Ii-vi Compound Patents (Class 257/78)
  • Patent number: 6590236
    Abstract: High quality epitaxial layers of compound semiconductor materials can be grown overlying large silicon wafers by first growing an accommodating buffer layer on a silicon wafer. The accommodating buffer layer is a layer of monocrystalline oxide spaced apart from the silicon wafer by an amorphous interface layer of silicon oxide. The amorphous interface layer dissipates strain and permits the growth of a high quality monocrystalline oxide accommodating buffer layer. Any lattice mismatch between the accommodating buffer layer and the underlying silicon substrate is taken care of by the amorphous interface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Nada El-Zein, Jamal Ramdani, Kurt Eisenbeiser, Ravindranath Droopad
  • Patent number: 6580098
    Abstract: An Al0.15Ga0.85N layer 2 is formed on a silicon substrate 1 in a striped or grid pattern. A GaN layer 3 is formed in regions A where the substrate 1 is exposed and in regions B which are defined above the layer 2. At this time, the GaN layer grows epitaxially and three-dimensionally (not only in a vertical direction but also in a lateral direction) on the Al0.15Ga0.85N layer 2. Since the GaN layer grows epitaxially in the lateral direction as well, a GaN compound semiconductor having a greatly reduced number of dislocations is obtained in lateral growth regions (regions A where the substrate 1 is exposed).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norikatsu Koide
  • Patent number: 6555847
    Abstract: A nitride based semiconductor light emitting element includes at least a gallium nitride based compound semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and a gallium nitride based compound semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type stacked on a substrate. On a main region of the top surface of the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type, a Pd-containing electrode is formed, and the top surface and side surfaces of the Pd-containing electrode as well as the surface of the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type in a region of at least a prescribed width from the side surfaces are covered by a conductive shielding film to be shielded from the atmosphere or a mold resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Hata, Mayuko Fudeta, Kensaku Yamamoto, Masaki Tatsumi
  • Publication number: 20030020072
    Abstract: A thermal management system or method may include features for pumping heat in a composite semiconductor structure. A heat pump such as a peltier device may be formed from compound semiconductor materials in a composite semiconductor structure. The heat pump may be thermally connected to an area of thermal interest such as a circuit device that generates heat during operation. The heat pump may also be connected to a non-compound semiconductor region of the composite semiconductor structure, which may be die bonded to a heat sink. Electricity may be conducted through the heat pump to move heat in a desired direction between the area of thermal interest and the non-compound semiconductor region. Plural heat pumps may be formed for cooling or heating an area of thermal interest in the composite semiconductor structure. If desired, control circuitry and a temperature sensor may be formed and used to regulate the temperature in the area of the thermal interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventor: Robert J. Higgins
  • Patent number: 6469319
    Abstract: An ohmic contact to II-VI compound semiconductor device for lowering the contact resistance and increasing the efficiency and reliability of a photoelectric device. The method of manufacturing the ohmic contact to a II-VI compound semiconductor device comprises the steps of forming a II-VI compound semiconductor layer on the substrate, forming a mask layer with a contact via on the II-VI compound semiconductor layer, forming a metal-contact layer on the mask layer and II-VI compound semiconductor layer, and removing the metal-contact layer over the mask layer, wherein the remainder of the metal-contact layer forms the ohmic contact. In order to prevent oxidization of the metal-contact layer, a shield layer comprised of a noble metal can be disposed on the metal-contact layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: National Science Council
    Inventors: Yan-Kuin Su, Shoou-Jinn Chang, Wen-Rui Chen
  • Patent number: 6456639
    Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor light emitting device whose operating voltage can be easily reduced, a method of producing the same, and an optical device. An n-type clad layer, a first guide layer, an active layer, a second guide layer, a p-type clad layer, a first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer of ZnSe are successively grown on an n-type substrate. An alkali compound layer of Na2Se is then formed thereon. Subsequently, a heat treatment is performed by means of irradiation of an excimer laser beam so that at least a part of the second semiconductor layer and at least a part of the alkali compound layer are altered thereby forming a contact layer. Furthermore, a p-side electrode is formed on the contact layer. The contact layer contains an alkali metal serving as a p-type impurity so that the contact layer has a low electric resistance thereby achieving a reduction in the operating voltage and thus a reduction in the operating power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ishibashi, Yoshinori Hatanaka, Toru Aoki, Masaharu Nagai
  • Publication number: 20020074554
    Abstract: Microoptical systems with clear aperture of about one millimeter or less are fabricated from a layer of photoresist using a lithographic process to define the optical elements. A deep X-ray source is typically used to expose the photoresist. Exposure and development of the photoresist layer can produce planar, cylindrical, and radially symmetric micro-scale optical elements, comprising lenses, mirrors, apertures, diffractive elements, and prisms, monolithically formed on a common substrate with the mutual optical alignment required to provide the desired system functionality. Optical alignment can be controlled to better than one micron accuracy. Appropriate combinations of structure and materials enable optical designs that include corrections for chromatic and other optical aberrations. The developed photoresist can be used as the basis for a molding operation to produce microoptical systems made of a range of optical materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: William C. Sweatt, Todd R. Christenson
  • Patent number: 6407409
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for homoepitaxial growth of freestanding, single bulk crystal Gallium Nitride (GaN) are provided, wherein a step of nucleating GaN in a reactor results in a GaN nucleation layer having a thickness of a few monolayers. The nucleation layer is stabilized, and a single bulk crystal GaN is grown from gas phase reactants on the GaN nucleation layer. The reactor is formed from ultra low oxygen stainless steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: GAN Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Hak Dong Cho, Sang Kyu Kang
  • Patent number: 6403982
    Abstract: A semi-insulating bulk single crystal of silicon carbide is disclosed that has a resistivity of at least 5000 &OHgr;-cm at room temperature and a concentration of deep level trapping elements that is below the amounts that will affect the resistivity of the crystal, preferably below detectable levels. A method of forming the crystal is also disclosed, along with some resulting devices that take advantage of the microwave frequency capabilities of devices formed using substrates according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Calvin H. Carter, Jr., Mark Brady, Valeri F. Tsvetkov
  • Patent number: 6396080
    Abstract: A semi-insulating bulk single crystal of silicon carbide is disclosed that has a resistivity of at least 5000 &OHgr;-cm at room temperature and a concentration of trapping elements that create states at least 700 meV from the valence or conduction band that is below the amounts that will affect the resistivity of the crystal, preferably below detectable levels. A method of forming the crystal is also disclosed, along with some resulting devices that take advantage of the microwave frequency capabilities of devices formed using substrates according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Cree, Inc
    Inventors: Calvin H. Carter, Jr., Mark Brady, Valeri F. Tsvetkov
  • Publication number: 20020056840
    Abstract: The present invention provides materials and structures to reduce dislocation density when growing a III-nitride compound semiconductor. A II-nitride compound single crystal-island layer is included in the semiconductor structure, and III-nitride compound semiconductor layers are to grow thereon. It reduces the dislocation density resulted from the difference between the lattice constants of the GaN compound semiconductor layers and the substrate. It also improves the crystallization property of the III-nitride compound semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Applicant: UNITED EPITAXY COMPANY, LTD
    Inventors: Tzong-Liang Tsai, Chih-Sung Chang
  • Patent number: 6388272
    Abstract: Ohmic and rectifying contacts to a TaC layer on an n-type or p-type area of an SiC substrate are formed by depositing a WC layer over the TaC layer, followed by a metallic W layer. Such contacts are stable to at least 1150° C. Electrodes connect to the contacts either directly or via a protective bonding layer such as Pt or PtAu alloy through a dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Caldus Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Odekirk
  • Patent number: 6372536
