US3603833A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electroluminescent junction semiconductor with controllable combination colors
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1970-02-16
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1990-02-16
Abstract
Abstract An electroluminescent PN junction gallium phosphide diode is fabricated with the P-type zone rich in zinc oxygen pairs and the N-type zone rich in isoelectronic nitrogen. In this diode, the apparent color of the emitted light can be controlled by varying the electrical current in the diode, from the red through the yellow to the green portions of the color spectrum. Thereby, an electroluminescent diode device is afforded, having a threefold (or more) positive standby signal characteristic.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Andre Logan
- 👤 Walter Rosenzweig
- 👤 William Wiegmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:26
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10H; H10H20/00; C; C30; C30B; C30B29/00; C30B29/10; C30B29/40; H10H20/80; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S148/00; Y10S148/049; Y10S148/107; Y10S148/119
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 1 in which the concentration of nitrogen in the second zone is about 1019 atoms per cm3.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 1 in which the second zone is a layer which has been epitaxially grown on the first zone serving as a substrate therefor, the first zone being a single crystal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 3 in which the second zone contains a net significant donor impurity concentration of about 1017 sulfur atoms per cm3.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 4 in which the concentration of nitrogen in the second zone is about 1019 atoms per cm3.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 1 in which the concentration of zinc oxide in the first zone is 3 X 1017 per cm.3 and in which the first zone further contains a net significant acceptor impurity concentration of 5 X 1017 zinc atoms per cm3.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Electroluminescent apparatus which comprises: a. an electroluminescent device in accordance with claim 1; and b. means for causing an electrical current of controllable magnitude to flow across the PN junction, in order to control the color hue of the light emitted by the body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electroluminescent apparatus in accordance with claim 7 in which said means include a DC current source which supplies the electrical current and which is controlled by a pulser which is characterized by a controllable duty cycle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electroluminescent device which comprises: a semiconductive gallium phosphide body containing a first zone of P-type conductivity and a second zone of N-type conductivity forming a PN junction with the first zone, the body being rich in zinc-oxygen pairs and in nitrogen atoms forming isoelectronic traps therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3365630A
Cited
US3470038A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |