Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Stickel, W. B..
Single-crystal material grown under precise control. New furnace permits sustained growth of single-crystal silicon ribbon by dendritic-web growth process. Furnace brings together mechanisms necessary for continuous automatic operation.
A new circuit, when combined with melt-replenishment system and melt level sensor, offers continuous closed-loop automatic control of melt-level during web growth. Installed on silicon-web furnace, circuit controls melt-level to within 0.1 mm for as long as 8 hours. Circuit affords greater area growth rate and higher web quality, automatic melt-level control also allows semiautomatic growth of web over long periods which can greatly reduce costs.