    Abstract: The invention relates to a II-VI semiconductor component in which, within a series of layers, there is provided at least one junction between a semiconductor layer containing BeTe and a semiconductor layer containing Se. A boundary layer between the semiconductor layer containing BeTe and the semiconductor layer containing Se is prepared in such a way that it forms a Be—Se configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Frank Fischer, Andreas Waag, Thierry Baron, Gottfried Landwehr, Thomas Litz, Günter Reuscher, Markus Keim, Ulrich Zehnder, Hans-Peter Steinbrück, Mario Nagelstrasser, Hans-Jürgen Lugauer
  • Patent number: 6365918
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for interconnecting radio frequency power SiC field effect transistors. To improve the parasitic source inductance advantage is taken of the small size of the transistors, wherein the bonding pads are placed on both sides of the die in such a way that most of the source bonding wires (6) go perpendicularly to the gate and drain bonding wires (7, 8). Multiple bonding wires can be connected to the source bonding pads, reducing the source inductance. An additional advantage comes from such arrangement by reducing the mutual inductance between source/gate and between source/drain due to the orthogonal wire placement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Andrej Litwin, Ted Johansson
  • Patent number: 6326654
    Abstract: A semiconductor material avalanche photodiode photodetector having ultraviolet response, solar radiation immunity and response speed in excess of that available from conventional ultraviolet photodetectors is described. The detector is an avalanche photodiode comprised of periodic table group III-Nitride semiconductor material, such as aluminum gallium nitride, serving as a photon to charge carrier transducer, and an avalanche charge carrier multiplication region comprised of different semiconductor materials such as silicon. The photodetector is capable of selective ultraviolet signal transducing while exposed to a mixture of ultraviolet and solar energy “noise” radiation. The included avalanche multiplication region is optically shielded from solar and other energy components to enable this selective capability. A multiplied ultraviolet photoresponsive electric signal is collected from output electrodes disposed adjacent the avalanche multiplication structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: P. Paul Ruden, Subash Krishnankutty
  • Publication number: 20010042863
    Abstract: An insulating resin sheet made from a thermosetting resin is provided on an insulating substrate in such a manner as to cover bonding pads provided on the insulating substrate. A lower chip is set on the insulating substrate in such a manner that bonding bumps connected to inner connection terminals of the lower chip break the insulating resin sheet 24 to be in contact with the bonding pads. The insulating resin sheet is thermally cured and subsequently the bonding bumps are melted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamada, Michitaka Kimura, Masatoshi Yasunaga
  • Publication number: 20010023945
    Abstract: A semi-insulating bulk single crystal of silicon carbide is disclosed that has a resistivity of at least 5000 &OHgr;-cm at room temperature and a concentration of trapping elements that create states at least 700 meV from the valence or conduction band that is below the amounts that will affect the resistivity of the crystal, preferably below detectable levels. A method of forming the crystal is also disclosed, along with some resulting devices that take advantage of the microwave frequency capabilities of devices formed using substrates according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Calvin H. Carter, Mark Brady, Valeri F. Tsvetkov
  • Publication number: 20010019132
    Abstract: A semi-insulating bulk single crystal of silicon carbide is disclosed that has a resistivity of at least 5000 &OHgr;-cm at room temperature and a concentration of deep level trapping elements that is below the amounts that will affect the resistivity of the crystal, preferably below detectable levels. A method of forming the crystal is also disclosed, along with some resulting devices that take advantage of the microwave frequency capabilities of devices formed using substrates according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Calvin H. Carter, Mark Brady, Valeri F. Tsvetkov
  • Patent number: 6284395
    Abstract: A single crystal thin film of the compound ZnSiXGe1-XN2 (where x can range from 0 to 1). This thin film single crystal can be disposed on a single crystal substrate made of, for example, sapphire, silicon carbide, lithium gallate or silicon with or without an additional GaN buffer layer grown on them. Alternately, a GaN single crystal thin film grown on any substrate can be used. In the case of sapphire, it can be R-plane so that the thin film has its c-axis lying within the thin film or A- or C-plane so that the thin film has its c-axis perpendicular to the substrate. The substrate could also be any substrate with a GaN single crystal thin film deposited on it. ZnSiXGe1-XN2 single crystal thin films can be made by the MOCVD method using suitable precursors, molar injection ratios, and substrate temperatures. It is possible to make various optical, electro-optical or electronic devices with the material, for example, a second harmonic generator emitting blue light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Corning Applied Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: H. Paul Maruska, Long De Zhu, Peter E. Norris
  • Publication number: 20010017374
    Abstract: A semi-insulating bulk single crystal of silicon carbide is disclosed that has a resistivity of at least 5000 &OHgr;-cm at room temperature and a concentration of deep level trapping elements that is below the amounts that will affect the resistivity of the crystal, preferably below detectable levels. A method of forming the crystal is also disclosed, along with some resulting devices that take advantage of the microwave frequency capabilities of devices formed using substrates according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Calvin H. Carter, Mark Brady, Valeri F. Tsvetkov
  • Patent number: 6265731
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises an active element and contacts that permit low-resistance external electrical connections. The active element includes an active layer formed from group II-VI elements, an n-doped layer on one side of the active it layer, and a p-doped layer on the other side of the active layer. The p-doped layer is a ZnSe-based alloy or a ZnTe-based alloy. There are electrical contacts to the n-doped layer and to the p-doped layer. The electrical contact to the p-doped layer includes a graded-alloy contact layer in epitaxial contact with the p-doped layer and whose bandgap varies from about that of the p-doped layer adjacent the p-doped layer to about zero at a location remote from the p-doped layer. The graded-alloy contact layer is a HgZnSSe-based graded-composition alloy where the p-doped layer is a ZnSe-based alloy, or a HgZnSeTe-based graded-composition alloy where the p-doped layer is a ZnTe-based alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: William L. Ahlgren
  • Patent number: 6218680
    Abstract: A semi-insulating bulk single crystal of silicon carbide is disclosed that has a resistivity of at least 5000 &OHgr;-cm at room temperature and a concentration of deep level trapping elements that is below the amounts that will affect the resistivity of the crystal, preferably below detectable levels. A method of forming the crystal is also disclosed, along with some resulting devices that take advantage of the microwave frequency capabilities of devices formed using substrates according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Calvin H. Carter, Jr., Mark Brady, Valeri F. Tsvetkov
  • Patent number: 6208005
    Abstract: A variable bandgap infrared absorbing material, Hg1-x Cdx Te, is manufactured by use of the process termed MOCVD-IMP (Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition-Interdiffused Multilayer Process). A substantial reduction in the dislocation defect density can be achieved through this method by use of CdZnTe layers which have a zinc mole fraction selected to produce a lattice constant which is substantially similar to the lattice constant of HgTe. After the multilayer pairs of HgTe and Cd0.944Zn0.056Te are produced by epitaxial growth, the structure is annealed to interdiffuse the alternating layers to produce a homogeneous alloy of mercury cadmium zinc telluride. The mole fraction x in Hg1-x(Cd0.944Zn0.056)xTe can be varied to produce a structure responsive to multiple wavelength bands of infrared radiation, but without changing the lattice constant. The alloy composition is varied by changing the relative thicknesses of HgTe and Cd0.944Zn0.056Te.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Pradip Mitra
  • Patent number: 6178190
    Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device has a stacked structure including an n-type clad layer, an active layer, and a p-type clad layer on an InP substrate. The p-type clad layer is made from an MgZnSeTe-based compound semiconductor lattice-matched with InP. The n-type clad layer is made from a compound semiconductor lattice-matched with InP and selected from an MgZnSeTe-based compound semiconductor, an MgZnCdSe-based compound semiconductor, and an MgCdSSe-based compound semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Naniwae, Hiroshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 6157047
