The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 05, 2019
Filed:
Jan. 04, 2017
Sunedison, Inc., Maryland Heights, MO (US);
Salvador Zepeda, St. Peters, MO (US);
Richard J. Phillips, St. Peters, MO (US);
Christopher Vaughn Luers, O'Fallon, MO (US);
Steven Lawrence Kimbel, St. Charles, MO (US);
Harold W. Korb, Chesterfield, MO (US);
John D. Holder, Knoxville, TN (US);
Carissima Marie Hudson, St. Charles, MO (US);
Hariprasad Sreedharamurthy, Ballwin, MO (US);
Stephan Haringer, Kastelbell, IT;
Marco Zardoni, Merano, IT;
Corner Star Limited, Kowloon, HK;
Abstract
Systems and methods for forming an ingot from a melt are disclosed. A system includes a crucible defining a cavity for receiving the melt, and a first and second barrier to inhibit movement of the melt. A first passageway and a second passageway are arranged to allow the melt located within an outer zone to move into and through a transition zone and into an inner zone. Conditioning members are placed in at least one of the zones and arranged to contact the melt to reduce the number of micro-voids in the melt.