Sumco has been granted a patent for a quartz glass crucible designed for single crystal pulling processes. The crucible features a silica glass body and a crystallization-accelerator-containing layer, which enhances stability and control over oxygen concentration and crystal diameter during production. GlobalData’s report on Sumco gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

According to GlobalData’s company profile on Sumco, 3D memory devices was a key innovation area identified from patents. Sumco's grant share as of June 2024 was 54%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Quartz glass crucible with crystallization-accelerator-containing layer

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Sumco Corp

The patent US12043916B2 describes a quartz glass crucible designed for enhanced performance through the incorporation of a crystallization-accelerator-containing layer. This layer is strategically applied to the outer surface of the crucible body, which is constructed from silica glass. The crucible features a cylindrical side wall, a bottom portion, and a corner section connecting the two. The claims specify that the crystallization accelerator's concentration within this layer ranges from 1.0×10^13 atoms/cm² to 4.8×10^15 atoms/cm², with a gradient that decreases from the lower part to the upper part of the side wall. Additionally, the layer can be applied to both the side wall and corner portions, while the bottom portion remains free of this layer.

Further claims elaborate on the functionality of the crystallization-accelerator-containing layer, indicating that it promotes the formation of a crystal layer on the crucible's outer surface when heated. This crystal layer is specified to have a thickness between 200 µm and 500 µm when subjected to temperatures between 1550°C and 1600°C for 25 hours. The patent also details a specific concentration distribution of the crystallization accelerator, with higher concentrations at the lower side wall and corner portions, tapering off towards the upper side wall. The claims emphasize the absence of the crystallization-accelerator layer on the bottom portion of the crucible, ensuring a targeted approach to enhancing the crucible's structural integrity and performance during high-temperature applications.

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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.