Patent · US Active

Apparatus for producing single crystal and quasi-single crystal, and associated method

US7368015B2 · kind B2 · utility

96Cited by
50References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 13, 2005
Grant dateMay 6, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 17, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T117/1096
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus including a crucible, an energy source, and a controller is provided. The crucible may be sealed to a nitrogen-containing gas, and may be chemically inert to at least ammonia at a temperature in a range of about 400 degrees Celsius to about 2500 degrees Celsius. The energy source may supply thermal energy to the crucible. The controller may control the energy source to selectively direct sufficient thermal energy to a predefined first volume within the crucible to attain and maintain a temperature in the first volume to be in a range of from about 400 degrees Celsius to about 2500 degrees Celsius. The thermal energy may be sufficient to initiate, sustain, or both initiate and sustain growth of a crystal in the first volume. The first temperature in the first volume may be controllable separately from a second temperature in another volume within the crucible. The first temperature and the second temperature differ from each other. Associated methods are provided.

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