Patent US4183035A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4183035A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Inverted heterojunction photodiode
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1978-06-26
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Granted: 1980-01-08
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Expires: 1998-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A low-leakage, heterojunction photodiode for use as a detector sensitive to infrared radiation is provided. The diode structure comprises a PbTe substrate of n-type conductivity with an n-type epitaxial buffer layer on the substrate and an epitaxial active layer on the buffer layer. The buffer layer is either Pb(1-x)SxTe or Pb1-xSexTe with the atomic fraction of S or Se, x, being greater than 0 but less than 0.1. The active layer is Pb1-ySnyTe with the atomic fraction of Sn, y, being greater than 0 but less than 0.3. There is a p-n junction created in the active layer with the n side of the junction being adjacent the buffer layer. Metal is deposited on the substrate and on the active layer to provide electrical contact to the diode.
Inventors
- 👤 Cheng-Chi Wang
- 👤 John G. Pasko
- 👤 Joseph T. Longo
- 👤 John E. Clarke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/40; H04B10/43; H10; H10F; H10F30/00; H10F30/20; H10F30/21; H10F30/22; H10F30/222; H10F30/24; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/18; H10F39/184; H10F77/00; H10F77/10; H10F77/12; H10F77/127; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S438/00; Y10S438/912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A semiconducting device comprising: a substrate comprising a PbTe crystal of n-type conductivity; an epitaxial buffer layer of Pb.sub.(1-x) X x Te of n-type conductivity on said substrate, wherein X is a Group VI element selected from the group consisting of S and Se and wherein x is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.1; an epitaxial active layer of Pb.sub.(1-y) Sn y Te on said buffer layer, wherein y is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.3, said active layer forming a heterojunction between said active layer and said buffer layer; a p-n junction located outside said buffer layer in either said active layer or in said heterojunction, the n side of said p-n junction being adjacent said buffer layer; and electrical contact means coupled to said substrate and to said active layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A semiconducting device comprising: a substrate comprising a PbTe crystal of n-type conductivity; an epitaxial buffer layer of Pb.sub.(1-x) X x Te of n-type conductivity on said substrate, wherein X is a Group VI element selected from the group consisting of S and Se and wherein x is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.1; an epitaxial active layer of Pb.sub.(1-y) Sn y Te on said buffer layer, wherein y is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.3, said active layer forming a heterojunction between said active layer and said buffer layer; a p-n junction located outside said buffer layer in either said active layer or in said heterojunction, the n side of said p-n junction being adjacent said buffer layer; and electrical contact means coupled to said substrate and to said active layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
149 words
A focal plane comprising: a plurality of mesa photodiodes on a PbTe substrate of n-type conductivity, and wherein each of said mesa diodes comprises: an epitaxial buffer layer of Pb.sub.(1-x) X x Te of n-type conductivity on said substrate, wherein X is a Group VI element selected from the group consisting of S and Se and wherein x is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.1; an epitaxial active layer of Pb.sub.(1-y) Sn y Te on said buffer layer, wheren y is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.3, said active layer forming a heterojunction between said active layer and said buffer layer; a p-n junction located outside said buffer layer in either said active layer or in said heterojunction, the n side of said p-n junction being adjacent said buffer layer; and electrical contact means coupled to said substrate and to said active layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
149 words
A focal plane comprising: a plurality of mesa photodiodes on a PbTe substrate of n-type conductivity, and wherein each of said mesa diodes comprises: an epitaxial buffer layer of Pb.sub.(1-x) X x Te of n-type conductivity on said substrate, wherein X is a Group VI element selected from the group consisting of S and Se and wherein x is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.1; an epitaxial active layer of Pb.sub.(1-y) Sn y Te on said buffer layer, wheren y is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.3, said active layer forming a heterojunction between said active layer and said buffer layer; a p-n junction located outside said buffer layer in either said active layer or in said heterojunction, the n side of said p-n junction being adjacent said buffer layer; and electrical contact means coupled to said substrate and to said active layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
120 words
