Semiconductor luminous element with light reflection and focusing configuration

• US 5,528,057 A
• Filed: 05/27/1994
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Watanabe, Hideaki, Yanagase, Masashi, Imamaka, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mintel, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, MINH LOAN
• Application Number:
  US08/250,773
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 257/98, 257/13, 257/96, 257/97, 372/44, 372/45, 372/50, 372/46, 372/99
• US Class Current: 257/96
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/10 with a light reflecting structure, e.g. semiconductor Bragg reflector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/405 Reflective materials

Abstract

A luminous element with a high luminous efficiency comprising means for condensing light towards an exit window of the element. Specifically, the luminous element condenses light generated at the luminous area of the luminous element by an optically reflective surface having oblique concentric surface portions.

Claims

1. A semiconductor luminous element, comprising:

a first electrode layer;

a substrate;

a multilayer reflective film, said multilayer reflective film is a laminate consisting of a number of layers of thin film with different refractive indices;

a first cladding layer;

an active layer;

a second cladding layer, said active layer is located between said first cladding layer and said second cladding layer;

an optically reflective surface positioned above said second cladding layer, said optically reflective surface having reflective surface portions positioned at oblique angles with respect to a surface of said multilayer reflective film to condense light emitted by said active layer and light reflected by said multilayer reflective film; and

a second electrode layer having a window therethrough, whereby said optically reflective surface condenses light emitted by said active layer and light reflected by said multilayer reflective film through said window of said second electrode.

2. The element according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of said second cladding layer is provided with surface portions positioned at oblique angles with respect to a surface of said multilayer reflective film, said second cladding layer is provided with an upper layer having a different indice of refraction relative to said second cladding layer defining said optically reflective surface at an interface therebetween.

3. The element according to claim 1, wherein said multilayer reflective film consists of a number of films of various thicknesses.

4. The element according to claim 1, wherein light is emitted from a surface of the element, and said optically reflective surface is defined by plural concentric band surface portions centered at a center of said window through said second electrode through which light escapes.

5. The element according to claim 1, wherein light is emitted from an edge of the element, and said optically reflective surface is defined by plural concentric bands centered at an edge of the element which emits the light therefrom.

6. The element according to claim 1, wherein said second electrode layer is formed on said optically reflective surface.

7. The element according to claim 3, wherein said second electrode layer is formed on said optically reflective surface.

8. The element according to claim 4, wherein said second electrode layer is formed on said optically reflective surface.

9. The element according to claim 5, wherein said second electrode layer is formed on said optically reflective surface.

10. The element according to claim 1, including an optically reflective layer provided with surface portions positioned at oblique angles with respect to a surface of said multilayer reflective film, said optically reflective layer supporting said optically reflective surface.

11. An optical detector, comprising:

a semiconductor luminous element, comprising;

a first electrode layer;

a substrate;

a multilayer reflective film, said multilayer reflective film is a laminate consisting of a number of layers of thin film with different refractive indices;

a first cladding layer;

an active layer;

a second cladding layer, said active layer is located between said first cladding layer and said second cladding layer;

an optically reflective surface positioned above said second cladding layer, said optically reflective surface having reflective surface portions positioned at oblique angles with respect to a surface of said multilayer reflective film to condense light emitted by said active layer and light reflected by said multilayer reflective film; and

a second electrode layer having a window therethrough, whereby said optically reflective surface condenses light emitted by said active layer and light reflected by said multilayer reflective film through said window of said second electrode.

12. An optical data processor device, comprising:

a semiconductor luminous element, comprising;

a first electrode layer;

a substrate;

a multilayer reflective film, said multilayer reflective film is a laminate consisting of a number of layers of thin film with different refractive indices;

a first cladding layer;

an active layer;

a second cladding layer, said active layer is located between said first cladding layer and said second cladding layer;

an optically reflective surface positioned above said second cladding layer, said optically reflective surface having reflective surface portions positioned at oblique angles with respect to a surface of said multilayer reflective film to condense light emitted by said active layer and light reflected by said multilayer reflective film; and

a second electrode layer having a window therethrough, whereby said optically reflective surface condenses light emitted by said active layer and light reflected by said mulilayer reflective film through said window of said second electrode,

13. A photocoupler, comprising:

a semiconductor luminous element, comprising;

a first electrode layer;

a substrate;

a multilayer reflective film, said multilayer reflective film is a laminate consisting of a number of layers of thin film with different refractive indices;

a first cladding layer;

an active layer;

a second cladding layer, said active layer is located between said first cladding layer and said second cladding layer;

an optically reflective surface positioned above said second cladding layer, said optically reflective surface having reflective surface portions positioned at oblique angles with respect to a surface of said multilayer reflective film to condense light emitted by said active layer and light reflected by said multilayer reflective film; and

a second electrode layer having a window therethrough, whereby said optically reflective surface condenses light emitted by said active layer and light reflected by said mulilayer reflective film through said window of said second electrode.

14. A luminous projector, comprising:

a semiconductor luminous element, comprising;

a first electrode layer;

a substrate;

a multilayer reflective film, said multilayer reflective film is a laminate consisting of a number of layers of thin film with different refractive indices;

a first cladding layer;

an active layer;

a second cladding layer, said active layer is located between said first cladding layer and said second cladding layer;

an optically reflective surface positioned above said second cladding layer, said optically reflective surface having reflective surface portions positioned at oblique angles with respect to a surface of said multilayer reflective film to condense light emitted by said active layer and light reflected by said multilayer reflective film; and

a second electrode layer having a window therethrough, whereby said optically reflective surface condenses light emitted by said active layer and light reflected by said mulilayer reflective film through said window of said second electrode.