Cree Gmbh

Cree Lighting Company

University of California

Brian Thibeault

Eric J Tarsa

Bernd P Keller

James Ibbetson

David Beardsley Slater, Jr

Michael Mack

Steven P DenBaars

Charles M Swoboda

Robert C Glass

Gerald H Negley

John Adam Edmond

Van Mieczkowski

David Kapolnek

Noel C MacDonald

Adam William Saxler

Marco F Aimi

Masa P Rao

Emily R Parker

Steven Denbaars

James Ibbettson

David B Slater

A solid state light emitting device comprising an emitter structure having an active region of semiconductor material and a pair of oppositely doped layers of semiconductor material on opposite sides of the active region. The active region emits light at a predetermined wavelength in response to an electrical bias across the doped layers. An absorption layer of semiconductor material is included that is integral to said emitter structure and doped with at least one rare earth or transition element. The absorption layer absorbs at least some of the light emitted from the active region and re-emits at least one different wavelength of light. A substrate is included with the emitter structure and absorption layer disposed on the substrate.

Rare earth doped layer or substrate for light conversion

Light emitting diodes include a diode region comprising a gallium nitride-based n-type layer, an active region and a gallium nitride-based p-type layer. A substrate is provided on the gallium nitride-based n-type layer and optically matched to the diode region. The substrate has a first face remote from the gallium nitride-based n-type layer, a second face adjacent the gallium nitride-based n-type layer and a sidewall therebetween. At least a portion of the sidewall is beveled, so as to extend oblique to the first and second faces. A reflector may be provided on the gallium nitride-based p-type layer opposite the substrate. Moreover, the diode region may be wider than the second face of the substrate and may include a mesa remote from the first face that is narrower than the first face and the second face.

Light emitting diodes including optically matched substrates

Monocyclic chlorine based inductively coupled plasma deep etching processes for the rapid micromachining of titanium substrates and titanium devices so produced are disclosed. The method parameters are adjustable to simultaneously vary etch rate, mask selectivity, and surface roughness and can be applied to titanium substrates having a wide variety of thicknesses to produce high aspect ratio features, smooth sidewalls, and smooth surfaces. The titanium microdevices so produced exhibit beneficially high fracture toughness, biocompatibility and are robust and able to withstand harsh environments making them useful in a wide variety of applications including microelectronics, micromechanical devices, MEMS, and biological devices that may be used in vivo.

Monocyclic high aspect ratio titanium inductively coupled plasma deep etching processes and products so produced

A light emitting diode includes a diode region having a gallium nitride based n-type layer, an active region and a gallium nitride based p-type layer. A first reflector layer is provided on the gallium nitride based p-type layer, and a second reflector layer is provided on the gallium nitride based n-type layer. Bonding layers, a mounting support, a wire bond and/or transparent oxide layers also may be provided.

Light emitting diodes including two reflector layers

A light emitting diode (LED) grown on a substrate doped with one or more rare earth or transition elements. The dopant ions absorb some or all of the light from the LED's active layer, pumping the dopant ion electrons to a higher energy state. The electrons are naturally drawn to their equilibrium state and they emit light at a wavelength that depends on the type of dopant ion. The invention is particularly applicable to nitride based LEDs emitting UV light and grown on a sapphire substrate doped with chromium. The chromium ions absorb the UV light, exciting the electrons on ions to a higher energy state. When they return to their equilibrium state they emit red light and some of the red light will emit from the LED's surface. The LED can also have active layers that emit green, blue and UV light, such that the LED emits green, blue, red and UV light which combines to create white light. Alternatively, it can have one active layer and grown on a sapphire substrate doped with Cr, Ti, and Co such that the substrate absorbs the UV light and emits blue, green, and red light. The invention is also capable of providing a tunable LED over a variety of color shades. The invention is also applicable to solid state lasers having one or more active layers emitting UV light with the laser grown on a sapphire substrate doped with one or more rare earth of transition elements.

Multi element, multi color solid state LED/laser

A physically robust light emitting diode is disclosed that offers high-reliability in standard packaging and that will withstand high temperature and high humidity conditions. The diode comprises a Group III nitride heterojunction diode with a p-type Group III nitride contact layer, an ohmic contact to the p-type contact layer, and a sputter-deposited silicon nitride composition passivation layer on the ohmic contact. The contact layer, the ohmic contact and the passivation layer are made of materials that transmit light generated in the active heterojunction.

