With Decomposition Of A Precursor (except Impurity Or Dopant Precursor) Composed Of Diverse Atoms (e.g., Cvd) Patents (Class 117/88)
  • Patent number: 8529699
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of, using water vapor and a metalorganic compound not containing oxygen, (a) performing crystal growth at a low growth temperature and at a low growth pressure in the range of 1 kPa to 30 kPa to form a low-temperature grown single-crystal layer; and (b) performing crystal growth at a high growth temperature and at a pressure higher than the low growth pressure to form a high-temperature grown single-crystal layer on the low-temperature grown single-crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naochika Horio, Masayuki Makishima
  • Patent number: 8524582
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel silicon-germanium hydride compounds, methods for their synthesis, methods for their deposition, and semiconductor structures made using the novel compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: The Arizona Board of Regents
    Inventors: John Kouvetakis, Cole J. Ritter, III
  • Patent number: 8518360
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel silicon-germanium hydride compounds, methods for their synthesis, methods for their deposition, and semiconductor structures made using the novel compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventors: John Kouvetakis, Cole J. Ritter, III, Changwu Hu, Ignatius S. T. Tsong, Andrew Chizmeshya
  • Publication number: 20130209683
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards methods for growing diamond nanowires via chemical vapor deposition and apparatuses that incorporate these diamond nanowires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: BROWN UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Jingming Xu
  • Patent number: 8501136
    Abstract: A method for preparing single-crystalline, rare-earth metal hexaboride nanowires by a chemical vapor deposition process is described. Also described are the nanowires themselves, the electron emitting properties of the nanowires, and the use of the nanowires in electron emitting devices, particularly as point electron sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Lu-Chang Qin, Han Zhang, Qi Zhang, Jie Tang
  • Patent number: 8501143
    Abstract: A single crystal diamond prepared by CVD and having one or more electronic characteristics; making the diamond suitable for electronic applications. Also provided is a method of making the single crystal CVD diamond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Element Six Ltd.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Alan Scarsbrook, Philip Maurice Martineau, John Lloyd Collins, Ricardo Simon Sussmann, Bärbel Susanne Charlotte Dorn, Andrew John Whitehead, Daniel James Twitchen
  • Patent number: 8496999
    Abstract: Area selective atomic layer deposition is provided by a method including the following steps. First, a substrate is provided. Second, a tip of a scanning probe microscope (SPM) is disposed in proximity to the surface of the substrate. An electrical potential is then established between the tip and the surface that cause one or more localized electrical effects in proximity to the tip. Deposition reactants for atomic layer deposition (ALD) are provided, and deposition occurs in a pattern defined by the localized electrical effects because of locally enhanced ALD reaction rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Neil Dasgupta, Friedrich B. Prinz, Timothy P. Holme, Stephen Walch, Wonyoung Lee, James F. Mack
  • Patent number: 8491719
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high resistivity, high quality, large size SiC single crystal, SiC single crystal wafer, and method of production of the same, that is, a silicon carbide single crystal containing uncompensated impurities in an atomic number density of 1×1015/cm3 or more and containing vanadium in an amount less than said uncompensated impurity concentration, silicon carbide single crystal wafer obtained by processing and polishing the silicon carbide single crystal and having an electrical resistivity at room temperature of 5×103 ?cm or more, and a method of production of a silicon carbide single crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Nakabayashi, Tatsuo Fujimoto, Mitsuru Sawamura, Noboru Ohtani
  • Patent number: 8491718
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for making semiconductor films from a eutectic alloy comprising a metal and a semiconductor. Through heterogeneous nucleation said film is deposited at a deposition temperature on relatively inexpensive buffered substrates, such as glass. Specifically said film is vapor deposited at a fixed temperature in said deposition temperature where said deposition temperature is above a eutectic temperature of said eutectic alloy and below a temperature at which the substrate softens. Such films could have widespread application in photovoltaic and display technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventors: Karin Chaudhari, Ashok Chaudhari, Pia Chaudhari
  • Publication number: 20130180447
