Patents by Inventor Vladimir Voronkov

Vladimir Voronkov 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: 9142616
    Abstract: Processes for suppressing minority carrier lifetime degradation in silicon wafers are disclosed. The processes involve quench cooling the wafers to increase the density of nano-precipitates in the silicon wafers and the rate at which interstitial atoms are consumed by the nano-precipitates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SunEdison, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Falster, Vladimir Voronkov
  • Publication number: 20150123248
    Abstract: Processes for suppressing minority carrier lifetime degradation in silicon wafers are disclosed. The processes involve quench cooling the wafers to increase the density of nano-precipitates in the silicon wafers and the rate at which interstitial atoms are consumed by the nano-precipitates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: SUNEDISON INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Falster, Vladimir Voronkov
  • Patent number: 8026145
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of low resistivity arsenic or phosphorous doped (N+/N++) silicon wafers which, during the heat treatment cycles of essentially any arbitrary electronic device manufacturing process, reliably form oxygen precipitates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Falster, Vladimir Voronkov, Gabriella Borionetti
  • Patent number: 7485928
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of low resistivity arsensic or phosphorous doped (N+/N++) silicon wafers which, during the heat treatment cycles of essentially any arbitrary electronic device manufacturing process, reliably form oxygen precipitates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Falster, Vladimir Voronkov, Gabriella Borionetti
  • Publication number: 20070105279
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of low resistivity arsensic or phosphorous doped (N+/N++) silicon wafers which, during the heat treatment cycles of essentially any arbitrary electronic device manufacturing process, reliably form oxygen precipitates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicant: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Falster, Vladimir Voronkov, Gabriella Borionetti
  • Publication number: 20060263967
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a high resistivity CZ silicon wafer, or a high resistivity silicon structure derived therefrom, and a process for the preparation thereof. In particular, the high resistivity silicon structure comprises a large diameter CZ silicon wafer as the substrate thereof, wherein the resistivity of the substrate wafer is decoupled from the concentration of acceptor atoms (e.g., boron) therein, the resistivity of the substrate being substantially greater than the resistivity as calculated based on the concentration of said acceptor atoms therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Falster, Vladimir Voronkov, Galina Voronkova, Anna Batunina
  • Publication number: 20050160967
    Abstract: A process for producing a single crystal silicon wafer comprising a front surface, a back surface, a lateral surface joining the front and back surfaces, a central axis perpendicular to the front and back surfaces, and a segment which is axially symmetric about the central axis extending substantially from the front surface to the back surface in which crystal lattice vacancies are the predominant intrinsic point defect, the segment having a radial width of at least about 25% of the radius and containing agglomerated vacancy defects and a residual concentration of crystal lattice vacancies wherein (i) the agglomerated vacancy defects have a radius of less than about 70 nm and (ii) the residual concentration of crystal lattice vacancy intrinsic point defects is less than the threshold concentration at which uncontrolled oxygen precipitation occurs upon subjecting the wafer to an oxygen precipitation heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Falster, Vladimir Voronkov, Paolo Mutti, Francesco Bonoli
  • Publication number: 20050005841
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a single crystal Czochralski-type silicon wafer, and a process for the preparation thereof, which has a non-uniform distribution of stabilized oxygen precipitate nucleation centers therein. Specifically, the peak concentration is located in the wafer bulk and a precipitate-free zone extends inward from a surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Falster, Vladimir Voronkov
  • Patent number: 6803576
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for quantitatively measuring nitrogen in Czochralski silicon based on the detection of one or more N—O complexes by means of low temperature Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (LT-FTIR) in the far infrared spectral range (FIR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: MEMC Electronic Materials, SPA
    Inventors: Maria Giovanna Pretto, Maria Porrini, Roberto Scala, Vladimir Voronkov, Paolo Collareta, Robert J. Falster
  • Patent number: 6689209
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for growing a single crystal silicon ingot which contains an axially symmetric region which is substantially free of agglomerated intrinsic point defects. The process comprises (i) forming a region within the constant diameter portion in which vacancies are the predominant intrinsic point defect; (ii) heating the lateral surface of the ingot to cause a thermally induced inward flux of silicon self interstitial atoms into the region from the heated surface which reduces the concentration of vacancies in the region; and (iii) maintaining the temperature of the region in excess of the temperature, TA, at which agglomeration of vacancy point defects into agglomerated defects occurs during the period of time between the formation of the region and the reduction of the concentration of vacancies in the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Falster, Vladimir Voronkov
  • Patent number: 6652646
    Abstract: A process for growing a single crystal silicon ingot having an axially symmetric region substantially free of agglomerated intrinsic point defects. The ingot is grown generally in accordance with the Czochralski method; however, the manner by which the ingot is cooled from the temperature of solidification to a temperature which is in excess of about 900° C. is controlled to allow for the diffusion of intrinsic point defects, such that agglomerated defects do not form in this axially symmetric region. Accordingly, the ratio v/G0 is allowed to vary axially within this region, due to changes in v or G0, between a minimum and maximum value by at least 5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Falster, Vladimir Voronkov, Paolo Mutti
  • Publication number: 20030116081
    Abstract: A process for growing a single crystal silicon ingot having an axially symmetric region substantially free of agglomerated intrinsic point defects. The ingot is grown generally in accordance with the Czochralski method; however, the manner by which the ingot is cooled from the temperature of solidification to a temperature which is in excess of about 900° C. is controlled to allow for the diffusion of intrinsic point defects, such that agglomerated defects do not form in this axially symmetric region. Accordingly, the ratio v/G0 is allowed to vary axially within this region, due to changes in v or G0, between a minimum and maximum value by at least 5%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Falster, Vladimir Voronkov, Paolo Mutti
  • Publication number: 20030068826
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for quantitatively measuring nitrogen in Czochralski silicon based on the detection of one or more N—O complexes by means of low temperature Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (LT-FTIR) in the far infrared spectral range (FIR).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Maria Giovanna Pretto, Maria Porrini, Roberto Scala, Vladimir Voronkov, Paolo Collareta, Robert J. Falster
  • Patent number: 6500255
    Abstract: A process for growing a single crystal silicon ingot having an axially symmetric region substantially free of agglomerated intrinsic point defects. The ingot is grown generally in accordance with the Czochralski method; however, the manner by which the ingot is cooled from the temperature of solidification to a temperature which is in excess of about 900° C. is controlled to allow for the diffusion of intrinsic point defects, such that agglomerated defects do not form in this axially symmetric region. Accordingly, the ratio v/G0 is allowed to vary axially within this region, due to changes in v or G0, between a minimum and maximum value by at least 5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Falster, Vladimir Voronkov, Paolo Mutti
  • Publication number: 20020053315
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for growing a single crystal silicon ingot which contains an axially symmetric region which is substantially free of agglomerated intrinsic point defects. The process comprises (i) forming a region within the constant diameter portion in which vacancies are the predominant intrinsic point defect; (ii) heating the lateral surface of the ingot to cause a thermally induced inward flux of silicon self interstitial atoms into the region from the heated surface which reduces the concentration of vacancies in the region; and (iii) maintaining the temperature of the region in excess of the temperature, TA, at which agglomeration of vacancy point defects into agglomerated defects occurs during the period of time between the formation of the region and the reduction of the concentration of vacancies in the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Robert J. Falster, Vladimir Voronkov
  • Patent number: 6312516
    Abstract: A process for growing a single crystal silicon ingot having an axially symmetric region substantially free of agglomerated intrinsic point defects. The ingot is grown generally in accordance with the Czochralski method; however, the manner by which the ingot is cooled from the temperature of solidification to a temperature which is in excess of about 900° C. is controlled to allow for the diffusion of intrinsic point defects, such that agglomerated defects do not form in this axially symmetric region. Accordingly, the ratio v/G0 is allowed to vary axially within this region, due to changes in v or G0, between a minimum and maximum value by at least 5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Falster, Vladimir Voronkov, Paolo Mutti
  • Publication number: 20010027743
    Abstract: A process for growing a single crystal silicon ingot having an axially symmetric region substantially tree of agglomerated intrinsic point defects. The ingot is grown generally in accordance with the Czochralski method; however, the manner by which the ingot is cooled from the temperature of solidification to a temperature which is in excess of about 900° C. is controlled to allow for the diffusion of intrinsic point defects, Such that agglomerated defects do not form in this axially symmetric region. Accordingly, the ratio v/G0 is allowed to vary axially within this region, due to changes in v or G0, between a minimum and maximum value by at least 5%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Robert J. Falster, Vladimir Voronkov, Paolo Mutti
  • Publication number: 20010003268
    Abstract: A process for growing a single crystal silicon ingot having an axially symmetric region substantially free of agglomerated intrinsic point defects. The ingot is grown generally in accordance with the Czochralski method; however, the manner by which the ingot is cooled from the temperature of solidification to a temperature which is in excess of about 900° C. is controlled to allow for the diffusion of intrinsic point defects, such that agglomerated defects do not form in this axially symmetric region. Accordingly, the ratio v/G0 is allowed to vary axially within this region, due to changes in v or G0, between a minimum and maximum value by at least 5%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Publication date: June 14, 2001
    Inventors: ROBERT J. FALSTER, VLADIMIR VORONKOV