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Avalanche photodiode

Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1992-04-06
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Granted: 1994-01-25
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Expires: 2012-04-06
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Abstract

Abstract A novel avalanche photodiode includes an n-type semiconductor substrate, an n-type light-absorbing layer on the substrate, an n-type multiplication layer on the light-absorbing layer, and a p-type light-receiving layer. The multiplication layer includes a plurality of pairs of semiconductor layers, with each pair including one high dopant impurity concentration layer and one low dopant impurity concentration layer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shinji Funaba

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 02:18
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F30/00; H10F30/20; H10F30/21; H10F30/22; H10F30/225; H10F30/2255

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 143 words
An avalanche photodiode comprising: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a semiconductor light-absorbing layer of the first conductivity type disposed on said substrate; a multiplication layer of the first conductivity type disposed on said light-absorbing layer, said multiplication layer comprising a plurality of pairs of first and second semiconductor layers, each first semiconductor layer containing a first dopant impurity concentration and each second semiconductor layer containing a second dopant impurity concentration smaller than the first dopant impurity concentration, each of said first semiconductor layers having a dopant impurity concentration of about 5×10 16 cm -3 and a thickness of about 0.07 μm, each of said second semiconductor layers having a dopant impurity concentration of about 1×10 16 cm -3 and a thickness of about 0.23 μm; and a semiconductor light-receiving layer of a second conductivity type disposed on said multiplication layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 143 words
An avalanche photodiode comprising: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a semiconductor light-absorbing layer of the first conductivity type disposed on said substrate; a multiplication layer of the first conductivity type disposed on said light-absorbing layer, said multiplication layer comprising a plurality of pairs of first and second semiconductor layers, each first semiconductor layer containing a first dopant impurity concentration and each second semiconductor layer containing a second dopant impurity concentration smaller than the first dopant impurity concentration, each of said first semiconductor layers having a dopant impurity concentration of about 5×10 16 cm -3 and a thickness of about 0.07 μm, each of said second semiconductor layers having a dopant impurity concentration of about 1×10 16 cm -3 and a thickness of about 0.23 μm; and a semiconductor light-receiving layer of a second conductivity type disposed on said multiplication layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
An avalanche photodiode according to claim 1 wherein the first semiconductor layer in each pair of layers is closer to said light-absorbing layer than the second semiconductor layer in that pair.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
An avalanche photodiode according to claim 1 wherein said multiplication layer comprises four pairs of first and second semiconductor layers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
An avalanche photodiode according to claim 1 wherein said substrate, said light-absorbing layer, said multiplication layer, and said light-receiving layer are InP.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4684969A Cited
JPS61226973A Cited
JPS6248079A Cited
JPS63281480A Cited
JPH01261874A Cited
US5075750A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-01-24 1997-07-26 1998-01-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-01-24 2001-07-26 2002-01-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-01-24 2005-07-26 2006-01-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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