IP Library Granted Patent US 9,257,608
Granted Patent B2
US 9,257,608 · App. 14/188,373 · Granted Feb 9, 2016

Nitride semiconductor light emitting device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,257,608
App. No.
14/188,373
Granted
Feb 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light emitting device includes a first layer of a first conductivity type, a second layer of a second conductivity type, a light emitting layer between the first and second layers, a first electrode disposed on a surface of the first layer, and a second electrode disposed on a surface of the second layer and electrically insulated from the first layer. The first layer has first and second regions, each of which contacts the first electrode. A dopant concentration in the first region is less than a dopant concentration in the second region.

Claims (52)

1. A nitride semiconductor light emitting device, comprising:

a first layer having a first conductivity type;

a second layer having a second conductivity type;

a light emitting layer between the first layer and the second layer, the light emitting layer including a nitride semiconductor material;

a first electrode disposed on a surface of the first layer; and

a second electrode disposed on a first surface of the second layer and electrically insulated from the first layer, wherein

the first layer has a first region contacting the first electrode and having a first dopant concentration, and a second region contacting the first electrode and having a second dopant concentration that is greater than the first dopant concentration, and

a portion of the first electrode is between the second region and the second electrode in a direction parallel to the first surface.

2. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device according to claim 1 , wherein a second surface of the second layer has a phosphor layer disposed thereon, and the second surface of the second layer has surface irregularities.

3. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 2 , wherein a surface of the phosphor layer contacting the second surface of the second layer has surface irregularities.

4. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting layer has a multi-quantum well structure including a plurality of pairs of well layers and barrier layers, and the barrier layers are doped with electron donors.

5. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 4 , wherein

the well layers are formed of In x Ga y Al 1-x-y N (where 0<x<1, 0<y<1, and 0<x+y≦1), and

the barrier layers are formed of In x Ga y Al 1-x-y N (where 0≦x<1, 0<y<1, and 0<x+y≦1).

6. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein the second region of the first layer is separated from a recess portion by the first electrode, the recess portion extending from the surface of the first layer through the light emitting layer and into the second layer.

7. A nitride semiconductor light emitting device, comprising:

a first layer having a first conductivity type;

a second layer having a second conductivity type;

a light emitting layer between the first layer and the second layer, the light emitting layer including a nitride semiconductor material;

a recess portion extending from a surface of the first layer through the light emitting layer and into the second layer in a first direction orthogonal to the surface of the first layer;

a first electrode disposed on the surface of the first layer; and

a second electrode disposed on a first surface of the second layer within the recess portion, wherein

the first layer has a first region contacting the first electrode and having a first dopant concentration, and a second region contacting the first electrode and having a second dopant concentration that is greater than the first dopant concentration, and

a portion of the first electrode is between the second region and the recess portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

8. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device according to claim 7 , wherein a second surface of the second layer has a phosphor layer disposed thereon, and the second surface of the second layer has surface irregularities.

9. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 8 , wherein a surface of the phosphor layer contacting the second surface of the second layer has surface irregularities.

10. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 9 , wherein the light emitting layer has a multi-quantum well structure including a plurality of pairs of well layers and barrier layers, and the barrier layers are doped with electron donors.

11. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 10 , wherein

the well layers are formed of In x Ga y Al 1-x-y N (where 0<x<1, 0<y<1, and 0<x+y≦1), and

the barrier layers are formed of In x Ga y Al 1-x-y N (where 0≦x<1, 0<y<1, and 0<x+y≦1).

12. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 7 , wherein the second region of the first layer is separated from the recess portion by the first electrode.

13. A nitride semiconductor light emitting device, comprising:

a first layer having a first conductivity type;

a second layer having a second conductivity type;

a light emitting layer between the first layer and the second layer, the light emitting layer including a nitride semiconductor material;

an insulating portion extending from a surface of the first layer through the light emitting layer and into the second layer in a first direction orthogonal to the surface of the first layer;

a first electrode disposed on the surface of the first layer; and

a second electrode embedded in the insulating portion and electrically contacting the second layer, wherein

the first layer has a first region contacting the first electrode and having a first dopant concentration, and a second region contacting the first electrode and having a second dopant concentration that is greater than the first dopant concentration, and

a portion of the first electrode is between the second region and the insulating portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

14. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device according to claim 13 , wherein a surface of the second layer has a phosphor layer disposed thereon, and the surface of the second layer has surface irregularities.

15. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 14 , wherein a surface of the phosphor layer contacting the surface of the second layer has surface irregularities.

16. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 13 , further comprising:

a first pillar-shaped electrode extending through the insulating film and electrically connected to the first electrode; and

a second pillar-shaped electrode extending through the insulating film and electrically connected to the second electrode.

17. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 16 , further comprising:

a reinforcing resin layer disposed on the insulating film and surrounding the first and second pillar-shaped electrodes.

18. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 13 , wherein the light emitting layer has a multi-quantum well structure including a plurality of pairs of well layers and barrier layers, and the barrier layers are doped with electron donors.

19. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 18 , wherein

the well layers are formed of In x Ga y Al 1-x-y N (where 0<x<1, 0<y<1, and 0<x+y≦1), and

the barrier layers are formed of In x Ga y Al 1-x-y N (where 0≦x<1, 0<y<1, and 0<x+y≦1).

20. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 13 , wherein the second region of the first layer is separated from the insulating portion by the first electrode.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2020
From: TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
To: SEOUL SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 052316/0044 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2020
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND STORAGE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051691/0442 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2014
From: TANAKA, AKIRA
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 032832/0611 →