Crystal growing systems and methods including a passive heater
AssigneeCorner Star Limited
InventorTirumani Swaminathan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for growing a crystal ingot from a melt is provided. The system includes a crucible assembly, a first heater, a second heater, and a passive heater. The crucible assembly includes a crucible and a weir separating an outer melt zone of the melt from an inner melt zone of the melt. The first heater is configured to supply thermal energy to the melt by conduction through the crucible. The second heater is configured to generate thermal radiation. The passive heater is configured to supply thermal energy to the outer melt zone by transferring thermal radiation generated by the second heater to the outer melt zone.
Claims25
A system for growing a crystal ingot from a melt, the system comprising:
- a crucible assembly including a crucible and a weir separating an outer melt zone of the melt from an inner melt zone of the melt;
- a first heater configured to supply thermal energy to the melt by conduction through the crucible;
- a second heater configured to generate thermal radiation;
- a passive heater configured to supply thermal energy to the outer melt zone by transferring thermal radiation generated by the second heater to the outer melt zone, the passive heater being oriented at an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 50 degrees with respect to a surface of the melt;
- and
- a conical heat shield positioned radially inward from the passive heater, the conical heat shield angling downward toward a central opening for receiving the ingot.
A system for growing a crystal ingot from a melt, the system comprising:
- a crucible assembly including a crucible and a weir separating an outer melt zone of the melt from an inner melt zone of the melt;
- a first heater configured to supply thermal energy to the melt by conduction through the crucible;
- a second heater configured to generate thermal radiation;
- a passive heater configured to supply thermal energy to the outer melt zone by transferring thermal radiation generated by the second heater to the outer melt zone, the passive heater having a generally frustoconical shape;
- and
- a conical heat shield positioned radially inward from the passive heater, the conical heat shield angling downward toward a central opening for receiving the ingot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.