Patents by Inventor Tzu-Chi Wen
Tzu-Chi Wen 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).
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Patent number: 7692181Abstract: A number of light-emitting layer structures for the GaN-based LEDs that can increase the lighting efficiency of the GaN-based LEDs on one hand and facilitate the growth of epitaxial layer with better quality on the other hand are provided. The light-emitting layer structure provided is located between the n-type GaN contact layer and the p-type GaN contact layer. Sequentially stacked on top of the n-type GaN contact layer is the light-emitting layer containing a lower barrier layer, at least one intermediate layer, and an upper barrier layer. That is, the light-emitting layer contains at least one intermediate layer interposed between the upper and lower barrier layers. When there are multiple intermediate layers inside the light-emitting layer, there is an intermediate barrier layer interposed between every two immediately adjacent intermediate layers.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Formosa Epitaxy IncorporationInventors: Cheng-Tsang Yu, Liang-Wen Wu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Publication number: 20080079013Abstract: A light emitting diode structure including a substrate, a first type doped semiconductor layer, an insulating layer, light emitting layers, a second type doped semiconductor layer, a first pad and a second pad is provided. The first type doped semiconductor layer is disposed on the substrate. The insulating layer having openings is disposed on the first type doped semiconductor layer for exposing a part of the first type doped semiconductor layer. The light emitting layers are disposed within the corresponding openings of the insulating layer respectively. The second type doped semiconductor layer is disposed on the insulating layer and the light emitting layers. The first pad is disposed on the first type doped semiconductor layer and is electrically connected thereto. The second pad is disposed on the second type doped semiconductor layer and is electrically connected thereto. Besides, air gaps may also be utilized for separating the light emitting layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2006Publication date: April 3, 2008Applicant: FORMOSA EPITAXY INCORPORATIONInventors: Yun-Li Li, Tzu-Chi Wen, Liang-Wen Wu, Chi-Jui Chen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Patent number: 7307291Abstract: A structure for a gallium-nitride (GaN) based ultraviolet photo detector is provided. The structure contains an n-type contact layer, a light absorption layer, a light penetration layer, and a p-type contact layer, sequentially stacked on a substrate from bottom to top in this order. The layers are all made of aluminum-gallium-indium-nitride (AlGaInN) compound semiconductors. By varying the composition of aluminum, gallium, and indium, the layers, on one hand, can achieve the desired band gaps so that the photo detector is highly responsive to ultraviolet lights having specific wavelengths. On the other hand, the layers have compatible lattice constants so that problems associated with excessive stress are avoided and high-quality epitaxial structure is obtained. The structure further contains a positive electrode, a light penetration contact layer, and an anti-reflective coating layer on top of the p-type contact layer, and a negative electrode on the n-type contact layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Formosa Epitaxy IncorporationInventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Patent number: 7180096Abstract: An epitaxial structure for GaN-based LEDs to achieve better reverse withstanding voltage and anti-ESD capability is provided. The epitaxial structure has an additional anti-ESD thin layer on top of the p-type contact layer within traditional GaN-based LEDs, which is made of undoped indium-gallium-nitrides (InGaN) or low-band-gap (Eg<3.4 eV), undoped aluminum-indium-gallium-nitrides (AlInGaN). This anti-ESD thin layer greatly improves the GaN-based LEDs' reverse withstanding voltage and resistivity to ESD, which in turn extends the GaN-based LEDs' operation life significantly.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Formosa Epitaxy IncorporationInventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Patent number: 7180097Abstract: A GaN-based LED structure is provided so that the brightness and lighting efficiency of the GaN-based LED are enhanced effectively. The greatest difference between the GaN-based LEDs according to the invention and the prior arts lies in the addition of a thin layer on top of the p-type contact layer within the traditional structure. The thin layer could be formed using silicon-nitride (SiN), or it could have a superlattice structure made of either SiN and undoped indium-gallium-nitride (InGaN), or SiN and undoped aluminum-gallium-indium-nitride (AlGaInN), respectively. Because of the use of SiN in the thin layer, the surfaces of the GaN-based LEDs would be micro-roughened, and the total internal reflection resulted from the GaN-based LEDs' higher index of refraction than the atmosphere could be avoided. The GaN-based LEDs according to the invention therefore have superior external quantum efficiency and lighting efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2004Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Formosa