US4062698A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoelectrical converter
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1976-11-03
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Granted: 1977-12-13
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Expires: 1996-11-03
Abstract
Abstract Photoelectrical conversion cells may be assembled on an electrically conducting heat sink and each may be electrically isolated therefrom by employing insulating substrate material between the photoresponsive region of each cell and the heat sink.
Inventors
- 👤 A. Eugene Blakeslee
- 👤 Harold John Hovel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:38
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F19/00; H02; H02S; H02S40/00; H02S40/40; H02S40/42; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A photoresponsive device comprising in combination a device body having first and second major parallel opposed surfaces, a photoresponsive active region comprising semiconductor material along said first major surface; a region of electrically insulating material in each said device epitaxial with said active region and separating said active region from said second major surface; a thermally absorbing member; and means bonding said second major surface to said thermally absorbing member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A photoresponsive device comprising in combination a device body having first and second major parallel opposed surfaces, a photoresponsive active region comprising semiconductor material along said first major surface; a region of electrically insulating material in each said device epitaxial with said active region and separating said active region from said second major surface; a thermally absorbing member; and means bonding said second major surface to said thermally absorbing member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The photoresponsive device of claim 1 wherein said photoresponsive active region includes a Schottky barrier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The photoresponsive device of claim 2 wherein said Schottky barrier is copper on gallium arsenide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The photoresponsive device of claim 2 wherein said Schottky barrier is gold on gallium arsenide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The photoresponsive device of claim 1 wherein said photoresponsive active region includes a semiconductor p-n junction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The photoresponsive device of claim 5 wherein said semiconductor is appropriately doped gallium arsenide and said insulating material is gallium arsenide with conductivity approaching that of an insulator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The photoresponsive device of claim 5 wherein said semiconductor is gallium aluminum arsenide and said insulating material is gallium arsenide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The photoresponsive device of claim 1 wherein said photoresponsive active region includes a semiconductor heterojunction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The photoresponsive device of claim 8 wherein said semiconductor heterojunction is formed between gallium arsenide and gallium aluminum arsenide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The photoresponsive device of claim 1 wherein said photoresponsive active region includes a gallium arsenide p-n junction covered by a layer of gallium aluminum arsenide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A photoresponsive device comprising in combination a thermal absorbing member, a semiconductor body having a photoresponsive p-n junction parallel to the major surface thereof, a first electrode ohmically connected to a first conductivity type portion of said p-n junction, a second electrode ohmically connected to at least a portion of the second conductivity type portion of said p-n junction, an insulating region of said semiconductor body between said second conductivity type portion and said thermal absorbing member and operable to provide electrical isolation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
A photoresponsive device comprising in combination a thermal absorbing member, a semiconductor body having a photoresponsive p-n junction parallel to the major surface thereof, a first electrode ohmically connected to a first conductivity type portion of said p-n junction, a second electrode ohmically connected to at least a portion of the second conductivity type portion of said p-n junction, an insulating region of said semiconductor body between said second conductivity type portion and said thermal absorbing member and operable to provide electrical isolation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
110 words
An array of photoresponsive devices comprising in combination a thermal absorbing member, a plurality of device bodies each having first and second major parallel opposed surfaces, a photoconversion active region parallel to a first major surface of each said device, a region of electrically insulating material in each said device body epitaxial with its said active region and separating its said active region from its said second major surface, means bonding said second major surface of each device body to said thermal absorbing member, means serially connecting groups of said photoconversion active regions to provide additive voltages and further means connecting serially-connected group pathways in parallel to provide additive currents.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
An array of photoresponsive devices comprising in combination a thermal absorbing member, a plurality of device bodies each having first and second major parallel opposed surfaces, a photoconversion active region parallel to a first major surface of each said device, a region of electrically insulating material in each said device body epitaxial with its said active region and separating its said active region from its said second major surface, means bonding said second major surface of each device body to said thermal absorbing member, means serially connecting groups of said photoconversion active regions to provide additive voltages and further means connecting serially-connected group pathways in parallel to provide additive currents.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3833425A
Cited
US4002031A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-12 | 1981-06-13 | 1981-12-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-12 | 1985-06-13 | 1985-12-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-12 | 1989-06-13 | 1989-12-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |