IP Library Granted Patent US 7,723,739
Granted Patent B2
US 7,723,739 · App. 11/991,418 · Granted May 25, 2010

Semiconductor light emitting device and illuminating device using it

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,723,739
App. No.
11/991,418
Granted
May 25, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor light emitting device includes an n-type nitride semiconductor layer 3 formed on one surface side of a single-crystal substrate 1 for epitaxial growth through a first buffer layer 2 , an emission layer 5 formed on a surface side of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer 3 , and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer 6 formed on a surface side of the emission layer 5 . The emission layer 5 has an AlGaInN quantum well structure, and a second buffer layer 4 having the same composition as a barrier layer 5 a of the emission layer 5 is provided between the n-type nitride semiconductor layer 3 and the emission layer 5 . In the semiconductor light emitting device, it is possible to increase emission intensity of the ultraviolet radiation as compared with a conventional configuration while using AlGaInN as a material of the emission layer.

Claims (30)

1. A semiconductor light emitting device comprising:

an n-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on one surface side of a single-crystal substrate for epitaxial growth through a first buffer layer;

an emission layer formed on a surface side of said n-type nitride semiconductor layer;

a p-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on a surface side of said emission layer;

wherein

said emission layer has an AlGaInN quantum well structure and includes at least a pair of a barrier layer and a well layer,

a second buffer layer having the same composition as said barrier layer included in the emission layer being provided between said n-type nitride semiconductor layer and said barrier layer.

2. The semiconductor light emitting device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein

said first buffer layer is comprises of an AlN layer.

3. The semiconductor light emitting device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein

said n-type nitride semiconductor layer is comprised of an AlGaN layer.

4. The semiconductor light emitting device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein

said first buffer layer and said second buffer layer have different lattice constants from each other,

relative proportions of said n-type nitride semiconductor layer being changed so that a lattice constant of said n-type nitride semiconductor layer approaches from a lattice constant of said first buffer layer to a lattice constant of said second buffer layer with distance from said first buffer layer.

5. The semiconductor light emitting device as set forth in claim 4 , wherein

said second buffer layer has a film thickness which is larger than that of said barrier layer.

6. The semiconductor light emitting device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein

a concave-convex structure for increasing light output efficiency is formed on an exposed surface of at least one of said single-crystal substrate, said n-type nitride semiconductor layer, and said p-type nitride semiconductor layer.

7. An illuminating device comprising:

said semiconductor light emitting device as set forth in claim 1 .

8. An illuminating device comprising:

said semiconductor light emitting device as set forth in claim 2 .

9. An illuminating device comprising:

said semiconductor light emitting device as set forth in claim 3 .

10. An illuminating device comprising:

said semiconductor light emitting device as set forth in claim 4 .

11. An illuminating device comprising:

said semiconductor light emitting device as set forth in claim 5 .

12. An illuminating device comprising:

said semiconductor light emitting device as set forth in claim 6 .

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 28, 2009
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
To: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022206/0574 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2008
From: TAKANO, TAKAYOSHI; KONDO, YUKIHIRO; IKEDA, JUNJI; HIRAYAMA, HIDEKI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.; RIKEN
Reel/Frame 020767/0187 →