Robust Group III light emitting diode for high reliability in standard packaging applications

Light emitting diodes include a substrate having first and second opposing faces and that is transparent to optical radiation in a predetermined wavelength range and that is patterned to define, in cross-section, a plurality of pedestals that extend into the substrate from the first face towards the second face. A diode region on the second face is configured to emit light in the predetermined wavelength range, into the substrate upon application of voltage across the diode region. A mounting support on the diode region, opposite the substrate is configured to support the diode region, such that the light that is emitted from the diode region into the substrate, is emitted from the first face upon application of voltage across the diode region. A reflector is provided between the mounting support and the diode region, that is configured to reflect light that is emitted from the diode region back into the diode region, through the substrate that is transparent to optical radiation in the predetermined wavelength range and from the plurality of pedestals, upon application of voltage across the diode region. A layer of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) is provided between the reflector and the diode region.

Light emitting diodes including transparent oxide layers

A light emitting diode (LED) grown on a substrate doped with one or more rare earth or transition element. The dopant ions absorb some or all of the light from the LED's active layer, pumping the electrons on the dopant ion to a higher energy state. The electrons are naturally drawn to their equilibrium state and they emit light at a wavelength that depends on the type of dopant ion. The invention is particularly applicable to nitride based LEDs emitting UV light and grown on a sapphire substrate doped with chromium. The chromium ions absorb the UV light, exciting the electrons on ions to a higher energy state. When they return to their equilibrium state they emit red light and some of the red light will emit from the LED's surface. The LED can also have active layers that emit green and blue and UV light, such that the LED emits green, blue, red light and UV light which combines to create white light. Alternatively, it can have one active layer and grown on a sapphire substrate doped with Cr, Ti, and Co such that the substrate absorbs the UV light and emits blue, green, and red light. The invention is also capable of providing a tunable LED over a variety of color shades. The invention is also applicable to solid state laser having one or more active layers emitting UV light with the laser grown on a sapphire substrate doped with one or more rare earth or transition elements.

A physically robust light emitting diode is disclosed that offers high-reliability in standard packaging and that will withstand high temperature and high humidity conditions. The diode comprises a Group III nitride heterojunction diode with a p-type Group III nitride contact layer, an ohmic contact to the p-type contact layer, and a sputter-deposited silicon nitride composition passivation layer on the ohmic contact. A method of manufacturing a light emitting diode and an LED lamp incorporating the diode are also disclosed.

Light emitting diodes include a substrate having first and second opposing faces and that is transparent to optical radiation in a predetermined wavelength range and that is patterned to define, in cross-section, a plurality of pedestals that extend into the substrate from the first face towards the second face. A diode region on the second face is configured to emit light in the predetermined wavelength range, into the substrate upon application of voltage across the diode region. A mounting support on the diode region, opposite the substrate is configured to support the diode region, such that the light that is emitted from the diode region into the substrate, is emitted from the first face upon application of voltage across the diode region. The first face of the substrate may include therein a plurality of grooves that define the plurality of triangular pedestals in the substrate. The grooves may include tapered sidewalls and/or a beveled floor. The first face of the substrate also may include therein an array of via holes. The via holes may include tapered sidewalls and/or a floor.

Light emitting diodes including pedestals

An LED with improved current spreading structures that provide enhanced current injection into the LED's active layer, improving its power and luminous flux. The current spreading structures can be used in LEDs larger than conventional LEDs while maintaining the enhanced current injection. The invention is particularly applicable to LEDs having insulating substrates but can also reduce the series resistance of LEDs having conductive substrates. The improved structures comprise conductive fingers that form cooperating conductive paths that ensure that current spreads from the p-type and n-type contacts into the fingers and uniformly spreads though the oppositely doped layers. The current then spreads to the active layer to uniformly inject electrons and holes throughout the active layer, which recombine to emit light.

Scalable LED with improved current spreading structures

A physically robust light emitting diode is disclosed that offers high-reliability in standard packaging and that will withstand high temperature and high humidity condition. The diode comprises a Group III nitride heterojunction diode with a p-type Group III nitride contract layer, an ohmic contact to the p-type contact layer, and a sputter-deposited silicon nitride composition passivation layer on the ohmic contact. A method of manufacturing a light emitting diode and an LED lamp incorporating the diode are also disclosed.

This invention describes new LEDs having light extraction structures on or within the LED to increase its efficiency. The new light extraction structures provide surfaces for reflecting, refracting or scattering light into directions that are more favorable for the light to escape into the package. The structures can be arrays of light extraction elements or disperser layers. The light extraction elements can have many different shapes and are placed in many locations to increase the efficiency of the LED over conventional LEDs. The disperser layers provide scattering centers for light and can be placed in many locations as well. The new LEDs with arrays of light extraction elements are fabricated with standard processing techniques making them highly manufacturable at costs similar to standard LEDs. The new LEDs with disperser layers are manufactured using new methods and are also highly manufacturable.

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Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Brian Thibeault