Title of Invention

"A GaN-BASED SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE"

Abstract A GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device includes (A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 13 having n-type conductivity, (B) an active layer 15 having a multi-quantum well structure including well layers and barrier layers for separating between the well layers, and (C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 17 having p-type conductivity. The well layers are disposed in the active layer 15 so as to satisfy the relation d1 < d2 wherein d1 is the well layer density on the first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer side in the active layer and d2 is the well layer density on the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer side.
Full Text DESCRIPTION
GaN-BASED SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE, LIGHT
ILLUMINATOR, IMAGE DISPLAY, PLANAR LIGHT SOURCE DEVICE, AND
LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY ASSEMBLY
Technical Field
[0001]
The present invention relates to a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device and a light illuminator,
an image display, a planar light source device, and a liquid
crystal display assembly in each of which the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device is incorporated.
Background Art
[0002]
In a light-emitting device (GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device) including an active layer composed of
a gallium nitride (GaN)-based compound semiconductor, the
band-gap energy can be controlled by changing the alloy
composition or thickness of the active layer to realize
emission wavelengths in a wide range from ultraviolet to
infrared. GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices
emitting various color lights have already been placed in
the market and used in a wide range of applications such as
image display devices and illuminating devices, inspection
devices, and disinfectant light sources. In addition, blue-
violet semiconductor lasers and light-emitting diodes (LED)
have been developed and used as writing/reading pickups of
large capacity optical discs.
[0003]
It is generally known that in a GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device, the emission wavelength shifts to the
short-wavelength side as the driving current (operating
current) is increased. For example, when the driving
current is increased from 20 mA to 100 mA, an emission
wavelength shift of -3 nm in the blue light emitting region
and an emission wavelength shift of -19 nm in the green
light emitting region have been reported (refer to, for
example, the product specification NSPB500S and the product
specification NSPG500S of Nichia Corporation).
[0004]
Such an emission wavelength shift due to an increase in
the driving current (operating current) is a problem common
to active layers composed of GaN-based compound
semiconductors containing In atoms which have a visible
wavelength or longer wavelength. It is thought that carrier
localization due to In atoms within a well layer
constituting an active layer (refer to, for example, Y.
Kawakami, et al., J. Phys. Condens. Matter 13 (2001), pp.
6993) and an internal field effect due to lattice mismatch
(refer to S. P. Chichibu, Materials Science and Engineering
B59 (1999), pp. 298) are concerned in the problem.
[0005]
Further, attempts have been made to control the
emission wavelengths of such GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
devices. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 2002-237619 discloses a method
for controlling a light color emitted by a light-emitting
diode, in which a plurality of color lights is emitted by
supplying a pulse current having a plurality of peak current
values to a light-emitting diode in which the emission
wavelength is changed by changing the current value. The
method for controlling a light color emitted by a lightemitting
diode is capable of decreasing a size because of
the use of a single emission source and of easily
controlling a luminescent color.
[0006]
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2003-22052 discloses a light-emitting device
driving circuit for driving a plurality of light-emitting
devices to be driven at the same time. The light-emitting
device driving circuit includes emission wavelength
correction means for correcting variations in emission
wavelength between a plurality of light-emitting devices by
controlling the currents supplied to the light-emitting
devices and emission luminance correction means for
correcting variations in emission luminance between a
plurality of light-emitting devices. The light-emitting
device driving circuit is capable of effectively correcting
a variation between light-emitting devices even when the
light-emitting devices have difficulty of uniform emission
due to variations in manufacture of the devices.
[0007]
In a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device,
various techniques have been proposed for increasing the
efficiency of an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and barrier layers. For
example, PCT Japanese Translation Patent Publication No.
2003-520453 discloses a semiconductor light-emitting device
in which in an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including at least two light-emitting active
layers and at least one barrier layer, the light-emitting
active layers or the barrier layer are subjected to chirping.
The term "chirping" means that a plurality of similar layers
is formed so that the thicknesses and/or compositions
thereof are made nonuniform or asymmetric. In this case,
the efficiency of optical output or light generation in each
of the well layers in a LED with a multi-quantum well
structure is increased.
[0008]
More specifically, in paragraph No. [0031] of this
patent application publication, it is disclosed that in a
first example, active layers 48 to 56 of LED 30 are chirped
so that the active layers 48, 50, 52, 54, and 56 have
thicknesses of 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 angstroms,
respectively, in an active region 36. In addition, in
paragraph No. [0032] of this patent application publication,
it is disclosed that in a third example, barrier layers 58
to 64 are chirped so that the thicknesses are between about
10 angstroms and 500 angstroms, and the barrier layer closer
to a n-type lower sealing layer 34 is thicker than the
barrier layer away from the n-type lower sealing layer 34.
[0009]
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 2002-237619
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 2003-22052
Patent Document 3: PCT Japanese Translation Patent
Publication No. 2003-520453
Non-patent Document 1: Product specification NSPB500S
of Nichia Corporation
Non-patent Document 2: Product specification NSPG500S
of Nichia Corporation
Non-patent Document 3: Y. Kawakami, et al., J. Phys.
Condens. Matter 13 (2001), pp. 6993)
Non-patent Document 4: S. P. Chichibu, Materials
Science and Engineering B59 (1999) , pp. 298
Non-patent Document 5: Nikkei Electronics, December 20,
2004, No. 889, p. 128
Disclosure of Invention
[0010]
A conceivable method as means for increasing the
optical output of a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device includes driving (operating) the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device with a high driving
current (operating current). However, as described above,
the use of such means causes the problem of shifting the
emission wavelength due to an increase in the driving
current (operating current). Therefore, in a conventional
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device causing a
large change in emission wavelength according to an
operating current density, a system is generally used, in
which the pulse width (or the pulse density) of the
operating current is changed at a constant operating current
density so as to cause no change in luminescent color when
the luminance is changed.
[0011]
For example, in an image display device in which a GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device (light-emitting
diode) having a blue light emission wavelength, a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device (light-emitting diode)
having a green light emission wavelength, and an AlInGaPbased
compound semiconductor light-emitting diode having a
red light emission wavelength are arranged corresponding to
respective sub-pixels, roughness may occur in a display
image due to a shift of the emission wavelength of each
light-emitting diode. In such an image display device, the
chromaticity coordinates and luminance are controlled
between respective pixels. However, as described above,
when the emission wavelength of each light-emitting device
is shifted to an emission wavelength different from a
desired emission wavelength, there is the problem of
narrowing the color space after control.
[0012]
Further, in a light-emitting device including a GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device and a color
conversion material (for example, a light-emitting device
emitting white light by a combination of a ultraviolet or
blue light-emitting diode and fluorescent particles), when
the driving current (operating current) of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device is increased for
increasing the luminance (brightness) of the light-emitting
device, the excitation efficiency of the color conversion
material may be. changed due to a shift of the emission
wavelength of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device for exciting the color conversion material, thereby
causing a change in chromaticity and difficult in obtaining
a light-emitting device with a uniform color.
[0013]
Further, a liquid crystal display with a back light
using a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device has
been proposed. However, in this liquid crystal display,
when the driving current (operating current) of the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device is increased for
increasing the luminance (brightness) of the back light, a
shift of the emission wavelength of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device may cause the problem of
narrowing or changing the color space.
[0014] . .
In order to realize a decrease in cost or an increase
in density (increase in definition) of an illuminating
device, a back light, or a display using a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device, it is necessary to
further decrease the size of the light-emitting device from
a conventional size of 300 ^m square or 1 mm square.
However, in this case, with the same operating current, the
operating current density is increased, thereby resulting in
the problem of shifting the emission wavelength at a high
operating current density. In addition, a display device
including an array of light-emitting micro devices can be
given as an application of GaN-based semiconductor light-
emitting devices. However, in such a light-emitting micro
device, from the viewpoint of application to a display
device, it is important to decrease a shift of the emission
wavelength.
[0015]
The above-described patent application publications
disclose only a calculation example in which the composition
of the barrier layer is changed stepwisely, but do not
specifically disclose asymmetry and effects. Furthermore,
the above-described patent application publications or
documents do not disclose a technique for suppressing a
large shift of the emission wavelength due to an increase in
operating current density.
[0016]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to
provide a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
having a structure capable of suppressing a large shift of
the emission wavelength due to an increase in operating
current density and capable of controlling luminance in a
wider range, and a light illuminator, an image display, a
planar light source device, and a liquid crystal display
assembly in each of which the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device is incorporated.
[0017]
In order to achieve the object, a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device of the present invention
includes:
(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and barrier layers for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active
layer so as to satisfy the relation di well layer density on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side in the active layer and d2 is the
well layer density on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side.
[0018]
In order to achieve the object, a light illuminator of
the present invention includes a GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device and a color conversion material on
which light emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device is incident and which emits light at a
wavelength different from the wavelength of the light
emitted from GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device,
the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device including:
(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and barrier layers for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active
layer so as to satisfy the relation di well layer density on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side in the active layer and d2 is the
well layer density on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side.
[0019]
In the light illuminator of the present invention, the
light emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device may be visible light, ultraviolet light, or
a combination of visible light and ultraviolet light.
[0020]
In the light illuminator of the present invention, the
light emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device may be blue light, and the light emitted
from the color conversion material may be at lease one type
of light selected from the group consisting of yellow light,
green light, and red light. Specific examples of the color
conversion material excited by the blue light emitted from
the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device to emit
red light include red light-emitting fluorescent particles
and, more specifically, (ME:Eu)S (wherein ME represents at
least one atom selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr,
and Ba hereinafter), (M:Sm)x (Si, Al)12(0, N) I6 (wherein M
represents at least one atom selected from the group
consisting of Li, Mg, and Ca hereinafter), ME2Si5N8:Eu,
(Ca:Eu)SiN2, and (Ca:Eu)AlSiN3. Specific examples of the
color conversion material excited by the blue light emitted
from the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device to
emit green light include green light-emitting fluorescent
particles and, more specifically, (ME:Eu)Ga2S4, (M:RE)x(Si,
Al)i2(0, N) 16 (wherein RE represents Tb and Yb) , (M:Tb)x(Si,
Al)12(0, N)16, (M:Yb)x(Si, Al)i2(0, N)16, and Si6-zAlzOzN8-z: Eu.
Specific examples of the color conversion material excited
by the blue light emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device to emit yellow light include yellow
light-emitting fluorescent particles and, more specifically,
YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) fluorescent particles. These
color conversion materials may be used alone or as a mixture
of two or more. When a mixture of two or more color
conversion materials is used, light of a color other than
yellow, green, and red can be emitted from a color
conversion material mixture. Specifically, for example,
light of cyan color may be emitted. In this case, a mixture
of green light-emitting fluorescent particles (e.g.,
LaPO4:Ce, Tb, BaMgAli0Oi7:Eu, Mn, Zn2SiO4:Mn, MgAlu019:Ce, Tb,
Y2Si05:Ce, Tb, MgAluOi9:CE, Tb, or Mn) and blue lightemitting
fluorescent particles (e.g., BaMgAl10O17:Eu,
BaMg2Al16027:Eu, Sr2P2O7:Eu, Sr5 (P04) 3C1: Eu, (Sr, Ca, Ba,
Mg)5(PO4)3Cl:Eu, CaW04, or CaW04:Pb) may be used.
[0021]
When the light emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device is ultraviolet light, the emission
wavelength is little shifted by an increase in the operating
current density, but improvement in luminous efficiency and
a decrease in threshold current can be expected by
specifying the well layer density. In this case, specific
examples of the color conversion material excited by the
ultraviolet light emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device to emit red light include red lightemitting
fluorescent particles and, more specifically,
Y203:Eu, YV04:Eu, Y(P, V)04:Eu, 3 . 5MgO- 0 . 5MgF2 • Ge2 :Mn,
CaSiO3:Pb, Mn, Mg6AsOn:Mn, (Sr, Mg) 3 (PO4) 3: Sn, La202S:Eu, and
Y2O2S:Eu. Specific examples of the color conversion material
excited by the ultraviolet light emitted from the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device to emit green light
include green light-emitting fluorescent particles and, more
specifically, LaP04:Ce, Tb, BaMgAli0O17:Eu, Mn, Zn2SiO4:Mn,
Pig: Ce, Tb, Y2SiO5:Ce, Tb, MgAlnOi9:CE, Tb, Mn, and Si6.
ZA1ZOZN8.Z:EU. Specific examples of the color conversion
material excited by the ultraviolet light emitted from the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device to emit blue
light include blue light-emitting fluorescent particles and,
more specifically, BaMgAl10Oi7:Eu, BaMg2Al16O27:Eu, Sr2P2O7:Eu,
Sr5(P04)3Cl:Eu, (Sr, Ca, Ba, Mg) 5 (PO4) 3C1: Eu, CaW04, and
CaWO4:Pb. Specific examples of the color conversion
material excited by the ultraviolet light emitted from the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device to emit yellow
light include yellow light-emitting fluorescent particles
and, more specifically, YAG fluorescent particles. These
color conversion materials may be used alone or as a mixture
of two or more. When a mixture of two or more color
conversion materials is used, light of a color other than
yellow, green, and red can be emitted from a color
conversion material mixture. Specifically, for example,
light of cyan color may be emitted. In this case, a mixture
of the above-describe green light-emitting fluorescent
particles and blue light-emitting fluorescent particles may
be used.
[0022]
The color conversion material is not limited to
fluorescent particles, and multicolor high-efficiency
luminescent particles using a quantum effect, for example,
nanometer-size CdSe/ZnS and nanometer size silicon, can be
used. It is known that rare earth atoms added to a
semiconductor material emit sharp light by intranuclear
transition, and luminescent particles using this technique
can also be used.
[0023]
In the light illuminator of the present invention
including the above-described preferred constitution, white
light may be emitted by mixing the light emitted from the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device and the light
emitted from the color conversion material (for example,
yellow, red and green, yellow and red, or green, yellow, and
red). However, the present invention is not limited to this
and can be applied to color-changeable illumination and
display.
