Patent · US Expired

Jet system for spherical shape devices

US6432330B1 · kind B1 · utility

8Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 13, 2002
Grant dateAug 13, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 13, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC30B29/60
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A system and method for making very small (e.g., 1 millimeter diameter) spherical shaped devices is disclosed. The system includes a supply system for providing predetermined amounts of raw material into a chamber, which is used for melting the raw material. The melted raw material is then provided to a dropper for measuring predetermined amounts of the melted raw material (droplets) and releasing the droplets into a drop tube, where they are cooled and solidified into spherical shaped silicon devices. The system includes a container of silicon powder in which the solidified spherical shaped devices are received from the drop tube, the container including a stirring mechanism for agitating the silicon powder. The system also includes a separating device for separating the powder from the solidified spherical shaped devices after the devices have been received into the container.

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