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US 2023/0096046 A1Published application
Active edge control of a crystalline sheet formed on the surface of a melt
AssigneeBlue Origin Manufacturing, LLC
InventorsPeter KELLERMAN, Alison GREENLEE, Parthiv DAGGOLU, Alexander MARTINEZ
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical sensor is configured to detect a difference in emissivity between the melt and a solid ribbon on the melt, which may be silicon. The optical sensor is positioned on a same side of a crucible as a cold initializer. A difference in emissivity between the melt and the ribbon on the melt is detected using an optical sensor. This difference in emissivity can be used to determine and control a width of the ribbon.
Claims13
An apparatus for controlling a thickness of a crystalline ribbon grown on a surface of a melt comprising:
- a crucible configured to hold a melt;
- a cold initializer facing an exposed surface of the melt;
- a segmented thinning controller, wherein the segmented thinning controller is configured to adjust a width and a thickness of a ribbon formed on the melt;
- and
- optical sensors configured to detect a difference in emissivity between the melt and a solid ribbon on the melt, wherein the optical sensors are positioned above the crucible on a same side of the crucible as the cold initializer, and wherein the optical sensors are positioned on an opposite side of the segmented thinning controller from the cold initializer.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a melt in a crucible;
- forming a ribbon on a surface of the melt using a cold initializer facing an exposed surface of the melt, wherein the ribbon is single crystal;
- pulling the ribbon at a rate of ribbon formation;
- applying heat to the ribbon through the melt using a heater disposed below the melt;
- thinning the ribbon with a segmented thinning controller;
- detecting a difference in emissivity between the melt and the ribbon on the melt using at least one optical sensor;
- and
- separating the ribbon from the melt at a wall of the crucible where a stable meniscus forms.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.