US3870477A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical control of crystal growth
Assignee: Saint Gobain Ceramics and Plastics Inc
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Filing: 1972-07-10
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1992-07-10
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a method of improving production of shaped crystalline bodies according to the processes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,591,348 and 3,471,266. It consists of optically monitoring the height of a vertical liquid meniscus in the region of the growth zone and adjusting the rate of heating or the rate of crystal pulling to maintain the height of the liquid meniscus between selected limits, with the result that outside dimensions of the crystalline product, e.g. the outside diameter of a sapphire tube, will be substantially unvarying and will meet preset tolerances.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Harold E Labelle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:51
CPC Classifications
C; C30; C30B; C30B15/00; C30B15/34; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T117/00; Y10T117/10; Y10T117/1004; Y10T117/1008; Y10T117/1024; Y10T117/1032; Y10T117/1036; Y10T117/104
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
In a method of growing a crystalline body of a selected material so that said body has a selected cross-sectional shape for an indefinite distance along its length, said method comprising growing and pulling said crystalline body from a growth pool of melt which is replenished via a capillary member by action of capillary rise from a reservoir supply of melt, said growth pool of melt also being characterized by a vertical meniscus which extends between the interface thereof with said crystalline body and an edge of said capillary member, the improvement comprising: optically monitoring and measuring the height of said meniscus; and adjusting as required the speed at which said body is being pulled or the temperature of said growth pool of melt so as to maintain the height of said meniscus within predetermined limits, whereby to cause said body to grow with a cross-section of substantially constant size.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a method of growing a crystalline body of a selected material so that said body has a selected cross-sectional shape for an indefinite distance along its length, said method comprising growing and pulling said crystalline body from a growth pool of melt which is replenished via a capillary member by action of capillary rise from a reservoir supply of melt, said growth pool of melt also being characterized by a vertical meniscus which extends between the interface thereof with said crystalline body and an edge of said capillary member, the improvement comprising: optically monitoring and measuring the height of said meniscus; and adjusting as required the speed at which said body is being pulled or the temperature of said growth pool of melt so as to maintain the height of said meniscus within predetermined limits, whereby to cause said body to grow with a cross-section of substantially constant size.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
IN A METHOD OF GROWING A CRYSTALLINE BODY OF A SELECTED MATERIAL SO THAT SAID BODY HAS A SELECTED CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE FOR AN INDEFINITE DISTANCE ALONG ITS LENGTH, SAID METHOD COMPRISING GROWING AND PULLING SAID CRYSTALLINE BODY FROM A GROWTH POOL OF MELT WHICH IS REPLENISHED VIA CAPILLARY MEMBER BY ACTION OF CAPILLARY RISE FROM A RESERVOIR SUPPLY OF MELT, SAID GROWTH POOL OF MELT ALSO BEING CHARACTERIZED BY A VERTICAL MENISCUS WHICH EXTENDS BETWEEN THE INTERFACE THEREOF WITH SAID CRYSTALLINE BODY AND AN EDGE OF SAID CAPILLARY MEMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
IN A METHOD OF GROWING A CRYSTALLINE BODY OF A SELECTED MATERIAL SO THAT SAID BODY HAS A SELECTED CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE FOR AN INDEFINITE DISTANCE ALONG ITS LENGTH, SAID METHOD COMPRISING GROWING AND PULLING SAID CRYSTALLINE BODY FROM A GROWTH POOL OF MELT WHICH IS REPLENISHED VIA CAPILLARY MEMBER BY ACTION OF CAPILLARY RISE FROM A RESERVOIR SUPPLY OF MELT, SAID GROWTH POOL OF MELT ALSO BEING CHARACTERIZED BY A VERTICAL MENISCUS WHICH EXTENDS BETWEEN THE INTERFACE THEREOF WITH SAID CRYSTALLINE BODY AND AN EDGE OF SAID CAPILLARY MEMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING:
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said growth pool of melt has an edge configuration that corresponds to said selected crosS-sectional shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said capillary member has substantially horizontally extending top end surface with an edge configuration corresponding to said selected cross-sectional shape, and further wherein said growth pool of melt is a film that overlies said top end surface and said meniscus constitutes an edge of said film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said growth pool of melt is a continuation of a column of melt in said capillary member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said capillary member has a substantially horizontal top end surface and said growth pool of melt is a film overlying said top end surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said capillary member comprises a single capillary filled with said column of melt and said growth pool of melt has substantially the same cross-sectional shape as said capillary.