Patent ID: 7867334
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: C30B,H01L,Y02E,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A silicon casting apparatus comprising: a mold for holding a silicon melt therein and cooling and solidifying the silicon melt to produce silicon ingot; a heating mechanism for heating the silicon melt and disposed within a constant distance above the mold; and a cooling mechanism disposed below the heating mechanism for cooling the silicon melt, characterized in that the cooling mechanism comprises a cooling member for cooling an outer surface of the mold, the cooling member having a heat receiving surface brought into direct contact with a heat radiation surface, said radiation surface being one of (i) the outer surface of the mold, or (ii) a surface, of a heat transfer member comprising a contact surface arranged in close proximity to the mold with a predetermined gap between the heat transfer member and the mold, said cooling member movable relative to the mold or the heat transfer member in order to change a heat exchange area, brought into contact with or arranged in close proximity to the heat radiation surface, of the heat receiving surface.