Light-emitting device having light-emitting elements

• US 20050253151A1
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nitride Semiconductors Co., Ltd., Shiro Sakai
• Inventors: Ao, Jin-Ping, Ono, Yasuo, Sakai, Shiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/79
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/24 of an individual high density interconnect connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/15 including semiconductor components having potential barriers, specially adapted for light emission
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/153 in a repetitive configuration, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/156 two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/08 with a plurality of light emitting regions, e.g. laterally discontinuous light emitting layer or photoluminescent region integrated within the semiconductor body H01L27/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/32 containing nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/38 with a particular shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/42 Transparent materials
• 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 light-emitting device operating on a high drive voltage and a small drive current. LEDs (1) are two-dimensionally formed on an insulating substrate (10) of e.g., sapphire monolithically and connected in series to form an LED array. Two such LED arrays are connected to electrodes (32) in inverse parallel. Air-bridge wiring (28) is formed between the LEDs (1) and between the LEDs (1) and electrodes (32). The LED arrays are arranged zigzag to form a plurality of LEDs (1) to produce a high drive voltage and a small drive current. Two LED arrays are connected in inverse parallel, and therefore an AC power supply can be used as the power supply.

Claims

1. A light emitting device wherein

a plurality of GaN-based light emitting elements are formed on an insulating substrate, and

the plurality of light emitting elements are monolithically formed and connected in series.

2. A light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a two-dimensional pattern on the substrate.

3. A light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of light emitting elements are grouped into two groups, and

the two groups are connected between two electrodes in parallel so that the two groups are of opposite polarities.

4. A light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of light emitting elements are connected by air bridge lines.

5. A light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of light emitting elements are electrically separated by sapphire which is used as the substrate.

6. A light emitting device according to claim 2, wherein

the plurality of light emitting elements are grouped into two groups having equal numbers of light emitting elements,

an array of light emitting elements in each group are placed in a zigzag pattern, and

the two groups of light emitting element arrays are connected between two electrodes in parallel so that they are of opposite polarities.

7. A light emitting device according to claim 6, wherein

the two groups of light emitting element arrays are alternately placed.

8. A light emitting device according to claim 6, wherein

the light emitting element and the electrode have a planar shape of approximate square.

9. A light emitting device according to claim 6, wherein

the light emitting element and the electrode have a planar shape of triangle.

10. A light emitting device according to claim 2, wherein

an overall shape of the plurality of light emitting elements and the electrodes is approximate square.

11. A light emitting device according to claim 10, wherein

a light emitting element array comprising the plurality of light emitting elements is arranged in a zigzag pattern.

12. A light emitting device according to claim 6, wherein

the electrode is an electrode for an alternate current power supply.

13. A light emitting device according to claim 6, wherein

the two groups of light emitting element arrays have a common n electrode.