For Forming A Platelet Shape Or A Small Diameter, Elongate, Generally Cylindrical Shape (e.g., Whisker, Fiber, Needle, Filament) Patents (Class 117/205)
  • Patent number: 9803796
    Abstract: The present invention provides a quartz clip device and a manufacturing method thereof and an OLED high-temperature oven having the quartz clip device. The quartz clip device includes: a base (20), a plurality of quartz posts (30) mounted on the base (20), a quartz bottom board (40) arranged above the base (20), and a plurality of quartz plates (50) arranged above the quartz bottom board (40) and secured to the quartz posts (30). The quartz bottom board (40) includes a plurality of circular holes (42) formed therein to respectively correspond to the quartz posts (30). The circular holes (42) have a diameter that is slightly greater than a diameter of the quartz posts (30). The quartz posts (30) are received through he circular holes (42) and fastening members (60) are provided under the circular holes (42) to have the quartz bottom board (40) supported on the quartz posts (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Wei Yu
  • Patent number: 9362566
    Abstract: An anode composite material for lithium ion battery and a preparation method thereof. The composite material is a composite material formed by compounding at least one of SiCO, SiCNO, SiCN and SiBCN with LiaMbPO4, wherein 0.95?a?1.1, 0.95?b?1.1, and M is at least one of Fe, Co, Ni and Mn. The content of at least one of SiCO, SiCNO, SiCN and SiBCN in the anode composite material is in a range of 1-20 wt % of the total weight of the composite material. The composite material formed by compounding at least one of SiCO, SiCNO, SiCN and SiBCN with LiaMbPO4 is obtained by adding LiaMbPO4 into at least one organosilicon polymer of polysiloxane, polysilazane, and polyborosilazane, and then curing, crosslinking, and pyrolyzing. Compared with LiaMbPO4, the composite material has a notable improvement in electrochemistry performance and tap density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR NONFERROUS METALS
    Inventors: Shigang Lu, Surong Kan, Xiangjun Zhang, Weihua Jin
  • Patent number: 8951345
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system and a method of use for large ceramic member support and manipulation at elevated temperatures in non-oxidizing atmospheres, such as using carbon-carbon composite materials for producing high purity silicon in the manufacture of solar modules. The high temperature apparatus of this invention includes one or more support ribs, one or more cross braces in combination with the one or more support ribs, and a shaped support liner positionable upon the one or more support ribs and the one or more cross braces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: AMG Idealcast Solar Corporation
    Inventors: Roger F. Clark, James A. Cliber, Nathan G. Stoddard, Jesse I. Gerber, Raymond J. Roberts, Mark A. Wilmerton
  • Patent number: 8870975
    Abstract: Pillared particles of silicon or silicon-comprising material and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. These particles may be used to create both a composite anode structure with a polymer binder, a conductive additive and a metal foil current collector, and an electrode structure. The structure of the particles overcomes the problems of charge/discharge capacity loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Nexeon Ltd.
    Inventors: Mino Green, Feng-Ming Liu
  • Patent number: 8728235
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for three-dimensional GaN epitaxial structure comprises a disposing step, in which a substrate of LiAlO2 and a source metal of Ga are disposed inside an vacuum chamber. An exposing step is importing N ions in plasma state and generated by a nitrogen source into the chamber. A heating step is heating up the source metal to generate Ga vapor. A growing step is forming a three-dimensional GaN epitaxial structure with hexagonal micropyramid or hexagonal rod having a broadened disk-like surface on the substrate by reaction between the Ga vapor and the plasma state of N ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: National Sun Yat-Sen University
    Inventors: I-Kai Lo, Chia-Ho Hsieh, Yu-Chi Hsu, Wen-Yuan Pang, Ming-Chi Chou
  • Patent number: 8647432
    Abstract: A method for making a large surface area silicon filament for production of bulk polysilicon by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) includes melting silicon and growing the filament from the melted silicon by an EFG method using a shaping die. The cross sectional shape of the silicon filament is constant over its axial length to within a tolerance of 10%. In embodiments, a plurality of identical and/or dissimilar filaments are grown simultaneously using a plurality of shaping dies. The filaments can be tubular. Filament cross sections can be annular and/or can include outwardly extending fins, with wall and/or fin thicknesses constant to within 10%. Filaments can be doped with at least one element from groups 3 and 5 of the Periodic Table. The filament can have a length equal to a length of a specified slim rod filament, and a total impedance not greater than the slim rod impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: GTAT Corporation