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of growing a crystalline body of a selected material comprising establishing a growth pool of melt from a reservoir supply of melt by means of a capillary member having at least one capillary whose bottom end is positioned so that melt will fill said capillary by action of capillary rise from said reservoir supply, growing a substantially monocrystalline body from said growth pool of melt and pulling said body from said growth pool of melt as growth occurs thereon, said growth pool of melt being an extension of a column of melt in said at least one capillary and being bounded by a meniscus that extends from the interface thereof with said growing body down to an edge of said capillary member, optically monitoring and measuring the height of said meniscus, holding substantially constant the rate at which said growing body is pulled from said growth pool of melt, and adjusting the temperature of said growth pool of melt as required to maintain the height of said meniscus substantially constant within predetermined limits.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of growing a crystalline body of a selected material comprising establishing a growth pool of melt from a reservoir supply of melt by means of a capillary member having at least one capillary whose bottom end is positioned so that melt will fill said capillary by action of capillary rise from said reservoir supply, growing a substantially monocrystalline body from said growth pool of melt and pulling said body from said growth pool of melt as growth occurs thereon, said growth pool of melt being an extension of a column of melt in said at least one capillary and being bounded by a meniscus that extends from the interface thereof with said growing body down to an edge of said capillary member, optically monitoring and measuring the height of said meniscus, holding substantially constant the rate at which said growing body is pulled from said growth pool of melt, and adjusting the temperature of said growth pool of melt as required to maintain the height of said meniscus substantially constant within predetermined limits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
In the process of growing a crystalline body of a selected material from the upper end of a column of a melt of said material in a heated capillary member having a bottom end that is connected to a reservoir pool of said melt, said column being formed by action of capillary rise from said reservoir pool and the interface of said body and said column of melt being characterized by a vertical meniscus formed by said melt above said capillary member, the improvement comprising: optically monitoring said meniscus to determine changes in the height thereof; and adjusting the rate at which heat is supplied to said capillary member so as to maintain the height of said meniscus substantially constant within predetermined limits.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
123 words
In the process of growing a crystalline body of a selected material from the upper end of a column of a melt of said material in a heated capillary member having a bottom end that is connected to a reservoir pool of said melt, said column being formed by action of capillary rise from said reservoir pool and the interface of said body and said column of melt being characterized by a vertical meniscus formed by said melt above said capillary member, the improvement comprising: optically monitoring said meniscus to determine changes in the height thereof; and adjusting the rate at which heat is supplied to said capillary member so as to maintain the height of said meniscus substantially constant within predetermined limits.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of growing a substantially monocrystalline body of a selected material so that said body has a controlled cross-sectional size comprising: establishing a growth pool of a melt of said material at the upper end of a vertically-extending capillary formed in a member that is disposed so that the bottom end of said capillary is in direct communication with a reservoir pool of melt of said material; growing and pulling a substantially monocrystalline body of said material from said growth pool of melt with the surface tension of the melt of said growth pool causing it to adhere to said body and to form a vertical meniscus that extends between an upper end edge of said member and said growing body; replenishing the melt in said growth pool by inflow from said reservoir pool via said capillary as said body is grown and pulled; optically monitoring and measuring the height of said meniscus; and adjusting the temperature of said growth pool of melt so as to maintain the height of said meniscus substantially constant between predetermined limits, whereby said growing body has a controlled substantially constant cross-sectional size.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of growing a substantially monocrystalline body of a selected material so that said body has a controlled cross-sectional size comprising: establishing a growth pool of a melt of said material at the upper end of a vertically-extending capillary formed in a member that is disposed so that the bottom end of said capillary is in direct communication with a reservoir pool of melt of said material; growing and pulling a substantially monocrystalline body of said material from said growth pool of melt with the surface tension of the melt of said growth pool causing it to adhere to said body and to form a vertical meniscus that extends between an upper end edge of said member and said growing body; replenishing the melt in said growth pool by inflow from said reservoir pool via said capillary as said body is grown and pulled; optically monitoring and measuring the height of said meniscus; and adjusting the temperature of said growth pool of melt so as to maintain the height of said meniscus substantially constant between predetermined limits, whereby said growing body has a controlled substantially constant cross-sectional size.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |