Light-emitting array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9153944-B2
Application number	US-201414173650-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2014
Priority date	Feb 5, 2014
Publication date	Oct 6, 2015
Grant date	Oct 6, 2015

Abstract

A light-emitting array comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements, wherein each of the plurality of light-emitting elements comprises a first semiconductor stack; and a plurality of bridge structures connected to the plurality of light-emitting elements, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements are spaced apart by the plurality of bridge structures, wherein each of the plurality of bridge structures comprise a second semiconductor stack which has the same epitaxial stack as the first semiconductor stack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light-emitting array, comprising:
a plurality of light-emitting elements, wherein each of the plurality of light-emitting elements comprises a first semiconductor stack;
a plurality of bridge structures connected to the plurality of light-emitting elements, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements is spaced apart by the plurality of bridge structures, wherein each of the plurality of bridge structures comprises a second semiconductor stack which has the same epitaxial stack as the first semiconductor stack, the first semiconductor stack and the second semiconductor stack each comprises a top mirror stack having a first conductivity type, a bottom mirror stack having a second conductivity type, and an active layer formed between the top mirror stack and the bottom mirror stack; and
a confinement layer with a aluminum composition higher than that of any other layer of the top mirror stack, wherein the confinement layer is formed in the first semiconductor stack and the second semiconductor stack;
wherein the confinement layer in the second semiconductor stack is a continuous layer without forming any opening, and is continuously connected to the confinement layer in the first semiconductor stack.

2. The light-emitting array of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements and the plurality of bridge structures are alternately arranged.

3. The light-emitting array of claim 1 , wherein the top mirror stack and/or the bottom mirror stack comprise group III-V semiconductor layer comprising Al.

4. The light-emitting array of claim 1 , wherein the confinement layer in the first semiconductor stack comprises a current confinement aperture.

5. The light-emitting array of claim 4 , further comprising an electrode formed on the top mirror stack and comprising an opening corresponding to the current confinement aperture.

6. The light-emitting array of claim 5 , wherein the electrode is formed in a grid shape.

7. The light-emitting array of claim 5 , wherein the electrode covers the whole surfaces of the plurality of bridge structures.

8. The light-emitting array of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of trenches, wherein the electrode is discontinuously formed in one of the plurality of trenches.

9. The light-emitting array of claim 8 , wherein one of the plurality of light-emitting elements is formed between three neighbor trenches.

10. The light-emitting array of claim 8 , wherein the trench is filled with an insulating material.

11. The light-emitting array of claim 8 , further comprising an insulated layer conformably formed along the trench.

12. The light-emitting array of claim 8 , wherein the electrode comprises a pad portion, wherein the plurality of bridge structures is connected to the pad portion.

13. The light-emitting array of claim 12 , wherein the pad portion is disposed on a side of the plurality of light-emitting elements.

14. The light-emitting array of claim 12 , wherein a surface area of the pad portion is larger than an area of one of the plurality of light-emitting elements.

15. A light-emitting array, comprising:
a plurality of light-emitting elements, wherein each of the plurality of light-emitting elements comprises a first semiconductor stack;
a plurality of bridges structures connected to the plurality of light-emitting elements, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements is spaced apart by the plurality of bridge structures, wherein each of the plurality of bridge structure comprises a second semiconductor stack which has the same epitaxial stack as the first semiconductor stack;
a confinement layer with an aluminum composition and is formed in the first semiconductor stack and the second semiconductor stack; and
an electrode formed on the second semiconductor stack of the plurality of bridge structures;

wherein the confinement layer in the second semiconductor stack is a continuous layer without forming any opening, and is continuously connected to the confinement layer in the first semiconductor stack.

16. The light-emitting array of claim 15 , wherein the electrode approximately covers the whole surface of the plurality of bridge structures and does not cover the light-emitting elements.

17. The light-emitting array of claim 15 , wherein the electrode is a contiguous layer.

18. The light-emitting array of claim 15 , wherein the electrode comprises a plurality of contact portions and a plurality of connecting portions, the plurality of contact portions is formed on each of the plurality of light-emitting elements, and each of the plurality of connecting portions is formed between adjacent two contact portions.

19. The light-emitting array of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of contact portions and the plurality of connecting portions forma contiguous layer.

20. The light-emitting array of claim 15 , wherein the first semiconductor stack and the second semiconductor stack each comprises a top mirror stack having a first conductivity type, a bottom mirror stack having a second conductivity type, and an active layer formed between the top mirror stack and the bottom mirror stack, and the aluminum composition of the confinement layer is higher than that of any other layer of the top mirror stack.

Assignees

• Epistar Corp

Inventors

• Lee Shih-Chang
• Lu Chih-Chiang
• Lin Yi-Hung
• Lo Wu-Tsung
• Kuo Ta-Chuan

Classifications

• H01S5/04256

  characterised by the configuration · CPC title

• H01S5/18333

  only above the active layer · CPC title

• H01S5/18338

  Non-circular shape of the structure · CPC title

• H01S5/18313

  by oxidizing at least one of the DBR layers · CPC title

• H01S5/1835

  Non-circular mesa · CPC title