    Abstract: A device structure provides improved efficiency of light emission from a light emitting element made of silicon while rendering such emission electrically controllable. Silicon in the light emitting element comprises fine microcrystals, which are miniaturized sufficiently to cause a quantum size effect. The microcrystals may be 10 nanometers (nm) or less in grain size. A dielectric film of 5 nm thick or less is formed containing therein such microcrystals. The microcrystal structure section is disposed between p- and n-type semiconductor layers. These layers are brought into electrical contact with the microcrystal structure only, while causing the remaining portions to be electrically insulative by a dielectric film or the like. Elementary particles of the opposite polarities, e.g. electrons and holes, are injected by tunnel effect into the microcrystals resulting in emission of light rays with increased efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinobu Fujita, Atsushi Kurobe
  • Patent number: 6150671
    Abstract: A transistor of SiC having a drain and a highly doped substrate layer is formed on the drain. A highly n type buffer layer may optionally be formed on the substrate layer. A low doped n-type drift layer, a p-type base layer, a high doped n-type source region layer and a source are formed on the substrate layer. An insulating layer with a gate electrode is arranged on top of the base layer and extends substantially laterally from at least the source region layer to a n-type layer. When a voltage is applied to the gate electrode, a conducting inversion channel is formed extending substantially laterally in the base layer at an interface of the p-type base layer and the insulating layer. The p-type base layer is low doped in a region next to the interface to the insulating layer at which the inversion channel is formed and highly doped in a region thereunder next to the drift layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher Harris, Ulf Gustafsson, Mietek Bakowski
  • Patent number: 6147365
    Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor component has a radiation-emitting active layer sequence which is associated with at least one poorly dopable semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type. A heavily doped first degenerated junction layer of a first conductivity type and a heavily doped second degenerated junction layer of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type are provided between the poorly dopable semiconductor layer and a contact layer of the semiconductor body, the contact layer being associated with the poorly dopable semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Frank Fischer, Thomas Litz, Hans-Jurgen Lugauer, Markus Keim, Thierry Baron, Gunter Reuscher, Gottfried Landwehr
  • Patent number: 6093965
    Abstract: A gallium nitride-based III-V Group compound semiconductor device has a gallium nitride-based III-V Group compound semiconductor layer provided over a substrate, and an ohmic electrode provided in contact with the semiconductor layer. The ohmic electrode is formed of a metallic material, and has been annealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Nichia Chemical Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Nakamura, Takao Yamada, Masayuki Senoh, Motokazu Yamada, Kanji Bando
  • Patent number: 6091127
    Abstract: This is an integral IR detector system with at least two epitaxial HgCdTe sensors on integrated silicon or GaAs circuitry and also a method of fabricating such system. The system can comprise: a) integrated silicon or GaAs circuitry 110; b) an epitaxial lattice-match layer (e.g. ZnSe 114) on a top surface of the circuit; c) an epitaxial insulating layer (e.g. CdTe 102) on the lattice-match layer; and d) at least two epitaxial HgCdTe sensors 101,121 on the insulating layer, with the HgCdTe sensors being electrically connected to the circuitry. Preferably, the circuitry is silicon. Preferably, an IR transparent, spacer layer (e.g. CdTe 120 or CdZnTe) is on the HgCdTe sensors and an HgCdTe filter 122 is on the spacer layer. Preferably, at least one of the HgCdTe sensors and the HgCdTe filter is laterally continuously graded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Dipankar Chandra, Donald F. Weirauch, Thomas C. Penn
  • Patent number: 6087725
    Abstract: On a substrate of n-type GaAs, an n-type cladding layer of n-type Zn.sub.0.9 Mg.sub.0.1 S.sub.0.13 Se.sub.0.87, an n-type light guiding layer of n-type ZnS.sub.0.06 Se.sub.0.94, an active layer of ZnCdSe and a p-type light guiding layer of p-type ZnS.sub.0.06 Se.sub.0.94 are successively formed. On the p-type light guiding layer, a p-type contact structure is formed. The p-type contact structure includes a first layer of p-type ZnS.sub.0.31 Se.sub.0.54 Te.sub.0.15, a second layer of ZnS.sub.0.47 Se.sub.0.28 Te.sub.0.25, a third layer of p-type ZnS.sub.0.65 Te.sub.0.35, a fourth layer of p-type ZnS.sub.0.5 Te.sub.0.5 and a fifth layer of p-type ZnTe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Yoshii, Yoichi Sasai, Satoshi Kamiyama, Tohru Saitoh, Takashi Nishikawa, Ryoko Miyanaga
  • Patent number: 6069020