    Inventors: Yuepeng Wan, Santhana Raghavan Parthasarathy, Carl Chartier, Adrian Servini, Chandra P Khattak
  • Patent number: 8623139
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing polycrystalline silicon which heats a silicon seed rod in a reactor to which a raw material gas is supplied, and deposits polycrystalline silicon on the surface of the silicon seed rod, includes an electrode extending in a vertical direction to hold the silicon seed rod, an electrode holder having a cooling flow passage circulating a cooling medium formed therein, and inserted into a through-hole formed in a bottom plate of the reactor to hold the electrode, and an annular insulating material arranged between an inner peripheral surface of the through-hole and an outer peripheral surface of the electrode holder to electrically insulate the bottom plate and the electrode holder from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihide Endoh, Masayuki Tebakari, Toshiyuki Ishii, Masaaki Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 8609059
    Abstract: To provide a production method for a nitride crystal, where a nitride crystal can be prevented from precipitating in a portion other than on a seed crystal and the production efficiency of a gallium nitride single crystal grown on the seed crystal can be enhanced. In a method for producing a nitride crystal by an ammonothermal method in a vessel containing a mineralizer-containing solution, out of the surfaces of said vessel and a member provided in said vessel, at least a part of the portion coming into contact with said solution is constituted by a metal or alloy containing one or more atoms selected from the group consisting of tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W) and titanium (Ti), and has a surface roughness (Ra) of less than 1.80 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Tohoku University, The Japan Steel Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Mikawa, Makiko Kiyomi, Yuji Kagamitani, Toru Ishiguro, Yoshihiko Yamamura
  • Patent number: 8415546
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fabrication method of a metal nanoplate using metal, metal halide or a mixture thereof as a precursor. The single crystalline metal nanoplate is fabricated on a single crystalline substrate by performing heat treatment on a precursor including metal, metal halide or a mixture thereof and placed at a front portion of a reactor and the single crystalline substrate placed at a rear portion of the reactor under an inert gas flowing condition. A noble metal nanoplate of several micrometers in size can be fabricated using a vapor-phase transport process without any catalyst. The fabricated nanoplate is a single crystalline metal nanoplate having high crystallinity, high purity and not having a two-dimensional defect. Morphology and orientation of the metal nanoplate with respect to the substrate can be controlled by controlling a surface direction of the single crystalline substrate. The metal nanoplate of several micrometer size is mass-producible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Bongsoo Kim, Youngdong Yoo
  • Patent number: 8216364
    Abstract: Direct resistive heating is used to grow nanotubes out of carbon and other materials. A growth-initiated array of nanotubes is provided using a CVD or ion implantation process. These processes use indirect heating to heat the catalysts to initiate growth. Once growth is initiated, an electrical source is connected between the substrate and a plate above the nanotubes to source electrical current through and resistively heat the nanotubes and their catalysts. A material source supplies the heated catalysts with carbon or another material to continue growth of the array of nanotubes. Once direct heating has commenced, the source of indirect heating can be removed or at least reduced. Because direct resistive heating is more efficient than indirect heating the total power consumption is reduced significantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, Mead M. Jordan, William R. Owens
  • Patent number: 8216373
    Abstract: A temperature gradient is established in a crystallization crucible by means of a heat source and a cooling system. The cooling system comprises a heat exchanger and an adjustable additional heat source. The cooling system is preferably formed by an induction coil cooled by a coolant liquid circulating in the induction coil and by an electrically conductive induction susceptor positioned between the crucible and induction coil. The fabrication process comprises heating the crucible via the top and controlling heat extraction from the crucible downwards by means of the heat exchanger and by means of regulation of the adjustable additional heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: Apollon Solar, Cyberstar, EFD Induction SA
    Inventors: Roland Einhaus, Francois Claude Lissalde, Pascal Rivat
  • Patent number: 8187382
    Abstract: A polycrystalline silicon manufacturing apparatus is provided which supplies raw gas to the inside of a reaction furnace and supplies a current from an electrode to a silicon seed rod in a state where the vertically extending silicon seed rod is uprightly stood on each of the plural electrodes disposed in a bottom plate portion of the reaction furnace so as to heat the silicon seed rod and thus to deposit polycrystalline silicon on a surface of the silicon seed rod by means of the reaction of the raw gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihide Endoh, Masayuki Tebakari, Toshiyuki Ishii, Masaaki Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 8016944
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing nanoparticles, including single-crystal semiconductor nanoparticles, are provided. The methods include the step of generating a constricted radiofrequency plasma in the presence of a precursor gas containing precursor molecules to form nanoparticles. Single-crystal semiconductor nanoparticles, including photoluminescent silicon nanoparticles, having diameters of no more than 10 nm may be fabricated in accordance with the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Uwe Kortshagen, Elijah J. Thimsen, Lorenzo Mangolini, Ameya Bapat, David Jurbergs
  • Patent number: 7875118
    Abstract: A crystallization method includes the steps of melting a crystallized material in a crucible by heating, and growing a crystal by cooling and coagulating the melted material, wherein said melting step includes introducing a predetermined gas into the melted material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunao Oyama, Kazutaka Terashima
  • Patent number: 7811383
    Abstract: The device for production of a monocrystalline or a multicrystalline material blank, especially a silicon multicrystalline blank, using the VGF method has a crucible with a rectangular or square cross section. A flat heating device, especially a jacket heater, which generates an inhomogeneous temperature profile, is arranged around the crucible. This temperature profile corresponds to the temperature gradient formed in the center of the crucible. The heat output of the flat heating device decreases from the top to the bottom end of the crucible. The flat heating device includes parallel heating webs, which extend in a meandering course. The heat outputs from the heating webs differ according to their different conductor cross sections. To avoid local overheating in corner areas of the crucible, constrictions of the cross sections of the heating webs are provided at inversion zones of their meandering course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Matthias Mueller, Markus Finkbeiner, Uwe Sahr, Ingo Schwirtlich, Michael Clauss
  • Patent number: 7799131
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the continuous production of semiconductor ribbons by growth from a linear molten zone. The creation of the molten zone is achieved by application of an electric current, direct or alternating, parallel to the surface of the ribbon and perpendicular to the direction of growth, and intense enough to melt the said material, preferably using electrodes of the said material. The molten zone is fed by transference of the material, in the liquid state, from one or more reservoirs, where melting of the feedstock occurs. Preferably, the said electrodes and the said reservoir(s) are only constituted by the said material, thus avoiding contamination by foreign materials. The present invention is applicable, for example, in the industry of silicon ribbons production for photovoltaic application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Faculdade de Ciencias Da Universidade de Lisboa
    Inventors: António Vallêra, João Serra, Jorge Maia Alves, Miguel Brito, Roberto Gamboa, João Henriques
  • Patent number: 7744697
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an ammonobasic method for preparing a gallium-containing nitride crystal, in which gallium-containing feedstock is crystallized on at least one crystallization seed in the presence of an alkali metal-containing component in a supercritical nitrogen-containing solvent. The method can provide monocrystalline gallium-containing nitride crystals having a very high quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignees: Nichia Corporation, Ammono SP. Z O.O.
    Inventors: Robert Tomasz Dwiliński, Roman Marek Doradziński, Jerzy Garczyński, Leszek Piotr Sierzputowski, Yasuo Kanbara
  • Patent number: 7608146
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a crystalline ribbon continuously from a melt pool of liquid feed material, e.g. silicon. The silicon is melted and flowed into a growth tray to provide a melt pool of liquid silicon. Heat is passively extracted by allowing heat to flow from the melt pool up through a chimney. Heat is simultaneously applied to the growth tray to keep the silicon in its liquid phase while heat loss is occurring through the chimney. A template is placed in contact with the melt pool as heat is lost through the chimney so that the silicon starts to “freeze” (i.e. solidify) and adheres to the template. The template is then pulled from the melt pool thereby producing a continuous ribbon of crystalline silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventor: Roger F. Clark
  • Patent number: 7422634
    Abstract: A high quality single crystal wafer of SiC is disclosed. The wafer has a diameter of at least about 3 inches, a warp of less than about 5 ?m, a bow less than about 5 ?m, and a total thickness variation of less than about 2.0 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Powell, William H. Brixius, Robert Tyler Leonard, Davis Andrew McClure, Michael Laughner
  • Publication number: 20080102605
    Abstract: A furnace for growing a ribbon crystal has a channel for growing a ribbon crystal at a given rate in a given direction, and a separating mechanism for separating a portion from the growing ribbon crystal. At least a part of the separating mechanism moves at about the given rate and in about the given direction while separating the portion from the growing ribbon crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: EVERGREEN SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Leo van Glabbeek, Brian Atchley, Robert E. Janoch, Andrew P. Anselmo, Scott Reitsma
  • Patent number: 7335262
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an autoclave for preparing a supercritical solvent, a convection controller for establishing a convection flow, a dissolution zone where a feedstock is located above the convection controller and a crystallization zone where a seed is located below the convection controller are formed. A convection flow rate of the supercritical solution between the dissolution zone and the crystallization zone is determined by the degree of opening of the convection controller and the temperature difference between the dissolution zone and the crystallization zone. Accordingly, the supercritical solution, in which the nitride has a negative temperature coefficient of solubility, is supplied from the dissolution zone to the crystallization zone in which a seed is located through the convection controller so that nitride crystal is selectively grown on the seed by maintaining supersaturation of the supercritical solution with respect to the seed at a raised temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignees: Ammono Sp. z o.o., Nichia Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Dwilinski, Roman Doradzinski, Jerzy Garczynski, Leszek P. Sierzputowski, Yasuo Kanbara
  • Publication number: 20080022927
    Abstract: A microfluidic device for controllably moving a material of interest includes a holding cavity configured to hold the material of interest and at least one actuator configured to induce an activation material to expand or contract. Expansion of the activation material decreases the size of the holding cavity to cause the material of interest to be released from the holding cavity and contraction of the activation material increases the size of the holding cavity to cause the material of interest to be received into the holding cavity. The at least one actuator is operable at multiple levels between a zero induction level to a maximum induction level on the activation material to thereby controllably expand or contract the holding cavity to release or receive a specified volume of the material of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Sean Xiao-An Zhang, Patricia A. Beck, Janice H. Nickel
  • Patent number: 7323052
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for growing bulk single crystals of silicon carbide is provided. The apparatus includes a sublimation chamber with a silicon vapor species phase outlet that allows the selective passage of atomic silicon vapor species while minimizing the concurrent passage of other vapor phase species. The apparatus can provide control of vapor phase stoichiometry within the sublimation chamber, which in turn can allow the production of bulk silicon carbide single crystals with reduced intrinsic point defects concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Valeri F. Tsvetkov, David Phillip Malta, Jason Ronald Jenny
  • Publication number: 20070283882
    Abstract: Disclosed therein is an apparatus for producing a polycrystalline silicon ingot for a solar cell, which has uniform crystal grains formed by solidifying silicon melted in a crucible using a cooling plate. The polycrystalline silicon ingot producing apparatus includes: a crucible for melting silicon; conveying shafts for adjusting the height of the crucible; heaters for heating the crucible; and a cooling plate located below the crucible for cooling the crucible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Young Sang Cho, Young Jo Kim
  • Publication number: 20070209580
