Trw Limited

Andre Burghard

Edward A Rezek

Luis Figueroa

Charles B Morrison

Alan L Carpenter

A light-emitting diode, and corresponding method for its fabrication, in which a blocking layer is used for current confinement, and a rectangular light emission pattern is employed, to avoid an isotropic effects when material systems such as indium phosphide are used. A critical step in the method of the invention is etching an opening through the blocking layer. The opening has its sides precisely oriented at forty-five degrees with respect to the cleavage planes of the substrate, to avoid exposing any crystal planes that are anisotropic.

Planar light-emitting diode

A light-emitting diode and corresponding method for its fabrication, in which a blocking layer is used for current confinement, and a rectangular light emission pattern is employed, to avoid anisotropic effects when material systems such as indium phosphide are used. A critical step in the method of the invention is etching an opening through the blocking layer. The opening has its sides precisely oriented at forty-five degrees with respect to the cleavage planes of the substrate, to avoid exposing any crystal planes that are anisotropic.

Method of making a surface emitting light emitting diode

A semiconductor laser diode structure operable at high power and brightness levels and having a relatively low threshold current, high efficiency, good mode stability, and reduced temperature sensitivity. The disclosed embodiments have twin parallel channels formed in a p type substrate, and employ an n type blocking layer to confine current to a region between and including the channels. The structure includes first and second inactive cladding layers, and an active layer forming a diode junction. The first or lower inactive layer is thinner in the region between the channels, and this results in a higher forward-bias voltage at the center of the active layer, thereby focusing the current near the central position. This current focusing mechanism, which is enhanced by the optional use of a curved active layer, results in the improved characteristics of the structure. By selecting the effective width of a contact stripe overlying the second or upper inactive layer, single or multiple optical gain filaments may be produced.

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Torrance, CA, United States of America

Andre Burghard