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US4660207A
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Surface-emitting light emitting device
Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
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Filing: 1984-11-21
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Granted: 1987-04-21
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Expires: 2004-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A surface-emitting, light emitting device has a columnar active region of one direct bandgap semiconductor and a surrounding confining region of a higher bandgap semiconductor. Contacts are made to the active and confining regions and a window is formed in the device in alignment with the active region to permit light emission from the device. The semiconductors are doped to establish a pn junction within a carrier diffusion length of the heterojunction between the active and confining regions, the pn junction extending the length of the active region. In use, light is emitted along the axis of the columnar active region in response to current passing radially across the pn junction.
Inventors
- 👤 Mikelis N. Svilans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:26
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/10; H01S5/18; H01S5/183; H01S5/18308; H10; H10H; H10H20/00; H10H20/01; H10H20/011; H10H20/013; H10H20/80; H10H20/81; H10H20/811; H10H20/819; H10H20/821; H10H20/822; H10H20/824; H01S2301/00; H01S2301/16; H01S2301/163; H01S5/20; H01S5/22; H01S5/2205; H01S5/2218; H01S5/222
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
In a surface-emitting light emitting device, a heterojunction comprising a columnar active region of a first direct bandgap semiconductor material and a confining region of a second semiconductor material surrounding the active region, first and second contacts formed respectively on the active and confining regions, a window in general alignment with the columnar active region to permit light emission from the device, the second material being a higher bandgap material than the first material whereby to confine light and generated current carriers within the active region, the semiconductor materials doped to establish a pn junction within a carrier diffusion length of said heterojunction formed between the active and confining regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a surface-emitting light emitting device, a heterojunction comprising a columnar active region of a first direct bandgap semiconductor material and a confining region of a second semiconductor material surrounding the active region, first and second contacts formed respectively on the active and confining regions, a window in general alignment with the columnar active region to permit light emission from the device, the second material being a higher bandgap material than the first material whereby to confine light and generated current carriers within the active region, the semiconductor materials doped to establish a pn junction within a carrier diffusion length of said heterojunction formed between the active and confining regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surface-emitting light emitting device as claimed in claim 1, in which both the active region and the confining region form an epitaxial continuation of a semiconductor substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A surface-emitting device as claimed in claim 2, the columnar active region extending longitudinally in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the columnar active region has a circular cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the semiconductor materials are group III-V materials.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, the device having a GaAs substrate, a p-type GaAs active region and an n-type GaAlAs confining region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the columnar active region occupies a pit within a mass of the second semiconductor material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, in which the active and confining regions together comprise a layer of substantially uniform thickness on the substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, the device having a well etched into a rear face of the substrate at a location generally vertically aligned with the columnar active region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which an insulating layer overlies a top surface of both the active and confining regions and the first contact contacts the top surface of the active region through a window in the insulating layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 10, the active region being a circular section column, the contact region being an annular region adjacent a perimeter of the column top surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 11 in which a top light emitting window is defined radially within said annular region, the insulating layer being optically transmissive at the emission wavelength of the device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising reflective elements at opposed ends of the columnar active region, the elements defining with the active region a laser resonant cavity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A surface-emitting device as claimed in claim 1 in which the pn junction extends along the length of the heterojunction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A surface-emitting light emitting device as claimed in claim 1 in which the first and second contacts are formed at a common surface of the device, the contacts being substantially co-planar and spaced from one another.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3703670A
Cited
US4092659A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-04-20 | 1990-10-20 | 1991-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-20 | 1994-10-20 | 1995-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-20 | 1998-10-20 | 1999-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |