Patents by Inventor Thomas Buschhardt
Thomas Buschhardt 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).
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Patent number: 11154908Abstract: A separating apparatus for polysilicon has at least one screen plate, comprising a feed region for polysilicon, a profiled region having peaks and valleys, a region having screen apertures which adjoins the profiled region, and a takeoff region, wherein the screen apertures widen in the direction of the takeoff region, and a separating plate which is horizontally and vertically displaceable is arranged below the screen apertures.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Siltronic AGInventors: Thomas Buschhardt, Simon Ehrenschwendtner, Thomas Hinterberger, Hans-Guenther Wackerbauer
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Patent number: 11059072Abstract: Polysilicon chunks or granules are classified into size fractions using a mechanical screen having a profiled surface having peaks and valleys, and terminating in widening slots through which a polysilicon size fraction falls. The device is effective and the slots are resistant to clogging.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignees: SILTRONIC AG, WACKER CHEMIE AGInventors: Andreas Bergmann, Thomas Buschhardt, Simon Ehrenschwendtner, Christian Fraunhofer
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Publication number: 20200086348Abstract: A separating apparatus for polysilicon has at least one screen plate, comprising a feed region for polysilicon, a profiled region having peaks and valleys, a region having screen apertures which adjoins the profiled region, and a takeoff region, wherein the screen apertures widen in the direction of the takeoff region, and a separating plate which is horizontally and vertically displaceable is arranged below the screen apertures.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2017Publication date: March 19, 2020Applicant: SILTRONIC AGInventors: Thomas BUSCHHARDT, Simon EHRENSCHWENDTNER, Thomas HINTERBERGER, Hans-Guenther WACKERBAUER
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Publication number: 20180185882Abstract: Polysilicon chunks or granules are classified into size fractions using a mechanical screen having a profiled surface having peaks and valleys, and terminating in widening slots through which a polysilicon size fraction falls. The device is effective and the slots are resistant to clogging.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2016Publication date: July 5, 2018Applicants: SILTRONIC AG, WACKER CHEMIE AGInventors: Andreas BERGMANN, Thomas BUSCHHARDT, Simon EHRENSCHWENDTNER, Christian FRAUNHOFER
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Patent number: 9230794Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are cleaned, dried, and hydrophilized the following steps in the order stated: a) treating the semiconductor wafer with a liquid aqueous solution containing hydrogen fluoride, the semiconductor wafer rotating about its center axis at least occasionally, and b) drying the semiconductor wafer by rotation of the semiconductor wafer about its center axis at a rotational speed of 1000 to 5000 revolutions per minute in an ozone-containing atmosphere, the liquid aqueous solution containing hydrogen fluoride flowing away from the semiconductor wafer on account of the centrifugal force generated by the rotation, and the surface of the semiconductor wafer being hydrophilized by ozone.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2008Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: SILTRONIC AGInventors: Guenter Schwab, Clemens Zapilko, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijoo
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Patent number: 8721390Abstract: A method for double-side polishing of a semiconductor wafer includes situating the semiconductor wafer in a cutout of a carrier that is disposed in a working gap between an upper polishing plate covered by a first polishing pad and a lower polishing plate covered by a second polishing pad. The first and second polishing pads each include tiled square segments that are formed by an arrangement of channels on the pads, where the square segments of the first pad are larger than the segments of the second pad. The square segments of the polishing pads include abrasives. During polishing, the carrier is guided such that a portion of the wafer temporarily projects laterally outside of the working gap. A polishing agent with a pH that is variable is supplied during polishing at a pH in a range of 11 to 12.5 during a first step and at a pH of at least 13 during a second step.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Siltronic AGInventors: Juergen Schwandner, Thomas Buschhardt, Roland Koppert
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Patent number: 8685270Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor wafer sliced from a single crystal includes rounding an edge using a grinding disk containing abrasives with an average grain size of 20.0-60.0 ?m. A first simultaneous double-side material-removing process is performed wherein the semiconductor wafers are processed between two rotating ring-shaped working disks, each working disk having a working layer containing abrasives having an average grain size of 5.0-20.0 ?m, wherein the semiconductor wafer is placed in a cutout in one of a plurality of carriers rotatable by a rolling apparatus such that the semiconductor wafer lies in a freely movable manner in the carrier and the wafer is movable on a cycloidal trajectory. A second simultaneous double-side material-removing process is performed including processing the semiconductor wafers between two rotating ring-shaped working disks, each working disk having a working layer containing abrasives having an average grain size of 0.5-15.0 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Siltronic AGInventors: Juergen Schwandner, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijoo, Michael Kerstan, Georg Pietsch, Guenter Schwab
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Patent number: 8647985Abstract: Semiconductor material substrates are polished by a method including at least one polishing step A by means of which the substrate is polished on a polishing pad containing an abrasive material bonded in the polishing pad and a polishing agent solution is introduced between the substrate and the polishing pad during the polishing step; and at least one polishing step B by means of which the substrate is polished on a polishing pad containing an abrasive material-containing polishing pad and wherein a polishing agent slurry containing unbonded abrasive material is introduced between the substrate and the polishing pad during the polishing step.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2008Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Siltronic AGInventors: Juergen Schwandner, Thomas Buschhardt, Roland Koppert, Georg Pietsch
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Patent number: 8647173Abstract: A method of polishing a semiconductor wafer using a holding system including a lined cutout the size of the semiconductor wafer that is fixed to a carrier. The method includes holding the semiconductor wafer in the cutout through adhesion of a first side of the semiconductor wafer to a bearing surface in the cutout and polishing a second side of the held semiconductor wafer using a polishing pad that is fixed on a polishing plate while introducing a polishing agent between the second side of the semiconductor wafer and the polishing pad, the polishing pad including fixedly bonded abrasive materials. The carrier is guided during polishing such that a portion of the second side of the semiconductor wafer temporarily projects beyond a lateral edge of a surface of the polishing pad.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Siltronic AGInventors: Juergen Schwandner, Thomas Buschhardt, Roland Koppert
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Patent number: 8580046Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are treated in a liquid container filled at least partly with a solution containing hydrogen fluoride, such that surface oxide dissolves, are transported out of the solution along a transport direction and dried, and are then treated with an ozone-containing gas to oxidize the surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein part of the semiconductor wafer surface comes into contact with the ozone-containing gas while another part of the surface is still in contact with the solution, and wherein the solution and the ozone-containing gas are spatially separated such that they do not come into contact with one another.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2012Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Siltronic AGInventors: Guenter Schwab, Diego Feijoo, Thomas Buschhardt, Hans-Joachim Luthe, Franz Sollinger
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Patent number: 8372213Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are treated in a liquid container filled at least partly with a solution containing hydrogen fluoride, such that surface oxide dissolves, are transported out of the solution along a transport direction and dried, and are then treated with an ozone-containing gas to oxidize the surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein part of the semiconductor wafer surface comes into contact with the ozone-containing gas while another part of the surface is still in contact with the solution, and wherein the solution and the ozone-containing gas are spatially separated such that they do not come into contact with one another.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Siltronic AGInventors: Guenter Schwab, Diego Feijoo, Thomas Buschhardt, Hans-Joachim Luthe, Franz Sollinger
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Publication number: 20120248068Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the fluidic inline-treatment of flat substrates with at least one process module. In particular, the invention relates to such a treatment during the gentle and controlled transport of the substrates, wherein the treatment can also just relate to the transport of the substrates. According to the invention, a process module 1 is provided which comprises a treatment chamber 2 having at least one treatment surface 7A being substantially horizontally arranged in a treatment plane 5 and being designed for the formation of a lower fluid cushion 6A, wherein two openings in the form of entry 3 and exit 4 for the linear feed-through of the substrates 22 in the same plane are assigned to the treatment surface 7A, and at least one feed device with at least one catch 10 for the controlled feed 9 of the substrates 22 within the treatment chamber 2. Furthermore, the invention provides a method using the apparatus according to the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2010Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicants: SILTRONIC AG, RENA GMBHInventors: Frank Schienle, Mario Schwab, Rahim Hamid, Lothar Hermann, Günter Schwab, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijóo, Konrad Kaltenbach, Franz Sollinger
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Patent number: 8093143Abstract: A method for producing a wafer with a silicon single crystal substrate having a front and a back side and a layer of SiGe deposited on the front side, the method using steps in the following order: simultaneously polishing the front and the back side of the silicon single crystal substrate; depositing a stress compensating layer on the back side of the silicon single crystal substrate; polishing the front side of the silicon single crystal substrate; cleaning the silicon single crystal substrate having the stress compensating layer deposited on the back side; and depositing a fully or partially relaxed layer of SiGe on the front side of the silicon single crystal substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2010Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Siltronic AGInventors: Peter Storck, Thomas Buschhardt
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Patent number: 8070882Abstract: A method for the wet-chemical treatment of a semiconductor wafer involves: a) rotating a semiconductor wafer; b) applying a cleaning liquid comprising gas bubbles having a diameter of 100 ?m or less to the rotating wafer such that a liquid film forms on the wafer; c) exposing the rotating semiconductor wafer to a gas atmosphere containing a reactive gas; and d) removing the liquid film from the wafer.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2008Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Siltronic AGInventors: Guenter Schwab, Clemens Zapilko, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijoo, Teruo Haibara, Yoshihiro Mori
