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US5880486A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Light-emitting gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor device

Assignee: Nichia Corp
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Filing: 1996-08-30
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Granted: 1999-03-09
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Expires: 2016-08-30
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Abstract

Abstract A light-emitting gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor device of a double-heterostructure. The double-heterostructure includes a light-emitting layer formed of a low-resistivity In x Ga 1-x N (0<x<1) compound semiconductor doped with p-type and/or n-type impurity. A first clad layer is joined to one surface of the light-emitting layer and formed of an n-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor having a composition different from the light-emitting layer. A second clad layer is joined to another surface of the light-emitting layer and formed of a low-resistivity, p-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor having a composition different from the light-emitting layer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shuji Nakamura
  • 👤 Takashi Mukai
  • 👤 Naruhito Iwasa

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 21:34
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10H; H10H20/00; H10H20/80; H10H20/81; H10H20/822; H10H20/824; H10H20/825; H10H20/811; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/30; H01S5/32; H01S5/323; H01S5/32308; H01S5/32341; H10H20/8215; H10H20/8252

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 107 words
A light-emitting gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor device having a double-heterostructure comprising: a p-type light-emitting layer having first and second surfaces, and comprising a III-V Group gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor containing gallium, indium and nitrogen, doped with a p-type impurity; a first clad layer provided on the side of said first surface of said light-emitting layer, and comprising an n-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor; a second clad layer provided on the side of said second surface of said light-emitting layer, and comprising a p-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor; and a p-type contact layer comprising gallium nitride doped with a p-type impurity, and provided on said second clad layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 107 words
A light-emitting gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor device having a double-heterostructure comprising: a p-type light-emitting layer having first and second surfaces, and comprising a III-V Group gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor containing gallium, indium and nitrogen, doped with a p-type impurity; a first clad layer provided on the side of said first surface of said light-emitting layer, and comprising an n-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor; a second clad layer provided on the side of said second surface of said light-emitting layer, and comprising a p-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor; and a p-type contact layer comprising gallium nitride doped with a p-type impurity, and provided on said second clad layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 110 words
A light-emitting gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor device having a double-heterostructure comprising: a p-type light-emitting layer having first and second surfaces, and comprising a III-V Group gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor containing gallium, indium and nitrogen, doped with a p-type impurity; a first clad layer provided on the side of said first surface of said light-emitting layer, and comprising an n-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor; a second clad layer provided on the side of said second surface of said light-emitting layer, and comprising an p-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor; and an n-type contact layer comprising gallium nitride doped with an n-type impurity, and provided in electrical contact with said first clad layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 110 words
A light-emitting gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor device having a double-heterostructure comprising: a p-type light-emitting layer having first and second surfaces, and comprising a III-V Group gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor containing gallium, indium and nitrogen, doped with a p-type impurity; a first clad layer provided on the side of said first surface of said light-emitting layer, and comprising an n-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor; a second clad layer provided on the side of said second surface of said light-emitting layer, and comprising an p-type gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor; and an n-type contact layer comprising gallium nitride doped with an n-type impurity, and provided in electrical contact with said first clad layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said light-emitting layer comprises a compound semiconductor having a formula: In x Ga 1-x N, where 0≦x≦1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device according to claim 3, wherein said x is larger than 0 (zero), but smaller than 0.5.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said contact layer is doped with magnesium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said first clad layer comprises a semiconductor represented by the formula, Ga y Al 1-y N, where 0≦y≦1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said second clad layer comprises a semiconductor represented by the formula, Ga z Al 1-z N, where 0≦z≦1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device according to claim 7, wherein said second clad layer comprises aluminum, and is doped with magnesium.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS6417484A Cited
JPH02229475A Cited
JPH03203388A Cited
US5237182A Cited
JPH04209577A Cited
EP0496030A2 Cited
JPH04236478A Cited
US5323027A Cited
US5578839A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-03-08 2002-09-07 2003-03-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-03-08 2006-09-07 2007-03-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
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