Patents by Inventor Salvador Zepeda

Salvador Zepeda 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: 20230220582
    Abstract: Methods for forming a unitized crucible assembly for holding a melt of silicon for forming a silicon ingot are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods involve a porous crucible mold having a channel network with a bottom channel, an outer sidewall channel that extends from the bottom channel, and a central weir channel that extends from the bottom channel. A slip slurry may be added to the channel network and the liquid carrier of the slip slurry may be drawn into the mold. The resulting green body may be sintered to form the crucible assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Phillips, Salvador Zepeda, Patrick Fredrick Boegemann, III, William Luter
  • Publication number: 20230078325
    Abstract: Crystal pulling systems having composite polycrystalline silicon feed tubes, methods for forming such tubes, and methods for forming a single crystal silicon ingot with use of such tubes. The composite polycrystalline silicon feed tubes include quartz and at least one dopant. The composite polycrystalline silicon feed tube may be made by a slip cast method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Phillips, Salvador Zepeda, William Luter
  • Publication number: 20220375784
    Abstract: A method for preparing semiconductor on insulator structures comprises transferring a thin layer of silicon from a donor substrate onto a handle substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Gaurab Samanta, Salvador Zepeda
  • Patent number: 11443978
    Abstract: A method for preparing semiconductor on insulator structures comprises transferring a thin layer of silicon from a donor substrate onto a handle substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: GlobalWafers Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gaurab Samanta, Salvador Zepeda
  • Publication number: 20220228292
    Abstract: Methods for forming a unitized crucible assembly for holding a melt of silicon for forming a silicon ingot are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods involve a porous crucible mold having a channel network with a bottom channel, an outer sidewall channel that extends from the bottom channel, and a central weir channel that extends from the bottom channel. A slip slurry may be added to the channel network and the liquid carrier of the slip slurry may be drawn into the mold. The resulting green body may be sintered to form the crucible assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Phillips, Salvador Zepeda, Patrick Fredrick Boegemann, III, William Luter
  • Patent number: 11377751
    Abstract: Methods for forming a unitized crucible assembly for holding a melt of silicon for forming a silicon ingot are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods involve a porous crucible mold having a channel network with a bottom channel, an outer sidewall channel that extends from the bottom channel, and a central weir channel that extends from the bottom channel. A slip slurry may be added to the channel network and the liquid carrier of the slip slurry may be drawn into the mold. The resulting green body may be sintered to form the crucible assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: GlobalWafers Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Phillips, Salvador Zepeda, Patrick Fredrick Boegemann, III, William Luter
  • Publication number: 20220145491
    Abstract: Methods for forming a single crystal silicon ingot with reduced crucible erosion are disclosed. Solid-phase quartz is added to the melt to reduce erosion at the crucible-melt surface interface. The quartz may be synthetic quartz such as synthetic quartz rods. The quartz may be disposed near the crucible-melt surface interface. Quartz dissolves and suppresses the amount of quartz that dissolves from the crucible at the crucible-melt surface interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Phillips, Salvador Zepeda
  • Patent number: 11326271
    Abstract: Methods for forming a unitized crucible assembly for holding a melt of silicon for forming a silicon ingot are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods involve a porous crucible mold having a channel network with a bottom channel, an outer sidewall channel that extends from the bottom channel, and a central weir channel that extends from the bottom channel. A slip slurry may be added to the channel network and the liquid carrier of the slip slurry may be drawn into the mold. The resulting green body may be sintered to form the crucible assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: GlobalWafers Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Phillips, Salvador Zepeda, Patrick Fredrick Boegemann, III, William Luter
  • Publication number: 20220127748
    Abstract: Methods for forming a unitized crucible assembly for holding a melt of silicon for forming a silicon ingot are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods involve a porous crucible mold having a channel network with a bottom channel, an outer sidewall channel that extends from the bottom channel, and a central weir channel that extends from the bottom channel. A slip slurry may be added to the channel network and the liquid carrier of the slip slurry may be drawn into the mold. The resulting green body may be sintered to form the crucible assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Phillips, Salvador Zepeda, Patrick Fredrick Boegemann, III, William Luter
  • Publication number: 20210262114
    Abstract: Methods for forming a unitized crucible assembly for holding a melt of silicon for forming a silicon ingot are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods involve a porous crucible mold having a channel network with a bottom channel, an outer sidewall channel that extends from the bottom channel, and a central weir channel that extends from the bottom channel. A slip slurry may be added to the channel network and the liquid carrier of the slip slurry may be drawn into the mold. The resulting green body may be sintered to form the crucible assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Phillips, Salvador Zepeda, Patrick Fredrick Boegemann, III, William Luter
