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:
Apr. 05, 2005
Filed:
Aug. 22, 2002
Arvid Neil Arvidson, Sanford, MI (US);
Todd Stanley Graham, Freeland, MI (US);
Kathryn Elizabeth Messner, Midland, MI (US);
Chris Tim Schmidt, Midland, MI (US);
Terence Lee Horstman, Frankenmuth, MI (US);
Arvid Neil Arvidson, Sanford, MI (US);
Todd Stanley Graham, Freeland, MI (US);
Kathryn Elizabeth Messner, Midland, MI (US);
Chris Tim Schmidt, Midland, MI (US);
Terence Lee Horstman, Frankenmuth, MI (US);
Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, MI (US);
Abstract
A method for processing polycrystalline silicon workpieces to form size distributions of polycrystalline silicon pieces suitable for use in a Czochralski-type process includes: (1) preparing a polycrystalline silicon workpiece by a chemical vapor deposition process; (2) fracturing the polycrystalline silicon workpiece into a mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces, where the polycrystalline silicon pieces have varying sizes; and (3) sorting the mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces into at least two size distributions. Step (2) may be carried out by a thermal shock process. Step (3) may be carried out using a rotary indent classifier. A rotary indent classifier for performing the method includes: (i) a rotating cylinder having a circumferential edge with indents arrayed in increasing size from a first end of the cylinder to a second end of the cylinder, and (ii) a conveyor running longitudinally adjacent the cylinder, for conveying silicon pieces from the first end of the cylinder to the second end of the cylinder.