Patents by Inventor Yoshihiko Tani

Yoshihiko Tani has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11509117
    Abstract: A light emitting element (semiconductor laser element) includes a multilayer structure in which a substrate, semiconductor layers to, an insulating layer, and a metal layer are stacked in order. The light emitting element includes a plurality of light emitting portions each of which emits a laser beam. The plurality of light emitting portions each include a ridge (ridge waveguide). The distance from a specific position in an active region in at least one of the light emitting portions to an inner surface of the metal layer is different from that in another of the light emitting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Alex Yudin, Yoshimi Tanimoto, Yoshihiko Tani, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet
  • Publication number: 20220158414
    Abstract: A laser element comprises a substrate; and an n-type semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, and an electrode layer successively laminated on one principal surface of the substrate, wherein the p-type semiconductor layer includes a ridge raised in a stripe shape, the ridge including a contact layer formed in a layer including a principal surface on a side opposite to the substrate, a stepped portion defined by recessing the contact layer is formed in at least part of a boundary between a lateral surface among surfaces defining outer edges of the ridge, the lateral surface extending along a lengthwise direction of the ridge, and the principal surface of the ridge, and the electrode layer covers the principal surface of the ridge and the stepped portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: AKINORI NOGUCHI, YOSHIHIKO TANI, Hiroshi NAKATSU
  • Patent number: 11133651
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor laser device at least includes a ridge part disposed on a second-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a conductive oxide layer covering the upper surface of the ridge part and portions of opposite side surfaces of the ridge part, a dielectric layer covering a portion of the conductive oxide layer, and a first metal layer covering the conductive oxide layer and the dielectric layer, wherein a portion of the conductive oxide layer disposed on the upper surface of the ridge part is exposed through the dielectric layer and covered with the first metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinori Noguchi, Yoshihiko Tani, Yoshimi Tanimoto, Yuhzoh Tsuda
  • Patent number: 11128105
    Abstract: In a semiconductor laser device, a semiconductor layer includes a first groove formed on both sides of a ridge, a pair of second recesses facing each other and between which the ridge is interposed on a side of a light emitting surface, and a pair of third grooves in parallel to the first groove from the light emitting surface and interposing the ridge therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Teruyoshi Takakura, Yoshimi Tanimoto, Yoshihiko Tani, Yuhzoh Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20210194211
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser device comprises a substrate; a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type on the substrate; an active layer on the semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type; a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type on the active layer; a ridge portion in part of the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type; a dielectric layer covering a region of the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type other than the ridge portion; a metal layer on the dielectric layer, the metal layer being electrically coupled to the ridge portion; and a conductive member electrically connecting the metal layer to at least the region of the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type other than the ridge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: AKINORI NOGUCHI, YOSHIHIKO TANI, YUHZOH TSUDA
  • Publication number: 20210184428
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser element configured to emit laser light, the semiconductor laser element comprises a substrate; and a semiconductor layer provided on the substrate, wherein the semiconductor layer includes a waveguide extending in a predetermined direction and configured to emit the laser light from one end face of the waveguide, the substrate includes a plurality of cavity sections intersecting the predetermined direction and extending, the plurality of cavity sections are provided in the substrate such that at least parts of at least two cavity sections of the plurality of cavity sections overlap with each other along the predetermined direction, and a length of each of the plurality of cavity sections in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction is shorter than a length of the semiconductor laser element in the perpendicular direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: AKINORI NOGUCHI, YOSHIHIKO TANI, YUHZOH TSUDA
  • Patent number: 10790409
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting element includes at least an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer. A multilayer body is provided between the n-type nitride semiconductor layer and the light-emitting layer, having at least one stack of first and second semiconductor layers. The second semiconductor layer has a greater band-gap energy than the first semiconductor layer. The first and second semiconductor layers each have a thickness of more than 10 nm and 30 nm or less. In applications in which luminous efficiency at room temperature is a high priority, the first semiconductor layer has a thickness of more than 10 nm and 30 nm or less, the second semiconductor layer has a thickness of more than 10 nm and 40 nm or less, and the light-emitting layer has V-shaped recesses in cross-sectional view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Tani, Tetsuya Hanamoto, Masanori Watanabe, Akihiro Kurisu, Katsuji Iguchi, Hiroyuki Kashihara, Tomoya Inoue, Toshiaki Asai, Hirotaka Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20200251885
    Abstract: In a semiconductor laser device, a semiconductor layer includes a first groove formed on both sides of a ridge, a pair of second recesses facing each other and between which the ridge is interposed on a side of a light emitting surface, and a pair of third grooves in parallel to the first groove from the light emitting surface and interposing the ridge therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: TERUYOSHI TAKAKURA, YOSHIMI TANIMOTO, YOSHIHIKO TANI, YUHZOH TSUDA
  • Publication number: 20200244041
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor laser device at least includes a ridge part disposed on a second-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a conductive oxide layer covering the upper surface of the ridge part and portions of opposite side surfaces of the ridge part, a dielectric layer covering a portion of the conductive oxide layer, and a first metal layer covering the conductive oxide layer and the dielectric layer, wherein a portion of the conductive oxide layer disposed on the upper surface of the ridge part is exposed through the dielectric layer and covered with the first metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Akinori Noguchi, Yoshihiko Tani, Yoshimi Tanimoto, Yuhzoh Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20200227892
    Abstract: A light emitting element (semiconductor laser element) includes a multilayer structure in which a substrate, semiconductor layers to, an insulating layer, and a metal layer are stacked in order. The light emitting element includes a plurality of light emitting portions each of which emits a laser beam. The plurality of light emitting portions each include a ridge (ridge waveguide). The distance from a specific position in an active region in at least one of the light emitting portions to an inner surface of the metal layer is different from that in another of the light emitting portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: ALEX YUDIN, YOSHIMI TANIMOTO, YOSHIHIKO TANI, VALERIE BERRYMAN-BOUSQUET
  • Publication number: 20190067912
    Abstract: A group III nitride based laser light emitting device includes an n-side group III nitride based semiconductor region, a p-side group III nitride based semiconductor region, and a group III nitride based active region between the p-side group III nitride based semiconductor region and n-side group III nitride based semiconductor region. The group III nitride based active region includes first and second quantum well layers and a barrier layer between the first and second quantum well layers, the respective compositions of the first and second quantum well layers comprising different respective amounts of indium. The first quantum well is closer to the n-side group III nitride based semiconductor region than the second quantum well, the second quantum well is closer to the p-side group III nitride based semiconductor region than the first quantum well, and the first quantum well has a larger band gap than the second quantum well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Alex YUDIN, Yoshihiko TANI, Valerie BERRYMAN-BOUSQUET, Shigetoshi ITO
  • Patent number: 10218152
    Abstract: A group III nitride based laser light emitting device includes an n-side group III nitride based semiconductor region, a p-side group III nitride based semiconductor region, and a group III nitride based active region between the p-side group III nitride based semiconductor region and n-side group III nitride based semiconductor region. The group III nitride based active region includes first and second quantum well layers and a barrier layer between the first and second quantum well layers, the respective compositions of the first and second quantum well layers comprising different respective amounts of indium. The first quantum well is closer to the n-side group III nitride based semiconductor region than the second quantum well, the second quantum well is closer to the p-side group III nitride based semiconductor region than the first quantum well, and the first quantum well has a larger band gap than the second quantum well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Alex Yudin, Yoshihiko Tani, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet, Shigetoshi Ito
  • Publication number: 20190006555
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting element includes at least an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer. A multilayer body is provided between the n-type nitride semiconductor layer and the light-emitting layer, having at least one stack of first and second semiconductor layers. The second semiconductor layer has a greater band-gap energy than the first semiconductor layer. The first and second semiconductor layers each have a thickness of more than 10 nm and 30 nm or less. In applications in which luminous efficiency at room temperature is a high priority, the first semiconductor layer has a thickness of more than 10 nm and 30 nm or less, the second semiconductor layer has a thickness of more than 10 nm and 40 nm or less, and the light-emitting layer has V-shaped recesses in cross-sectional view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Yoshihiko TANI, Tetsuya HANAMOTO, Masanori WATANABE, Akihiro KURISU, Katsuji IGUCHI, Hiroyuki KASHIHARA, Tomoya INOUE, Toshiaki ASAI, Hirotaka WATANABE
  • Patent number: 10084111
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting element includes at least an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer. A multilayer body is provided between the n-type nitride semiconductor layer and the light-emitting layer, having at least one stack of first and second semiconductor layers. The second semiconductor layer has a greater band-gap energy than the first semiconductor layer. The first and second semiconductor layers each have a thickness of more than 10 nm and 30 nm or less. In applications in which luminous efficiency at room temperature is a high priority, the first semiconductor layer has a thickness of more than 10 nm and 30 nm or less, the second semiconductor layer has a thickness of more than 10 nm and 40 nm or less, and the light-emitting layer has V-shaped recesses in cross-sectional view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Tani, Tetsuya Hanamoto, Masanori Watanabe, Akihiro Kurisu, Katsuji Iguchi, Hiroyuki Kashihara, Tomoya Inoue, Toshiaki Asai, Hirotaka Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20170317235