[0024]
In order to achieve the object, an image display device
according to a first embodiment of the present invention
includes a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device for
display an image, the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device including:
(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and a barrier layer for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active
layer so as to satisfy the relation di well layer density on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side in the active layer and d2 is the
well layer density on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side.
[0025]
Examples of the image display device according to the
first embodiment of the present invention include image
display devices with constitutions and structures which will
be described below. Unless otherwise specified, the number
of GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices
constituting an image display device or a light-emitting
device panel may be determined on the basis of the
specifications required for the image display device. In
addition, a light valve may be further provided on the basis
of the specifications required for the image display device.
[0026]
(1) Image display device according to embodiment 1A ...
A passive matrix-type or active matrix-type, directview-
type image display device including:
(cc) a light-emitting device panel including GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices arranged in a two-
dimensional matrix;
wherein the emission state of each of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices can be directly
observed by controlling the emission/non-emission state of
each GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device to
display an image.
(2) Image display device according to embodiment IB ...
A passive matrix-type or active matrix-type,
projection-type image display device including:
(a) a light-emitting device panel including GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices arranged in a twodimensional
matrix;
wherein the emission/non-emission state of each GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device is controlled to
display an image by projection on a screen.
(3) Image display device according to embodiment 1C ...
A color-display image display device (direct-view-type
or projection-type) including:
(a) a red light-emitting device panel including red
light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting devices (for
example, AlGalnP-based semiconductor light-emitting devices
or GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices,
hereinafter) arranged in a two-dimensional matrix;
(P) a green light-emitting device panel including green
light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices arranged in a two-dimensional matrix;
(y) a blue light-emitting device panel including blue
light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices arranged in a two-dimensional matrix; and
(8) means (for example, a dichroic prism, this applies
to the description below) for collecting the light emitted
from the red light-emitting device panel, the green lightemitting
device panel, and the blue light-emitting device
panel in an optical path;
wherein the emission/non-emission state of each of the
red light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting devices, the
green light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting devices,
and the blue light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting
devices is controlled.
(4) Image display device according to embodiment ID ...
An image display device (direct-view type or projection
type) including:
(a) a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device;
and
(P) a light transmission controller (for example, a
liquid crystal display, a digital micro-mirror device (DMD),
or LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon), this applies to the
description below) which is a light valve for controlling
transmission/non-transmission of light emitted from the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device;
wherein transmission/non-transmission of light emitted
from the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device is
controlled by the light transmission controller to display
an image. The number of GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
devices may be determined on the basis of the
specifications required for the image display device and may
be 1 or more. In addition, examples of means (light guide
member) for guiding light emitted from the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device to the light
transmission controller include a light guiding member, a
micro-lens array, a mirror and reflection plate, a
condensing lens.
(5) Image display device according to embodiment IE ...
An image display device (direct-view type or projection
type) including:
(a) a light-emitting device panel including GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices arranged in a twodimensional
matrix; and
(P) a light transmission controller (a light valve) for
controlling transmission/non-transmission of light emitted
from the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices;
wherein transmission/non-transmission of light emitted
from the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices is
controlled by the light transmission controller to display
an image.
(6) Image display device according to embodiment IF ...
A color-display image display device (direct-view-type
or projection-type) including:
(a) a red light-emitting device panel including red
light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting devices arranged
in a two-dimensional matrix, and a red light transmission
controller (light valve) for controlling transmission/nontransmission
of light emitted from the red light-emitting
device panel;
(p) a green light-emitting device panel including green
light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and a green
light transmission controller (light valve) for controlling
transmission/non-transmission of light emitted from the
green light-emitting device panel;
(y) a blue light-emitting device panel including blue
light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and a blue
light transmission controller (light valve) for controlling
transmission/non-transmission of light emitted from the blue
light-emitting device panel; and
(5) means for collecting the light transmitted through
the red light transmission controller, the green light
transmission controller, and the blue light transmission
controller in an optical path;
wherein the transmission/non-transmission of light
emitted from each of the light-emitting device panels is
controlled by the corresponding light transmission
controller to display an image.
(7) Image display device according to embodiment 1G ...
A field sequential-system, color-display image display
device (direct-view type or projection type) including:
(a) a red light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting
device;
(P) a green light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device;
(y) a blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device;
(8) means for collecting the light emitted from the red
light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting device, the
green light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device, and the blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device in an optical path; and
(s) a light transmission controller (light valve) for
controlling transmission/non-transmission of light emitted
from the means for colleting the light in the optical path;
wherein the transmission/non-transmission of light
emitted from each of the light-emitting devices is
controlled by the light transmission controller to display
an image.