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Publication number: 20110244762Abstract: A method for double-side polishing of a semiconductor wafer includes situating the semiconductor wafer in a cutout of a carrier that is disposed in a working gap between an upper polishing plate covered by a first polishing pad and a lower polishing plate covered by a second polishing pad. The first and second polishing pads each include tiled square segments that are formed by an arrangement of channels on the pads, where the square segments of the first pad are larger than the segments of the second pad. The square segments of the polishing pads include abrasives. During polishing, the carrier is guided such that a portion of the wafer temporarily projects laterally outside of the working gap. A polishing agent with a pH that is variable is supplied during polishing at a pH in a range of 11 to 12.5 during a first step and at a pH of at least 13 during a second step.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: SILTRONIC AGInventors: Juergen Schwandner, Thomas Buschhardt, Roland Koppert
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Patent number: 7938911Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are cleaned using a cleaning solution containing an alkaline ammonium component in an initial composition, wherein the semiconductor wafer is brought into contact with the cleaning solution in an individual-wafer treatment, and in the course of cleaning hydrogen fluoride is added as further component to the cleaning solution, and the cleaning solution has at the end of cleaning, a composition that differs from the initial composition.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Siltronic AGInventors: Clemens Zapilko, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijoo, Guenter Schwab
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Publication number: 20110097975Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor wafer sliced from a single crystal includes rounding an edge using a grinding disk containing abrasives with an average grain size of 20.0-60.0 ?m. A first simultaneous double-side material-removing process is performed wherein the semiconductor wafers are processed between two rotating ring-shaped working disks, each working disk having a working layer containing abrasives having an average grain size of 5.0-20.0 ?m, wherein the semiconductor wafer is placed in a cutout in one of a plurality of carriers rotatable by a rolling apparatus such that the semiconductor wafer lies in a freely movable manner in the carrier and the wafer is movable on a cycloidal trajectory. A second simultaneous double-side material-removing process is performed including processing the semiconductor wafers between two rotating ring-shaped working disks, each working disk having a working layer containing abrasives having an average grain size of 0.5-15.0 ?m.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Applicant: SILTRONIC AGInventors: Juergen SCHWANDNER, Thomas BUSCHHARDT, Diego FEIJOO, Michael KERSTAN, Georg PIETSCH, Guenter SCHWAB
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Publication number: 20110097974Abstract: A method of polishing a semiconductor wafer using a holding system including a lined cutout the size of the semiconductor wafer that is fixed to a carrier. The method includes holding the semiconductor wafer in the cutout through adhesion of a first side of the semiconductor wafer to a bearing surface in the cutout and polishing a second side of the held semiconductor wafer using a polishing pad that is fixed on a polishing plate while introducing a polishing agent between the second side of the semiconductor wafer and the polishing pad, the polishing pad including fixedly bonded abrasive materials. The carrier is guided during polishing such that a portion of the second side of the semiconductor wafer temporarily projects beyond a lateral edge of a surface of the polishing pad.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Applicant: Siltronic AGInventors: Juergen SCHWANDNER, Thomas BUSCHHARDT, Roland KOPPERT
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Publication number: 20100291761Abstract: A method for producing a wafer with a silicon single crystal substrate having a front and a back side and a layer of SiGe deposited on the front side, the method using steps in the following order: simultaneously polishing the front and the back side of the silicon single crystal substrate; depositing a stress compensating layer on the back side of the silicon single crystal substrate; polishing the front side of the silicon single crystal substrate; cleaning the silicon single crystal substrate having the stress compensating layer deposited on the back side; and depositing a fully or partially relaxed layer of SiGe on the front side of the silicon single crystal substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2010Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: SILTRONIC AGInventors: Peter Storck, Thomas Buschhardt
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Publication number: 20100139706Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are treated in a liquid container filled at least partly with a solution containing hydrogen fluoride, such that surface oxide dissolves, are transported out of the solution along a transport direction and dried, and are then treated with an ozone-containing gas to oxidize the surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein part of the semiconductor wafer surface comes into contact with the ozone-containing gas while another part of the surface is still in contact with the solution, and wherein the solution and the ozone-containing gas are spatially separated such that they do not come into contact with one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2009Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: SILTRONIC AGInventors: Guenter Schwab, Diego Feijoo, Thomas Buschhardt, Hans-Joachim Luthe, Franz Sollinger