    Abstract: A seed crystal fixing apparatus for fixing the seed crystal on the seed crystal setting part of a reaction vessel with interposition of the adhesive, has a chamber configured to place the seed crystal setting part and form a hermetic atmosphere within the chamber; and a pressure part placed within the chamber for uniformly applying a pressure on the entire surface of the seed crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Kondo, Takuya Monbara
  • Patent number: 7252712
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an ammonobasic method for preparing a gallium-containing nitride crystal, in which gallium-containing feedstock is crystallized on at least one crystallization seed in the presence of an alkali metal-containing component in a supercritical nitrogen-containing solvent. The method can provide monocrystalline gallium-containing nitride crystals having a very high quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignees: Ammono Sp. z o.o., Nichia Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Tomasz Dwilinski, Roman Marek Doradzinski, Leszek Piotr Sierzfutowski, Jerzy Garczynski, Yasuo Kanbara
  • Patent number: 7198672
    Abstract: A drop tube type particulate crystalline body producing device is a device for creating a substantially spherical crystalline body by solidifying a particulate melt of an inorganic material while allowing it to free-fall inside a drop tube. This device 1 has a melt formation device 2, drop tube 3, gas flow formation means for forming inside the drop tube 3 a gas flow of cooling gas, and recovery mechanism 5 for recovering a crystalline body 25a from the lower end of the drop tube 3. The drop tube 3 comprises an introducing tube 30, cooling tube 31, and solidification tube 32, where the cooling tube 31 is configured such that the cross sectional area thereof becomes smaller toward the bottom such that the cooling gas flow speed becomes substantially equal to the free fall speed of the particulate melt, and the solidification tube 32 is connected to the lower end of the cooling tube 31 and has a cross sectional area enlarged discontinuously from the lower end of the cooling tube 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Josuke Nakata
  • Patent number: 7097709
    Abstract: A laser annealing apparatus for crystallizing a semiconductor film with a linearly radiating laser beam including a laser oscillator and laser optical systems for forming a laser beam radiated from the laser oscillator linearly, for application to a semiconductor film. Each linearly radiating laser beam from each laser optical system radiated onto the semiconductor film is arrayed almost linearly in a length direction, with an interval on the semiconductor film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Okamoto, Tetsuya Ogawa, Yukio Sato, Junichi Nishimae
  • Patent number: 6861144
    Abstract: Foamed polycrystalline silicon having bubbles therein and an apparent density of 2.20 g/cm3 or less. This silicon generates an extremely small amount of fine grains by crushing and can be easily crushed. There is also provided a method of producing foamed polycrystalline silicon. There is further provided a polycrystalline silicon production apparatus in which the deposition and melting of silicon are carried out on the inner surface of a cylindrical vessel, a chlorosilane feed pipe is inserted into the cylindrical vessel to a silicon molten liquid, and seal gas is supplied into a space between the cylindrical vessel and the chlorosilane feed pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Tokuyama Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Wakamatsu, Hiroyuki Oda
  • Patent number: 6852163
    Abstract: A very-high pressure generator of construction such that the lower and upper guide blocks of the generator are each configured so as to form a pyramidal recess on the bottom surface and an upside-down pyramidal recess on the top surface accurately symmetrically, their pyramidal slopes given one and the same angle of inclination and are prevented from being deformed under high pressure not by enlarging the guide blocks and the press, but by making the support conditions of all the anvils of the generator uniform, the positions of the anvils can easily be adjusted and therefore the generator is capable of pressurizing a pressure transmitting medium into the shape of the desired cube accurately. Each of the lower and upper guide blocks has a pyramidal recess in its bottom surface and an upside-down pyramided recess in its top surface and us symmetric with respect to its horizontal center plane. Each of lower and upper base blocks has a lower upside-down pyramidal portion and an upper pyramidal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries
    Inventor: Masashi Tado
  • Patent number: 6743294
    Abstract: Reactive gas is released through a crystal source material or melt to react with impurities and carry the impurities away as gaseous products or as precipitates or in light or heavy form. The gaseous products are removed by vacuum and the heavy products fall to the bottom of the melt. Light products rise to the top of the melt. After purifying, dopants are added to the melt. The melt moves away from the heater and the crystal is formed. Subsequent heating zones re-melt and refine the crystal, and a dopant is added in a final heating zone. The crystal is divided, and divided portions of the crystal are re-heated for heat treating and annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Optoscint, Inc.
