Photonic crystal light emitting device

• US 7,442,965 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lumileds LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Lumileds Lighting Company LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krames, Michael R., Epler, John E., Wierer, Jonathan J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TU TU V
• Application Number:
  US11/373,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20060163606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 257/98
• US Class Current: 257/98
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2933/0083 Periodic patterns for optical field-shaping in or on the semiconductor body or semiconductor body package, e.g. photonic bandgap structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/0093 Wafer bonding; Removal of the growth substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/10 with a light reflecting structure, e.g. semiconductor Bragg reflector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/22 Roughened surfaces, e.g. at the interface between epitaxial layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/382 the electrode extending partially in or entirely through the semiconductor body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/62 Arrangements for conducting electric current to or from the semiconductor body, e.g. lead-frames, wire-bonds or solder balls

Abstract

A photonic crystal structure is formed in an n-type region of a III-nitride semiconductor structure including an active region sandwiched between an n-type region and a p-type region. A reflector is formed on a surface of the p-type region opposite the active region. In some embodiments, the growth substrate on which the n-type region, active region, and p-type region are grown is removed, in order to facilitate forming the photonic crystal in an an-type region of the device, and to facilitate forming the reflector on a surface of the p-type region underlying the photonic crystal. The photonic crystal and reflector form a resonant cavity, which may allow control of light emitted by the active region.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a III-nitride semiconductor structure including an active region disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region, the semiconductor structure having a top side and a bottom side;

a photonic crystal structure disposed on a top side of the semiconductor structure;

a first contact electrically connected to the n-type region and a second contact electrically connected to the p-type region, wherein the first and second contacts are disposed on a bottom side of the semiconductor structure; and

at least one opening formed in the p-type region and the light emitting region, wherein the opening exposes a portion of the n-type region and wherein a connection between the n-type region and the first contact is disposed within the opening;

wherein the first contact has a top surface in contact with the n-type region and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the bottom surface has a lateral extent larger than a lateral extent of the via.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the photonic crystal structure is formed in at least a portion of the n-type region.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein a majority of light emitted by the active region that exits the semiconductor structure exits through the top side of the semiconductor structure.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein an area of the second contact in contact with the p-type region is larger than an area of the first contact in contact with the n-type region.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second contacts is reflective.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the second contact is reflective.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the second contact comprises Ag.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the p-type region and the active region are removed from a first portion of the device, and the first contact is formed on the first portion.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the first contact and the photonic crystal structure are formed on opposite surfaces of the n-type region.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a host substrate connected to the semiconductor structure.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the first and second contacts are connected to the host substrate.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein a shape of a connection between the first contact and the host substrate differs from a shape of a connection between the first contact and the n-type region.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a material disposed between the first and second contacts.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the material is a dielectric.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the photonic crystal structure comprises a periodic variation in a thickness of the n-type region.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the periodic variation in thickness is at least 0.05λ

, where λ

is a wavelength in the III-nitride semiconductor structure of light emitted by the active region.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein a ratio of the period of the periodic variation in thickness of the n-type region and the wavelength of light emitted by the active region in air is about 0.1 to about 5.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the photonic crystal structure comprises a planar lattice of holes.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the planar lattice includes one or more lattice types selected from the group consisting of a triangular lattice, a square lattice, a hexagonal lattice, and a honeycomb lattice.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein a lattice type, lattice constant, hole diameter, and hole depth of the planar lattice of holes are selected to create a predetermined radiation pattern.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein greater than 50% of radiation exiting the semiconductor structure is emitted in an exit cone defined by an angle of 45 degrees to an axis normal to a surface of the semiconductor structure.

22. The device of claim 1 wherein a distance between a center of the active region and the photonic crystal structure is less than about 4λ

, where λ

is a wavelength in the III-nitride semiconductor structure of light emitted by the active region.

23. The device of claim 1 wherein a total thickness of all III-nitride semiconductor layers in the device is less than about 1 μ

m.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein a total thickness of all III-nitride semiconductor layers in the device is less than about 0.5 μ

m.