Patent ID: 7662733

Claim:
A vapor phase growth process comprising: heating semiconductor wafers, the semiconductor wafers being heated by a heater mounted in a vapor phase growth apparatus; and thermally decomposing a source gas on the semiconductor wafers such that crystal growth occurs on the semiconductor wafers, the semiconductor wafers being held towards a bottom area of the vapor phase growth apparatus by a plurality of rotation susceptors, the plurality of rotation susceptors having bearing holding portions aligned with an outermost end of a projected portion of pinion gears that mesh with a common gear, the common gear being located at a periphery of a disk-like revolution susceptor, the pinion gears meshing with the common gear at a position directly above a bearing, the plurality of rotation susceptors being rotatably mounted through the bearing in an annular disposition on the periphery of the disk-like revolution susceptor, wherein an outermost end of a projected portion of said pinion gears located at an upper portion of a periphery of the plurality of rotation susceptors is substantially aligned with an outermost end of a projected portion of said common gear located at the periphery of the revolution susceptor.