Mobil Solar Energy Corporation

Mobil Tyco Solar Energy Corporation

Aaron S Taylor

Mary C Cretalla

Balakrishnan R Bathey

Richard W Stormont

Vernon E White

A method and apparatus for producing crystalline substrate for use in fabricating solid state electronic devices. A hollow crystalline body is grown from a melt containing a dopant and a P-N junction is formed in said crystalline body as it is being grown. Then the hollow body is severed to provide individual solar cell substrates.

Method of fabricating solar cells

A method and apparatus for producing crystalline substrates for use in fabricating solid state electronic devices. A hollow crystalline body is grown from a melt containing a dopant and a P-N junction is formed in said crystalline body as it is being grown. Then the hollow body is severed to provide individual solar cell substrates.

A novel apparatus is disclosed for controlling the temperature of the top surface of the capillary die and the adjacent meniscus during growth of a crystalline body. The apparatus includes a tiltable heat shield located so that by appropriately positioning it about its tilt axis it is possible to adjust the temperature distribution about the top end of the capillary die. This temperature control assists in ensuring that a crystalline body grown by means of the capillary die process will have a substantially constant cross-sectional size.

Crystal growth apparatus

A crystal growth guidance mechanism for use in crystal growing apparatus. The guidance mechanism, which is disposed between a crystal puller and a crystal forming die comprises a plurality of gravity damped guide rods mounted on ramped supports. The rods have sufficient mass and number so that when acting in unison the rods will provide sufficient resistance to prevent puller induced motion in the crystal from being translated down into the die top, while individual guide rods 'float' on the surface of the growing crystal whereby each rod will move out of the way of any localized surface perturbations in the growing crystal.

Gravity dampened guidance system

The invention is an improved apparatus for use in a system for growing crystalline bodies from the melt. The apparatus is a novel crucible-die in which the crucible forms an integral part of the die.

Growing community of inventors

Acton, MA, United States of America

Aaron S Taylor