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:
May. 19, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 07, 1997
Michinari Sassa, Ama-gun, Aichi-ken, 490-11, JP;
Naoki Shibata, Bisai-shi, Aichi-ken, 494, JP;
Shinya Asami, Nishikasugai-gun, Aichi-ken, 452, JP;
Masayoshi Koike, Ichinomiya-shi, Aichi-ken, 491, JP;
Junichi Umezaki, Inuyama-shi, Aichi-ken, 484, JP;
Takahiro Kozawa, Owariasahi-shi, Aichi-ken, 488, JP;
Other;
Abstract
A light-emitting semiconductor device having an improved metal electrode and semiconductor structure that lowers the driving voltage of the device. The device has a hetero p-n junction structure. This structure includes: (1) an n-layer having n-type conduction and a Group III nitride compound semiconductor satisfying the formula Al.sub.x Ga.sub.y In.sub.1-x-y N, inclusive of x=0, y=0, and x=y=0; (2) a p-layer having p-type conduction and a Group III nitride compound semiconductor satisfying the formula Al.sub.x Ga.sub.y In.sub.1-x-y N, inclusive of x=0, y=0, and x=y=0; and (3) an emission layer disposed between the n-layer and the p-layer. The device also has a metal electrode and a contact layer that is disposed between the p-layer and the metal electrode. The contact layer is doped with an acceptor impurity more heavily that is the p-layer. The acceptor impurity may be magnesium (Mg). The contact layer may be doped within the range of 1.times.10.sup.20 /cm.sup.3 to 1.times.10.sup.2l /cm.sup.3 and may comprise a first and a second contact layer.