With Responsive Control Means Patents (Class 117/202)
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Patent number: 11410861Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a processing tub 34 which is configured to store therein a processing liquid and in which a processing of a substrate is performed by immersing the substrate in the stored processing liquid; a circulation line 50 connected to the processing tub; a pump 51 provided at the circulation line and configured to generate a flow of the processing liquid flowing out from the processing tub and returning back to the processing tub after passing through the circulation line; and a heater 52 provided at the circulation line and configured to heat the processing liquid. At least two temperature sensors 81 to 83 are provided at different positions within a circulation system including the processing tub and the circulation line. Controllers 90 and 100 control a heat generation amount of the heater based on detection temperatures of the at least two temperature sensors.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2018Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Takashi Nagai, Hideaki Sato, Junichi Kitano, Kenji Goto
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Patent number: 11242615Abstract: The invention provides a growth method for preparing high-yield crystals, belongs to the technical field of single crystal growth. Auxiliary crucibles are arranged on a crucible according to different crystal types and according to the crystal orientation of crystal growth in the main crucible, the relationship between the crystal growth direction and twin crystal orientation. By controlling the angle between the auxiliary crucibles and the main crucible, the relative position between the auxiliary crucibles each other, the auxiliary crucibles realize correction on the crystal orientation of twins generated in the main crucible crystal growth process.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2019Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: THE 13TH RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CHINA ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY GROUP CORPORATIONInventors: Niefeng Sun, Shujie Wang, Tongnian Sun, Huisheng Liu, Huimin Shao, Yanlei Shi
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Patent number: 11097236Abstract: The system and method of the invention pertains to an axial flux stator is implemented to replace the drive-end magnets and the drive motor. The axial flux stator comprises a control circuit to control the voltage and current provided to the stator, to measure the torque and speed of rotation, and to measure the magnetic flux and magnetic flux density produced by the axial flux stator and impeller magnets, individually or in combination. The axial flux stator comprises a plurality of current carrying elements to produce magnetic flux in an axial direction and drive the impeller.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: GLOBAL LIFE SCIENCES SOLUTIONS USA LLCInventors: James Pellegrino Alexander, Klaus Gebauer, David Allan Torrey, Ashraf Said Atalla, Sima Didari, Richard Lee Damren
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Patent number: 11078595Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a high resistance n-type silicon single crystal ingot with small tolerance margin on resistivity in the crystal growth direction, which is suitably used in a power device. In the method of producing a silicon single crystal ingot using Sb or As as an n-type dopant, while a silicon single crystal ingot is pulled up, the amount of the n-type dopant being evaporated from a silicon melt per unit solidification ratio is kept within a target evaporation amount range per unit solidification ratio by controlling one or more pulling condition values including at least one of the pressure in a chamber, the flow volume of Ar gas, and a gap between a guide portion and the silicon melt.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATIONInventors: Masataka Hourai, Wataru Sugimura, Toshiaki Ono, Toshiyuki Fujiwara
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Patent number: 11011658Abstract: Method and system for wavelength thermophotovoltaic (WTPV) power generation. In one embodiment, the system comprises a refractory waveguide that collects broadband infrared light generated by a heat source; a filter that filters the collected broadband infrared light to generate narrow-band infrared light; and a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) converter, thermally de-coupled from the heat source, that receives the narrow-band infrared light and converts the received narrow-band infrared light to electrical power.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Patrick J. Taylor, Harry S. Hier, Ivan C. Lee, Mark Dubinsky, Zun Zhang, Priyalal S. Wijewarnasuriya
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Patent number: 10981800Abstract: Briefly, embodiments of systems and/or methods for synthesis of zinc oxide are described, including a chamber enclosure, a wafer substrate holder, a fluid handling system, and sequences for implementation.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2016Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jacob J. Richardson, Evan C. O'Hara
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Patent number: 10982350Abstract: A production method of a monocrystalline silicon includes: forming a shoulder of the monocrystalline silicon; and forming a straight body of the monocrystalline silicon. In forming the shoulder, the shoulder is formed such that a part of growth striations, which extend radially across the shoulder, has an outer end interrupted by another part of the growth striations not to reach a peripheral portion of the shoulder and that no remelt growth area with a height of 200 ?m or more in a growth direction is generated.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2017Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuhito Narushima, Toshimichi Kubota
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Patent number: 10982349Abstract: The present disclosure provides an open temperature field device, including a bottom plate, a drum, a filler, and a cover plate. The bottom plate may be mounted on a bottom of the temperature field device and cover an open end of the drum. The cover plate may be mounted on a top of the temperature field device and cover the other open end of the drum. The filler may be filled inside the drum. In the temperature field device, the filler filled inside the drum can form a new thermal insulation layer, which effectively prevents the problem of sudden temperature changes caused by the cracking of the drum and improves the stability performance and a count of reusable times of the temperature field device. Meanwhile, by adjusting the filling height and the tightness of the filler, the temperature gradient of the temperature field device can be adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: MEISHAN BOYA ADVANCED MATERIALS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yu Wang, Weiming Guan, Zhenxing Liang
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Patent number: 10975493Abstract: To provide a single crystal production apparatus capable of efficiently producing a single crystal of relatively high quality, by cooling a melting zone, the device including: a heating part that forms the melting zone from a raw material by irradiation of light; and a supporting part that supports the melting zone in a non-contact manner.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2016Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Inventor: Shin Akutsu
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Patent number: 10954606Abstract: Methods for forming single crystal silicon ingots in which plural sample rods are grown from the melt are disclosed. A parameter related to the impurity concentration of the melt or ingot is measured. In some embodiments, the sample rods each have a diameter less than the diameter of the product ingot.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: GlobalWafers CO., Ltd.Inventors: Carissima Marie Hudson, JaeWoo Ryu
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Patent number: 10844513Abstract: Single crystal semiconductor wafers comprise oxygen and an n-type dopant, and are produced by a process comprising providing a silicon melt containing n-type dopant in a quartz crucible, the melt having an initial height hM; heating the melt from the side by selectively supplying heat to an upper volume of the melt having an initial height hm, wherein hm is smaller than hM; pulling a single crystal of silicon from the melt by the CZ method with a pulling velocity V; heating the melt from above in the region of a phase boundary between the growing single crystal and the melt; heating the melt from above in the region of a surface of the melt; subjecting the melt to a magnetic field; counterdoping the melt with p-type dopant; and separating the semiconductor wafer of single-crystal silicon from the single crystal. An apparatus for accomplishing the process is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2017Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: SILTRONIC AGInventors: Walter Heuwieser, Dieter Knerer, Werner Schachinger, Masamichi Ookubo
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Patent number: 10662548Abstract: An apparatus for growing a crystalline sheet from a melt includes a cold block assembly. The cold block assembly may include a cold block and a shield surrounding the cold block and being at an elevated temperature with respect to that of the cold block, the shield defining an opening disposed along a surface of the cold block proximate a melt surface that defines a cold area comprising a width along a first direction of the cold block, the cold area operable to provide localized cooling of a region of the melt surface proximate the cold block. The apparatus may further include a crystal puller arranged to draw a crystalline seed in a direction perpendicular to the first direction when the cold block assembly is disposed proximate the melt surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Leading Edge Crystal Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Brian H. Mackintosh, Peter L. Kellerman, Dawei Sun
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Patent number: 10553416Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes a beam radiator radiating a beam to a sample. A laser radiator radiates laser light onto an irradiation surface of a surface of the sample irradiated with the beam or above the irradiation surface. The laser radiator splits the laser light into at least first light and second light. The laser radiator adjusts a polarization state, a length of an optical path, or a direction of the optical path of at least either the first light or the second light to condense the first light and the second light onto the irradiation surface or above the irradiation surface. A detector detects particles discharged from the sample.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Toshiba Memory CorproationInventors: Haruko Akutsu, Toma Yorisaki
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Patent number: 10392721Abstract: A laser heated pedestal growth system includes two lasers having output beams that are combined with a beam combiner to produce a single beam. A growth chamber that includes a final focusing mirror for receiving and focusing the single beam of the lasers onto a tip of a feed material to create a molten zone in a focal region. A feed transport mechanism is adapted for transporting a feed material through the growth chamber and into the molten zone. An opposing seed transport mechanism is adapted for withdrawing a seed material from the growth chamber. An imaging system is adapted for capturing an image of the molten zone within the growth chamber. A controller in communication with the feed transport mechanism, the seed transport mechanism, one of the two lasers, and the imagining system is adapted to control and stabilize a fiber growth process by controlling the feed transport mechanism, the seed transport mechanism, and the power of the combined laser beam.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2018Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Inventor: Nicholas Djeu
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Patent number: 10344396Abstract: An apparatus for physical vapor transport growth of semiconductor crystals having a cylindrical vacuum enclosure defining an axis of symmetry; a reaction-cell support for supporting a reaction cell inside the vacuum enclosure; a cylindrical reaction cell made of material that is transparent to RF energy and having a height Hcell defined along the axis of symmetry; an RF coil provided around exterior of the vacuum enclosure and axially centered about the axis of symmetry, wherein the RF coil is configured to generate a uniform RF field along at least the height Hcell; and, an insulation configured for generating thermal gradient inside the reaction cell along the axis of symmetry. The ratio of height of the RF induction coil, measured along the axis of symmetry, to the height Hcell may range from 2.5 to 4.0 or from 2.8 to 4.0.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: DOW SILICONES CORPORATIONInventor: Mark Loboda
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Patent number: 10096473Abstract: Described herein are techniques for forming an epitaxial III-V layer on a substrate. In a pre-clean chamber, a native oxygen layer may be replaced with a passivation layer by treating the substrate with a hydrogen plasma (or products of a plasma decomposition). In a deposition chamber, the temperature of the substrate may be elevated to a temperature less than 700° C. While the substrate temperature is elevated, a group V precursor may be flowed into the deposition chamber in order to transform the hydrogen terminated (Si—H) surface of the passivation layer into an Arsenic terminated (Si—As) surface. After the substrate has been cooled, a group III precursor and the group V precursor may be flowed in order to form a nucleation layer. Finally, at an elevated temperature, the group III precursor and group V precursor may be flowed in order to form a bulk III-V layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Maxim Kelman, Zhongyuan Jia, Somnath Nag, Robert Ditizio
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Patent number: 10088242Abstract: In one aspect, a cooling system is provided for use in computing devices, such as laptops, cell phones, and tablet computers. The cooling system includes a heat spreader coupled to a radiator via a heat pipe having a midline. The heat pipe includes a first end portion longitudinally extending along the midline, a second end portion longitudinally extending along the midline, and a mid-portion longitudinally extending along the midline. The mid-portion is located between the first end portion and the second end portion and it has a thickness that is greater than the thicknesses of both the first portion and the second portion thereby reducing the overall thermal resistance of the heat pipe.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, James Tanner, William Riis Hamburgen
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Patent number: 10072352Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a silicon single crystal growing apparatus and method. The apparatus comprises: a chamber; a crucible that is disposed in the chamber and receives melted silicon; a heater disposed outside the crucible to heat the crucible; a heat shield part disposed in the chamber; and an auxiliary heat shield part disposed above the crucible to move upward and downward, wherein the auxiliary heat shield part is disposed to be separated from a body part of a single crystal that has grown from the melted silicon, and a rising speed is controlled such that a defect-free zone in the single crystal body part increases. The auxiliary heat shield part can reduce a deviation of a temperature gradient in the body part, whereby increasing the distribution of a defect-free zone in the body part.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: SK SILTRON CO., LTD.Inventors: Do Yeon Kim, Il Soo Choi, Yun Ha An
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Patent number: 9994969Abstract: A view port for observing ingot growth process of the present embodiment is as a view port for observing the inside of a chamber providing a space in which a growth process of an ingot is performed includes a body part disposed on the a side of the chamber and having a hole connected to the inside of the chamber; a window being inserted into the hole of the body part to maintain a sealing state of the chamber and through which light being transmitted from the inside of the chamber; and, a window purge being disposed on the side of the body part an forms air curtain. The view port of the present invention proposed has an advantage of prevention of the glass contamination as well as self-cleaning of the contaminated glass of the view port. The ingot that grows in the inside of the chamber may be clearly observed through such a view port and then the process condition is determined through the process data accurately observed.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2014Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: SK Siltron Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seong-Hyeok Kim, Gwang-Ha Na, Hyun-Su Jang
