Edge-emitting light emitting diode
US4590501A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 1983 |
| Grant date | May 20, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 15, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/2004
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An edge-emitting LED in which light produced in the active layer optically tunnels out of the active layer through a thin confining layer into a single guide layer which is composed of a material which does not absorb light energy. The guide and active layers are constructed so that they are surrounded by layers of lower index of refraction so that an optical wave guide is formed. To minimize light losses by absorption, the non-absorbing guide layer is preferably much thicker than the active and confining layers so that light produced in the active layer travels primarily in the non-absorbing guide layer before it leaves the device at the exit facet of the LED.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.