    Abstract: A susceptor is disclosed that can increase a heat capacity of a susceptor outer peripheral portion by enlarging the thickness of the susceptor and equalize thermal conditions for an outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion of a wafer and a method for manufacturing an epitaxial wafer that uses this susceptor to perform vapor-phase epitaxy of an epitaxial layer. Back surface depositions have a close relationship with heat transfer that occurs between a wafer and a susceptor, i.e., a wafer outer peripheral portion has a higher temperature than a wafer inner peripheral portion since the wafer is in contact with or close to the susceptor at the wafer outer peripheral portion and hence the back surface depositions are apt to be generated. This is solved by equalizing thermal conditions for the wafer outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion of the wafer back surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masato Ohnishi
  • Publication number: 20130182249
    Abstract: Provided are patterned nanoporous gold (“P-NPG”) films that may act as at least one of an effective and stable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (“SERS”) substrate. Methods of fabricating the P-NPG films using a low-cost stamping technique are also provided. The P-NPG films may provide uniform SERS signal intensity and SERS signal intensity enhancement by a factor of at least about 1×107 relative to the SERS signal intensity from a non-enhancing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Sharon M. Weiss, Yang Jiao, Judson D. Ryckman, Peter N. Ciesielski, G. Kane Jennings
  • Publication number: 20130182367
    Abstract: A method for forming a stacking structure, including forming a ruthenium oxide layer over a substrate; forming a praseodymium oxide layer over the ruthenium oxide layer; and forming a titanium oxide layer over the praseodymium oxide layer; wherein the titanium oxide layer has a rutile phase with the existence of the praseodymium oxide layer underneath. The oxide layers are deposited by a plurality of atomic layer deposition cycles using ruthenium precursor, praseodymium precursor, titanium precursor, and ozone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Nan Ya Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chun I HSIEH, Vishwanath Bhat, Jennifer Sigman, Vassil Antonov, Wei Hui Hsu
  • Publication number: 20130160702
    Abstract: Methods and systems are increase the number of Group V ions formed from Group V precursors in methods of forming III-V semiconductor materials to enhance the growth rate of the III-V semiconductor material. In some embodiments, a Group V precursor is heated and at least partially decomposed in a heated diffuser to form Group V ions. In additional embodiments, microwave energy is applied to a Group V precursor and the Group V precursor is at least partially decomposed to form Group V ions. Group III ions are also formed, and the Group III and Group V ions are used to form a III-V semiconductor material within a chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: SOITEC
    Inventor: Ed Lindow
  • Patent number: 8470090
    Abstract: Affords large-diametric-span AlN crystals, applicable to various types of semiconductor devices, with superior crystallinity, a method of growing the AlN crystals, and AlN crystal substrates. The AlN crystal growth method is a method in which an AlN crystal (4) is grown by vapor-phase epitaxy onto a seed crystal substrate (2) placed inside a crystal-growth compartment (24) within a crystal-growth vessel (12) provided within a reaction chamber, and is characterized in that during growth of the crystal, carbon-containing gas is supplied to the inside of the crystal-growth compartment (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naho Mizuhara, Michimasa Miyanaga, Tomohiro Kawase, Shinsuke Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20130152853
    Abstract: A film-forming apparatus 100 supplies a plurality of gases toward a substrate 101 in a chamber 103 using a shower plate 124. The shower plate 124 has a plurality of gas flow paths 121 extending within the shower plate along a first face of the substrate 101 side and connected to gas pipes 131 supplying a plurality of gases, and a plurality of gas jetting holes 129 bored such that the plurality of gas flow paths 121 and the chamber 103 communicate with each other on the first face side. In the film-forming apparatus 100, the plurality of gases supplied from the gas pipes 131 to the plurality of gas flow paths 121 of the shower plate 124 are supplied from the gas jetting holes 129 to the substrate 101 without being mixed inside of and vicinity of the shower plate 124.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicants: Denso Corporation, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: NuFlare Technology, Inc., Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Denso Corporation, Ayumu ADACHI, Koichi NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20130152852
    Abstract: Reducing the microvoid (MV) density in AlN ameliorates numerous problems related to cracking during crystal growth, etch pit generation during the polishing, reduction of the optical transparency in an AlN wafer, and, possibly, growth pit formation during epitaxial growth of AlN and/or AlGaN. This facilitates practical crystal production strategies and the formation of large, bulk AlN crystals with low defect densities—e.g., a dislocation density below 104 cm?2 and an inclusion density below 104 cm?3 and/or a MV density below 104 cm?3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: CRYSTAL IS, INC.
    Inventor: Crystal IS, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8460753
    Abstract: Described herein are methods to form silicon dioxide films that have extremely low wet etch rate in HF solution using a thermal CVD process, ALD process or cyclic CVD process in which the silicon precursor is selected from one of: R1nR2mSi(NR3R4)4-n-m; and, a cyclic silazane of (R1R2SiNR3)p, where R1 is an alkenyl or an aromatic, such as vinyl, allyl, and phenyl; R2, R3, and R4 are selected from H, alkyl with C1-C10, linear, branched, or cyclic, an alkenyl with C2-C10 linear, branched, or cyclic, and aromatic; n=1-3, m=0-2; p=3-4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Manchao Xiao, Liu Yang, Kirk Scott Cuthill, Heather Regina Bowen, Bing Han, Mark Leonard O'Neill
  • Patent number: 8460464
    Abstract: A method for producing one or more single crystalline diamonds. The method comprises placing one or more substrates on a substrate holder in chemical vapor vaporization (CVD) chamber. A mixture of gases including at least one gas having a carbon component is provided adjacent to the one or more substrates in the CVD chamber. Thereafter, the mixture of gases is exposed to microwave radiation to generate a plasma. Reactive species of nitrogen produced in a remote reactive gas generator are introduced in the plasma. Then, the one or more substrates are exposed to the plasma, such that diamond growth occurs at a rate of 10 to 100 microns per hour, to produce one or more single crystalline diamonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Rajneesh Bhandari
  • Publication number: 20130136912
    Abstract: A reaction container includes a cylindrical container body, a source gas introduction pipe group and a gas discharge pipe group extended in the opposite directions from both left and right side portions of the container body, and a cylindrical substrate inserted into the container body. Source gases introduced from the source gas introduction pipe group into the container body are thermally decomposed by the reaction with a catalyst carried on the substrate at a predetermined high temperature to grow micro coils from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: CMC ADVANCED R&D. CO., LTD
    Inventor: Seiji Motojima
  • Patent number: 8430959
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for preparing a polycrystalline silicon rod using a mixed core means, comprising: installing a first core means made of a resistive material together with a second core means made of silicon material in an inner space of a deposition reactor; electrically heating the first core means and pre-heating the second core by the first core means which is electrically heated; electrically heating the preheated second core means; and supplying a reaction gas into the inner space in a state where the first core means and the second core means are electrically heated for silicon deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
    Inventors: Hee Young Kim, Kyung Koo Yoon, Yong Ki Park, Won Choon Choi, Won Wook So
  • Patent number: 8420041
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a high-pressure vessel of large size formed with a limited size of e.g. Ni—Cr based precipitation hardenable superalloy. Vessel may have multiple zones. For instance, the high-pressure vessel may be divided into at least three regions with flow-restricting devices and the crystallization region is set higher temperature than other regions. This structure helps to reliably seal both ends of the high-pressure vessel, at the same time, may help to greatly reduce unfavorable precipitation of group III nitride at the bottom of the vessel. Invention also discloses novel procedures to grow crystals with improved purity, transparency and structural quality. Alkali metal-containing mineralizers are charged with minimum exposure to oxygen and moisture until the high-pressure vessel is filled with ammonia. Several methods to reduce oxygen contamination during the process steps are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sixpoint Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tadao Hashimoto, Edward Letts, Masanori Ikari
  • 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: 8409351
    Abstract: A method to grow a boule of silicon carbide is described. The method may include flowing a silicon-containing precursor and a carbon-containing precursor proximate to a heated filament array and forming the silicon carbide boule on a substrate from reactions of the heated silicon-containing and carbon-containing precursors. Also, an apparatus for growing a silicon carbide boule is described. The apparatus may include a deposition chamber to deposit silicon carbide on a substrate, and a precursor transport system for introducing silicon-containing and carbon-containing precursors into the deposition chamber. The apparatus may also include at least one filament or filament segment capable of being heated to a temperature that can activate the precursors, and a substrate pedestal to hold a deposition substrate upon which the silicon carbide boule is grown. The pedestal may be operable to change the distance between the substrate and the filament as the silicon carbide boule is grown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: SiC Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Robbins, Michael Seman
  • Patent number: 8409350
