Cartridge and furnace for crystal growth
AssigneeMobil Tyco Solar Energy Corporation
InventorsBrian H. Mackintosh, David N. Jewett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel cartridge containing selected crystal growth components is provided for use in a crystal growing system. The cartridge is adapted to be mounted directly to a crystal pulling mechanism and is arranged so that it can be inserted into a furnace containing a supply of molten feed material. The cartridge includes a crystal growing die, a die holder, and associated crystal growth components arranged to permit rapid growth of selected shape. The cartridge is assembled outside of the furnace at room temperature and can be inserted into and removed from the furnace without having to cool the latter.
Claims28
Apparatus for growing a silicon ribbon-type crystal from a melt comprising:
- a furnace having (1) a chamber with a top aperture leading to the interior of said chamber, (2) means within said chamber for supporting therein a crucible containing a melt from which a crystal is to be grown so that the melt in the crucible will be in line with the aperture, and (3) means for heating a crucible supported within said chamber by said supporting means;
- and
- at least one cartridge which is arranged to be moved into and out of said furnace through said top aperture, said cartridge being a unitary assembly comprising (1) a capillary die adapted to be used to provide a growth pool of melt from which a crystal can be pulled, (2) solid vertically elongate heat-conducting means disposed above said die and arranged so as to extend on opposite sides of and control the thermal gradient lengthwise in a ribbon-type crystal which is pulled from said growth pool of melt and (3) means holding said heat-conducting means in a fixed relation to said die;
- means for moving the cartridge vertically into and out of said chamber via said aperture and for positioning the cartridge within said chamber so as to place said die in communicating relation with a melt contained by said crucible, said means for moving the cartridge including guide means for guiding said cartridge during its vertical movement into and out of said chamber;
- and
- a pulling mechanism disposed above the furnace for pulling a crystal from said growth pool of melt past said heat-conducting means and out of said furnace via said aperture.
A cartridge for use in growing a ribbon-type crystal from a melt contained in a furnace, said cartridge being a unitary assembly comprising:
- a capillary die;
- means for holding said die;
- vertically elongate heat-conductive means located above said die for controlling the temperature gradient lengthwise of a ribbon-type crystal grown from a growth pool of melt at the upper end of said die;
- a heat-conductive header;
- means connecting said die holder and heat-conductive means to said header so that said heat-conductive means depends from said header and is fixed with respect to said die;
- said heat conductive means being arranged to extend on opposite sides of said ribbon-type crystal above said die and defining a space extending from said die to said header through which a growing ribbon-type crystal may be pulled away from said die;
- heat-insulating means positioned adjacent to said heat-conductive means for substantially the full length thereof for substantially preventing radiative loss of heat to the environment surrounding said cartridge;
- and
- means attached to said cartridge whereby said cartridge may be guided for movement into and out of a melt-containing furnace.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.