Patent · US Expired

Method for laser melting of silicon

US4468279A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
9References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 16, 1982
Grant dateAug 28, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 16, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S117/904
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method for laser melting of silicon for the production of boules pulled from a pool of liquid ultraclean or ultrapure silicon wherein the boules are used for producing silicon wafers suitable for use in the electronics field. A laser beam, preferably P polarized, is directed at an angle of about 88 degrees to the normal to the surface of silicon disposed in conventional melting apparatus. A suitable mirror is preferably provided to capture and reflect that portion of the laser beam reflected from the surface of the pool. Use of the present invention permits continuous operation by adding solid silicon and melting it at the point of impingement of the laser beam with up to about 96% absorption of laser energy at this point, thereby permitting the provision of heat in a very controlled manner in a continuous ultraclean silicon crystal growth process.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.