    Abstract: Affords gallium nitride crystal growth methods, gallium nitride crystal substrates, epi-wafers, and methods of manufacturing the epi-wafers, that make it possible to curb cracking that occurs during thickness reduction operations on the crystal, and to grow gallium nitride crystal having considerable thickness. A gallium nitride crystal growth method in one aspect of the present invention is a method of employing a carrier gas, a gallium nitride precursor, and a gas containing silicon as a dopant, and by hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) growing gallium nitride crystal onto an undersubstrate. The gallium nitride crystal growth method is characterized in that the carrier-gas dew point during the gallium nitride crystal growth is ?60° C. or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Fujita
  • Patent number: 8404044
    Abstract: An epitaxial growth film formation method allowing to adequately prevent the sticking phenomenon spreading over both a wafer and a susceptor when a horizontal disc-like susceptor is used to form an epitaxial growth film is provided. The epitaxial growth film formation method is a method of forming a vapor growth film on the wafer by placing the wafer having a diameter smaller than that of the susceptor approximately horizontally in substantially a center section on the horizontal disc-like susceptor, wherein the vapor growth film is formed on the wafer by bringing a circumferential recess step adjacent to a bottom inside from an edge part of the wafer and a convex step provided on a circumference of an upper surface inside from the edge part of the susceptor into contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideki Arai
  • Publication number: 20130068156
    Abstract: A method for growing II-VI semiconductor crystals and II-VI semiconductor layers as well as crystals and layers of their ternary or quaternary compounds from the liquid or gas phase is proposed. To this end, the solid starting materials are introduced into a growing chamber for the growing of crystals. Inside the growing chamber, carbon monoxide is supplied by way of reducing agent. At least certain zones of the growing chamber are heated to a temperature at which a first-order phase transition of the starting materials takes place and the starting materials pass into the liquid or gas phase. The starting materials are then cooled down accompanied by the formation of a semiconductor crystal or semiconductor layer, again with a first-order phase transition taking place. The oxygen present in the growing chamber is bound by the carbon monoxide and the formation of an oxide layer at the phase boundary of the growing semiconductor crystal or semiconductor layer is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg
    Inventor: Alex Fauler
  • Publication number: 20130069075
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor crystal producing method, a nitride semiconductor epitaxial wafer, and a nitride semiconductor freestanding substrate, by which it is possible to suppress the occurrence of cracking in the nitride semiconductor crystal and to ensure the enhancement of the yield of the nitride semiconductor crystal. The nitride semiconductor crystal producing method includes growing a nitride semiconductor crystal over a seed crystal substrate, while applying an etching action to an outer end of the seed crystal substrate during the growing of the nitride semiconductor crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Fujikura, Taichiroo Konno, Yuichi Oshima
  • Patent number: 8394197
    Abstract: Enhanced corrosion resistance is achieved in a coating by using a germanium-containing precursor and hollow cathode techniques to form a first layer directly on the surface of a workpiece, prior to forming an outer layer, such as a layer of diamond-like carbon (DLC). The use of a germanium or germanium-carbide precursor reduces film stress and enables an increase in the thickness of the subsequently formed DLC. Germanium incorporation also reduces the porosity of the layer. In one embodiment, a cap layer containing germanium is added after the DLC in order to further reduce the susceptibility of the coating to chemical penetration from the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sub-One Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Tudhope, Thomas B. Casserly, Karthik Boinapally, Deepak Upadhyaya, William J. Boardman
  • Patent number: 8394196
    Abstract: Methods for formation epitaxial layers containing silicon and carbon doped with phosphorus are disclosed. The pressure is maintained equal to or above 100 torr during deposition. The methods result in the formation of a film including substitutional carbon. Specific embodiments pertain to the formation and treatment of epitaxial layers in semiconductor devices, for example, Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Yihwan Kim
  • Publication number: 20130059124
    Abstract: An R-cut substrate is prepared by cutting lumbered synthetic quartz crystal along a surface parallel to the R-face. The surface of the thus obtained R-cut substrate has a structure in which the R-face smoothest in terms of the crystal structure accounts for the most part of the surface, and the m- and r-faces are exposed on this surface to extend in a direction parallel to the X-axis albeit only slightly upon processing. After catalytic metals are arranged on the surface of the R-cut substrate, a carbon source gas is supplied onto the surface of the R-cut substrate to grow carbon nanotubes in accordance with the crystal lattice structure using the crystal metals as nuclei. This makes it possible to manufacture carbon nanotubes with a good orientation and linearity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Shigeo Maruyama, Shohei Chiashi, Hiroto Okabe, Masami Terasawa, Shuichi Kono, Tadashi Sato
