IP Library Granted Patent US 9,499,920
Granted Patent B2
US 9,499,920 · App. 14/795,522 · Granted Nov 22, 2016

Methods for producing rectangular seeds for ingot growth

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,499,920
App. No.
14/795,522
Granted
Nov 22, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of producing rectangular seeds for use in semiconductor or solar material manufacturing includes connecting an adhesive layer to a top surface of a template, the template including a plurality of parallel slots, and drawing alignment lines on the adhesive layer, the alignment lines aligned with at least some of the parallel slots. The method also includes connecting quarter sections to the adhesive layer such that an interface between a rectangular seed portion and a curved wing portion of each quarter section is aligned with at least one of the alignment lines drawn on the adhesive layer, and slicing each of the quarter sections to separate the rectangular seed portions from the curved wing portions.

Claims (16)

1. A method of producing rectangular seeds for use in semiconductor or solar material manufacturing, the method comprising:

connecting an adhesive layer to a top surface of a template, the template including a plurality of parallel slots;

drawing alignment lines on the adhesive layer, the alignment lines aligned with at least some of the parallel slots;

connecting quarter sections to the adhesive layer such that an interface between a rectangular seed portion and a curved wing portion of each quarter section is aligned with at least one of the alignment lines drawn on the adhesive layer; and

slicing each of the quarter sections with a wire web to separate the rectangular seed portions from the curved wing portions, wherein the sliced rectangular seed portions are rectangular seeds.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting an adhesive layer includes connecting double-sided adhesive film to the top surface of the template.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising arranging the rectangular seeds in a directional solidification system (DSS) furnace.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein arranging the rectangular seeds in the DSS furnace includes arranging the rectangular seeds in a grid.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

positioning the sliced curved wing portions on the template; and

bisecting each of the sliced curved wing portions into two half wings using the wire web.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising arranging the rectangular seeds and the half wings in a directional solidification system (DSS) furnace.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein arranging the rectangular seeds and the half wings in the DSS furnace includes:

arranging the rectangular seeds in a grid; and

surrounding the arranged rectangular seeds with the half wings.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting the adhesive layer to the top surface of the template comprises connecting the adhesive layer to the top surface of a template including a grid of parallel horizontal slots perpendicular to parallel vertical slots.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2017
From: SUNEDISON, INC.; SUNEDISON PRODUCTS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.; MEMC PASADENA, INC.; SOLAICX
To: CORNER STAR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 042351/0659 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 29, 2017
From: MEMC SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. (UEN200614794D)
To: SUNEDISON PRODUCTS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 042110/0866 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2015
From: CHEN, JIHONG JOHN; DWYER, SUSAN S.; HAYES, SHAWN W.; DOANE, THOMAS E.; WITTE, DALE A.; SWINEY, LINDA K.; HAMBACH, TRAVIS L.
To: MEMC SINGAPORE PTE LTD. (UEN200614794D)
Reel/Frame 036048/0822 →