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Patent number: 9982366Abstract: A single crystal production apparatus including a chamber housing a crucible and a heater, to which at least part of the heater is connected, a strain buffering support member connected to the chamber in a manner capable of being horizontally displaced while supporting the chamber in the perpendicular direction, and a base member to which a crucible support shaft and a seed crystal support shaft are directly connected and the chamber is connected via the strain buffering support member, wherein the rigidity of the base member is larger than the rigidity of the strain buffering support member, the chamber has a through hole, the crucible support shaft and the seed crystal support shaft are inserted into the through hole, and the gap between the crucible support shaft and the through hole and the gap between the seed crystal support shaft and the through hole are sealed by a sealing member.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Nobuhira Abe
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Patent number: 9799737Abstract: A method for forming a conformal group III/V layer on a silicon substrate and the resulting substrate with the group III/V layers formed thereon. The method includes removing the native oxide from the substrate, positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, heating the substrate to a first temperature, cooling the substrate to a second temperature, flowing a group III precursor into the processing chamber, maintaining the second temperature while flowing a group III precursor and a group V precursor into the processing chamber until a conformal layer is formed, heating the processing chamber to an annealing temperature, while stopping the flow of the group III precursor, and cooling the processing chamber to the second temperature. Deposition of the III/V layer may be made selective through the use of halide gas etching which preferentially etches dielectric regions.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Xinyu Bao, Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, David K. Carlson, Zhiyuan Ye
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Patent number: 9650724Abstract: A method of charging raw material, includes: storing the material in a recharge tube including a quartz cylinder for storing the material and a conical valve for opening or closing an opening at a lower end of the cylinder; installing the recharge tube storing the raw material in a chamber; and feeding the raw material stored in the recharge tube into the crucible by locating the recharge tube and crucible such that a distance between the lower end of the recharge tube and raw material or melt in the crucible ranges from 200 to 250 mm, and lowering the conical valve to open the opening while simultaneously lowering the crucible such that a ratio CL/SL of the lowering speed of the crucible to the lowering speed of the conical valve ranges from 1.3 to 1.45. The method can inhibit damage of the quartz crucible and recharge tube.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: SHIN-ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD.Inventors: Katsuyuki Kitagawa, Masahiko Urano, Katsuhiro Yoshida
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Patent number: 9234298Abstract: A method for growing a single crystal in a chamber. The method includes heating raw material to form a melt for forming the single crystal. A crystal seed is then inserted into the melt and pulled from the melt to form a partial ingot, wherein the partial ingot radiates heat. An amount of gas is then introduced into the chamber which corresponds to a size of the partial ingot so as to provide a constant crystallization rate.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2012Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: Keith Ritter
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Patent number: 9212431Abstract: A graphite member utilized in a pulling device for pulling a silicon single crystal is provided. An edge part of the graphite member is rounded off which is exposed to a reactive gas. The graphite member may comprise: a plate part having a thickness of ‘t’ wherein a curvature radius of ‘r’ satisfies the formula: t/8?r?t/4.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2007Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: SUMCO TECHXIV CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi Kawazoe, Fukuo Ogawa, Yasuhito Narushima, Tsuneaki Tomonaga, Toshimichi Kubota
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Publication number: 20150122172Abstract: An apparatus for processing materials at high temperatures comprises a high strength enclosure; a plurality of high strength radial segments disposed adjacent to and radially inward from the high strength enclosure; a liner disposed adjacent to and radially inward from the radical segments; a chamber defined interior to the liner; a heating device disposed within the chamber; and a capsule disposed within the chamber, the capsule configured to hold a supercritical fluid. The apparatus may be used for growing crystals, e.g., GaN, under high temperature and pressure conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2011Publication date: May 7, 2015Applicant: MOMENTIVE PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Kirsh Afimiwala, Larry Zeng
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Patent number: 9017478Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method of extracting a silicon ingot. The apparatus for extracting a silicon ingot includes a chamber in which a silicon source material introduced into a cold crucible is melted, a primary extraction apparatus vertically movably installed in the chamber and configured to solidify the molten silicon to extract the silicon ingot, a movable apparatus configured to horizontally move the primary extraction apparatus, and a secondary extraction apparatus vertically movably installed under the chamber and configured to extract the silicon ingot in a state in which the primary extraction apparatus is moved to one side. Therefore, as the height of the extraction apparatus is reduced, manufacturing cost of equipment can be reduced and installation space of the extraction apparatus can also be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2010Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: KCC CorporationInventors: Ki Hyun Chang, Dong Hyun Nam
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Patent number: 9011599Abstract: A method of determining a temperature in a deposition reactor includes the steps of depositing a first epitaxial layer of silicon germanium on a substrate, depositing a second epitaxial layer of silicon above the first epitaxial layer, measuring the thickness of the second epitaxial layer and determining the temperature in the deposition reactor using the measured thickness of the second epitaxial layer. The method may also include heating the deposition reactor to approximately a predetermined temperature using a heating device and a temperature measuring device and generating a signal indicative of a temperature within the deposition reactor. The method may also contain the steps of comparing the measured thickness with a predetermined thickness of the second epitaxial layer corresponding to the predetermined temperature and determining the temperature in the deposition reactor using the measured thickness of the second epitaxial layer and the predetermined thickness of the second epitaxial layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2010Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jhi-Cherng Lu, Jr-Hung Li, Chii-Horng Li, Pang-Yen Tsai, Bing-Hung Chen, Tze-Liang Lee
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Patent number: 8968471Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for manufacturing a silicon substrate for solar cells using continuous casting, which can improve quality, productivity and energy conversion efficiency of the silicon substrate. The apparatus includes a crucible unit configured to receive raw silicon and having a discharge port, a heating unit provided to an outer wall and an external bottom surface of the crucible unit and heating the crucible unit to form molten silicon, a casting unit casting the molten silicon into a silicon substrate, a cooling unit rapidly cooling the silicon substrate, and a transfer unit disposed at one end of the cooling unit and transferring the silicon substrate. The casting unit includes a casting unit body having a casting space defined therein to be horizontally connected to the discharge port, and an assistant heating mechanism that preheats the casting unit body to control a solidification temperature of the silicon substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Korea Institute of Energy ResearchInventors: Bo-Yun Jang, Jin-Seok Lee, Joon-Soo Kim
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Publication number: 20140373774Abstract: A method for calculating a height position of a silicon melt surface at the time of pulling a CZ silicon single crystal is disclosed, including: obtaining a first crystal diameter measured from a fusion ring on a boundary of the silicon melt and the silicon single crystal by using a CCD camera installed at an arbitrary angle relative to the silicon single crystal, and a second crystal diameter measured by using two CCD cameras installed parallel to both ends of a crystal diameter of the silicon single crystal; and calculating the height position of the silicon melt surface in the crucible during pulling of the silicon single crystal from a difference between the first crystal diameter and the second crystal diameter. As a result, a method for enabling further accurately calculating a height position of a silicon melt surface at the time of pulling a silicon single crystal is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2013Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicant: SHIN-ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD.Inventors: Naoki Masuda, Takahiro Yanagimachi
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Patent number: 8888911Abstract: The present invention provides a technique which enables production of single crystal silicon having relatively low resistivity by preventing cell growth during crystal growth from occurring, especially in a case where a relatively large amount of dopant is added to a molten silicon raw material. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of producing single crystal silicon by the Czochralski process, comprising producing single crystal silicon having relatively low resistivity by controlling a height of a solid-liquid interface when the single crystal silicon is pulled up.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2010Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Sumco Techxiv CorporationInventors: Masayuki Uto, Tuneaki Tomonaga, Toshimichi Kubota, Fukuo Ogawa, Yasuhito Narushima
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Patent number: 8882911Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a silicon carbide single crystal grows the silicon carbide single crystal on a seed crystal by supplying a material gas from below the seed crystal. The apparatus includes a heating container and a base located in the heating container. The seed crystal is mounded on the base. The apparatus further includes a first inlet for causing a purge gas to flow along an inner wall surface of the heating container, a purge gas source for supplying the purge gas to the first inlet, a second inlet for causing the purge gas to flow along an outer wall surface of the base, and a mechanism for supporting the base and for supplying the purge gas to the base from below the base.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2011Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yuuichirou Tokuda, Kazukuni Hara, Jun Kojima
