IP Library Granted Patent US 7,011,704
Granted Patent B2
US 7,011,704 · App. 10/209,106 · Granted Mar 14, 2006

Method and device for the production of a single crystal

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,011,704
App. No.
10/209,106
Granted
Mar 14, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for the production of a single crystal has the single crystal crystallizing from a melt and being subjected to a rotation with an alternating rotation direction. The single crystal is periodically rotated through a sequence of rotation angles, and the rotation direction is changed after each rotation through a rotation angle of the sequence, with a change of the rotation direction defining an inversion point on the circumference of the single crystal. There is at least one recurring pattern of inversion points created, in which the inversion points lie distributed on straight lines that are aligned parallel with the z-axis and are spaced apart uniformly from one another.

Claims (21)

1. A method for the production of a single crystal, comprising

rotating a single crystal crystallizing from a melt, said rotating being with an alternating rotation direction, wherein the single crystal has a circumference and is periodically rotated through a sequence of rotation angles;

changing a rotation direction after each rotation through a rotation angle of the sequence, with a change of the rotation direction defining an inversion point on the circumference of the single crystal; and

creating at least one recurring pattern of inversion points, in which the inversion points lie distributed on 4 to 48 straight lines that are aligned parallel with a z-axis and are spaced apart uniformly from one another.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the number of straight lines is a multiple of the number of growth edges.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the sequence of rotation angles comprises from 2 to 10 different angles.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the single crystal is rotated in an overlapping operation, with a rotation being carried out, after a change of the rotation direction, through a rotation angle which is equal to n*360°+Δ, and n is an integer number and Δ can assume a positive value up to 90°.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising

forming the at least one recurring pattern of inversion points be pairs of inversion points in a specific time, with chronologically successive pairs being mutually offset when the inversion points are observed in a polar coordinate representation,

in which the radius of the representation describes the time axis and the angle of the representation describes the position of the inversion points on the circumference of the single crystal.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising

periodically rotating the single crystal through the sequence of rotation angles with a precision which does not exceed an angular error of +/−1° in total.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising

supporting the single crystal by a support and rotating the single crystal with the aid of the support.

8. A device for rotating a single crystal, comprising

means for rotating a single crystal in a forward and backward rotation direction;

a position sensor with a resolution of at least 10000 pulses/revolution; and

said position sensor is coupled to a pulling shaft for pulling the single crystal and is coupled to a counter module that respectively counts pulses forward or backward depending on the rotation direction.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE DATE OF THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS FROM 03/12/2020 TO 12/03/2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 056719 FRAME: 0881. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jul 1, 2021
From: SILTRONIC AG
To: SILTRONIC AG
Reel/Frame 057561/0451 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 30, 2021
From: SILTRONIC AG
To: SILTRONIC AG
Reel/Frame 056719/0881 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 30, 2004
From: WACKER SILTRONIC GESELLSCHAFT FUR HALBLEITERMATERIALIEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: SILTRONIC AG
Reel/Frame 015596/0720 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2002
From: ALTMANNSHOFER, LUDWIG
To: WACKER SILTRONIC GESELLSCHAFT FUR HALBLEITERMATERIALIEN AG
Reel/Frame 013174/0988 →