Epitaxy IncorporationInventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Patent number: 7173289Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) structure includes a substrate with a surface and cylindrical photonic crystals, a first type doping semiconductor layer, a first electrode, a light emitting layer, a second type doping semiconductor layer and a second electrode. The first type doping semiconductor layer is formed on the substrate to cover the photonic crystals. The light emitting layer, the second type doping semiconductor layer and the second electrode are sequentially formed on a portion of the first type doping semiconductor layer. The first electrode is formed on the other portion of the first type doping semiconductor layer without being covered by the light emitting layer. Because the substrate with photonic crystals can improve the epitaxial quality of the first type doping semiconductor layer and increase the energy of the light forwardly emitting out of the LED, the light emitting efficiency of the LED is effectively enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2005Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: Formosa Epitaxy IncorporationInventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ya-Ping Tsai, Fen-Ren Chien, Fu-Yu Chang, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen
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Patent number: 7148519Abstract: A GaN LED structure with a short period superlattice contacting layer is provided. The LED structure comprises, from the bottom to top, a substrate, a double buffer layer, an n-type GaN layer, a short period superlattice contacting layer, an active layer, a p-type shielding layer, and a contacting layer. The feature is to avoid the cracks or pin holes in the thick n-type GaN layer caused during the fabrication of heavily doped (n>1×1019 cm?3) thick n-type GaN contacting layer, so that the quality of the GaN contacting layer is assured. In addition, by using short period heavily silicon doped Al1-x-yGaxInyN (n++-Al1-x-yGaxInyN) to grow a superlattice structure to become a short period superlattice contacting layer structure, which is used as a low resistive n-type contacting layer in a GaInN/GaN MQW LED. In the following steps, it is easier to form an n-type ohmic contacting layer, and the overall electrical characteristics are improved.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2005Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Formosa Epitaxy IncorporationInventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Publication number: 20060249727Abstract: A number of light-emitting layer structures for the GaN-based LEDs that can increase the lighting efficiency of the GaN-based LEDs on one hand and facilitate the growth of epitaxial layer with better quality on the other hand are provided. The light-emitting layer structure provided is located between the n-type GaN contact layer and the p-type GaN contact layer. Sequentially stacked on top of the n-type GaN contact layer is the light-emitting layer containing a lower barrier layer, at least one intermediate layer, and an upper barrier layer. That is, the light-emitting layer contains at least one intermediate layer interposed between the upper and lower barrier layers. When there are multiple intermediate layers inside the light-emitting layer, there is an intermediate barrier layer interposed between every two immediately adjacent intermediate layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2006Publication date: November 9, 2006Inventors: Cheng-Tsang Yu, Liang-Wen Wu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Patent number: 7105850Abstract: Disclosed is a GaN LED structure with a p-type contacting layer using Al—Mg-codoped In1?yGayN grown at low temperature, and having low resistivity. The LED structure comprises, from the bottom to top, a substrate, a buffer layer, an n-type GaN layer, an active layer, a p-type shielding layer, and a p-type contacting layer. In this invention, Mg and Al are used to co-dope the In1?yGayN to grow a low resistive p-type contacting layer at low temperature. Because of the Al—Mg-codoped, the light absorption problem of the p-type In1?yGayN layer is improved. The product, not only has the advantage of convenience of the p-type contacting layer for being manufactured at low temperature, but also shows good electrical characteristics and lowers the operating voltage of the entire element so that the energy consumption during operation is reduced and the yield rate is increased.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2005Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Formosa Epitaxy IncorporationInventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Patent number: 7087924Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-quantum-well light emitting diode, which makes enormous adjustments and improvements over the conventional light emitting diode, and further utilizes a transparent contact layer of better transmittance efficiency, so as to significantly raise the illuminance of this light emitting diode and its light emission efficiency. The multi-quantum-well light emitting diode has a structure including: substrate, buffer layer, n-type gallium-nitride layer, active light-emitting-layer, p-type cladding layer, p-type contact layer, barrier buffer layer, transparent contact layer, and the n-type electrode layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2004Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Formosa Epitaxy IncorporationInventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Patent number: 7087922Abstract: A gallium-nitride based light-emitting diode structure includes a digital penetration layer to raise its reverse withstanding voltage and electrostatic discharge. The digital penetration layer is formed by alternate stacking layers of AlxInyGa1-x-yNzP1-z/AlpInqGa1-p-qNrP1-r, wherein 0?x,y,z,p,q,r?1, and AlxInyGa1-x-yNzP1-z has an energy gap greater than that of AlpInqGa1-p-qNrP1-r. The AlxInyGa1-x-yNzP1-z layers have increasing thickness and the AlpInqGa1-p-qNzP1-r layers have decreasing thickness.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2004Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Formosa Epitaxy IncorporationInventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Publication number: 20060163681Abstract: A structure for a gallium-nitride (GaN) based ultraviolet photo detector is provided. The structure contains an n-type contact layer, a light absorption layer, a light penetration layer, and a p-type contact layer, sequentially stacked on a substrate from bottom to top in this order. The layers are all made of aluminum-gallium-indium-nitride (AlGaInN) compound semiconductors. By varying the composition of aluminum, gallium, and indium, the layers, on one hand, can achieve the desired band gaps so that the photo detector is highly responsive to ultraviolet lights having specific wavelengths. On the other hand, the layers have compatible lattice constants so that problems associated with excessive stress are avoided and high-quality epitaxial structure is obtained. The structure further contains a positive electrode, a light penetration contact layer, and an anti-reflective coating layer on top of the p-type contact layer, and a negative electrode on the n-type contact layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2005Publication date: July 27, 2006Inventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Patent number: 7049638Abstract: A GaN-based LED structure is provided so that the brightness and luminous efficiency of the GaN-based LED are enhanced effectively. The greatest difference between the GaN-based LEDs according to the invention and the prior arts lies in the addition of a masking buffer layer on top of the p-type contact layer and a p-type roughened contact layer on top of the masking buffer layer. The masking buffer layer could be formed using MOCVD to deposit SixNy (x,y?1), MgwNz (w,z?1), or AlsIntGa1-s-tN (0?s,t<1, s+t?1) heavily doped with Si and/or Mg. The masking buffer layer is actually a mask containing multiple randomly distributed clusters. Then, on top of the masking buffer layer, a p-type roughened contact layer made of p-type AluInGa1-u-vN (0?u,v<1, u+v?1) is developed. The p-type roughened contact layer does not grow directly on top of the masking buffer layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2005Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Formosa Epitaxy IncorporationInventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Publication number: 20060102909Abstract: A gallium-nitride based light-emitting diode structure includes a digital penetration layer to raise its reverse withstanding voltage and electrostatic discharge. The digital penetration layer is formed by alternate stacking layers of AlxInyGa1-x-yNzP1-z/AlpInqGa1-p-qNrP1-r, wherein 0?x,y,z,p,q,r?1, and AlxInyGa1-x-yNzP1-z has an energy gap greater than that of AlpInqGa1-p-qNrP1-r. The AlxInyGa1-x-yNrP1-z layers have increasing thickness and the AlpInqGa1-p-qNrP1-r layers have decreasing thickness.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2004Publication date: May 18, 2006Inventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Publication number: 20060102930Abstract: A GaN-based LED structure is provided so that the brightness and lighting efficiency of the GaN-based LED are enhanced effectively. The greatest difference between the GaN-based LEDs according to the invention and the prior arts lies in the addition of a thin layer on top of the p-type contact layer within the traditional structure. The thin layer could be formed using silicon-nitride (SiN), or it could have a superlattice structure made of either SiN and undoped indium-gallium-nitride (InGaN), or SiN and undoped aluminum-gallium-indium-nitride (AlGaInN), respectively. Because of the use of SiN in the thin layer, the surfaces of the GaN-based LEDs would be micro-roughened, and the total internal reflection resulted from the GaN-based LEDs' higher index of refraction than the atmosphere could be avoided. The GaN-based LEDs according to the invention therefore have superior external quantum efficiency and lighting efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2004Publication date: May 18, 2006Inventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Publication number: 20060097273Abstract: A GaN LED structure with a short period superlattice contacting layer is provided. The LED structure comprises, from the bottom to top, a substrate, a double buffer layer, an n-type GaN layer, a short period superlattice contacting layer, an active layer, a p-type shielding layer, and