity of the second opaque vitreous silica portion 11b is 1.7 to 2.1, and the specific gravity of the first opaque vitreous silica portion 11a is 1.4 to 1.8, and smaller than that of the second opaque vitreous silica portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Japan Super Quartz Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sudo, Makiko Kodama, Minoru Kanda, Hiroshi Kishi
  • Publication number: 20140326172
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for evaluating a vitreous silica crucible which can measure a three-dimensional shape of the inner surface of the crucible in a non-destructive manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sudo, Tadahiro Sato, Ken Kitahara, Eriko Kitahara, Makiko Kodama
  • Patent number: 8715415
    Abstract: Provided is a vitreous silica crucible for pulling silicon single crystals, which can melt a silicon raw material in a short time and improve production yield of silicon single crystals by temporal change of an opaque vitreous silica layer. The vitreous silica crucible includes an opaque vitreous silica layer(11) provided on an outer surface thereof and containing plural bubbles, and a transparent vitreous silica layer(12) provided on an inner surface and not containing bubbles substantially. The opaque vitreous silica layer(11) has a bubble diameter distribution in which the content of bubbles having a diameter of less than 40 ?m is 10% or more and less than 30%, the content of bubbles having a diameter of 40 ?m or more and less than 90 ?m is 40% or more and less than 80%, and the content of bubbles having a diameter equal to or more than 90 ?m is 10% or more and less than 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Japan Super Quartz Corporation
    Inventors: Makiko Kodama, Hiroshi Kishi, Minoru Kanda
  • Publication number: 20120260852
    Abstract: Provided is a vitreous silica crucible which has a special region for suppressing vibration of melt surface during pulling of a silicon single crystal and at the same time, a marking capable of accurately monitoring a changed position of the melt surface when passing through the special region. The special region for preventing sloshing of silicon melt is provided on an inner wall of a straight body portion, and the marking is provided at least at an upper end and a lower end of the special region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: JAPAN SUPER QUARTZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sudo, Hiroshi Kishi, Makiko Kodama
  • Publication number: 20120160159
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vitreous silica crucible which can suppress the sidewall lowering of the crucible under high temperature during pulling a silicon single crystal, and a method of manufacturing such a vitreous silica crucible. The vitreous silica crucible 10 includes an opaque vitreous silica layer 11 provided on the outer surface side of the crucible and containing numerous bubbles, and a transparent vitreous silica layer 12 provided on the inner surface side. The opaque vitreous silica layer 11 includes a first opaque vitreous silica portion 11a provided on the crucible upper portion, and a second opaque vitreous silica portion 11b provided on the crucible lower portion. The specific gravity of the second opaque vitreous silica portion 11b is 1.7 to 2.1, and the specific gravity of the first opaque vitreous silica portion 11a is 1.4 to 1.8, and smaller than that of the second opaque vitreous silica portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: JAPAN SUPER QUARTZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sudo, Makiko Kodama, Minoru Kanda, Hiroshi Kishi
  • Publication number: 20100251959
    Abstract: Provided is a vitreous silica crucible for pulling silicon single crystals, which can melt a silicon raw material in a short time and improve production yield of silicon single crystals by temporal change of an opaque vitreous silica layer. The vitreous silica crucible includes an opaque vitreous silica layer(11) provided on an outer surface thereof and containing plural bubbles, and a transparent vitreous silica layer(12) provided on an inner surface and not containing bubbles substantially. The opaque vitreous silica layer(11) has a bubble diameter distribution in which the content of bubbles having a diameter of less than 40 ?m is 10% or more and less than 30%, the content of bubbles having a diameter of 40 ?m or more and less than 90 ?m is 40% or more and less than 80%, and the content of bubbles having a diameter equal to or more than 90 ?m is 10% or more and less than 30%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: JAPAN SUPER QUARTZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makiko KODAMA, Hiroshi KISHI, Minoru KANDA
  • Publication number: 20100107970
    Abstract: Disclosed is a silica glass crucible employed in pulling silicon single crystals. The crucible comprises at least a transparent layer, semitransparent layer, and opaque layer disposed from the inner surface side to the outer surface side of the crucible. The content of bubbles in the transparent layer is less than 0.3 percent; the content of bubbles in the semitransparent layer falls within a range of from 0.3 to 0.6 percent; and the content of bubbles in the opaque layer is greater than 0.6 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: JAPAN SUPER QUARTZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makiko KODAMA, Masaki MORIKAWA