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Patent number: 8840723Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing polycrystalline silicon whereby raw-material gas is supplied to one or more heated silicon seed rods provided vertically in a reactor so as to deposit the polycrystalline silicon on a surface of the silicon seed rod, having a seed rod holding member, made of conductive material, having a holding hole in which a lower end of the silicon seed rod is inserted, the holding hole having a horizontal cross-sectional shape with at least two corners, and the holding member having a screw hole extending from the outer surface of the seed rod holding member to at least the holding hole and formed at the location of at least two corners of the holding hole; and a fixing screw which fixes the silicon seed rod and is threaded through at least one of the screw holes.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials CorporationInventors: Toshihide Endoh, Masayuki Tebakari, Toshiyuki Ishii, Masaaki Sakaguchi
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Patent number: 8801853Abstract: This mechanism for controlling a melt level includes: an optical recording device by which a real image of a furnace internal structural object and a reflected image reflected on the melt surface; and a processing device which, taking a value based on the real image as a reference value, controls the position of the melt surface based on a relationship of a position or a size of the reflected image, a distance between the reflected image and the real image, or amounts of changes thereof to the position of the melt surface. This mechanism for adjusting a melt level includes: the above mechanism for controlling a melt level; and a lifting mechanism which is controlled by the mechanism for controlling a melt level and adjusts the melt surface to the set position.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Sumco CorporationInventor: Keiichi Takanashi
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Patent number: 8728238Abstract: This invention includes a system and a method for growing crystals including a batch auto-feeding mechanism. The proposed system and method provide a minimization of compositional segregation effect during crystal growth by controlling growth rate involving a high-temperature flow control system operable in an open and a closed loop crystal growth process. The ability to control the growth rate without corresponding loss of volatilize-able elements enables significantly improvement in compositional homogeneity and a consequent increase in crystal yield. This growth system and method can be operated in production scale, simultaneously for a plurality of growth crucibles to further the reduction of manufacturing costs, particularly for the crystal materials of binary or ternary systems with volatile components, such as Lead (Pb) and Indium (In).Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: H.C. Materials CorporationInventors: Pengdi Han, Jian Tian
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Patent number: 8728586Abstract: In large area plasma processing systems, process gases may be introduced to the chamber via the showerhead assembly which may be driven as an RF electrode. The gas feed tube, which is grounded, is electrically isolated from the showerhead. The gas feed tube may provide not only process gases, but also cleaning gases from a remote plasma source to the process chamber. The inside of the gas feed tube may remain at either a low RF field or a zero RF field to avoid premature gas breakdown within the gas feed tube that may lead to parasitic plasma formation between the gas source and the showerhead. By feeding the gas through an RF choke, the RF field and the processing gas may be introduced to the processing chamber through a common location and thus simplify the chamber design.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jozef Kudela, Carl A. Sorensen, John M. White
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Patent number: 8721786Abstract: A Czochralski process (“CZ”) crystal growth method and furnace having a heater capable of generating a heating zone, a crucible within the heating zone and capable of retaining a volume of molten crystal growth material forming a melt line oriented in a designated position within the heating zone, a seed growth rod retractable from the crucible with a rod retraction mechanism, for forming a crystal boule thereon proximal the melt line from the molten crystal growth material. The furnace causes relative movement between the crucible and heating zone as the crystal boule is retracted, so that the melt line is maintained in the designated position within the heating zone. In some embodiments relative movement is based at least in part on sensed weight of the growing crystal boule. In other embodiments the crucible growth rod retraction mechanism are fixed relative to each other by a gantry.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2010Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Mark S. Andreaco, Troy Marlar, Brant Quinton, Piotr Szupryczynski
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Patent number: 8721789Abstract: An apparatus for crystallization of silicon includes a crucible for containing silicon, a heating and heat dissipating arrangement provided for melting the silicon contained in the crucible and for subsequently solidifying the molten silicon, and an electromagnetic stirring device provided for stirring the molten silicon in the crucible during the solidification of the molten silicon. A control arrangement is provided for controlling the heating and heat dissipating arrangement to solidify the molten silicon at a specified solidification rate and for controlling the electromagnetic stirring device to stir the molten silicon in response to the specified solidification rate of the molten silicon such that the ratio of a speed of the molten silicon and the specified solidification rate is above a first threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: ABB ABInventors: Jan-Erik Eriksson, Olof Hjortstam, Ulf Sand
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Publication number: 20140123891Abstract: A method for producing a crystalline material in a crucible in a crystal growth apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises, in part, the step of determining the amount of solidified material present in a partially solidified melt produced during the growth phase using at least one laser positioned at a height above the crucible. A crystal growth apparatus comprising the laser is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2012Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: GT CRYSTAL SYSTEMS, LLCInventor: Edward P. Morris
