Device and process for pulling high-purity semiconductor rods from a melt

Claim 2

In a process for the crucible pulling of crystalline semiconductor rods according to the Czochralski technique wherein crystalline semiconductor rods are pulled from a melt in a crucible, the improvement comprising: covering the melt, the crucible and the space laterally adjoining the side of the crucible during the prior to crucible pulling by a one-piece cover device spaced above the surface of the melt including an upper flat annular rim which is positioned above the crucible, and spaced therefrom so as to allow for the escape of gas therebetween, said rim having an outer and inner peripheral edge and being dimensioned so that said outer edge thereof projects laterally beyond the outer crucible edge and extends over the space laterally adjoining the side of said crucible, and a joining member secured to, and depending downwardly from, said inner peripheral edge of said rim, said joining member having a bottom opening and being dimensioned such that the internal height thereof is about 0.2 to 1.2 times the depth of the crucible and such that said bottom opening thereof has a cross-sectional area which is about 1.2 to 8 times the cross-sectional area of the semiconductor rod to be pulled; and pulling a crystalline semiconductor rod from said melt in said crucible; and during the crucible pulling directing a protective gas stream along said rod in a direction generally opposite to that in which the rod is being pulled such that is flows downwardly through said bottom opening of said joining member, over the surface of the melt, then between said cover device rim and said crucible and over the edge of the crucible.

Claim 3

The process according to claim 1, additionally including the step of maintaining the space between the cover device and the melt surface constant during the crucible pulling of the cylindrical portion of the rod.

Claim 4

The process according to claim 2, additionally including the step of maintaining the melt surface at a constant level by raising the crucible during the crucible pulling of said rod.

Claim 5

The process according to claim 1, wherein said melt and said semiconductor rod comprise silicon.

Claim 6

A crucible and cover assembly for effecting the partial covering of a crucible and a semiconductor melt contained in the crucible during the pulling of crystalling crystalline semiconductor rods in accordance with the Czochralski crucible-pulling technique, comprising: a crucible having an outer edge; and means for pulling a crystalline rod in an upward direction from a melt contained in said crucible; means for feeding a protection gas stream in a downward direction along said rod being pulled, said means including a gas inlet and outlet; a one-piece cover device having an upper flat annular rim which is positioned above said crucible spaced therefrom so as to allow for the escape of gas therebetween, said rim having an outer and inner peripheral edge and being dimensioned so that said outer edge thereof projects over and laterally beyond the outer crucible edge, and a joining member secured to, and depending downwardly from, said inner peripheral edge of said rim, said joining member having a bottom opening and being dimensioned such that the internal height thereof is about 0.2 to 1.2 times the depth of said crucible and such that said bottom opening thereof has a cross-sectional area which is about 1.2 to 8 times the cross-sectional area of the semiconductor rod to be pulled; and means for supporting said cover device in a position spaced above said crucible so as to allow for the escape of gas therebetween and so that, during the pulling of a crystalline semiconductor rod from a semiconductor melt contained in said crucible, and the feeding of a protective gas stream along the rod in a direction generally opposite to that in which the rod is being pulled, said cover device serves to protect said melt from falling condensate impurities generated during the pulling process and to direct said gas stream over the surface of the melt, then between said cover device rim and said crucible and over the edge of the crucible to suppress the reflux of harmful gases generated during the pulling process.

Claim 7

A crucible and cover assembly for effecting the partial covering of a crucible and a semiconductor melt contained in the crucible during the pulling of crystalling crystalline semiconductor rods in accordance with the Czochralski crucible-pulling technique, comprising: a crucible having an outer edge; and means for pulling a crystalline rod in an upward direction from a melt contained in said crucible; means for feeding a protection gas stream in a downward direction along said rod being pulled, said means including a gas inlet and outlet; a one-piece cover device having an upper flat annular rim which is positioned above said crucible spaced therefrom so as to allow for the escape of gas therebetween, said rim having an outer and inner peripheral edge and being dimensioned so that said outer edge thereof projects over and laterally beyond the outer crucible edge, and a joining member secured to, and depending downwardly from, said inner peripheral edge of said rim, said joining member having a bottom opening and being dimensioned such that the internal height thereof is about 0.2 to 1.2 times the depth of said crucible and such that said bottom opening thereof has a cross-sectional area which is about 1.2 to 8 times the cross-sectional area of the semiconductor rod to be pulled; and means for supporting said cover device in a position spaced above said crucible so as to allow for the escape of gas therebetween and so that, during the pulling of a crystalline semiconductor rod from a semiconductor melt contained in said crucible, and the feeding of a protective gas stream along the rod in a direction generally opposite to that in which the rod is being pulled, said cover device serves to protect said melt from falling condensate impurities generated during the pulling process and to direct said gas stream over the surface of the melt, then between said cover device rim and said crucible and over the edge of the crucible to suppress the reflux of harmful gases generated during the pulling process.

Claim 8

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said joining member has a downwardly-tapered, frustoconical shape and is hollow.

Claim 9

The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the included angle between opposed surface lines of said frustoconical joining member as measured from the conical apex is from 10° to 120°.

Claim 10

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cover and the crucible are mounted in a vessel and wherein the external diameter of said upper flat annular rim projecting beyond the crucible edge is greater than the external diameter of said crucible, but is not more than the internal diameter of said vessel, and its internal diameter is smaller than the internal diameter of said crucible.

Claim 11

The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said joining member is externally partially surrounded by a cylindrical tubular section connected in a gas-tight manner to the underside of said annular upper rim, the internal diameter of said cylindrical tubular section being greater than the external diameter of said crucible.

Claim 12

The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the height of said cylindrical tubular section corresponds to about 0.2 to 0.8 times the internal height of said joining member.

Claim 13

The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said joining member has a bottom end which comprises a flat, annular, inwardly-directed projection disposed parallel to said upper annular rim.

Claim 14

The assembly according to claim 11 wherein said flat, annular projection at the bottom end of said joining member corresponds in width to about 0.05 to 0.35 times the internal diameter of said crucible.