US 12,227,877 B2
Continuous replenishment crystal growth
Nathan Stoddard, Winchester, CA (US)
Assigned to II-VI DELAWARE, INC., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by II-VI Delaware, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Jun. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/340,462.
Application 17/646,989 is a division of application No. 16/694,226, filed on Nov. 25, 2019, granted, now 11,248,312, issued on Feb. 15, 2022.
Application 18/340,462 is a continuation of application No. 17/646,989, filed on Jan. 4, 2022, granted, now 11,725,304.
Prior Publication US 2023/0332332 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C30B 35/00 (2006.01); C30B 15/10 (2006.01); C30B 15/14 (2006.01)
CPC C30B 35/007 (2013.01) [C30B 15/10 (2013.01); C30B 15/14 (2013.01); C30B 35/002 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for growing a crystal, the apparatus comprising:
a growth chamber;
a melt chamber thermally isolated from the growth chamber;
a growth crucible within the growth chamber, the growth crucible being configured to contain a liquid melt;
a die within the growth chamber, the die comprising a die opening and a capillary;
a melt crucible within the melt chamber, the melt crucible being configured to receive feedstock material;
a heater within the melt chamber, the heater being configured to melt the feedstock material within the melt crucible to form the liquid melt; and
a capillary conveyor in fluid communication with the melt crucible and the growth crucible, the capillary conveyor being configured to transport the liquid melt from the melt crucible to the growth crucible, wherein the capillary conveyor comprises a pair of metallic plates positioned a distance apart.