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting element at least includes an underlayer, an n-type contact layer, a light-emitting layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer successively disposed on a substrate. The film thickness ratio R, the ratio of the thickness of the n-type contact layer to the thickness of the underlayer, is 0.8 or less. The number density of V-pits in the surface of the light-emitting layer located on the p-type nitride semiconductor layer side is 1.5×108/cm2 or less. This can provide a nitride semiconductor light-emitting element that can realize improvements in the light emission efficiency at the actual operating temperature and the temperature characteristic and an improvement in the ESD resistance without causing conflict.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Katsuji IGUCHI, Yoshihiko TANI, Kentaro NONAKA
  • Publication number: 20170294554
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting element includes at least an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer. A multilayer body is provided between the n-type nitride semiconductor layer and the light-emitting layer, having at least one stack of first and second semiconductor layers. The second semiconductor layer has a greater band-gap energy than the first semiconductor layer. The first and second semiconductor layers each have a thickness of more than 10 nm and 30 nm or less. In applications in which luminous efficiency at room temperature is a high priority, the first semiconductor layer has a thickness of more than 10 nm and 30 nm or less, the second semiconductor layer has a thickness of more than 10 nm and 40 nm or less, and the light-emitting layer has V-shaped recesses in cross-sectional view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko TANI, Tetsuya HANAMOTO, Masanori WATANABE, Akihiro KURISU, Katsuji IGUCHI, Hiroyuki KASHIHARA, Tomoya INOUE, Toshiaki ASAI, Hirotaka WATANABE
  • Patent number: 9620671
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light emitting element is provided with: a substrate; a buffer layer that is provided on the substrate; a base layer that is provided on the buffer layer; an n-side nitride semiconductor layer that is provided on the base layer; an MQW light emitting layer that is provided on the n-side nitride semiconductor layer; and a p-side nitride semiconductor layer that is provided on the MQW light emitting layer. An x-ray rocking curve half-value width ? (004) with respect to a (004) plane, i.e., the crystal plane of the nitride semiconductor, is 40 arcsec or less, or the x-ray rocking curve half-value width ? (102) with respect to a (102) plane is 130 arcsec or less, and the rate P (80)/P (25) between light output P (25) at 25° C. and light output P (80) at 80° C. with a same operating current is 95% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakatsu, Tomoya Inoue, Kentaro Nonaka, Toshiaki Asai, Tadashi Takeoka, Yoshihiko Tani
  • Patent number: 9318645
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting element includes a second light-emitting layer, a third barrier layer, and a first light-emitting layer from a side close to a p-type nitride semiconductor layer. The first light-emitting layer includes a plurality of first quantum well layers and a first barrier layer provided between the plurality of first quantum well layers. The second light-emitting layer includes a plurality of second quantum well layers and a second barrier layer provided between the plurality of second quantum well layers. The second quantum well layers include a multiple quantum well light-emitting layer thicker than the first quantum well layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Tani, Tadashi Takeoka, Akihiro Kurisu, Tetsuya Hanamoto, Mathieu Senes
  • Publication number: 20150171263
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light emitting element is provided with: a substrate; a buffer layer that is provided on the substrate; a base layer that is provided on the buffer layer; an n-side nitride semiconductor layer that is provided on the base layer; an MQW light emitting layer that is provided on the n-side nitride semiconductor layer; and a p-side nitride semiconductor layer that is provided on the MQW light emitting layer. An x-ray rocking curve half-value width ? (004) with respect to a (004) plane, i.e., the crystal plane of the nitride semiconductor, is 40 arcsec or less, or the x-ray rocking curve half-value width ? (102) with respect to a (102) plane is 130 arcsec or less, and the rate P (80)/P (25) between light output P (25) at 25° C. and light output P (80) at 80° C. with a same operating current is 95% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakatsu, Tomoya Inoue, Kentaro Nonaka, Toshiaki Asai, Tadashi Takeoka, Yoshihiko Tani
  • Publication number: 20150076447
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting element includes a second light-emitting layer, a third barrier layer, and a first light-emitting layer from a side close to a p-type nitride semiconductor layer. The first light-emitting layer includes a plurality of first quantum well layers and a first barrier layer provided between the plurality of first quantum well layers. The second light-emitting layer includes a plurality of second quantum well layers and a second barrier layer provided between the plurality of second quantum well layers. The second quantum well layers include a multiple quantum well light-emitting layer thicker than the first quantum well layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Tani, Tadashi Takeoka, Akihiro Kurisu, Tetsuya Hanamoto, Mathieu Senes