IP Library Granted Patent US 8,674,593
Granted Patent B2
US 8,674,593 · App. 13/223,294 · Granted Mar 18, 2014

Diode for a printable composition

Inventors: Mark D. Lowenthal (Gilbert, AZ); William Johnstone Ray (Fountain Hills, AZ); Neil O. Shotton (Tempe, AZ); Richard A. Blanchard (Los Altos, CA); Brad Oraw (Mesa, AZ)
Assignee: NthDegree Technologies Worldwide Inc
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,674,593
App. No.
13/223,294
Granted
Mar 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An exemplary printable composition of a liquid or gel suspension of diodes comprises a plurality of diodes, a first solvent and/or a viscosity modifier. An exemplary diode comprises: a light emitting or absorbing region having a diameter between about 20 and 30 microns and a height between about 2.5 to 7 microns; a first terminal coupled to the light emitting region on a first side, the first terminal having a height between about 1 to 6 microns; and a second terminal coupled to the light emitting region on a second side opposite the first side, the second terminal having a height between about 1 to 6 microns.

Claims (71)

1. A diode comprising:

a light emitting or absorbing region having a diameter between about 20 and 30 microns and a height between about 2.5 to 7 microns;

a first terminal coupled to the light emitting or absorbing region on a first side, the first terminal having a height between about 1 to 6 microns; and

a second terminal coupled to the light emitting or absorbing region on a second side opposite the first side, the second terminal having a height between about 1to 6 microns.

2. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting or absorbing region further comprises a mesa region having a height of about 0.5 to 2 microns.

3. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting or absorbing region further comprises a metallic layer deposited before the first terminal and comprising nickel and gold alloyed to the mesa and coupled to the first terminal.

4. The diode of claim 3 , wherein the nickel is deposited to be about 40 to 60 Angstroms in height and the gold is deposited to be about 40 to 60 Angstroms in height.

5. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the diode further comprises a center via coupling the second terminal to the light emitting or absorbing region.

6. The diode of claim 5 , wherein the center via is deposited before the first terminal and the second terminal and comprises via metal having a diameter between about 3 to 16 microns and comprising titanium and aluminum alloyed to an n+type portion of the mesa.

7. The diode of claim 6 , wherein the titanium is deposited to be about 80 to 120 Angstroms in height and the aluminum is deposited to be about 0.5 to 5.0 microns in height.

8. The diode of claim 5 , wherein the diode further comprises a nitride passivation coupled to the center via and having a thickness of between about 0.2 to 1 micron and a diameter between about 5 to 22 microns.

9. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the first terminal is substantially hexagonal laterally.

10. The diode of claim 9 , wherein each lateral side of the first terminal has a substantially sigmoidal curvature and terminates in a curved point.

11. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the first terminal comprises die metal.

12. The diode of claim 11 , wherein the first terminal comprises a first layer of nickel coupled to the light emitting or absorbing region, a second layer of aluminum, a third layer of nickel, and a fourth layer of gold.

13. The diode of claim 12 , wherein the first layer of nickel is deposited to be about 80 to 120 Angstroms in height, the second layer of aluminum is deposited to be about 3.5 to 5.5 microns in height, the third layer of nickel is deposited to be about 0.2 to 1.0 microns in height, and the fourth layer of gold is deposited to be about 80 to 120 Angstroms in height.

14. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the first terminal and the light emitting or absorbing region further comprise nitride passivation on lateral sides, the nitride passivation between about 0.2 to 1.0 microns thick.

15. The diode of claim 1 , wherein lateral sides of the diode are formed during fabrication on a wafer as a perimeter trench about 0.5 to 5.0 microns deep between each diode on the wafer.

16. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the second side of the light emitting or absorbing region is formed during fabrication by substrate removal from a second, back side of a wafer.

17. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the second terminal comprises one or more metals and has an elliptical shape laterally with a major axis between about 10 to 20 microns in length and a minor axis between about 4 to 10 microns in width.

18. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the second terminal comprises a first layer of titanium coupled to the light emitting or absorbing region or to a center via, a second layer of aluminum, a third layer of nickel, and a fourth layer of gold.

19. The diode of claim 18 , wherein the first layer of titanium is deposited to be about 80 to 120 Angstroms in height, the second layer of aluminum is deposited to be about 3.5 to 5.5 microns in height, the third layer of nickel is deposited to be about 0.2 to 1.0 microns in height, and the fourth layer of gold is deposited to be about 80 to 120 Angstroms in height.

20. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting or absorbing region is substantially hexagonal laterally and the diameter is measured opposing face-to-face.

21. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting or absorbing region comprises gallium nitride (GaN).

22. The diode of claim 21 , wherein the first terminal is in ohmic contact with p+GaN and the second terminal is in ohmic contact with n+GaN.

23. The diode of claim 21 , wherein the first terminal is in ohmic contact with n+GaN and the second terminal is in ohmic contact with p+GaN.

24. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the diode has a diameter between about 20 to 30 microns and a height between about 5 to 15 microns.

25. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the diode has a diameter between about 10 to 50 microns and a height between about 5 to 25 microns.

26. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the diode is substantially hexagonal laterally, has a diameter between about 10 to 50 microns measured opposing face-to face, and a height between about 5 to 25 microns.

27. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the diode is substantially hexagonal laterally, has a diameter measured opposing face-to face between about 20 to 30 microns and a height between about 5 to 15 microns.

28. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the diode has a width and length each between about 10 to 50 microns each and a height between about 5 to 25 microns.

29. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the diode has a width and length each between about 20 to 30 microns each and a height between about 5 to 15 microns.

30. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting or absorbing region of the diode is substantially hexagonal, square, triangular, rectangular, lobed, stellate, or toroidal.

31. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting or absorbing region of the diode has a surface texture comprising a plurality of circular rings, or a plurality of substantially curvilinear trapezoids, or a plurality of parallel stripes, or a stellate pattern.

32. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the diode is substantially hexagonal laterally and wherein each lateral side of the diode is less than about 10 microns in height.

33. The diode of claim 32 , wherein each lateral side of the diode has a substantially sigmoidal curvature and terminates in a curved point.

34. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the diode comprises at least one inorganic semiconductor selected from the group consisting of: silicon, gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium nitride (GaN), GaP, InAlGaP, InAlGaP, AlInGaAs, InGaNAs, and AlInGASb.

35. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the diode comprises at least one organic semiconductor selected from the group consisting of: τ-conjugated polymers, poly(acetylene)s, poly(pyrrole)s, poly(thiophene)s, polyanilines, polythiophenes, poly(p-phenylene sulfide), poly(para-phenylene vinylene)s (PPV) and PPV derivatives, poly(3-alkylthiophenes), polyindole, polypyrene, polycarbazole, polyazulene, polyazepine, poly(fluorene)s, polynaphthalene, polyaniline, polyaniline derivatives, polythiophene, polythiophene derivatives, polypyrrole, polypyrrole derivatives, polythianaphthene, polythianaphthane derivatives, polyparaphenylene, polyparaphenylene derivatives, polyacetylene, polyacetylene derivatives, polydiacethylene, polydiacetylene derivatives, polyparaphenylenevinylene, polyparaphenylenevinylene derivatives, polynaphthalene, polynaphthalene derivatives, polyisothianaphthene (PITN), polyheteroarylenvinylene (ParV) in which the heteroarylene group is thiophene, furan or pyrrol, polyphenylene-sulphide (PPS), polyperinaphthalene (PPN), polyphthalocyanine (PPhc), and their derivatives, copolymers thereof and mixtures thereof.

36. The diode of claim 1 , wherein the diode further comprises at least one metal via structure extending between the first side of the light emitting or absorbing region to the second side of the light emitting or absorbing region.

37. The diode of claim 36 , wherein the metal via structure comprises a central via, a peripheral via, or a perimeter via.

38. A diode comprising:

a light emitting or absorbing region having a diameter between about 6 and 30 microns and a height between about 1 to 7 microns;

a first terminal coupled to the light emitting or absorbing region on a first side, the first terminal having a height between about 1 to 6 microns; and

a second terminal coupled to the light emitting or absorbing region on a second side opposite the first side, the second terminal having a height between about 1 to 6 microns;

wherein the diode is substantially hexagonal laterally, has a diameter between about 10 to 50 microns measured opposing face-to-face and a height between about 5 to 25 microns, and wherein each lateral side of the diode is less than about 10 microns in height, has a substantially sigmoidal curvature and terminates in a curved point.

39. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the light emitting or absorbing region further comprises a mesa region having a height of about 0.5 to 2 microns.

40. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the light emitting or absorbing region further comprises a metallic layer deposited before the first terminal and comprising nickel and gold alloyed to the mesa and coupled to the first terminal.

41. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the diode further comprises a center via coupling the second terminal to the light emitting or absorbing region.

42. The diode of claim 41 , wherein the center via comprises via metal having a diameter between about 3 to 16 microns, a height between about 0.5 to 5.0 microns, and comprising titanium and aluminum alloyed to an n+type portion of the mesa.

43. The diode of claim 42 , wherein the diode further comprises a nitride passivation coupled to the center via and having a thickness of between about 0.2 to 1 micron and a diameter between about 5 to 22 microns.

44. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the first terminal is substantially hexagonal laterally, and wherein each lateral side of the first terminal has a substantially sigmoidal curvature and terminates in a curved point.

45. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the first terminal comprises die metal.

46. The diode of claim 45 , wherein the first terminal comprises a first layer of nickel coupled to the light emitting or absorbing region, a second layer of aluminum, a third layer of nickel, and a fourth layer of gold.

47. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the first terminal and the light emitting or absorbing region further comprise nitride passivation on lateral sides, the nitride passivation between about 0.2 to 1.0 microns thick.

48. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the second terminal comprises one or more metals and has an elliptical shape laterally with a major axis between about 10 to 20 microns in length and a minor axis between about 4 to 10 microns in width.

49. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the second terminal comprises a first layer of titanium coupled to the light emitting or absorbing region or to a center via, a second layer of aluminum, a third layer of nickel, and a fourth layer of gold.

50. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the light emitting or absorbing region is substantially hexagonal laterally and the diameter is measured opposing face-to-face.

51. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the diode has a diameter between about 20 to 30 microns and a height between about 5 to 15 microns.

52. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the light emitting or absorbing region of the diode has a surface texture comprising a plurality of circular rings, or a plurality of substantially curvilinear trapezoids, or a plurality of parallel stripes, or a stellate pattern.

53. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the diode comprises at least one inorganic semiconductor selected from the group consisting of: silicon, gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium nitride (GaN), GaP, InAlGaP, InAlGaP, AlInGaAs, InGaNAs, and AlInGASb.

54. The diode of claim 38 , wherein the diode comprises at least one organic semiconductor selected from the group consisting of: τ-conjugated polymers, poly(acetylene)s, poly(pyrrole)s, poly(thiophene)s, polyanilines, polythiophenes, poly(p-phenylene sulfide), poly(para-phenylene vinylene)s (PPV) and PPV derivatives, poly(3-alkylthiophenes), polyindole, polypyrene, polycarbazole, polyazulene, polyazepine, poly(fluorene)s, polynaphthalene, polyaniline, polyaniline derivatives, polythiophene, polythiophene derivatives, polypyrrole, polypyrrole derivatives, polythianaphthene, polythianaphthane derivatives, polyparaphenylene, polyparaphenylene derivatives, polyacetylene, polyacetylene derivatives, polydiacethylene, polydiacetylene derivatives, polyparaphenylenevinylene, polyparaphenylenevinylene derivatives, polynaphthalene, polynaphthalene derivatives, polyisothianaphthene (PITN), polyheteroarylenvinylene (ParV) in which the heteroarylene group is thiophene, furan or pyrrol, polyphenylene-sulphide (PPS), polyperinaphthalene (PPN), polyphthalocyanine (PPhc), and their derivatives, copolymers thereof and mixtures thereof.

55. A diode comprising:

a light emitting or absorbing region having a diameter between about 6 and 30 microns and a height between about 1 to 7 microns;

a first terminal coupled to the light emitting or absorbing region on a first side, the first terminal having a height between about 1 to 6 microns; and

a second terminal coupled to the light emitting or absorbing region on a second side opposite the first side, the second terminal having a height between about 1 to 6 microns;

wherein the diode has a width and a length each between about 10 to 50 microns and a height between about 5 to 25 microns, and wherein each lateral side of the diode is less than about 10 microns in height, has a substantially sigmoidal curvature and terminates in a curvilinear point.

56. A diode comprising

a light emitting or absorbing region having a diameter between about 6and 30 microns and a height between about 2.5 to 7 microns;

a first terminal coupled to the light emitting or absorbing region on a first side, the first terminal having a height between about 3 to 6 microns; and

a second terminal coupled to the light emitting or absorbing region on a second side opposite the first side, the second terminal having a height between about 3 to 6 microns;

wherein the diode has a width and a length each between about 10 to 30 microns and a height between about 5 to 15 microns, and wherein each lateral side of the diode is less than about 10 microns in height, has a substantially sigmoidal curvature and terminates in a curvilinear point.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2016
From: NTHDEGREE TECHNOLOGIES WORLDWIDE INC
To: PLANNING FOR SUCCESS LLC
Reel/Frame 038260/0049 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 25, 2014
From: MILLER INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC
To: NTHDEGREE TECHNOLOGIES WORLDWIDE INC.
Reel/Frame 032520/0108 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2012
From: NTHDEGREE TECHNOLOGIES WORLDWIDE INC
To: MILLER INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC; DACURO, LLC; JUST INK, LLC; JOSEPH A. NATHAN, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS TRUSTEE OF THE JOSEPH A. NATHAN LIVING TRUST; INSIGHT 2811 TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEUR FUND, LP; ALPHA CAPITAL, INC.; LOLE, CHRISTOPHER; PALISADE CONCENTRATED EQUITY PARTNERSHIP II, LP; MARGULIS, BRUCE A.; BIG BASIN PARTNERS LP; TIMARK LP; RICHARD A. BLANCHARD TRUSTEE OF THE RICHARD & ESTHER BLANCHARD 1990 TRUST 10/01/90; INSIGHT TECHNOLOGY CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP; BYRNE, ARTHUR; JAMES C. HOLMES JR., AS TRUSTEE OF THE JAMES C. HOLMES JR. TRUST, UTA DATED JANUARY 30, 1986, AS AMENDED; GORDON RAINS; INDIAN GROVE PRODUCTIONS; SIMONS, PETER; CHYE KIAT ANG; ROBINSON, PETER; JOSEPH A. NATHAN IRA ROLLOVER, MS & CO., CUSTODIAN; CORR INVESTMENTS LLC; DUNN INVESTMENT COMPANY INC; MIG, LLC; RUBAIYAT TRADING COMPANY, LTD.; TIMBERLINE HOLDINGS LLC; TIMBERLINE PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTMENTS LLC; DOLLY RIDGE LLC; FOSTER, A. KEY; CHARLES AND LYNDRA DANIEL, JTWROS; HARSH, MILTON; G. RUFFNER PAGE, JR.; PORTER, MARGARET M.; WHITE, JAMES H. III; PRICE, JOSEPH T.; P.C. JACKSON, JR.; RUSSELL, BENJAMIN; MILAGRO DE LADERA, L.P.; OAKWORTH CAPITAL BANK, AS TRUSTEE FOR RICHARD H. MONK, JR., INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT; SOCOLOF, JOSEPH D.; THOMPSON INVESTMENT COMPANY, LLC; LOGAN, GREG P.; JONES FOUNDATION III, LLC, THE; GORRIE, M. JAMES; JOHN STEINER TRUST U/W DOROTHY L. STEINER; STEWART MOTT DANSBY REVOCABLE TRUST
Reel/Frame 028146/0908 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2012
From: RAY, WILLIAM JOHNSTONE; LOWENTHAL, MARK DAVID; SHOTTON, NEIL O.; BLANCHARD, RICHARD A.; ORAW, BRAD
To: NTHDEGREE TECHNOLOGIES WORLDWIDE INC
Reel/Frame 027888/0718 →
Continuity (18)
Continuation In Part 11756616 · May 31, 2007
Continuation In Part 12601268 · May 22, 2010
Continuation In Part 13149681 · May 31, 2011
Continuation In Part 12601271
Continuation In Part 11756616
Continuation 11756619 · May 31, 2007
Continuation In Part 11756619
Continuation In Part 11756616
Continuation In Part 11756619
Continuation In Part 11756616
Continuation In Part 11756619
Continuation In Part 11756616
Continuation In Part 12756619 · Apr 8, 2010
Provisional Application 61379225 · Sep 1, 2010
Provisional Application 61379284 · Sep 1, 2010
Provisional Application 61379830 · Sep 3, 2010
Provisional Application 61379820 · Sep 3, 2010
Related Publication 20120161112A1 · Jun 28, 2012