(8) Image display device according to embodiment 1H
A field sequential-system, color-display image display
device (direct-view type or projection type) including:
(a) a red light-emitting device panel including red
light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting devices arranged
in a two-dimensional matrix;
(p) a green light-emitting device panel including green
light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices arranged in a two-dimensional matrix;
(y) a blue light-emitting device panel including blue
light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices arranged in a two-dimensional matrix;
(8) means for collecting the light emitted from the red
light-emitting device panel, the green light-emitting device
panel, and the blue light-emitting device panel in an
optical path; and
(s) a light transmission controller (light valve) for
controlling transmission/non-transmission of light emitted
from the means for colleting the light in the optical path;
wherein the transmission/non-transmission of light
emitted from each of the light-emitting device panels is
controlled by the light transmission controller to display
an image.
[0027]
In order to achieve the object, an image display device
according to a second embodiment of the present invention
includes light-emitting device units for displaying a color
image, which are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix and
each of which includes a first light-emitting device
emitting blue light, a second light-emitting device emitting
green light, and a third light-emitting device emitting red
light, a GaN-based semiconductor light emitting device
constituting at least one of the first light-emitting device,
the second light-emitting device, and the third lightemitting
device including:
(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and a barrier layer for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active
layer so as to satisfy the relation di well layer density on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side in the active layer and d2 is the
well layer density on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side.
[0028]
Examples of the image display device according to the
second embodiment of the present invention includes image
display devices with constitutions and structures which will
be described below. Unless otherwise specified, the number
of light-emitting device units may be determined on the
basis of the specifications required for the image display
device. In addition, a light valve may be further provided
on the basis of the specifications required for the image
display device.
[0029]
(1) Image display device according to embodiment 2A ...
A passive matrix-type or active matrix-type, directview,
color-display image display device wherein the
emission/non-emission state of each of first, second, and
third light-emitting devices is controlled to directly
observe the emission state of each light-emitting device and
display an image.
(2) Image display device according to embodiment 2B ...
A passive matrix-type or active matrix-type,
projection-type, color-display image display device wherein
the emission/non-emission state of each of first, second,
and third light-emitting devices is controlled to display an
image by projection on a screen.
(3) Image display device according to embodiment 2C ...
A field sequential-system, color-display image display
device (direct-view type or projection type) including a
light transmission controller (light valve) for controlling
transmission/non-transmission of light emitted from each of
light-emitting device units arranged in a two-dimensional
matrix, wherein the emission/non-emission state of each of
first, second, and third light-emitting devices in the
light-emitting device units is time-division-controlled and
transmission/non-transmission of each of the first, second,
and third light-emitting devices is controlled by the light
transmission controller to display an image.
[0030]
In order to achieve the object, a planar light source
device of the present invention for illuminating the back of
a transmissive or transflective liquid crystal display
device includes a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device provided as a light source, the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device including:
(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and a barrier layer for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active
layer so as to satisfy the relation dx well layer density on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side in the active layer and d2 is the
well layer density on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side.
[0031]
In order to achieve the object, a liquid crystal
display assembly of the present invention includes a
transmissive or transflective liquid crystal display device
and a planar light source device for illuminating the back
of the liquid crystal display device, a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device provided as a light
source in the planar light source device including:
(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and a barrier layer for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active
layer so as to satisfy the relation dj. d2 wherein di is the
well layer density on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side in the active layer and d2 is the
well layer density on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side.
[0032]
In the planar light source device of the present
invention or the planar light source device in the liquid
crystal display assembly of the present invention, the light
source may include a first light-emitting device emitting
blue light, a second light-emitting device emitting green
light, and a third light-emitting device emitting red light,
and the GaN-based semiconductor light emitting device
constitutes at least one (one type) of the first lightemitting
device, the second light-emitting device, and the
third light-emitting device. However, the light source is
not limited to this, and the light source in the planar
light source device may include at least one of the lightemitting
devices of the present invention. Each of the
first light-emitting device, the second light-emitting
device, and the third light-emitting device may be provided
singly or in a plural number.
[0033]
In the image display device according to the second
embodiment of the present invention, the planar light source
device of the present invention, or the liquid crystal
display assembly of the present invention, when the light
source includes a first light-emitting device, a second
light-emitting device, and a third light-emitting device,
the GaN-based semiconductor light emitting device
constitutes at least one (one type) of the first lightemitting
device, the second light-emitting device, and the
third light-emitting device. In other words, any one (one
type) of the first, second, and third light-emitting devices
may include the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device, and the remaining two types of light-emitting
devices may include semiconductor light-emitting devices
with other constitutions. Any two types of the first,
second, and third light-emitting devices may include the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices, and the
remaining one type of light-emitting device may include a
semiconductor light-emitting device with another
constitution. All the first, second, and third lightemitting
devices may include the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting devices. Semiconductor light-emitting
devices with other constitutions include red light-emitting
AlGalnP-based semiconductor light-emitting devices.
[0034]
The planar light source device of the present invention
or the planar light source device in the liquid crystal
display assembly of the present invention may include two
types of planar light source devices (back light), i.e., a
direct-lighting type planar light source device disclosed in,
for example, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Registration
Application Publication No. 63-187120 and Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-277870,
and an edge light-type (also referred to as a "side light
type") planar light source device disclosed in, for example,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-
131552. The number of GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
devices is basically arbitrary and may be
determined on the basis of the specifications required for
the planar light source device.
[0035]
In the direct-lighting type planar light source device,
the first, second, and third light-emitting devices are
opposed to a liquid crystal display device, and a diffusion
plate, a diffusion sheet, a prism sheet, an optical
functional sheet group such as a polarization conversion
sheet, or a reflection sheet is disposed between the light
crystal display device and the first, second, and third
light-emitting devices.
[0036]
More specifically, in the direct-lighting type planar
light source device, a red (for example, wavelength 640 nm)
light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting device, a green
(for example, wavelength 530 nm) light-emitting GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device, and a blue (for example,
wavelength 450 nm) light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device may be arranged in a casing. However,
the planar light source device is not limited to this, when
a plurality of red light-emitting semiconductor lightemitting
devices, a plurality of green light-emitting GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting devices, and a plurality
of blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
devices are arranged in a casing, an example of the
arrangement of these light-emitting devices is an
arrangement in which a plurality of light-emitting device
lines each including a group of a red light-emitting
semiconductor light-emitting device, a green light-emitting
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device, and a blue
light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
is arrayed in the horizontal direction of the screen of the
light crystal display device to form a light-emitting device
line array, and a plurality of the light-emitting device
line arrays is arrayed in the vertical direction of the
screen of the liquid crystal display device. Examples of
the light-emitting device line include several combinations
such as (one red light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting
device, one green light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device, and one blue light-emitting GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device); (one red lightemitting
semiconductor light-emitting device, two green
light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices, and one blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device); and (two red light-emitting
semiconductor light-emitting devices, two green lightemitting
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices, and
one blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device). Furthermore, a light-emitting device
emitting light of a fourth color other than red, green, and
blue may be further provided. A GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device may be provided with a light
extraction lens described in Nikkei Electronics, December 20,
2004, No. 889, p. 128.
[0037]
On the other hand, in the edge light-type planar light
source device, a light guide plate is opposed to the liquid
crystal display device, and a GaN-based semiconductor light
emitting device is disposed on a side (first side described
below) of the light guide plate. The light guide plate has
a first surface (bottom), a second surface (top) opposite to
the first surface, the first side, a second side, a third
side opposite to the first side, and a fourth side opposite
to the second side. A specific example of the shape of the
light guide plate is a wedge-shaped truncated quadrangular
pyramid shape as a whole. In this case, the two opposing
sides of the truncated quadrangular prism correspond to the
first and second surfaces, and the bottom of the truncated
quadrangular prism corresponds to the first side.
Furthermore, projections and/or recesses are preferably
provided on the surface of the first surface (bottom). In
this case, light is incident on the first side of the light
guide plate, and light is emitted from the second surface
(top) toward the liquid crystal display device. The second
surface of the light guide plate may be smooth (i.e., a
mirror surface) or may be provided with blast crimps having
a diffusion effect (i.e., a fine irregular surface).
[0038]
In addition, projection and/or recesses are preferably
provided on the first surface (bottom) of the light guide
plate. Namely, projections, recesses, or unevenness is
preferably provided on the first surface (bottom) of the
light guide plate. When unevenness is provided, recesses
and projections may be continuous or discontinuous. The
projections and/or recesses provided on the first surface of
the light guide plate may include continuous projections
and/or recesses extending in a direction at a predetermined
angle with the incidence direction of the light guide plate.
In this structure, examples of a sectional shape of the
continuous projections or recesses of the light guide plate
taken along a virtual plane vertical to the first surface in
the incidence direction of the light guide plate include a
triangle; any desired quadrangles including a square, a
rectangle, and a trapezoid; any desired polygons; and any
desired smooth curves including a circle, an ellipse, a
parabola, a hyperbola, and a catenary. The direction at a
predetermined angle with the incidence direction of the
light guide plate means the direction at 60° to 120° with
respect to 0° of the incidence direction of the light guide
plate. This applies to the description below.
