The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 17, 1981
Filed:
Jul. 26, 1979
University of Illinois Foundation, Urbana, IL (US);
Abstract
Described is a heterostructure semiconductor device of sandwich type construction. The central layer exhibits high charge carrier mobility and a relatively narrow band gap characteristic. The outer sandwich layers exhibit low charge carrier mobilities and a larger band gap characteristic. Under quiescent conditions, the charge carriers from the outer sandwich layers reside in the central layer due to the 'potential well' created by the band gap difference between the layers. The application of an appropriate electrical field to the central layer, aligned with the interface between the layers, causes a very rapid transfer of the electrons residing therein to the outer sandwich layers. This transfer results in the device exhibiting a negative resistance characteristic. Two and three terminal switching applications of the device are described as well as its application as a radiant energy detector.