System and method for crystal growing
AssigneeGt Crystal Systems, LLC
InventorsFrederick Schmid, Chandra P. Khattak, David B. Joyce
Life of this patent
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Abstract
To reduce the heat input to the bottom of the crucible and to control heat extraction independently of heat input, a shield can be raised between a heating element and a crucible at a controlled speed as the crystal grows. Other steps could include moving the crucible, but this process can avoid having to move the crucible. A temperature gradient is produced by shielding only a portion of the heating element; for example, the bottom portion of a cylindrical element can be shielded to cause heat transfer to be less in the bottom of the crucible than at the top, thereby causing a stabilizing temperature gradient in the crucible.
Claims10
A method of growing crystals from a liquid in a crucible, said method comprising:
- heating the crucible with a heating element;
- extracting heat from the crucible using a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the crucible;
- and
- moving a movable shield relative to the heating element and the crucible over a range of positions to reduce heat provided to portions of the crucible, the moving and extracting causing the crystal to solidify along a desired direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.