Alternatively, the projections and/or recesses provided on
the first surface of the light guide plate may include
discontinuous projections and/or recesses extending in a
direction at a predetermined angle with the incidence
direction of the light guide plate. Examples of the shape
of the discontinuous projections and/or recesses include a
pyramid, a cone, a cylinder, polygon poles such as a
triangle pole and a square pole, and various smoothly curved
surfaces such as a part of a sphere, a part of a spheroid of
revolution, a part of a paraboloid of revolution, and a part
of hyperboloid of revolution. In the light guide plate, the
projections or recesses may not be formed in the periphery
of the first surface according to circumstances. Further,
light emitted from the light source and incident on the
light guide plate is scattered by collision with the
projection or recess formed on the first surface of the
light guide plate. However, the height, depth, pitch, or
shape of the projections or recesses provided on the first
surface of the light guide plate may be made constant or
changed away from the light source. In the latter case, for
example, the pitch of the projections or recesses may be
decreased away from the light source. The pitch of the
projections or recesses means the pitch of the projection or
recess along the incidence direction of the light guide
plate.
[0039]
In the planar light source device provided with the
light guide plate, a reflective member is preferably
disposed opposite to the first surface of the light guide
plate. The liquid crystal display device is disposed
opposite to the second surface of the light guide plate.
Light emitted from the light source is incident on the first
side (for example, corresponding to the bottom of a
truncated quadrangular pyramid) of the light guide plate,
scattered by collision with the projections or recesses of
the first surface, emitted from the first surface, reflected
by the reflective member, again incident on the first
surface, and emitted from the second surface to illuminate
the liquid crystal display device. For example, a diffusion
sheet or a prism sheet may be disposed between the liquid
crystal display device and the second surface of the light
guide plate. The light emitted from the light source may be
guided directly to the light guide plate or guided
indirectly to the.light guide plate. In the latter case,
for example, an optical fiber may be used.
[0040]
The light guide plate is preferably formed using a
material which little absorbs light emitted from the light
source. Examples of the material constituting the light
guide plate include glass and plastic materials (e.g., PMMA,
polycarbonate resins, acrylic resins, amorphous
polypropylene resins, and styrene resins including AS
resins).
[0041]
For example, a transmissive color liquid crystal
display device includes a front panel with a transparent
first electrode, a rear panel with a transparent second
electrode, and a liquid crystal material disposed between
the front panel'and the rear panel.
[0042]
More specifically, the front panel includes a first
substrate including, for example, a glass substrate or a
silicon substrate, the transparent first electrode (also
referred to as the "common electrode" and composed of ITO)
provided on the inner surface of the first substrate, and a
polarizing film provided on the outer surface of the first
substrate. The front panel further includes a color filter
provided on the inner surface of the first substrate and
covered with an overcoat layer composed of an acrylic resin
or an epoxy resin, the transparent first electrode being
formed on the overcoat layer. Further, an alignment film is
formed on the transparent first electrode. Examples of the
arrangement pattern of the color filter include a delta
arrangement, a stripe arrangement, a diagonal arrangement,
and a rectangle arrangement. On the other hand, more
specifically, the rear panel includes a second substrate
including, for example, a glass substrate or a silicon
substrate, a switching element and the transparent second
electrode (also referred to as the "pixel electrode" and
composed of ITO), which are provided on the inner surface of
the second substrate so that conduction/non-conduction of
the transparent second electrode is controlled by the
switching element, and a polarizing film provided on the
outer surface of the second substrate. Further, an
alignment film is'formed over the entire surface including
the transparent second electrode. The members and the
liquid crystal material which constitute the transmissive
color liquid crystal display device may be known members and
material. Examples of the switching element include threeterminal
elements such as a MOS-type FET and thin film
transistor (TFT) formed on a single crystal silicon
semiconductor substrate, and two-terminal elements such as a
MIM element, a varistor element, and a diode.
[0043]
In the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device of
the present invention, the light-emitting device, the image
display device according to the first or second embodiment,
the planar light source device, or the liquid crystal
display assembly of the present invention with the abovedescribed
preferred forms and constitutions (these may be
generically named the present invention hereinafter), it is
preferred to satisfy the following relations:
500 (nra) 0 wherein X2 (nm) is the emission wavelength of the active
layer when the operating current density is 30 A/cm2, and A,3
(nm) is the emission wavelength of the active layer when the
operating current density is 300 A/cm2. Alternatively, it
is preferred to satisfy the following relations:
500 (nm) 0 0 wherein Xi (nm)'is the emission wavelength of the active
layer when the operating current density is 1 A/cm2, A,2 (nm)
is the emission wavelength of the active layer when the
operating current density is 30 A/cm2, and 13 (nm) is the
emission wavelength of the active layer when the operating
current density is 300 A/cm2.
