IP Library Granted Patent US 8,124,432
Granted Patent B2
US 8,124,432 · App. 12/630,008 · Granted Feb 28, 2012

Nitride semiconductor optical element and manufacturing method thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,124,432
App. No.
12/630,008
Granted
Feb 28, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an InGaN-based nitride semiconductor optical device having a long wavelength (440 nm or more) equal to or more than that of blue, the increase of a wavelength is realized while suppressing In (Indium) segregation and deterioration of crystallinity. In the manufacture of an InGaN-based nitride semiconductor optical device having an InGaN-based quantum well active layer including an InGaN well layer and an InGaN barrier layer, a step of growing the InGaN barrier layer includes: a first step of adding hydrogen at 1% or more to a gas atmosphere composed of nitrogen and ammonia and growing a GaN layer in the gas atmosphere; and a second step of growing the InGaN barrier layer in a gas atmosphere composed of nitrogen and ammonia.

Claims (19)

1. A manufacturing method of a nitride semiconductor optical device comprising steps of sequentially growing a first conductivity type cladding layer, a guide layer, an InGaN-based quantum well active layer, a second conductivity type cladding layer, and a second conductivity type contact layer on a semiconductor substrate, wherein

the step of growing the InGaN-based quantum well active layer includes a step of growing an InGaN well layer and a step of growing an InGaN barrier layer,

the step of growing the InGaN barrier layer further includes: a first step of growing a first film in a gas atmosphere containing nitrogen, ammonia and added hydrogen; and a second step of growing a second film in a gas atmosphere containing nitrogen and ammonia, where a concentration of hydrogen in the second step is lower than a concentration of hydrogen in the first step.

2. The manufacturing method of the nitride semiconductor optical device according to claim 1 , wherein

a concentration of the hydrogen in the first step is from 1 to 10% of the gas atmosphere.

3. The manufacturing method of the nitride semiconductor optical device according to claim 1 , wherein

a thickness of the film grown in the first step is 1 nm to 5 nm.

4. The manufacturing method of the nitride semiconductor optical device according to claim 1 , wherein

a thickness of the film grown in the second step is 4 nm or more.

5. The manufacturing method of the nitride semiconductor optical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the InGaN-based quantum well active layer is grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition.

6. The manufacturing method of the nitride semiconductor optical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the step of growing the InGaN well layer further includes: a third step of adding pulse-like hydrogen to a gas atmosphere composed of nitrogen and ammonia and growing a third film in the gas atmosphere; and a fourth step of growing a fourth film in a gas atmosphere composed of nitrogen and ammonia.

7. The manufacturing method of the nitride semiconductor optical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the InGaN barrier layer is formed on the InGaN well layer through the second step after the first step.

8. A manufacturing method of a nitride semiconductor optical device comprising steps of sequentially growing a first conductivity type cladding layer, an InGaN guide layer, an InGaN-based quantum well active layer, a second conductivity type cladding layer, and a second conductivity type contact layer on a semiconductor substrate, wherein

the step of growing the InGaN guide layer includes: a first step of growing a film in a gas atmosphere composed of nitrogen and ammonia; a second step of adding hydrogen to a gas atmosphere composed of nitrogen and ammonia and growing a film in the gas atmosphere after the first step; and a third step of growing a film in a gas atmosphere composed of nitrogen and ammonia after the second step.

9. The manufacturing method of the nitride semiconductor optical device according to claim 8 , wherein

an addition concentration of the hydrogen in the second step is 1% or higher of the gas atmosphere.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2014
From: OCLARO JAPAN, INC.
To: USHIO OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS, INC.
Reel/Frame 034225/0494 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: OPNEXT JAPAN, INC.
To: OCLARO JAPAN, INC.
Reel/Frame 034197/0571 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2010
From: TSUCHIYA, TOMONOBU; TANAKA, SHIGEHISA; TERANO, AKIHISA; NAKAHARA, KOUJI
To: OPNEXT JAPAN, INC.
Reel/Frame 024030/0262 →