Semiconductor body and semiconductor chip comprising a semiconductor body

• US 7,649,193 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Wirth, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Pert; Evan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson; Scott R
• Application Number:
  US11/904,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20080073658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 257/12, 257/79, 257/84, 257/91, 257/96, 257/99, 257/E21.349
• US Class Current: 257/12
• 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 33/145 with a current-blocking structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/405 Reflective materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/42 Transparent materials

Abstract

A semiconductor body (2), comprising a semiconductor layer sequence with an active region (3) suitable for generating radiation. The semiconductor layer sequence comprises two contact layers (6, 7), between which the active region is arranged. The contact layers are assigned a respective connection layer (12, 13) arranged on the semiconductor body. The respective connection layer is electrically conductively connected to the assigned contact layer. The respective connection layer is arranged on that side of the assigned contact layer which is remote from the active region. The connection layers are transmissive to the radiation to be generated in the active region, and the contact layers are of the same conduction type.

Claims

1. A semiconductor body, comprising a semiconductor layer sequence with an active region suitable for generating radiation,

wherein the semiconductor layer sequence comprises two contact layers, between which the active region is arranged;

wherein the contact layers are assigned a respective connection layer arranged on the semiconductor body;

wherein the respective connection layer is electrically conductively connected to the assigned contact layer;

wherein the respective connection layer is arranged on that side of the assigned contact layer which is remote from the active region;

wherein the connection layers are transmissive to the radiation to be generated in the active region; and

wherein the contact layers are of the same conduction type.

2. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 1, in which the active region is arranged between the connection layers.

3. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 1, in which the connection layers contain a radiation-transmissive and electrically conductive oxide.

4. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 1, in which the connection layers contain identical materials.

5. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 3, in which both connection layers contain zinc oxide.

6. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 3, in which both connection layers contain indium tin oxide.

7. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 1, in which one connection layer adjoins one contact layer and the other connection layer adjoins the other contact layer.

8. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 1, in which both contact layers are embodied in p-conducting fashion.

9. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 1, in which one of the contact layers contains GaAs or AlGaAs or the contact layers contain GaAs or AlGaAs.

10. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 1, in which the active region contains a material from the material system In_xGa_yAl_1-x-yP, where 0≦

x≦

1, 0≦

y≦

1 and x+y≦

1.

11. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 1, in which a tunnel junction is arranged between one of the connection layers and the active region.

12. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 11, in which the tunnel junction is integrated in the semiconductor layer sequence and comprises two tunnel layers of different conduction types.

13. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 11, in which a tunnel layer of the tunnel junction that is remote from the active region is formed as one of the contact layers, or in which a tunnel layer of the tunnel junction that is remote from the active region has the same conduction type as the contact layers.

14. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 1, in which a mirror layer is arranged on that side of one of the connection layers which is remote from the semiconductor body.

15. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 14, in which a tunnel junction is arranged between the mirror layer and the active region.

16. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 14, in which a tunnel junction is arranged on that side of the active region which is remote from the mirror layer.

17. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 14, in which the mirror layer contains Au.

18. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 1, in which the semiconductor body is embodied as a thin-film semiconductor body.

19. The semiconductor body as claimed in claim 1, which is embodied as a luminescence diode semiconductor body.

20. A semiconductor chip, which comprises a semiconductor body as claimed in claim 1, and a carrier, wherein the semiconductor body is arranged on the carrier.

21. The semiconductor chip as claimed in claim 20, in which the carrier is different from a growth substrate of the semiconductor layer sequence.