Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device which produces mixed light of a desired emission color by a combination of a semiconductor light emitting element and a wavelength converting layer containing a fluorescent substance, and a vehicle lamp including the semiconductor light emitting device. The wavelength converting layer has different wavelength conversion characteristics respectively at its portion covering an area of relatively high current density at light emission operation of the semiconductor light emitting element and at its portion covering an area of relatively low current density so as to reduce chromaticity difference over the light extraction surface of the mixed light due to non-uniformity of current density in the light emitting layer at light emission operation.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting apparatus includes semiconductor lamination of n-type layer, active layer, and p-type layer; recess penetrating the lamination from the p-type layer and exposing the n-type layer; n-side electrode formed on the n-type layer at the bottom of the recess and extending upward above the p-type layer; a p-side electrode formed on the p-type layer and having an opening surrounding the recess in plan view, the n-side electrode extending from inside to above the recess; and an insulating layer disposed between the p-side and the n-side electrodes on the p-type layer, the p-side electrode constituting a reflective electrode reflecting light incident from the active layer, the n-side electrode including a reflective electrode layer covering the opening in plan view and reflects light incident from the emission layer side, the reflective electrode layer having peripheral portion overlapping peripheral portion of the p-side electrode in plan view.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting element comprises an optical semiconductor laminated layer providing vias, an electrode that is disposed on a surface of the optical semiconductor laminated layer and separated from the second semiconductor layer in a peripheral portion of the electrode, a first transparent insulating layer that is disposed between the peripheral portion of the electrode and the optical semiconductor laminated layer, and a second transparent insulating layer that is disposed to cover the electrode, that envelops the peripheral portion of the electrode together with the first transparent insulating layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting apparatus includes semiconductor lamination of n-type layer, active layer, and p-type layer; recess penetrating the lamination from the p-type layer and exposing the n-type layer; n-side electrode formed on the n-type layer at the bottom of the recess and extending upward above the p-type layer; a p-side electrode formed on the p-type layer and having an opening surrounding the recess in plan view, the n-side electrode extending from inside to above the recess; and an insulating layer disposed between the p-side and the n-side electrodes on the p-type layer, the p-side electrode constituting a reflective electrode reflecting light incident from the active layer, the n-side electrode including a reflective electrode layer covering the opening in plan view and reflects light incident from the emission layer side, the reflective electrode layer having peripheral portion overlapping peripheral portion of the p-side electrode in plan view.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting element comprises an optical semiconductor laminated layer providing vias, an electrode that is disposed on a surface of the optical semiconductor laminated layer and separated from the second semiconductor layer in a peripheral portion of the electrode, a first transparent insulating layer that is disposed between the peripheral portion of the electrode and the optical semiconductor laminated layer, and a second transparent insulating layer that is disposed to cover the electrode, that envelops the peripheral portion of the electrode together with the first transparent insulating layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device having an n-electrode and a p-electrode provided on the same surface side of a semiconductor film, wherein current spread in the semiconductor film is promoted, so that the improvements in luminous efficiency and reliability, the emission intensity uniformalization across the surface, and a reduction in the forward voltage, can be achieved. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor film including an n-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer; the n-electrode formed on an exposed surface of the n-type semiconductor layer exposed by removing parts of the p-type semiconductor layer, of the active layer, and of the n-type semiconductor layer with accessing from the surface side of the p-type semiconductor layer; and the p-electrode. A current guide portion having conductivity higher than that of the n-type semiconductor layer is provided on or in the n-type semiconductor layer over the p-type electrode.

Abstract: A light emitting element includes a semiconductor structure layer, a reflective electrode layer formed on a part of the semiconductor structure layer, a conductor layer formed on the semiconductor structure layer with the reflective electrode layer embedded therein, and a support substrate that is arranged on the conductor layer and joined to the conductor layer via a junction layer. A high resistance contact surface is provided at an interface between the semiconductor structure layer and the conductor layer. A high resistance portion is arranged in an area opposed via the conductor layer to an area where the high resistance contact surface is provided. The conductor layer is connected to the junction layer in a peripheral area of the conductor layer outside the high resistance portion.

Abstract: A lamp assembly is provided, that utilizes a light source including an LED element without cutting part of light therefrom and capable of forming a luminance distribution where the light with a maximum peak portion can be arranged substantially at (i.e., at or near) the cutoff line, thereby improving light utilization efficiency. The lamp assembly with an illumination direction can include a light source including an LED element with an emission surface, and a projection optical system for projecting an image of the light source in the illumination direction so that a desired light distribution pattern can be formed on a virtual vertical screen. The light source can have a rectangular shape having long sides and short sides, and can be configured to provide a luminance distribution on the emission surface such that a luminance peak portion is provided at or near one of the long sides.

Abstract: In an optical semiconductor device including a semiconductor laminated body including at least a light emitting layer, a first metal body including at least one first metal layer formed on the semiconductor laminated body, a support substrate, a second metal body including at least one second metal layer formed on the support substrate, and at least one adhesive layer formed in a surface side of at least one of the first and second metal bodies, the semiconductor laminated body is coupled to the support substrate by applying a pressure-welding bonding process upon the adhesive layer to form a eutectic alloy layer between the first and second metal bodies. At least one of the first and second metal layers has a triple structure formed by two tight portions and a coarse portion sandwiched by the tight portions.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high quality optical semiconductor device includes: (a) preparing a growth substrate; (b) forming a semiconductor layer on the growth substrate; (c) forming a metal support made of copper on the semiconductor layer by plating; (d) separating the growth substrate from the semiconductor layer to remove the growth substrate; and (e) carrying out a thermal treatment in order to even density distributions of crystal grains and voids in the copper forming the metal support.

Abstract: A light-emitting device which includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type; and a light emitting layer provided between the first and second semiconductor layers, the device comprises a first electrode formed on the first semiconductor layer; a second electrode formed on the second semiconductor layer; and a light-transmissive electrode covering the second semiconductor layer and the second electrode, wherein contact between the second electrode and the second semiconductor layer is non-ohmic, and the second electrode has a stacked structure including a lower layer and an upper layer whose contact resistance with the light-transmissive electrode is lower than that of the lower layer, part of the second electrode being exposed through an opening formed in the light-transmissive electrode.

Abstract: A face-up optical semiconductor device can be prepared by forming an n-type GaN layer, an active layer, and a p-type GaN layer on a C-plane sapphire substrate. Parts of the p-type GaN layer and the active layer can be removed, and a transparent electrode can be formed over all or most of the remaining p-type GaN layer. A p-side electrode including a pad portion and auxiliary electrode portions can be formed on the transparent electrode layer. An n-side electrode can be formed on the exposed n-type GaN layer. On regions of the transparent electrode layer where weak light emission regions may be formed, outside independent electrodes can be provided. They can be disposed on concentric circles with the n-side electrode as a center or tangent lines thereof so as to be along the circles or the tangent lines.

Abstract: A semiconductor light-emitting element includes a first semiconductor layer having a first conduction type, a second semiconductor layer having a second conduction type, an active layer provided between the first and second semiconductor layers, a polarity inversion layer provided on the second semiconductor layer, and a third semiconductor layer having the second conduction type provided on the polarity inversion layer. Crystal orientations of the first through third semiconductor layers are inverted, with the polarity inversion layer serving as a boundary. The first and third semiconductor layers have uppermost surfaces made from polar faces having common constitutional elements. Hexagonal conical protrusions arising from a crystal structure are formed at outermost surfaces of the first and third semiconductor layers. The first through third semiconductor layers are made from a wurtzite-structure group III nitride semiconductor, and are layered along a C-axis direction of the crystal structure.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first conductivity type semiconductor layer and a second conductivity type semiconductor layer are sequentially grown on a growth substrate. Then, an electrode layer is formed on the second conductivity type semiconductor layer. Then, a support body is adhered to the electrode layer by providing at least one adhesive layer therebetween. Finally, at least a part of the growth substrate is removed. In this case, the adhesive layer is removable from the electrode layer.

