Integrated semiconductor light-emitting display array

Claim 2

A composite integrated circuit LED display array of sandwich configuration comprising: a planar monolithic light-transmissive single crystal of GaP having a plurality of LED devices integrally formed on the back surface of said crystal in an X-Y array, said LED devices being optically isolated, the optical isolation being effected by a deeply etched grid on the back surface of said crystal; a monolithic integrated circuit array of memory circuit elements corresponding to respective ones of said LED devices said integrated circuit being integrally joined to said light-transmissive crystal at the back side thereof, said memory circuits being selectively addressable to cause energization of the respective LED devices to emit light at the back surface of said crystal, the light being transmitted through said crystal for being observed at the front surface of said crystal.

Claim 3

A composite integrated circuit LED display array of sandwich configuration comprising: a light-transmissive monolithic planar X-Y array of LED devices disposed in a plurality of rows and columns, said array comprising a monolithic, light-transmissive single crystal, of Gap each of said LED devices being integrally formed in said crystal by a respective mesa adjacent the back surface of said crystal, at least some of said mesas each including at least one diode having a p-n junction at which light is radiated, said GaP crystal being of a first electrical conductivity type; a monolithic planar integrated circuit array of circuit elements corresponding to and adapted for energizing respective ones of said LED devices, said circuit elements having electrodes on a surface of said integrated circuit array facing said light-transmissive X-Y array first interconnection means sandwiched between said arrays for providing electrical interconnections between said electrodes on the surface of said integrated circuit array and respective mesas forming said LED devices, said mesas being contacted by said interconnection means at an area having a second electrical conductivity type; and second interconnection means between said arrays for providing electrical interconnection between at least one said electrode on the surface of said integrated circuit array and an area of said monolithic GaP crystal having said first electrical conductivity type; said circuit elements being selectively operable for energizing corresponding ones of said LED devices, each said LED device when energized causing emission of light at the p-n junction adjacent the back surface of said light-transmissive array, said light being transmitted through said light-transmissive array for being observed at the front surface thereof opposite said junction.

Claim 4

A composite integrated circuit LED display array of sandwich configuration comprising: a light-transmissive monolithic planar X-Y array of LED devices disposed in a plurality of rows and columns, said array comprising a monolithic, light-transmissive single crystal, of Gap each of said LED devices being integrally formed in said crystal by a respective mesa adjacent the back surface of said crystal, at least some of said mesas each including at least one diode having a p-n junction at which light is radiated, said GaP crystal being of a first electrical conductivity type; a monolithic planar integrated circuit array of circuit elements corresponding to and adapted for energizing respective ones of said LED devices, said circuit elements having electrodes on a surface of said integrated circuit array facing said light-transmissive X-Y array first interconnection means sandwiched between said arrays for providing electrical interconnections between said electrodes on the surface of said integrated circuit array and respective mesas forming said LED devices, said mesas being contacted by said interconnection means at an area having a second electrical conductivity type; and second interconnection means between said arrays for providing electrical interconnection between at least one said electrode on the surface of said integrated circuit array and an area of said monolithic GaP crystal having said first electrical conductivity type; said circuit elements being selectively operable for energizing corresponding ones of said LED devices, each said LED device when energized causing emission of light at the p-n junction adjacent the back surface of said light-transmissive array, said light being transmitted through said light-transmissive array for being observed at the front surface thereof opposite said junction.

Claim 5

A composite LED display array as set forth in claim 2 wherein adjacent ones said mesas are separated by a grid of deep channels, said deep channels causing said LED devices to be optically isolated one from another.

Claim 6

A composite LED display array as set forth in claim 3 wherein each mesa forming a diode comprises a thin surface layer of electrical conductivity type opposite to the electrical conductivity type of said monolithic GaP crystal.

Claim 7

A composite LED display array as set forth in claim 4 wherein said surface comprises single crystal GaAsP.

Claim 8

A composite LED display array as set forth in claim 5 wherein said LED devices comprise groups of diodes, said groups being adapted to transmit different colors of light.

Claim 9

A composite LED display array as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least one of said mesas having no junction therein and having a back surface of said first electrical conductivity type, the last-said mesa surface being contacted by said second interconnection means.

Claim 10

A composite LED display array as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second interconnection means comprise a plurality of metal spheres or hemispheres positioned between surfaces of said mesas and said electrodes on the surface of said integrated circuit array.