IP Library Granted Patent US 8,758,506
Granted Patent B2
US 8,758,506 · App. 12/724,590 · Granted Jun 24, 2014

Method for pulling a silicon single crystal

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,758,506
App. No.
12/724,590
Granted
Jun 24, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a method for pulling a silicon single crystal from a melt which is contained in a crucible, comprising immersion of a seed crystal into the melt; crystallization of the single crystal on the seed crystal by raising the seed crystal from the melt with a crystal pull speed; widening the diameter of the single crystal to a setpoint diameter in a conical section, comprising control of the crystal pull speed in such a way as to induce a curvature inversion of a growth front of the single crystal in the conical section.

Claims (20)

1. A method for pulling a silicon single crystal from a silicon-containing melt which is contained in a crucible, comprising:

immersing a seed crystal into the melt;

crystallizing a single crystal on the seed crystal by raising the seed crystal from the melt with a crystal pull speed;

widening the diameter of the single crystal to a setpoint diameter in a conical section, wherein

the crystal pull speed is controlled in such a way as to induce a curvature inversion of a growth front of the single crystal in the conical section.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

reducing the crystal pull speed from an initial speed to a lower crystal pull speed which is at least 40% less than the initial speed, and increasing the crystal pull speed from the lower crystal pull speed to a substantially constant final speed with which the seed crystal is raised until the setpoint diameter is reached.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the final speed is less than the initial speed.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the seed crystal is not raised with the lower crystal pull speed until the diameter of the conical section has reached at least 50% of the setpoint diameter.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the seed crystal is not raised with the lower crystal pull speed until the diameter of the conical section has reached at least 50% of the setpoint diameter.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein an apex angle α of not less than 60° and not more than 90° is imparted to the conical section.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein an apex angle α of not less than 60° and not more than 90° is imparted to the conical section.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein an apex angle α of not less than 60° and not more than 90° is imparted to the conical section.

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein an apex angle α of not less than 60° and not more than 90° is imparted to the conical section.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein an apex angle α of not less than 60° and not more than 90° is imparted to the conical section.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the external angle β at the transition from the conical section to the cylindrical section is not less than 5° and not more than 25°.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the external angle β at the transition from the conical section to the cylindrical section is not less than 5° and not more than 25°.

13. The method of claim 3 , wherein the external angle β at the transition from the conical section to the cylindrical section is not less than 5° and not more than 25°.

14. The method of claim 4 , wherein the external angle β at the transition from the conical section to the cylindrical section is not less than 5° and not more than 25°.

15. A silicon single crystal, produced by the method of claim 1 .

Assignments (3)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2010
From: BAER, MARKUS
To: SILTRONIC AG
Reel/Frame 024086/0134 →