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor light-emitting device composed of a II-VI compound semiconductor in which at least more than one kind of elements of Zn, Be, Mg, Cd or Hg are used as a II-group element and at least more than one kind of elements of Se, S, Te are used as a VI-group element and which includes first conductivity type and second conductivity type cladding layers and an active layer, a supply ratio VI/II ratio of VI-group element and II-group element required when the active layer is epitaxially deposited is selected to be greater than 1.1 and the active layer is deposited epitaxially. Thus, there may be obtained a highly-reliable semiconductor light-emitting device whose life time is made longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eisaku Kato, Hiroyasu Noguchi, Masaharu Nagai
  • Patent number: 5877558
    Abstract: A gallium nitride-based III-V Group compound semiconductor device has a gallium nitride-based III-V Group compound semiconductor layer provided over a substrate, and an ohmic electrode provided in contact with the semiconductor layer. The ohmic electrode is formed of a metallic material, and has been annealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Nichia Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Nakamura, Takao Yamada, Masayuki Senoh, Motokazu Yamada, Kanji Bando
  • Patent number: 5834361
    Abstract: In a method of forming a II-VI compound semiconductor thin film on an InP substrate, a layer of III-V compound semiconductor mixed crystal is first formed on the InP substrate. The desorption rate of a group V element constituting the III-V compound semiconductor mixed crystal at a decomposition temperature of a native oxide layer formed on a surface of the III-V compound semiconductor mixed crystal layer is lower than a desorption rate of P of the InP substrate at a decomposition temperature of a native oxide layer formed on a surface of the InP substrate. A II-VI compound semiconductor thin film layer is formed on the first III-V compound semiconductor mixed crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Naniwae, Toru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5822347
    Abstract: In a II-VI group semiconductor laser, on an n type GaAs substrate, an n type ZnSe layer, a multiquantum well layer of a ZnCdSe well layer and a ZnSe barrier layer, and a p type ZnSe layer are deposited in this order. A polycrystalline ZnO layer is provided on both sides of the p type ZnSe layer for constricting current. Multifilm reflecting mirrors, respectively constituted with a polycrystalline SiO.sub.2 layer and a polycrystalline TiO.sub.2 layer, for obtaining laser oscillation are provided on the p type ZnSe layer as well as on a surface of the n type ZnSe layer exposed by etching the GaAs substrate. Furthermore, a p type AuPd electrode and an n type AuGeNi electrode are respectively provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiya Yokogawa, Shigeo Yoshii, Yoichi Sasai
  • Patent number: 5818072
    Abstract: An ohmic contact to a p-type zinc selenide (ZnSe) layer in a Group II-VI semiconductor device, includes a zinc mercury selenide (Zn.sub.x Hg.sub.1-x Se) layer on the zinc selenide layer, a mercury selenide (HgSe) layer on the zinc mercury selenide layer and a conductor (such as metal) layer on the mercury selenide layer. The zinc mercury selenide and mercury selenide layers between the p-type zinc selenide and the conductor layer provide an ohmic contact by eliminating the band offset between the wide bandgap zinc selenide and the conductor. Step graded, linear graded, and parabolic graded layers of zinc mercury selenide may be provided. A layer of mercury selenide without the mercury zinc selenide layer may also provide an ohmic contact. The ohmic contact of the present invention produces nearly ideal voltage-current relation, so that high efficiency Group II-VI optoelectronic devices may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventor: Jan Frederick Schetzina
  • Patent number: 5804842
    Abstract: A heterojunction is formed between a pair of layers of different semiconductive materials whose work function difference produces a large band offset at the heterojunction. Donor or acceptor atoms are included in one regions that when photoexcited produce free charge carriers but leave behind charged centers that keep the photoexcited carriers localized. The large barrier at the heterojunction limits recombination of the free charge carriers and the charged centers and persistent photoconductivity results. This effect is used to form light operated switches. An illustrative example uses a layer of high purity gallium arsenide forming a heterojunction with a gallium-doped layer of zinc selenide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Tineke Thio
  • Patent number: 5773850