  • Publication number: 20130047918
    Abstract: Deposition systems include a reaction chamber, a substrate support structure disposed within the chamber for supporting a substrate within the reaction chamber, and a gas input system for injecting one or more precursor gases into the reaction chamber. The gas input system includes at least one precursor gas furnace disposed at least partially within the reaction chamber. Methods of depositing materials include separately flowing a first precursor gas and a second precursor gas into a reaction chamber, flowing the first precursor gas through at least one precursor gas flow path extending through at least one precursor gas furnace disposed within the reaction chamber, and, after heating the first precursor gas within the at least one precursor gas furnace, mixing the first and second precursor gases within the reaction chamber over a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: SOITEC
    Inventors: Ronald Thomas Bertram, JR., Michael Landis
  • Publication number: 20130047917
    Abstract: Methods of depositing compound semiconductor materials on one or more substrates include metering and controlling a flow rate of a precursor liquid from a precursor liquid source into a vaporizer. The precursor liquid may comprise at least one of GaCl3, InCl3, and AlCl3 in a liquid state. The precursor liquid may be vaporized within the vaporizer to form a first precursor vapor. The first precursor vapor and a second precursor vapor may be caused to flow into a reaction chamber, and a compound semiconductor material may be deposited on a surface of a substrate within the reaction chamber from the precursor vapors. Deposition systems for performing such methods include devices for metering and/or controlling a flow of a precursor liquid from a liquid source to a vaporizer, while the precursor liquid remains in the liquid state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: SOITEC
    Inventor: Ronald Thomas Bertram, JR.
  • Publication number: 20130049005
    Abstract: One or more layers are epitaxially grown on a bulk crystalline AlN substrate. The epitaxial layers include a surface which is the initial surface of epitaxial growth of the epitaxial layers. The AlN substrate is substantially removed over a majority of the initial surface of epitaxial growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Christopher L. Chua, Brent S. Krusor, Thomas Wunderer, Noble M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8382898
    Abstract: The present invention is related to the field of semiconductor processing equipment and methods and provides, in particular, methods for the sustained, high-volume production of Group III-V compound semiconductor material suitable for fabrication of optic and electronic components, for use as substrates for epitaxial deposition, for wafers and so forth. In preferred embodiments, these methods are optimized for producing Group III-N (nitrogen) compound semiconductor wafers and specifically for producing GaN wafers. Specifically, the method includes 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 under conditions sufficient to provide sustained high volume manufacture of the semiconductor material on one or more substrates, with the gaseous Group III precursor continuously provided at a mass flow of 50 g Group III element/hour for at least 48 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Chantal Arena, Christiaan Werkhoven
  • Patent number: 8382897
    Abstract: Methods for gas delivery to a process chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method may include flowing a process gas through one or more gas conduits, each gas conduit having an inlet and an outlet for facilitating the flow of gas through the gas conduits and into a gas inlet funnel having a second volume, wherein each gas conduit has a first volume less than the second volume, and wherein each gas conduit has a cross-section that increases from a first cross-section proximate the inlet to a second cross-section proximate the outlet but excluding any intersection points between the gas inlet funnel and the gas conduit, and wherein the second cross-section is non-circular; and delivering the process gas to the substrate via the gas inlet funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kedarnath Sangam, Anh N. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20130042803
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a process chamber having an object to be heated therein and configured to process a plurality of substrates; a substrate holder configured to hold the substrates with an interval therebetween in a vertical direction in the process chamber; a first heat exchange unit supporting the substrate holder from a lower side thereof in the process chamber and configured to perform a heat exchange with a gas in the process chamber; a second heat exchange unit provided in the process chamber, the second heat exchange unit being horizontally spaced apart from the first heat exchange unit with a gap therebetween and being configured to perform a heat exchange with the gas in the process chamber; and an induction heating unit configured to subject the object to be heated to an induction heating from an outer side of the object to be heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventor: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130036968
    Abstract: A film-forming apparatus and method comprising a film-forming chamber for supplying a reaction gas, a cylindrical shaped liner provided in the film-forming chamber, a straightening vane provided above the liner for the reaction gas to pass through, wherein the outside of the film-forming chamber connects the inside of the liner via a substrate transfer portion provided at the wall of the film-forming chamber by moving the straightening vane from the position that the straightening vane closes the upper opening of the liner. A substrate supporting portion provided in the liner, for supporting the substrate before the film-forming to move the substrate in a vertical direction, a substrate transfer unit capable of moving inside the film-forming chamber through the substrate transfer portion, wherein the substrate is transferred between the substrate supporting portion and the substrate transfer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Kunihiko Suzuki, Shinichi Mitani, Yuusuke Sato
  • Publication number: 20130040103
    Abstract: To provide a method of manufacturing a single crystal 3C-SiC substrate that can dramatically reduce surface defects generated in a processing of epitaxial growth and can secure a quality as a semiconductor device while simplifying a post process. The method of manufacturing a single crystal 3C-SiC substrate where a single crystal 3C-SiC layer is formed on a base substrate by epitaxial growth is provided. A first growing stage of forming the single crystal 3C-SiC layer to have a surface state configured with a surface with high flatness and surface pits scattering in the surface is performed. A second growing stage of further epitaxially growing the single crystal 3C-SiC layer obtained in the first growing stage so as to fill the surface pits is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Asamura, Keisuke Kawamura, Satoshi Obara
  • Publication number: 20130040095
    Abstract: A crystal can be formed using vapor deposition. In one set of embodiments, the crystal can be grown such that the crystal selectively grown along a particular surface at a relatively faster rate as compared to another surface. In another embodiment, the assist material may aid in transporting or depositing the vapor species of a constituent to surfaces of the crystal. In a further set of embodiments, the crystal can be vapor grown in the presence of an assist material that is attracted to or repelled from a particular location of the crystal to increase or reduce crystal growth rate at a region adjacent to the location. The position of the relatively locally greater net charge within the assist material may affect the crystal plane to which the assist material is attracted or repelled. An as-grown crystal may be achieved that has a predetermined geometric shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Elsa Ariesanti, Douglas S. McGregor
  • Patent number: 8372197
    Abstract: A control system and method for controlling temperatures while performing a MBE deposition process, wherein the control system comprises a MBE growth structure; a heater adapted to provide heat for the MBE deposition process on the MBE growth structure; and a control computer adapted to receive a plurality of dynamic feedback control signals derived from the MBE growth structure; switch among a plurality of control modes corresponding with the plurality of dynamic feedback control signals; and send an output power signal to the heater to control the heating for the MBE deposition process based on a combination of the plurality of control modes. In one embodiment, the plurality of dynamic feedback control signals comprises thermocouple signals and pyrometer signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Stefan P. Svensson
  • Patent number: 8366892
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode composed of carbon having at least two different zones, wherein an outer zone (A) forms the base of the electrode and carries one or more inner zones, wherein the innermost zone (B) projects from the zone (A) at the top and has a lower specific thermal conductivity than zone (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Heinz Kraus, Mikhail Sofin
  • Patent number: 8357243
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a new testing method of group III-nitride wafers. By utilizing the ammonothermal method, GaN or other Group III-nitride wafers can be obtained by slicing the bulk GaN ingots. Since these wafers originate from the same ingot, these wafers have similar properties/qualities. Therefore, properties of wafers sliced from an ingot can be estimated from measurement data obtained from selected number of wafers sliced from the same ingot or an ingot before slicing. These estimated properties can be used for product certificate of untested wafers. This scheme can reduce a significant amount of time, labor and cost related to quality control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sixpoint Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tadao Hashimoto, Masanori Ikari, Edward Letts
  • Patent number: 8357241
    Abstract: There is provided a method of vacuum evaporation comprising causing evaporated material (5) from vacuum evaporation source (20) furnished with container (1) with its one side open accommodating organic material (2) to form a film on opposed substrate (7), wherein the vacuum evaporation source has heating element (3) not fixed to the container, and being in contact with the surface of organic material held in the container, and wherein the organic material is evaporated by heating of the heating element only, the evaporated material released through at least one hole (6) or at least one slit made in the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Tokki Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Matsumoto, Yoshiko Abe, Yuji Yanagi
  • Patent number: 8357242
    Abstract: Methods of depositing thin film materials having crystalline content are provided. The methods use plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. According to one embodiment of the present invention, microcrystalline silicon films are obtained. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, crystalline films of zinc oxide are obtained. According to a third embodiment of the present invention, crystalline films of iron oxide are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventors: Russell F. Jewett, Steven F. Pugh, Paul Wickboldt
  • Publication number: 20130015414
    Abstract: Affords AlxGa1-xN crystal growth methods, as well as AlxGa1-xN crystal substrates, wherein bulk, low-dislocation-density crystals are obtained. The AlxGa1-xN crystal (0<x?1) growth method is a method of growing, by a vapor-phase technique, an AlxGa1-xN crystal (10), characterized by forming, in the growing of the crystal, at least one pit (10p) having a plurality of facets (12) on the major growth plane (11) of the AlxGa1-xN crystal (10), and growing the AlxGa1-xN crystal (10) with the at least one pit (10p) being present, to reduce dislocations in the AlxGa1-xN crystal (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8349077
    Abstract: Reducing the microvoid (MV) density in AlN ameliorates numerous problems related to cracking during crystal growth, etch pit generation during the polishing, reduction of the optical transparency in an AlN wafer, and, possibly, growth pit formation during epitaxial growth of AlN and/or AlGaN. This facilitates practical crystal production strategies and the formation of large, bulk AlN crystals with low defect densities—e.g., a dislocation density below 104 cm?2 and an inclusion density below 104 cm?3 and/or a MV density below 104 cm?3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Crystal IS, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Bondokov, Kenneth Morgan, Glen A. Slack, Leo J. Schowalter
  • Patent number: 8349076
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a freestanding gallium nitride (GaN) substrate includes: preparing a GaN substrate within a reactor; supplying HCl and NH3 gases into the reactor to treat the surface of the GaN substrate and forming a porous GaN layer; forming a GaN crystal growth layer on the porous GaN layer; and cooling the GaN substrate on which the GaN crystal growth layer has been formed and separating the GaN crystal growth layer from the substrate. According to the fabrication method, the entire process including forming a porous GaN layer and a thick GaN layer is performed in-situ within a single reactor. The method is significantly simplified compared to a conventional fabrication method. The fabrication method enables the entire process to be performed in one chamber while allowing GaN surface treatment and growth to be performed using HVPE process gases, thus resulting in a significant reduction in manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-Jae Song, Jai-yong Han
  • Publication number: 20130000545
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a device and method used to produce bulk single crystals. In particular, the disclosure provides a device and method used to produce bulk single crystals of a metal compound by an elemental reaction of a metal vapor and a reactant gas by an elemental reaction of a metal vapor and a reactant gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: NITRIDE SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Jason Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8343854
    Abstract: A method of reducing memory effects during an epitaxial growth process is provided in which a gas mixture comprising hydrogen gas and a halogen-containing gas is used to flush the CVD reaction chamber between growth steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Loboda
  • Publication number: 20120325138
    Abstract: A film-forming apparatus and method comprising a film-forming chamber for supplying a reaction gas into, a cylindrical shaped liner provided between an inner wall of the film-forming chamber and a space for performing a film-forming process, a main-heater for heating a substrate placed inside the liner, from the bottom side, a sub-heater cluster provided between the liner and the inner wall, for heating the substrate from the top side, wherein the main-heater and the sub-heater cluster are resistive heaters, wherein the sub-heater cluster has a first sub-heater provided at the closest position to the substrate, and a second sub-heater provided above the first sub-heater, wherein the first sub-heater heats the substrate in combination with the main-heater, the second sub-heater heats the liner at a lower output than the first sub-heater, wherein each temperature of the main-heater, the first sub-heater, and the second sub-heater is individually controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicants: NuFlare Techology, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation, Central Res. Institute of Electric Power Industry
    Inventors: Kunihiko SUZUKI, Hideki Ito, Naohisa Ikeya, Hidekazu Tsuchida, Isaho Kamata, Masahiko Ito, Masami Naito, Hiroaki Fujibayashi, Ayumu Adachi, Koichi Nishikawa