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.

Date of Patent:
Apr. 27, 2004

Filed:

Nov. 13, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:

Paolo Mutti, Merano, IT;

Vladmir V. Voronknov, Merano, IT;

Assignee:

MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc., St. Peters, MO (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
C30B 1/520 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
C30B 1/520 ;
Abstract

A control method for use with a crystal puller for growing a monocrystalline semiconductor crystal from a melt according to the Czochralski process. The method includes defining an initial interval of time for observing growth of the crystal being pulled from the melt and determining diameter variations occurring during the interval. Based on the variations in the crystal diameter, the method defines a function r(t). By performing a best fit routine on the function r(t), the method deduces current values of crystal radius r , meniscus height h and growth rate V at the end of the observation interval. The method also includes determining pull rate and heater power parameters as a function of the growth rate to control the crystal puller to minimize variations in both crystal diameter and growth rate during subsequent growth of the crystal.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…