Monolithic, milticolor, light emitting diode display device

• US 3,942,065 A
• Filed: 11/11/1974
• Issued: 03/02/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Russ, Malcolm J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Demeo, Palmer C.
• Application Number:
  US05/522,548
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 313/500, 357/17, 315/169 TV, 250/553
• US Class Current: 313/500
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/00 Devices consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid-state components formed in or on a common substrate details thereof H01L23/00, H01L29/00 - H10K10/00; assemblies consisting of a plurality of individual solid state devices H01L25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/156 two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 148/099 LED, multicolor

Abstract

There is disclosed a multicolor monolithic light display comprising a pair of matrices of light emitting diodes in an integral structure which pair of matrices are alternately or simultaneously scannable to produce a red, green or orange display. One matrix includes a plurality of gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAs_X P_1-X) red light emitting diodes while the other matrix includes gallium phosphide green light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes are arranged in a geometric pattern of columns and rows with the first matrix interposed with the second matrix so that an alphanumeric character produced by one matrix will appear at almost the same physical location as a character of the alternate color. Row and column address lines are provided for each matrix so that a strobing format logic address system can affect lighting of the individual diodes for producing an alphanumeric character or graphic display in either one color or the other or if both matrices are addressed simultaneously in a combined color. There are also disclosed alternate methods of manufacturing the foregoing multicolor display.

Claims

1. A multicolor monolithic light display comprising at least a first matrix of gallium phosphide light emitting diodes and a second matrix of GaAs_X P_1-X light emitting diodes in an integral structure which matrices are scannable to produce a display in a first or a second color, the light emitting diodes being arranged in a geometric pattern of columns and rows with the first matrix interspersed with the second matrix and each of said diodes having a junction exposed at the top surface of said structure, and column and line address means arranged about the periphery of the display, said means including pairs of spaced parallel metallization stripes extending between said diodes, each of said pairs of metallization stripes having contact means extending in opposite directions to contact one of said matrices.

2. A display as recited in claim 1 wherein one of said matrices is formed in a matrix of mesas and the other of said matrices is formed in the spaces below and between said mesas.

3. A display as recited in claim 2 wherein said mesas are contacted by a conductive tunnel underlying said mesas.