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Title: Thermal load leveling during silicon crystal growth from a melt using anisotropic materials

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1328697

An apparatus for growing a silicon crystal substrate comprising a heat source, an anisotropic thermal load leveling component, a crucible, and a cold plate component is disclosed. The anisotropic thermal load leveling component possesses a high thermal conductivity and may be positioned atop the heat source to be operative to even-out temperature and heat flux variations emanating from the heat source. The crucible may be operative to contain molten silicon in which the top surface of the molten silicon may be defined as a growth interface. The crucible may be substantially surrounded by the anisotropic thermal load leveling component. The cold plate component may be positioned above the crucible to be operative with the anisotropic thermal load leveling component and heat source to maintain a uniform heat flux at the growth surface of the molten silicon.

Research Organization:
VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC., Gloucester, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
EE0000595
Assignee:
VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC. (Gloucester, MA)
Patent Number(s):
9,464,364
Application Number:
13/292,410
OSTI ID:
1328697
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2011 Nov 09
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (9)

Method and Apparatus for Producing Large Diameter Monocrystals patent March 1974
Lateral pulling growth of crystal ribbons and apparatus therefor patent October 1980
Apparatus for and method of supporting a crucible for EFG growth of sapphire patent February 1981
Method for horizontal ribbon crystal growth patent February 1982
Lateral pulling growth of crystal ribbons patent May 1982
Guidance system for low angle silicon ribbon growth patent July 1986
Conforming crucible/susceptor system for silicon crystal growth patent May 1988
Floating sheet production apparatus and method patent December 2010
Floating Sheet Production Apparatus and Method patent-application September 2009