US5223077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of manufacturing single-crystal silicon
Assignee: Nippon Steel Corp
•
Filing: 1991-04-12
•
Granted: 1993-06-29
•
Expires: 2011-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A single crystal silicon is prepared by providing a silicon melt reservoir formed of an induction coil coated on its internal surfaces with a high melting insulating material which is subjected to an electromagnetic field which heats silicon placed in said melt reservoir, melting silicon in the melt reservoir by the application of the electromagnetic field and simultaneously depositing a scull layer of silicon on the inner surface of said reservoir, and pulling up a single crystal silicon rod from the silicon melt in the melt reservoir.
Inventors
- 👤 Kyojiro Kaneko
- 👤 Hideyuki Mizumoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:54
CPC Classifications
C; C30; C30B; C30B29/00; C30B29/02; C30B29/06; C30B15/00; C30B15/10; C30B15/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S117/00; Y10S117/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for preparing single crystal silicon, comprising: providing a silicon melt reservoir formed of an induction coil having a layer of a high melting insulating material on its internal surface; filling the reservoir with silicon raw material; melting the silicon in the reservoir by means of an external heating means and by the application of a branch current through the induction coil which contributes to the melting of a substantial portion of the silicon raw material into a silicon melt; stopping said external heating at a point determined beforehand and then stopping the application of current to the induction coil after enlarging the silicon being melted to a molten pool within the induction coil; and drawing a single crystalline rod of silicon up from the silicon melt by the CZ technique.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for preparing single crystal silicon, comprising: providing a silicon melt reservoir formed of an induction coil having a layer of a high melting insulating material on its internal surface; filling the reservoir with silicon raw material; melting the silicon in the reservoir by means of an external heating means and by the application of a branch current through the induction coil which contributes to the melting of a substantial portion of the silicon raw material into a silicon melt; stopping said external heating at a point determined beforehand and then stopping the application of current to the induction coil after enlarging the silicon being melted to a molten pool within the induction coil; and drawing a single crystalline rod of silicon up from the silicon melt by the CZ technique.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a silicon skull layer is formed along the inner insulating surface of the induction coil when heating is stopped by the induction coil when the passage of current is stopped.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the silicon melt is brought into contact with an inner surface of the melt vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said high melting point insulating material is formed of a silicon compound.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the high melting point insulating layer is positioned between the coils of the induction coil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said external heating means is the application of an electron beam to the silicon material in the reservoir.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is replenished with silicon as granular silicon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the single crystal rod is drawn up under an inert gas atmosphere.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for preparing single crystal silicon, comprising: providing a silicon melt reservoir formed of an induction coil having a layer of a high melting insulating material on its internal surface; filling the reservoir with silicon raw material; melting the silicon in the reservoir by means of an external heating means and by the application of a branch current through the induction coil which contributes to the melting of a substantial portion of the silicon raw material into a silicon melt; stopping said external heating at a point determined beforehand and then stopping the application of current to the induction coil after enlarging the silicon being melted to a molten pool within the induction coil, thereby cooling the induction coil and a region of the molten silicon next to the insulating layer thereby forming a skull layer of silicon adjacent the insulating layer; and pulling up a single crystal silicon rod from the silicon melt in said melt reservoir.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for preparing single crystal silicon, comprising: providing a silicon melt reservoir formed of an induction coil having a layer of a high melting insulating material on its internal surface; filling the reservoir with silicon raw material; melting the silicon in the reservoir by means of an external heating means and by the application of a branch current through the induction coil which contributes to the melting of a substantial portion of the silicon raw material into a silicon melt; stopping said external heating at a point determined beforehand and then stopping the application of current to the induction coil after enlarging the silicon being melted to a molten pool within the induction coil, thereby cooling the induction coil and a region of the molten silicon next to the insulating layer thereby forming a skull layer of silicon adjacent the insulating layer; and pulling up a single crystal silicon rod from the silicon melt in said melt reservoir.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the thickness of the insulating layer is at least 0.15 mm but not more than 0.25 mm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4090851A
Cited
US4224100A
Cited
US4361114A
Cited
US4515755A
Cited
US4874458A
Cited
JPH01264920A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-28 | 1996-12-28 | 1997-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-28 | 2000-12-28 | 2001-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-28 | 2004-12-28 | 2005-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |