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:
Nov. 13, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 21, 2000
Applicant:
Inventors:
John D. Holder, Lake St. Louis, MO (US);
Bayard K. Johnson, Lake St. Louis, MO (US);
Assignee:
MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc., St. Peters, MO (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
C30B 1/514 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
C30B 1/514 ;
Abstract
A continuous oxidation process and apparatus for using the same are disclosed. During growth of a semiconductor crystal an oxygen-containing gas is continuously injected into the crystal pulling apparatus in an exhaust tunnel downstream from the hot zone to continuously oxidize hypostoichiometric silicon dioxide, silicon vapor, and silicon monoxide produced in the hot zone during the crystal growth so as to minimize or eliminate the possibility of rapid over-pressurization of the apparatus upon exposure to the atmosphere.