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Patent number: 8709152Abstract: A static fluid and a second fluid are placed into contact along a microfluidic free interface and allowed to mix by diffusion without convective flow across the interface. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the fluids are static and initially positioned on either side of a closed valve structure in a microfluidic channel having a width that is tightly constrained in at least one dimension. The valve is then opened, and no-slip layers at the sides of the microfluidic channel suppress convective mixing between the two fluids along the resulting interface. Applications for microfluidic free interfaces in accordance with embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, protein crystallization studies, protein solubility studies, determination of properties of fluidics systems, and a variety of biological assays such as diffusive immunoassays, substrate turnover assays, and competitive binding assays.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignees: California Institute of Technology, The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Carl L. Hansen, Stephen R. Quake, James M. Berger
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Publication number: 20140083352Abstract: A method for synthesizing ZnO, comprising continuously circulating a growth solution that is saturated with ZnO between a warmer deposition zone, which contains a substrate or seed, and a cooler dissolution zone, which is contains ZnO source material.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Jacob J. Richardson, Frederick F. Lange
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Patent number: 8663389Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing III-V material is provided. The apparatus includes a reactor partially enclosed by a selectively permeable membrane 12. A means is provided for generating source vapors, such as a vapor-phase halide of a group III element (IUPAC group 13) within the reactor volume 10, and an additional means is also provided for introducing a vapor-phase hydride of a group V element (IUPAC group 15) into the volume 10. The reaction of the group III halide and the group V hydride on a temperature-controlled substrate 18 within the reactor volume 10 produces crystalline III-V material and hydrogen gas. The hydrogen is preferentially removed from the reactor through the selectively permeable membrane 12, thus avoiding pressure buildup and reaction imbalance. Other gases within the reactor are unable to pass through the selectively permeable membrane.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Inventor: Andrew Peter Clarke
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Patent number: 8652257Abstract: A melting furnace, mounted adjacent a growth furnace, comprises a receiving container for melting therein raw material in a particle or powder form falling in it from a feeder. The receiving container accommodates a set of slope-wise plates providing a distributed sliding of partially melted raw material particles over the surface of these plates and their complete melting while moving downward; eventually the melted raw material flows into the crucible of the growth furnace through a conveying tube extending slantingly from the bottom of the receiving container to the crucible through coaxial openings in housings of both furnaces. The rate of feeding is given solely by the feeder, and at continuous feeding the raw material flows continuously by gravity from the feeder to the crucible of the growth furnace, first in a solid state (powder, granules, pellets, etc.) and then in a liquid state.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Inventors: Lev George Eidelman, Vladimir Ilya Zheleznyak
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Publication number: 20140033967Abstract: In consideration of influence of segregation, an evaporation area of a volatile dopant and influence of pulling-up speed at the time of manufacturing a monocrystal using a monocrystal pulling-up device, an evaporation speed formula for calculating evaporation speed of the dopant is derived. At predetermined timing during pulling-up, gas flow volume and inner pressure in a chamber are controlled such that a cumulative evaporation amount of the dopant, calculated based on the evaporation speed formula, becomes a predetermined amount. A difference between a resistivity profile of the monocrystal predicted based on the evaporation speed formula and an actual resistivity profile is made small. Since no volatile dopant is subsequently added, increase in workload on an operator, increase of manufacturing time, an increase in amorphous adhering to the inside of the chamber, and an increase in workload at the time of cleaning the inside of the chamber can be prevented.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: SUMCO TECHXIV CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuhito NARUSHIMA, Fukuo OGAWA, Shinichi KAWAZOE, Toshimichi KUBOTA
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Patent number: 8641822Abstract: An improvement to a method and an apparatus for growing a monocrystalline silicon ingot from silicon melt according to the CZ process. The improvement performs defining an error between a target taper of a meniscus and a measured taper, and translating the taper error into a feedback adjustment to a pull-speed of the silicon ingot. The conventional control model for controlling the CZ process relies on linear control (PID) controlling a non-linear system of quadratic relationship defined in the time domain between the diameter and the pull-speed. The present invention transforms the quadratic relationship in the time domain between the diameter and the pull-speed into a simile, linear relationship in the length domain between a meniscus taper of the ingot and the pull-speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Sumco Phoenix CorporationInventors: Benno Orschel, Joel Kearns, Keiichi Takanashi, Volker Todt
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Patent number: 8617313Abstract: A system for preparing a semiconductor film, the system including: a laser source; optics to form a line beam, a stage to support a sample capable of translation; memory for storing a set of instructions, the instructions including irradiating a first region of the film with a first laser pulse to form a first molten zone, said first molten zone having a maximum width (Wmax) and a minimum width (Wmin), wherein the first molten zone crystallizes to form laterally grown crystals; laterally moving the film in the direction of lateral growth a distance greater than about one-half Wmax and less than Wmin; and irradiating a second region of the film with a second laser pulse to form a second molten zone, wherein the second molten zone crystallizes to form laterally grown crystals that are elongations of the crystals in the first region, wherein laser optics provide Wmax less than 2×Wmin.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New YorkInventors: James S. Im, Paul C. Van Der Wilt
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Publication number: 20130329296Abstract: A device grows sapphire ingots by dipping a sapphire seed into molten aluminum oxide and lifting and spinning the sapphire seed from the molten aluminum oxide to cause the molten aluminum oxide adhering to the sapphire. Meanwhile, the device controls temperature such that the molten aluminum oxide is crystallized on the sapphire seed which is gradually cooled down to a room temperature. The device also includes a housing and air controller for providing desire air conditions for growing the sapphire ingot.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2013Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventors: Ga-Lane CHEN, Chung-Pei WANG
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Patent number: 8603898Abstract: A method for forming a conformal group III/V layer on a silicon substrate and the resulting substrate with the group III/V layers formed thereon. The method includes removing the native oxide from the substrate, positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, heating the substrate to a first temperature, cooling the substrate to a second temperature, flowing a group III precursor into the processing chamber, maintaining the second temperature while flowing a group III precursor and a group V precursor into the processing chamber until a conformal layer is formed, heating the processing chamber to an annealing temperature, while stopping the flow of the group III precursor, and cooling the processing chamber to the second temperature. Deposition of the III/V layer may be made selective through the use of halide gas etching which preferentially etches dielectric regions.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Xinyu Bao, Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, David K. Carlson, Zhiyuan Ye
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Publication number: 20130263772Abstract: In a Czochralski process for growing single crystal silicon ingots, a system is provided for adding solid material to the liquid silicon during crystal growth for the purpose of directly controlling the latent heat of fusion with respect to a crystal melt interface. In contrast to the standard method for controlling power to the crucible heaters, the present system has been found to be much more effective for controlling melt temperature in the crucible, especially in heavily insulated systems. The system provides the advantages of reducing the electric power required to operate a Czochralski grower, while increasing the speed with which the melt temperature can be raised or lowered in a controlled manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2008Publication date: October 10, 2013Inventors: David L. Bender, Gary Janik, David E.A. Smith
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Publication number: 20130263773Abstract: The distance between the heat shield and the melt level of the melt can be regulated in a high precision. The real image includes at least the circular opening of the heat shield provided in such a way that the heat shield covers a part of the melt level of the silicon melt. The mirror image is a reflected image of the heat shield on the surface of the silicon melt. Based on the distance between the obtained real image and the mirror image, the melt level position of the silicon melt is computed, and the distance between the heat shield and the melt level position is regulated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: SUMCO CORPORATIONInventors: Keiichi TAKANASHI, Ken HAMADA
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Patent number: 8545628Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus that are optimized for producing Group III-N (nitrogen) compound semiconductor wafers and specifically for producing GaN wafers. Specifically, the methods relate to substantially preventing the formation of unwanted materials on an isolation valve fixture within a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. In particular, the invention provides apparatus and methods for limiting deposition/condensation of GaCl3 and reaction by-products on an isolation valve that is used in the system and method for forming a monocrystalline Group III-V semiconductor material by reacting an amount of a gaseous Group III precursor as one reactant with an amount of a gaseous Group V component as another reactant in a reaction chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2007Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: SoitecInventors: Chantal Arena, Christiaan Werkhoven