  • Publication number: 20210262113
    Abstract: Methods for forming a unitized crucible assembly for holding a melt of silicon for forming a silicon ingot are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods involve a porous crucible mold having a channel network with a bottom channel, an outer sidewall channel that extends from the bottom channel, and a central weir channel that extends from the bottom channel. A slip slurry may be added to the channel network and the liquid carrier of the slip slurry may be drawn into the mold. The resulting green body may be sintered to form the crucible assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Phillips, Salvador Zepeda, Patrick Fredrick Boegemann, III, William Luter
  • Publication number: 20210005508
    Abstract: A method for preparing semiconductor on insulator structures comprises transferring a thin layer of silicon from a donor substrate onto a handle substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Gaurab Samanta, Salvador Zepeda
  • Patent number: 10818540
    Abstract: A method for preparing semiconductor on insulator structures comprises transferring a thin layer of silicon from a donor substrate onto a handle substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: GlobalWafers Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gaurab Samanta, Salvador Zepeda
  • Publication number: 20190378753
    Abstract: A method for preparing semiconductor on insulator structures comprises transferring a thin layer of silicon from a donor substrate onto a handle substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Gaurab Samanta, Salvador Zepeda
  • Patent number: 10450670
    Abstract: Methods for growing a reduced dislocation crystal ingot in an ingot growing system are disclosed. The system has a first crucible with a first base and a first sidewall extending upward from the first base to define an outer cavity. The method includes placing a weir in the outer cavity, placing a second crucible on the weir, placing feedstock material into the outer cavity, and melting the feedstock material to allow movement of the melt from the outer cavity inward of an intermediate cavity and into an inner cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Corner Star Limited
    Inventors: Tirumani N. Swaminathan, Salvador Zepeda, John David Hilker
  • Patent number: 10407797
    Abstract: A system for forming an ingot from a melt includes a first crucible defining a cavity for receiving the melt and a second crucible in the cavity. The second crucible separates an outer zone from an inner zone. The second crucible includes a passageway therethrough to allow the melt located within the outer zone to move into the inner zone. The inner zone defines a growth area for the ingot. The system also includes a barrier located within the outer zone to limit movement of the melt through the outer zone. The barrier includes members that are arranged to define a labyrinth for melt flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Corner Start Limited
    Inventors: Salvador Zepeda, Richard J. Phillips, Christopher Vaughn Luers
  • Publication number: 20190153615
    Abstract: Systems and methods for forming an ingot from a melt are disclosed. A method includes placing conditioning members within a cavity defined by a crucible and placing feedstock material into the cavity. The method also includes melting the feedstock material to form the melt. A melt line is defined by a surface of the melt. The conditioning members including quartz bodies arranged at the melt line to contact the melt and reduce the number of micro-voids in the melt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Salvador Zepeda, Richard J. Phillips, Christopher Vaughn Luers, Steven Lawrence Kimbel, Harold W. Korb, John D. Holder, Carissima Marie Hudson, Hariprasad Sreedharamurthy, Stephan Haringer, Marco Zardoni
  • Patent number: 10221500
    Abstract: Systems and methods for forming an ingot from a melt are disclosed. A system includes a crucible defining a cavity for receiving the melt, and a first and second barrier to inhibit movement of the melt. A first passageway and a second passageway are arranged to allow the melt located within an outer zone to move into and through a transition zone and into an inner zone. Conditioning members are placed in at least one of the zones and arranged to contact the melt to reduce the number of micro-voids in the melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Corner Star Limited
    Inventors: Salvador Zepeda, Richard J. Phillips, Christopher Vaughn Luers, Steven Lawrence Kimbel, Harold W. Korb, John D. Holder, Carissima Marie Hudson, Hariprasad Sreedharamurthy, Stephan Haringer, Marco Zardoni
  • Publication number: 20180320287
    Abstract: A system for forming an ingot from a melt includes a first crucible defining a cavity for receiving the melt and a second crucible in the cavity. The second crucible separates an outer zone from an inner zone. The second crucible includes a passageway therethrough to allow the melt located within the outer zone to move into the inner zone. The inner zone defines a growth area for the ingot. The system also includes a barrier located within the outer zone to limit movement of the melt through the outer zone. The barrier includes members that are arranged to define a labyrinth for melt flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Salvador Zepeda, Richard J. Phillips, Christopher Vaughn Luers
  • Publication number: 20180291524
    Abstract: Methods for growing single crystal ingots doped with volatile dopants and ingots grown according to the methods are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Soubir Basak, Gaurab Samanta, Salvador Zepeda, Christopher V. Luers, Steven L. Kimbel, Carissima Marie Hudson, Hariprasad Sreedharamurthy, Roberto Scala, Richard J. Phillips, Tirumani N. Swaminathan, Jihong Chen, Stephen Wayne Palmore, Peter Drury Wildes