Patent ID: 6797062
Filing Date: 2004-09-28
Classification: C30B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A heat shield assembly for use in a crystal puller for growing a monocrystalline ingot from molten semiconductor source material, the crystal puller having a housing, a crucible contained in the housing for holding molten semiconductor source material, a heater in thermal communication with the crucible for heating the crucible to a temperature sufficient to melt the semiconductor source material held by the crucible, a pulling mechanism positioned above the crucible for pulling the ingot from the molten source material held by the crucible, and a support structure positioned above the molten source material for supporting the heat shield assembly above the molten source material, the heat shield assembly having a central opening sized and shaped for surrounding the ingot as the ingot is pulled from the molten source material, said heat shield assembly comprising:an outer shield adapted for positioning between the ingot and the crucible as the ingot is pulled from the molten source material, the outer shield including a first section and a second section, the second section of the outer shield extending generally downward from the first section toward the molten material, an inner shield adapted for positioning generally between the ingot and the outer shield, the inner shield including a first section and a second section, the second section of the inner shield extending generally downward from the first section toward the molten material, the second section of at least one of the inner and outer shields being releasably connected to the respective first section of the same shield so that, in the event one of said releasably connected first and second sections is damaged, the damaged section may be separated from the other section of the shield to allow replacement with an undamaged section without replacement of the other section of the shield.