Abstract: In an optical semiconductor device including a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, an active layer provided on the first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type provided on the active layer, an insulating layer provided on a part of the second semiconductor layer, an uneven semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type provided on another part of the second semiconductor layer, and an electrode layer provided on the insulating layer and the uneven semiconductor layer, a density of carriers of the second conductivity type being larger at a tip portion of the uneven semiconductor layer than at a bottom portion of the uneven semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for semiconductor devices having a metal support is provided. The method in one aspect includes growing a semiconductor film on a growth substrate; forming a metal support on a surface of said semiconductor film opposite to the growth substrate; thereafter removing said growth substrate from said semiconductor film; forming a street groove reaching said metal support in the said semiconductor film; radiating a first laser beam onto said metal support to form a first dividing groove having a substantially flat bottom in said metal support; and radiating a second laser beam onto said metal support to form a second dividing groove that penetrates through a portion of said metal support that remains where the first dividing groove is formed.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device having an n-electrode and a p-electrode provided on the same surface side of a semiconductor film, wherein current spread in the semiconductor film is promoted, so that the improvements in luminous efficiency and reliability, the emission intensity uniformalization across the surface, and a reduction in the forward voltage, can be achieved. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor film including an n-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer; the n-electrode formed on an exposed surface of the n-type semiconductor layer exposed by removing parts of the p-type semiconductor layer, of the active layer, and of the n-type semiconductor layer with accessing from the surface side of the p-type semiconductor layer; and the p-electrode. A current guide portion having conductivity higher than that of the n-type semiconductor layer is provided on or in the n-type semiconductor layer over the p-type electrode.

Abstract: Producing a semiconductor film containing a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer, each represented as AlxInyGazN, on a growth substrate, the layers arranged in this order from the growth substrate side. Producing a metal layer on the semiconductor film and/or a support and joining the semiconductor film and the support with the metal layer sandwiched between them. Irradiating the peripheral region of the growth substrate with a laser beam to separate the growth substrate from the semiconductor film in the peripheral region. Irradiating portions on the inner side of the peripheral region of the growth substrate with a laser beam, while leaving unirradiated portions, to separate and remove the growth substrate from the semiconductor film. Removing some portions of the semiconductor film where the growth substrate has already been separated and removed, to set up regions where semiconductor light emitting devices are to be produced.

Abstract: A lamp assembly is provided, that utilizes a light source including an LED element without cutting part of light therefrom and capable of forming a luminance distribution where the light with a maximum peak portion can be arranged substantially at (i.e., at or near) the cutoff line, thereby improving light utilization efficiency. The lamp assembly with an illumination direction can include a light source including an LED element with an emission surface, and a projection optical system for projecting an image of the light source in the illumination direction so that a desired light distribution pattern can be formed on a virtual vertical screen. The light source can have a rectangular shape having long sides and short sides, and can be configured to provide a luminance distribution on the emission surface such that a luminance peak portion is provided at or near one of the long sides.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor light emitting elements with improved yield and emission power uses laser lift-off and comprises the steps of forming a semiconductor grown layer formed of a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer on a first principal surface of a growth substrate; forming a plurality of junction electrodes apart on the second semiconductor layer and forming guide grooves arranged in a lattice to surround each of the junction electrodes in the second semiconductor layer; joining together a support and the semiconductor grown layer via the junction electrodes; projecting a laser to separate the growth substrate; dividing the semiconductor grown layer into respective element regions for the semiconductor light emitting elements; and cutting the support, thereby separating into the semiconductor light emitting elements.