Infrared light sources with semimetal electron injection
First Claim
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1. An infrared light source comprising:
- (a) a semiconductor substrate; and
(b) at least one active region epitaxially grown on the semiconductor substrate, with the active region comprising a pair of adjacent semiconductor layers forming a semimetal region, and at least one quantum-well layer wherein infrared light is generated proximate to the semimetal region.
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Abstract
An infrared light source is disclosed that comprises a layered semiconductor active region having a semimetal region and at least one quantum-well layer. The semimetal region, formed at an interface between a GaAsSb or GalnSb layer and an InAsSb layer, provides electrons and holes to the quantum-well layer to generate infrared light at a predetermined wavelength in the range of 2-6 μm. Embodiments of the invention can be formed as electrically-activated light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or lasers, and as optically-pumped lasers. Since the active region is unipolar, multiple active regions can be stacked to form a broadband or multiple-wavelength infrared light source.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. An infrared light source comprising:
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(a) a semiconductor substrate; and (b) at least one active region epitaxially grown on the semiconductor substrate, with the active region comprising a pair of adjacent semiconductor layers forming a semimetal region, and at least one quantum-well layer wherein infrared light is generated proximate to the semimetal region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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- 16. An infrared light source comprising a layered semiconductor active region including at least one quantum-well layer, and further including a semimetal region proximate to the quantum-well layer, the semimetal region upon activation providing electrons and holes to the quantum-well layer to generate light.
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30. A source for generating infrared light in response to an applied electrical current, comprising:
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(a) a GaAsSb or GalnSb semiconductor layer in contact with an InAsSb semiconductor layer to form a semimetal region wherein electrons and holes are generated; and (b) at least one quantum-well layer proximate to the semimetal region, wherein the electrons are recombined with holes to generate the infrared light. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An infrared light source comprising:
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(a) a semiconductor substrate; and (b) a plurality of active regions epitaxially grown on the semiconductor substrate to form a vertically stacked structure, with each active region comprising a pair of adjacent semiconductor layers forming a semimetal region, and at least one quantum-well layer proximate to the semimetal region. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification