High-efficiency radiating device
View Patent ↗A device emits radiation at a predetermined wavelength. The device includes a light-emitting structure which generates the radiation. The device further includes at least one reflective edge in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, the reflective edge having a dielectric portion. The device further includes at least one electrical contact extending through the dielectric portion of the reflective edge, the contact in electrical communication with the light-emitting structure.
1. A device for emitting radiation at a predetermined wavelength, the device comprising:
a light-emitting structure which generates the radiation;
at least one reflective edge in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, the reflective edge having a dielectric portion; and
at least one electrical contact extending through the dielectric portion of the reflective edge, the contact in electrical communication with the light-emitting structure.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the reflective edge is not electrically conductive.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the reflective edge is a dielectric-coated metal mirror.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the contact comprises part of the metal mirror.
5. The device of claim 3 , wherein the contact extending through the dielectric portion of the reflective edge is formed through holes in the dielectric portion of the dielectric-coated metal mirror.
6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier substrate.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the carrier substrate is transparent to the radiation.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the light-emitting structure is mounted on the transparent carrier substrate.
9. The device of claim 6 , wherein the carrier substrate comprises a fiber-optic face plate.
10. The device of claim 6 , wherein the carrier substrate is heat conductive.
11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the carrier substrate is actively cooled.
12. The device of claim 6 , wherein the carrier substrate is electrically conductive and serves as an electrode contact to the light-emitting structure.
13. The device of claim 6 , wherein the carrier substrate is electrically conductive and serves as a lead to provide current to the light-emitting structure.
14. The device of claim 6 , wherein the carrier substrate is attached to the reflective edge by solder.
15. The device of claim 6 , wherein the carrier substrate is wafer-bonded to the reflective edge.
16. The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one edge having a substantially random diffraction grating structure in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure.
17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the edge having the substantially random diffraction grating structure abuts or extends in the light-emitting structure.
18. The device of claim 16 , wherein the edge having the substantially random diffraction grating structure is a mirror surface.
19. The device of claim 16 , wherein the edge having the substantially random diffraction grating structure is reflective.
20. The device of claim 16 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is produced by a method comprising lithography.
21. The device of claim 16 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is produced by a method comprising etching.
22. The device of claim 21 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is produced by a method comprising wet etching.
23. The device of claim 21 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is produced by a method comprising dry etching.
24. The device of claim 23 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is produced by a method comprising chemically-assisted ion-beam etching.
25. The device of claim 24 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is produced by a method comprising chlorine-assisted argon etching.
26. The device of claim 16 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is a regular repetition of a random grating.
27. The device of claim 16 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is a pseudo-random grating.
28. The device of claim 16 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure has a plurality of differently spaced ridges and valleys.
29. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a waveguide which is in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure.
30. The device of claim 29 , further comprising at least one edge having a substantially random diffraction grating structure, wherein the edge having the substantially random diffraction grating structure is coextensive with at least one edge of the waveguide.
31. The device of claim 1 , wherein the contact provides charge carriers to the light-emitting structure.
32. The device of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting structure comprises a p-type layer, an n-type layer, and an active layer between the p-type layer and the n-type layer.
33. A device for emitting radiation at a predetermined wavelength, the device comprising:
a light-emitting structure which generates the radiation;
at least one mirror in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, the mirror comprising an electrically conductive portion and an electrically insulating portion, the conductive portion extending through the insulating portion and in electrical communication with the light-emitting structure, thereby providing electrical contact to the light-emitting structure; and
at least one edge having a substantially random diffraction grating structure in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure.
34. The device of claim 33 , further comprising a waveguide which is in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure.
35. The device of claim 34 , wherein the edge having the substantially random diffraction grating structure is coextensive with at least one edge of the waveguide.
36. The device of claim 33 , wherein the edge having the substantially random diffraction grating structure abuts or extends in the light-emitting structure.
37. The device of claim 33 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is produced by a method comprising lithography.
38. The device of claim 33 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is produced by a method comprising etching.
39. The device of claim 38 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is produced by a method comprising wet etching.
40. The device of claim 38 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is produced by a method comprising dry etching.
41. The device of claim 40 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is produced by a method comprising chemically-assisted ion-beam etching.
42. The device of claim 41 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is produced by a method comprising chlorine-assisted argon etching.
43. The device of claim 33 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is a regular repetition of a random grating.
44. The device of claim 33 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure is a pseudo-random grating.
45. The device of claim 33 , wherein the substantially random diffraction grating structure has a plurality of differently spaced ridges and valleys.
46. The device of claim 33 , further comprising a carrier substrate.
47. The device of claim 46 , wherein the carrier substrate is wafer-bonded to the mirror.
48. The device of claim 46 , wherein the carrier substrate is transparent to the radiation.
49. The device of claim 48 , wherein the light-emitting structure is mounted on the transparent carrier substrate.
50. The device of claim 33 , wherein the electrically conductive portion provides charge carriers to the light-emitting structure.
51. The device of claim 33 , wherein the light-emitting structure comprises a p-type layer, an n-type layer, and an active layer between the p-type layer and the n-type layer.
52. A device for emitting radiation at a predetermined wavelength, the device comprising:
a light-emitting structure which generates the radiation;
at least one metal mirror in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, the metal mirror providing electrical contact to the light-emitting structure; and
at least one edge having a substantially random diffraction grating structure in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, wherein the edge having the substantially random diffraction grating structure is a mirror surface.
53. A device for emitting radiation at a predetermined wavelength, the device comprising:
a light-emitting structure which generates the radiation;
at least one metal mirror in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, the metal mirror providing electrical contact to the light-emitting structure; and
at least one edge having a substantially random diffraction grating structure in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, wherein the edge having the substantially random diffraction grating structure is reflective.
54. A device for emitting radiation at a predetermined wavelength, the device comprising:
a light-emitting structure which generates the radiation;
at least one metal mirror in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, the metal mirror providing electrical contact to the light-emitting structure;
a carrier substrate positioned at the metal mirror; and
at least one edge having a substantially random diffraction grating structure in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, wherein the carrier substrate is heat conductive.
55. The device of claim 54 , wherein the carrier substrate is actively cooled.
56. A device for emitting radiation at a predetermined wavelength, the device comprising:
a light-emitting structure which generates the radiation;
at least one metal mirror in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, the metal mirror providing electrical contact to the light-emitting structure;
a carrier substrate positioned at the metal mirror; and
at least one edge having a substantially random diffraction grating structure in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, wherein the carrier substrate is electrically conductive and serves as an electrode contact to the light-emitting structure.
57. A device for emitting radiation at a predetermined wavelength, the device comprising:
a light-emitting structure which generates the radiation;
at least one metal mirror in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, the metal mirror providing electrical contact to the light-emitting structure;
a carrier substrate positioned at the metal mirror; and
at least one edge having a substantially random diffraction grating structure in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, wherein the carrier substrate is electrically conductive and serves as lead for providing current to the light-emitting structure.
58. A device for emitting radiation at a predetermined wavelength, the device comprising:
a light-emitting structure which generates the radiation;
at least one metal mirror in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, the metal mirror providing electrical contact to the light-emitting structure;
a carrier substrate positioned at the metal mirror; and
at least one edge having a substantially random diffraction grating structure in radiative communication with the light-emitting structure, wherein the carrier substrate is attached to the metal mirror by solder.