    Abstract: After the removal of a native oxide layer on a surface of an InP substrate, a ZnCdSe buffer layer is grown, and a ZnSeTe layer as a II-VI compound semiconductor layer containing Te is formed on the ZnCdSe buffer layer. This permits the ZnSeTe layer to grow two-dimensionally from directly after the start of growing such that its crystal quality is considerably improved. In this manner, a semiconductor device is attained which has above the InP substrate the II-VI compound semiconductor layer containing Te, which has such a high quality as to permit the semiconductor device to be used as a light emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Naniwae
  • Patent number: 5770887
    Abstract: A GaN single crystal having a full width at half-maximum of the double-crystal X-ray rocking curve of 5-250 sec and a thickness of not less than 80 .mu.m, a method for producing the GaN single crystal having superior quality and sufficient thickness permitting its use as a substrate and a semiconductor light emitting element having high luminance and high reliability, comprising, as a substrate, the GaN single crystal having superior quality and/or sufficient thickness permitting its use as a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Tadatomo, Shinichi Watabe, Hiroaki Okagawa, Kazumasa Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 5744822
    Abstract: Amorphous silicon in impurity regions (source and drain regions or N-type or p-type regions) of TFT and TFD are crystallized and activated to lower electric resistance, by depositing film having a catalyst element such as nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) or platinum (Pt) on or beneath an amorphous silicon film, or introducing such a catalyst element into the amorphous silicon film by ion implantation and subsequently crystallizing the same by applying heat annealing at an appropriate temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takayama, Yasuhiko Takemura
  • Patent number: 5742076
    Abstract: A silicon carbide switching device having near ideal electrical characteristics includes an electrical insulator with an electrical permittivity greater than about ten times the permittivity of free space (.epsilon..sub.o) and more preferably greater than about fifteen times the permittivity of free space, as a gate electrode insulating region. The use of electrical insulators having high electrical permittivities relative to conventional electrical insulators such as silicon dioxide significantly improves the breakdown voltage and on-state resistance characteristics of a silicon carbide switching device to the point of near ideal characteristics, as predicted by theoretical analysis. Thus, the preferred advantages of using silicon carbide, instead of silicon, can be more fully realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Srikant Sridevan, Peter Kerr McLarty, Bantval Jayant Baliga
  • Patent number: 5726487
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thin film transistor (TFT) structure having a channel region formed of a crystallized SiGe and is to provide a thin film transistor having a large carrier mobility. In this case, a channel region (4) is formed of a crystallized SiGe thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Sameshima, Masaki Hara, Naoki Sano, Dharam Pal Gosain, Setsuo Usui
  • Patent number: 5705831
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a crystal-growing method for forming a II-VI single crystalline semiconductor expressed by Zn.sub.1-x Cd.sub.x Se (where 0<x<0.35) is provided. The crystal-growing method includes a step of epitaxially growing the II-VI single crystalline semiconductor on a substrate by: supplying a II element Zn onto the substrate by using a molecular beam from a ZnSe compound source and a molecular beam from a Zn elemental source; supplying a II element Cd onto the substrate by using a molecular beam from a CdSe compound source; and supplying a VI element Se onto the substrate by using a molecular beam from a ZnSe compound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Uemura, Minoru Kubo, Yoichi Sasai, Kazuhiro Ohkawa, Satoshi Kamiyama, Takeshi Uenoyama
  • Patent number: 5623439
    Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device includes a channel layer of a dielectric material containing oxygen, source and drain electrode provided on the channel layer across a channel region defined in the channel layer, a ferroelectric memory layer provided on the channel layer so as to cover at least the channel region, and a write control electrode provided on the ferroelectric memory layer for applying an electric field thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kohtaroh Gotoh, Hirotaka Tamura, Akira Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5587609
    Abstract: A II-VI group compound semiconductor device having a p-type Zn.sub.x Mg.sub.1-x S.sub.y Se.sub.1-y (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1) semiconductor layer, on which an electrode layer is formed with at least metallic nitride layer lying between the semiconductor layer and the electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Murakami, Yasuo Koide, Nobuaki Teraguchi, Yoshitaka Tomomura
  • Patent number: 5581117