a contacting layer. The feature is to avoid the cracks or pin holes in the thick n-type GaN layer caused during the fabrication of heavily doped (n>1×1019 cm?3) thick n-type GaN contacting layer, so that the quality of the GaN contacting layer is assured. In addition, by using short period heavily silicon doped Al1-x-yGaxInyN (n++-Al1-x-yGaxInyN) to grow a superlattice structure to become a short period superlattice contacting layer structure, which is used as a low resistive n-type contacting layer in a GaInN/GaN MQW LED. In the following steps, it is easier to form an n-type ohmic contacting layer, and the overall electrical characteristics are improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2005Publication date: May 11, 2006Inventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Patent number: 7042019Abstract: A structure for the n-type contact layer in the GaN-based MQW LEDs is provided. Instead of using Si-doped GaN as commonly found in conventional GaN-based MQW LEDs, the n-type contact layer provided by the present invention achieves high doping density (>1×1019 cm?3) and low resistivity through a superlattice structure combining two types of materials, AlmInnGa1-m-nN and AlpInqGa1-p-qN (0?m,n<1, 0<p,q<1, p+q?1, m<p), each having its specific composition and doping density. In addition, by controlling the composition of Al, In, and Ga in the two materials, the n-type contact layer would have a compatible lattice constant with the substrate and the epitaxial structure of the GaN-based MQW LEDs. This n-type contact layer, therefore, would not chap from the heavy Si doping, have a superior quality, and reduce the difficulties of forming n-type ohmic contact electrode. In turn, the GaN-based MQW LEDs would require a lower operation voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: Formosa Epitaxy IncorporationInventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Patent number: 7042018Abstract: A GaN LED structure with a short period superlattice digital contacting layer is provided. The LED structure comprises, from the bottom to top, a substrate, a double buffer layer, an n-type GaN layer, a short period superlattice digital contacting layer, an active layer, a p-type shielding layer, and a contacting layer. The feature is to avoid the cracks or pin holes in the thick n-type GaN layer caused during the fabrication of heavily doped (n>1×1019cm?3) thick n-type GaN contacting layer, so that the quality of the GaN contacting layer is assured. In addition, by using short period heavily doped silicon Al1-x-yGaxInyN (n++-Al1-x-yGaxInyN) to grow a superlattice structure to become a short period superlattice digital contacting layer structure, which is used as a low resistive n-type contacting layer in a GaInN/GaN MQW LED. In the following steps, it is easier to form an n-type ohmic contacting layer, and the overall electrical characteristics are improved.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2004Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: Formosa Epitaxy IncorporationInventors: Ru-Chin Tu, Liang-Wen Wu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Publication number: 20060086942Abstract: A GaN-based LED structure is provided so that the brightness and luminous efficiency of the GaN-based LED are enhanced effectively. The greatest difference between the GaN-based LEDs according to the invention and the prior arts lies in the addition of a masking buffer layer on top of the p-type contact layer and a p-type roughened contact layer on top of the masking buffer layer. The masking buffer layer could be formed using MOCVD to deposit SixNy (x,y?1), MgwNz (w,z?1), or AlsIntGa1-s-tN (0?s,t<1, s+t?1) heavily doped with Si and/or Mg. The masking buffer layer is actually a mask containing multiple randomly distributed clusters. Then, on top of the masking buffer layer, a p-type roughened contact layer made of p-type AluInvGa1-u-vN (0?u,v<1, u+v?1) is developed. The p-type roughened contact layer does not grow directly on top of the masking buffer layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2005Publication date: April 27, 2006Inventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien
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Publication number: 20060081861Abstract: A structure for the n-type contact layer in the GaN-based MQW LEDs is provided. Instead of using Si-doped GaN as commonly found in conventional GaN-based MQW LEDs, the n-type contact layer provided by the present invention achieves high doping density (>1×1019 cm?3) and low resistivity through a superlattice structure combining two types of materials, AlmInnGa1-m-nN and AlpInqGa1-p-qN (0?m, n<1, 0<p, q<1, p+q?1, m<p), each having its specific composition and doping density. In addition, by controlling the composition of Al, In, and Ga in the two materials, the n-type contact layer would have a compatible lattice constant with the substrate and the epitaxial structure of the GaN-based MQW LEDs. This n-type contact layer, therefore, would not chap from the heavy Si doping, have a superior quality, and reduce the difficulties of forming n-type ohmic contact electrode. In turn, the GaN-based MQW LEDs would require a lower operation voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2004Publication date: April 20, 2006Inventors: Liang-Wen Wu, Ru-Chin Tu, Cheng-Tsang Yu, Tzu-Chi Wen, Fen-Ren Chien