IP Library Granted Patent US 9,455,374
Granted Patent B2
US 9,455,374 · App. 14/279,614 · Granted Sep 27, 2016

Integrated multi-color light emitting device made with hybrid crystal structure

Inventors: Yeonjoon Park (Yorktown, VA); Sang Hyouk Choi (Poquoson, VA)
Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
H01L33/08H01L27/15H01L33/007H01L33/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,455,374
App. No.
14/279,614
Granted
Sep 27, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated hybrid crystal Light Emitting Diode (“LED”) display device that may emit red, green, and blue colors on a single wafer. The various embodiments may provide double-sided hetero crystal growth with hexagonal wurtzite III-Nitride compound semiconductor on one side of (0001) c-plane sapphire media and cubic zinc-blended III-V or II-VI compound semiconductor on the opposite side of c-plane sapphire media. The c-plane sapphire media may be a bulk single crystalline c-plane sapphire wafer, a thin free standing c-plane sapphire layer, or crack-and-bonded c-plane sapphire layer on any substrate. The bandgap energies and lattice constants of the compound semiconductor alloys may be changed by mixing different amounts of ingredients of the same group into the compound semiconductor. The bandgap energy and lattice constant may be engineered by changing the alloy composition within the cubic group IV, group III-V, and group II-VI semiconductors and within the hexagonal III-Nitrides.

Claims (30)

1. A double sided hybrid crystal and III-V/II-VI and III Nitride compound semiconductor device comprising:

a trigonal sapphire layer;

a hexagonal III-Nitride structure grown from a first side of the trigonal sapphire layer, wherein the hexagonal III-Nitride structure has a bandgap energy equal to that of a blue photon having a wavelength of 400-500 nm: and

a rhombohedral III-V or II-VI structure grown from a second side of the trigonal sapphire layer, wherein the rhombohedral III-V or II-VI structure has a bandgap energy equal to that of a red photon having a wavelength of 580-700 nm.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the trigonal sapphire layer is a (0001) c-plane sapphire layer.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the (0001) c-plane sapphire layer is selected from the group consisting of a bulk single crystalline c-plane sapphire wafer, a thin free standing c-plane sapphire layer, and a crack-and-bonded c-plane sapphire layer on a substrate.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the hexagonal III-Nitride structure comprises at least a first p-type layer and at least a first n-type layer both comprised of AlGaN, InGaN, AlGaInN, AlN, InN or GaN; and

the rhombohedral III-V or II-VI structure comprises at least a second p-type layer and at least a second n-type layer comprised of AlGaP, InGaP, InAIP, AlGaInP, AlP, InP, GaP, AlGaAs, InGaAs, InAlAs, AlGaInAs, AlAs, InAs, GaAs, AlGaPAs, InGaPAs, InAlPAs, AlGaInPAs, AlPAs, InPAs, or GaPAs.

5. The device of claim. 4 , wherein the hexagonal III-Nitride structure further comprises at least a first intrinsic layer comprised of AlGaN, InGaN, AlGaInN, AlN, InN, or GaN separating the first p-type layer and the first n-type layer; and

the rhombohedral III-V or II-VI structure further comprises at least a second intrinsic layer comprised of AlGaP, InGaP, InAlP, AlGaInP, AlP, InP, GaP, AlGaAs, InGaAs, InAlAs, AlGaInAs, AlAs, InAs, GaAs, AlGaPAs, InGaPAs, InAlPAs, AlGaInPAs, AlPAs, InPAs, or GaPAs separating the second p-type layer and the second n-type layer.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the first n-type layer separates the first intrinsic layer and the (0001) c-plane sapphire layer; and

the second n-type layer separates the second intrinsic layer and the (0001) c-plane sapphire layer.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the hexagonal III-Nitride structure further comprises a third intrinsic layer formed on a side of the first p-type layer extending away from the (0001) c-plane sapphire layer and a third n-type layer formed on a side of the third intrinsic layer extending away from the first p-type layer.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein:

the first intrinsic layer comprises a first intrinsic layer first portion and a first intrinsic layer second portion;

the first p-type layer comprises a first p-type layer first portion and a first p-type layer second portion;

the first intrinsic layer first portion, the first p-type layer first portion, the third intrinsic layer, the third n-type layer, and a first transparent electrode comprise a first column extending from the first n-type layer away from the (0001) c-plane sapphire layer;

the first intrinsic layer second portion, the first p-type layer second portion, and a second transparent electrode comprise a second column extending from the first n-type layer away from the (0001) c-plane sapphire layer and separate from the first column;

the first transparent electrode, the third n-type layer, the third intrinsic layer, and the first p-type layer first portion comprise a blue LED circuit;

the second transparent electrode, the first p-type layer second portion, the first intrinsic layer second portion, and the first n-type layer comprise a green LED circuit; and

the second is-type layer, the second intrinsic layer, the second p-type layer, and a metal electrode comprise a red LED circuit.

9. The device of claim 5 , wherein the first n-type layer separates the first intrinsic layer and the (0001) c-plane sapphire layer; and

the second p-type layer separates the second intrinsic layer and the (0001) c-plane sapphire layer.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the rhombohedral III-V or II-VI structure further comprises a third intrinsic layer formed on a side of the second n-type layer extending away from the (0001) c-plane sapphire layer and a third p-type layer formed on a side of the third intrinsic layer extending away from the second n-type layer.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein:

the third p-type layer, the third intrinsic layer, and a first metal electrode comprise a column extending from the second n-type layer away from the (0001) c-plane sapphire layer;

a second metal electrode formed on a side of the second n-type layer away from the (0001) c-plane sapphire layer and separate from the column;

the first metal electrode, the third p-type layer, the third intrinsic layer, and the second n-type layer comprise a red LED circuit;

the second metal electrode, the second n-type layer, the second intrinsic layer, and the second p-type layer comprise a green LEE) circuit; and

the first n-type layer, the first intrinsic layer, the first p-type layer, and a transparent electrode comprise a blue LED circuit.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2017
From: CHOI, SANG HYOUK
To: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Reel/Frame 040840/0647 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2014
From: CHOI, SANG HYOUK
To: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Reel/Frame 034485/0413 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2014
From: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AEROSPACE
To: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Reel/Frame 033763/0853 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61824017 · May 16, 2013
Related Publication 20140339580A1 · Nov 20, 2014