    Abstract: The present invention provides an Si base semiconductor monocrystal substrate which includes an Si(11n) substrate where n=1.5-2.5. An intermediate layer is formed on the Si(11n) substrate. The intermediate layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of ZnTe and Zn-rich CdZnTe, The intermediate layer has a thickness in the range of 50-200 angstroms. The intermediate layer is oriented in a (11n')B plane. An upper layer is formed on the intermediate layer. The upper layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of CdTe and Cd-rich CdZnTe. The upper layer is oriented in a (11n")B plane. The indexes n' and n" satisfy the following equations. ##EQU1## where y is the lattice mismatch between the Si substrate and the intermediate layer. ##EQU2## where y' is the lattice mismatch between the Si substrate and the upper layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masaya Kawano
  • Patent number: 5574296
    Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation transducer is provided having a p-type ZnSe layer and an n-type layer. The p-type ZnSe layer has a net donor to net acceptor ratio (N.sub.D /N.sub.A) of less than or equal to about 0.8. The net acceptor concentration is greater than about 5.times.10.sup.15 cm .sup.-3 and the resistivity is less than 15 .OMEGA.-cm. The p-type ZnSe layer is deposited by doping the ZnSe during fabrication with a neutral free-radical source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert M. Park, James M. DePuydt, Hwa Cheng, Michael A. Haase
  • Patent number: 5567975
    Abstract: A photovoltaic diode unit cell (10) includes a first layer (14) having a first type of electrical conductivity and a second layer (16) of Group II-VI material having a second type of electrical conductivity that differs from the first type. The first layer and the second layer are coupled together so as to form a photovoltaic junction (15) therebetween. The photovoltaic junction is coupled via electrical interconnects (18, 20, 22) to a readout 24 and collects first charge carriers resulting from an absorption of IR radiation within the layer 14. The junction also collects second charge carriers resulting from the absorption of visible light in a region of highly graded crystal potential formed, in a Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE)-grown embodiment of this invention, at an interface of a substrate and the first layer. The substrate is subsequently removed, preferably by a mechanical operation followed by a wet chemical etch, to expose the region of highly graded crystal potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Santa Barbara Research Center
    Inventors: Devin T. Walsh, Michael Ray
  • Patent number: 5563428
    Abstract: A structure is fabricated comprising a substrate, a dielectric layer formed over the substrate, and a single crystal layer of a compound formed over the dielectric layer. The single crystal layer is formed by the chemical reaction of at least a first element with an initial single crystal layer of a second element on the dielectric layer having an initial thickness of about 100 to about 10,000 angstroms.According to another aspect, a carbide single crystal layer is provided on a substrate by depositing carbon from a solid carbon source at a low rate and low temperature, followed by reacting the carbon with the underlying layer to convert it to the carbide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Inventors: Bruce A. Ek, Stephen M. Gates, Fernando J. Guarin, Subramanian S. Iyer, Adrian R. Powell
  • Patent number: 5541423
    Abstract: A diamond semiconductor device has a pn junction formed by a p-type diamond semiconductor portion containing boron as an impurity and an n-type diamond semiconductor portion containing lithium as an impurity. The diamond semiconductor is formed by a diamond crystal growth on a single nucleation site on an insulating substrate. Electroluminescene takes place in the diamond crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 5534719
    Abstract: Group II-VI thin film transistors, a method of making same and a monolithic device containing a detector array as well as transistors coupled thereto wherein, according to a first embodiment, there is provided a group II-VI insulating substrate, a doped layer of a group II-VI semiconductor material disposed over the substrate, an insulating gate region disposed over the doped layer, a pair of spaced contacts on the doped layer providing source and drain contacts, a gate contact disposed over the insulating gate region, an insulating layer disposed over exposed regions of the substrate, doped layer, insulating gate region and contacts and metallization disposed on the insulating layer and extending through the insulating layer to the contacts. The thickness of the doped layer is less than the maximum depletion region thickness thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard A. Schiebel, Michael A. Kinch, Roland J. Koestner