公开(公告)号：US10918970B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-16

申请号：US16067424

申请日：2016-12-22

Applicant: Corner Star Limited

Inventor： Steven Lawrence Kimbel

IPC: C30B15/00 ,  B01D9/00 ,  C30B15/02 ,  C30B29/06 ,  C30B11/00 ,  C01B33/039

Abstract: A system for extracting liquid is provided. The system includes a vacuum source and a nozzle having a wettable plunger and a vacuum tube connected in flow communication with the vacuum source. When the plunger is partly submerged in the liquid and the vacuum source is actuated to initiate a flow of gas through the vacuum tube, droplets of the liquid separate from at least a portion of the unsubmerged part of the plunger and become suspended in the gas flow. The system also includes a cooling structure positioned adjacent to the vacuum tube to facilitate solidifying the droplets suspended in the gas flowing through the vacuum tube.

公开(公告)号：US20180347071A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-06

申请号：US15741164

申请日：2016-07-21

Applicant: Corner Star Limited

Inventor： Steven Lawrence Kimbel

IPC: C30B15/12 ,  C30B29/06 ,  C30B15/00 ,  C30B15/20

CPC classification number: C30B15/002 ,  C30B15/12 ,  C30B15/14 ,  C30B29/06

Abstract: A method and system for double-layer continuous Cz crystal growing are disclosed. The system includes a crucible assembly including an inner crucible in an outer crucible, the inner crucible defining a growth region and a feed region, the crucible assembly containing molten material (e.g., silicon). The system also includes a susceptor, a continuous feed supply for providing a continuous feed to the feed region, and a temperature control system disposed about the susceptor and configured to cool a region of silicon at a bottom of the growth region to form a solid layer, the solid layer facilitating reducing an oxygen concentration in the growing crystal. The method includes separating molten material into the growth region and the feed region, initiating cooling at a bottom of the growth region, and solidifying a region of material at the bottom of the growth region, such that a solid layer is formed.

公开(公告)号：US20190153615A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-23

申请号：US16250663

申请日：2019-01-17

Applicant: Corner Star Limited

Inventor： Salvador Zepeda ,  Richard J. Phillips ,  Christopher Vaughn Luers ,  Steven Lawrence Kimbel ,  Harold W. Korb ,  John D. Holder ,  Carissima Marie Hudson ,  Hariprasad Sreedharamurthy ,  Stephan Haringer ,  Marco Zardoni

IPC: C30B15/20 ,  C30B15/02 ,  C30B15/00 ,  C30B15/12 ,  C30B29/06

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming an ingot from a melt are disclosed. A method includes placing conditioning members within a cavity defined by a crucible and placing feedstock material into the cavity. The method also includes melting the feedstock material to form the melt. A melt line is defined by a surface of the melt. The conditioning members including quartz bodies arranged at the melt line to contact the melt and reduce the number of micro-voids in the melt.

公开(公告)号：US20200255971A1

公开(公告)日：2020-08-13

申请号：US15776357

申请日：2016-11-18

Applicant: Corner Star Limited

Inventor： Steven Lawrence Kimbel

IPC: C30B15/02 ,  C30B15/12 ,  C30B15/20 ,  C30B29/06

Abstract: A method of recycling monocrystalline segments cut from a monocrystalline ingot of semiconductor or solar grade material is provided. The method includes removing a first monocrystalline segment from the monocrystalline ingot, connecting the first monocrystalline segment to a second monocrystalline segment to form a chain of monocrystalline segments, and introducing the chain of monocrystalline segments into a melt of semiconductor or solar grade material.

公开(公告)号：US20190022552A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-24

申请号：US16067424

申请日：2016-12-22

Applicant: Corner Star Limited

Inventor： Steven Lawrence Kimbel

IPC: B01D9/00

Abstract: A system for extracting liquid is provided. The system includes a vacuum source and a nozzle having a wettable plunger and a vacuum tube connected in flow communication with the vacuum source. When the plunger is partly submerged in the liquid and the vacuum source is actuated to initiate a flow of gas through the vacuum tube, droplets of the liquid separate from at least a portion of the unsubmerged part of the plunger and become suspended in the gas flow. The system also includes a cooling structure positioned adjacent to the vacuum tube to facilitate solidifying the droplets suspended in the gas flowing through the vacuum tube.

公开(公告)号：US10060046B2

公开(公告)日：2018-08-28

申请号：US14857880

申请日：2015-09-18

Applicant: Corner Star Limited

Inventor： Steven Lawrence Kimbel ,  Benjamin Michael Meyer ,  Salvador Zepeda ,  Steven John Ferguson

IPC: C30B15/10 ,  C30B15/00 ,  C30B15/02

CPC classification number: C30B15/10 ,  C30B15/002 ,  C30B15/02 ,  Y10T117/10 ,  Y10T117/1032 ,  Y10T117/106 ,  Y10T117/1068

Abstract: A crystal puller for growing a crystal ingot includes a housing, insulation, a crucible assembly, a heat shield, and a dust barrier. The housing encloses a growth chamber, and has an upper wall with an inner surface and an aperture. The insulation separates an inside of the housing into an upper area and a lower area, and has a central opening. The crucible assembly is within the lower area to contain the melt. The heat shield is adjacent the central opening of the insulation, and forms a labyrinth gas path with the crucible assembly. The dust barrier extends from the inner surface of the upper wall to one of the insulation and the heat shield, and forms a seal with the upper wall around the aperture to inhibit particles from entering the growth chamber through the upper area of the housing.