    Inventor: Kiril A. Pandelisev
  • Patent number: 6451113
    Abstract: A method for growing of oriented whisker arrays on a single-crystalline substrate consists in vapor-phase transport of the material to be crystallized from a solid-state source body of the same composition as the whiskers to the substrate coated with liquid-phase particles that serve as nucleation/catalyzing centers for the whisker growth. The source body has a plane surface that is faced to the substrate and parallel to it so that a vectorly-uniformn temperature field, whose gradient is perpendicular to both the substrate and the source, is created. The vectorly-uniform temperature field is realized by an apparatus with high-frequency heating of specially designed bodies that are arranged in a special position in respect to the high-frequency inductor. Laser and/or lamp heat sources can be also used either separately or in combinations with the high-frequency heater. In the apparatus, the material source is heated, while the substrate takes. heat from the material source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Evgeny Invievich Givargizov
  • Patent number: 6406539
    Abstract: A process for producing a silicon carbide single crystal and a production apparatus therefor which enable, under stable conditions, continuous production of a silicon carbide single crystal which has a reduced density and dispersion of crystal defects in a growth direction, no lattice distortion, a large diameter, and constant quality. A melted or vaporized silicon material is introduced from the outside of a reaction system into a carbon material heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a temperature at which the silicon material vaporizes; and a reaction gas containing silicon gas and silicon carbide gas generated by a reaction between the carbon material and the silicon material is caused to reach a silicon carbide seed crystal substrate 5 which is held at a temperature lower than that of the carbon material, so that a silicon carbide single crystal grows on the silicon carbide seed crystal substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K,
    Inventors: Masashi Shigeto, Kotaro Yano, Nobuyuki Nagato
  • Patent number: 5989337
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to prevent introduction of cracks or defects into the grown single crystal and to obtain a compound semiconductor single crystal having a good crystallinity and no cracks. In the method, after ZnTe polycrystalline raw material and Te solvent are put in a crucible 3, they are heated by a heater 1 to make a solution by dissolving the ZnTe polycrystalline raw material in the Te solvent. The solution is solidified to grow a ZnTe single crystal by using the Bridgman method or the gradient freeze method, and thereafter, the remaining Te solvent in the crucible 3 is removed out of the crucible 3 by evaporation, and then the grown crystal is taken out of the crucible 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Japan Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Sato
  • Patent number: 5769944
    Abstract: An improved vertical gradient freeze and vertical Bridgman compound semiconductor crystal growth apparatus capable of applying an axial magnetic field of about 1600G in the crystal growth axis direction using an electrical resistance type electromagnet which has a simple structure and can be installed easily, which includes a high temperature electric furnace arranged at an upper portion of the apparatus, a crystal growth reaction tube disposed within a low temperature electric furnace arranged below the high temperature electric furnace and having a reaction container disposed therein, and an electromagnet surrounding the intermediate portion of the high temperature electric furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Young Ju Park, Suk-Ki Min
  • Patent number: 5685907
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the preparation of single crystals of group II-VI compounds such as ZnSe and CdTe and group III-V compounds such as InP and GaP or of ternary compounds thereof, from which some of their components are likely to be dissociated and evaporated during crystal growth at high temperatures. Single crystals are prepared which enable the preparation of high quality compound single crystals and prevent the contamination of furnace structures. The method includes melting a source material in a container by heating in a furnace body and solidifying the melt by cooling from the bottom to grow a single crystal. The container is enclosed by an airtight chamber communicating to the outside with a pressure equalizing passage. Heating is performed while the passage is held at a low temperature equal to or lower than the melting point of a high-dissociation-pressure component of the source material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Takao Fujikawa, Katsuhiro Uehara, Yoshihiko Sakashita, Kazuya Suzuki, Hiroshi Okada, Takao Kawanaka, Seiichiro Ohmoto
  • Patent number: 5614020
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming semiconductor particles (42) for solar cells using an optical furnace (30). Uniform mass piles (26) of powered semiconductor feedstock are almost instantaneously optically fused to define high purity semiconductor particles without oxidation. The high intensity optical energy is directed and focused to the semiconductor feedstock piles (26) advanced by a conveyer medium (16) thereunder. The semiconductor feedstock piles (26) are at least partially melted and fused to form a single semiconductor particle (42) which can be later separated from a refractory layer (18) by a separator (50), preferably comprised of silica. The apparatus (10) and process is automated, providing a high throughput to produce uniform mass, high quality spheres for realizing high efficiency solar cells. The apparatus is energy efficient, whereby process parameters can be easily and quickly established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary D. Stevens, Francois A. Padovani
  • Patent number: 5404836
    Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus for continuously growing single crystal whiskers of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron carbide and boron nitride by the VLS process under controlled reaction conditions. A growth substrate such as a plate of solid graphite is coated with a suitable VLS catalyst and is conveyed through a tubular furnace, into which is separately introduced two feed gases. The first feed gas contains a cationic suboxide precursor such as silicon monoxide or boron monoxide. The second feed gas contains an anionic precursor compound such as methane or ammonia. The precursor compounds react upon exposure to the catalyst by the VLS process to produce crystalline whiskers. The associated apparatus includes a conveyor assembly that continuously circulates multiple substrate growth plates through the furnace and past a harvesting device which brushes the whiskers from the plates and removes them by vacuum collection. Whiskers of uniform size, shape, and purity are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Inventor: John V. Milewski