A photodiode comprising: a substrate comprising a PbTe crystal of n-type conductivity; an epitaxial buffer layer of Pb.sub.(1-x) S x Te of n-type conductivity on said substrate, wherein x is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.1; an epitaxial active layer of Pb.sub.(1-y) Sn y Te on said buffer layer, wherein y is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.3, said active layer forming a heterojunction between said active layer and said buffer layer; a p-n junction located outside said buffer layer in either said active layer or in said heterojunction, the n side of said p-n junction being adjacent said buffer layer; and electrical contact means coupled to said substrate and to said active layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
120 words
A photodiode comprising: a substrate comprising a PbTe crystal of n-type conductivity; an epitaxial buffer layer of Pb.sub.(1-x) S x Te of n-type conductivity on said substrate, wherein x is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.1; an epitaxial active layer of Pb.sub.(1-y) Sn y Te on said buffer layer, wherein y is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.3, said active layer forming a heterojunction between said active layer and said buffer layer; a p-n junction located outside said buffer layer in either said active layer or in said heterojunction, the n side of said p-n junction being adjacent said buffer layer; and electrical contact means coupled to said substrate and to said active layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
A photodiode comprising: a substrate comprising a PbTe crystal of n-type conductivity; an epitaxial buffer layer of Pb.sub.(1-x) Se x Te on n-type conductivity on said substrate, wherein x is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.1; an epitaxial active layer of Pb.sub.(1-y) Sn y Te on said buffer layer, wherein y is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.3, said active layer forming a heterojunction between said active layer and said buffer layer; a p-n junction located outside said buffer layer in either said active layer or in said heterojunction, the n side of said p-n junction being adjacent said buffer layer; and electrical contact means coupled to said substrate and to said active layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
A photodiode comprising: a substrate comprising a PbTe crystal of n-type conductivity; an epitaxial buffer layer of Pb.sub.(1-x) Se x Te on n-type conductivity on said substrate, wherein x is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.1; an epitaxial active layer of Pb.sub.(1-y) Sn y Te on said buffer layer, wherein y is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.3, said active layer forming a heterojunction between said active layer and said buffer layer; a p-n junction located outside said buffer layer in either said active layer or in said heterojunction, the n side of said p-n junction being adjacent said buffer layer; and electrical contact means coupled to said substrate and to said active layer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of fabricating a semiconducting device comprising the steps of: providing a substrate comprising PbTe crystal of n-type conductivity; epitaxially growing a buffer layer of Pb.sub.(1-x) X x Te n-type conductivity on said substrate, wherein X is a Group VI element selected from the group consisting of S and Se and wherein x is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.1; epitaxially growing an active layer of Pb.sub.(1-y) Sn y Te on said buffer layer, wherein y is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.3, said active layer forming a heterojunction between said active layer and said buffer layer; annealing said substrate, buffer layer, and active layer at approximately 450° C. for approximately 20 hours to form a p-n junction located outside said buffer layer in either said active layer or in said heterojunction, the n side of said p-n junction being adjacent said buffer layer; and depositing electrical contact means coupled to said substrate and to said active layer.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of fabricating a semiconducting device comprising the steps of: providing a substrate comprising PbTe crystal of n-type conductivity; epitaxially growing a buffer layer of Pb.sub.(1-x) X x Te n-type conductivity on said substrate, wherein X is a Group VI element selected from the group consisting of S and Se and wherein x is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.1; epitaxially growing an active layer of Pb.sub.(1-y) Sn y Te on said buffer layer, wherein y is a value greater than 0 but less than 0.3, said active layer forming a heterojunction between said active layer and said buffer layer; annealing said substrate, buffer layer, and active layer at approximately 450° C. for approximately 20 hours to form a p-n junction located outside said buffer layer in either said active layer or in said heterojunction, the n side of said p-n junction being adjacent said buffer layer; and depositing electrical contact means coupled to said substrate and to said active layer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-01-07 | 1983-07-09 | 1984-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-01-07 | 1987-07-09 | 1988-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-01-07 | 1991-07-09 | 1992-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |