Apparatus for monitoring crystal growth

Patent · Tue Jul 07 00:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:7256450

Sachs, E M

A system and method are disclosed for monitoring the growth of a crystalline body from a liquid meniscus in a furnace. The system provides an improved human/machine interface so as to reduce operator stress, strain and fatigue while improving the conditions for observation and control of the growing process. The system comprises suitable optics for forming an image of the meniscus and body wherein the image is anamorphic so that the entire meniscus can be viewed with good resolution in both the width and height dimensions. The system also comprises a video display for displaying the anamorphic image. The video display includes means for enhancing the contrast between any two contrasting points in the image. The video display also comprises a signal averager for averaging the intensity of at least one preselected portions of the image. The value of the average intensity, can in turn be utilized to control the growth of the body. The system and method are also capable of observing and monitoring multiple processes. 9 figs.

• Assignee: Mobil Tyco Solar Energy Corp., Waltham, MA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 4277441; A
• Application Number: CNN: NAS7-100; PPN: US 6-130816
• OSTI ID: 7256450
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 17 Mar 1980
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CRYSTAL GROWTH
MONITORING
PROCESS CONTROL
MATERIALS
MAN-MACHINE SYSTEMS
VIDEO TAPES
CONTROL
MAGNETIC STORAGE DEVICES
MAGNETIC TAPES
MEMORY DEVICES
360601* - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture
360201 - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Preparation & Fabrication
360101 - Metals & Alloys- Preparation & Fabrication