[0044]
Alternatively, in the present invention with the abovedescribed
preferred constitutions, it is preferred to
satisfy the following relations:
430 (rim) 0 wherein \2 (nm) is the emission wavelength of the active
layer when the operating current density is 30 A/cm2, and X3
{nm) is the emission wavelength of the active layer when the
operating current density is 300 A/cm2. Alternatively, it
is preferred to satisfy the following relations:
430 {nm) 0 0 wherein ^ {nm) is the emission wavelength of the active
layer when the operating current density is 1 A/cm2, X2 {nm)
is the emission wavelength of the active layer when the
operating current density is 30 A/cm2, and ^3 (nm) is the
emission wavelength of the active layer when the operating
current density is 300 A/cm2.
[0045]
In a semiconductor light-emitting device, the emission
wavelength is generally changed by generation of heat or a
temperature change in characteristic measurement. Therefore,
in the present invention, characteristics at about room
temperature (25°C) are taken into consideration. When a
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device generates a
small quantity of heat, no problem occurs in driving with a
DC current. However, when a large quantity of heat is
generated, it is necessary to employ a measurement method
such as driving with a pulse current, in which the
temperature of a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device (temperature of a junction region) is not
significantly changed from room temperature.
[0046]
With respect to the emission wavelength, the wavelength
of a power peak in a spectrum is taken into consideration.
A spectrum in which human visual performance is taken into
consideration, or a dominant wavelength usually used for
expressing a color is not employed. Furthermore, a spectrum
with apparent periodic variations, which are caused by many
times of reflection of light emitted from an active layer
due to thin film interference, may be observed according to
measurement conditions. Therefore, a spectrum of light
produced in an active layer and not containing such periodic
variations is used.
[0047]
The operating current density of a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device is a value obtained by
dividing the operating current by the active layer area
(area of a junction region). Namely, commercially available
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices have various
package forms and different sizes depending on applications
and quantities of light. In addition, the standard driving
current (operating current) varies according to the size of
the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device.
Therefore, it is difficult to directly compare current
dependencies of characteristics. In the present invention,
for the purpose of generalization, the driving current is
not used, but the expression "operating current density"
(unit: ampere/cm2) obtained by dividing the driving current
by the active layer area (area of a junction region) is used.
[0048]
In the present invention, in order to change the well
layer density, the thicknesses of the barrier layers are
preferably changed (specifically, in the active layer, the
thickness of the barrier layer on the second GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer side is smaller than that of
the barrier layer on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side) while the well layer thicknesses
are constant. However, the present invention is not limited
to this. The thicknesses of the well layers may be changed
(specifically, in the active layer, the thickness of the
well layer on the second GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer side is larger than that of the well layer on the
first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer side) while the
barrier layer thickness is constant, or the thicknesses of
both the well layer and the barrier layer may be changed.
[0049]
In the present invention, the well layer density di and
the well layer density d2 are defined as follows: When the
active layer with a total thickness t0 is divided two parts
in the thickness direction, the thickness of an active layer
first region ARi on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side is expressed by ti, and the
thickness of an active layer second region AR2 on the second
GaN-based compound semiconductor layer side is expressed by
t2 (t0 = ti + t2) . In addition, the number of the well
layers contained in the active layer first region ARi is
expressed by WLX (a positive number and not limited to an
integer), and the number of the well layers contained in the
active layer second region AR2 is expressed by WL2 (a
positive number and not limited to an integer, and total
number WL of well layers = WLi + WL2) . When a well layer
(thickness tIF) is present over the active layer first region
ARi and the active layer second region AR2, the number of the
well layers contained in only the active layer first region
ARi is expressed by WIV, and the number of the well layers
contained in only the active layer second region AR2 is
expressed by WL2' , and in-the well layer (thickness tjF)
present over the active layer first region ARi and the
active layer second region AR2/ the thickness contained in
the active layer first region ARi is expressed by tiF_i, and
the thickness contained in the active layer second region
AR2 is expressed by tIF-2 (tIF = tiF_i + tiF-2) • In this case,
the following equations are established:
WLi = WL1! + AWLi
WL2 = WL'2 + AWL2
wherein
AWLi + AWL2 = 1
WL = Win + WL2
! + WL'2 + 1
AWL2 =
[0050]
The well layer density di and the well layer density d2
can be determined by the following equations (1-1) and (1-2)
wherein k = (t0/WL) :
[0051]
dj. = (WLi/WL)/(ti/t0)
= k(WLi/ti) (1-D
d2 = (WL2/WL)/(t2/t0)
= k(WL2/t2) (1-2)
[0052]
In the present invention, when the total thickness of
the active layer is t0, the well layer density in the active
layer first region ARi ranging from the first GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer-side interface to the thickness
of (2to/3) in the active layer is di, and the well layer
density in the active layer second region AR2 ranging from
the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer-side
interface to the thickness of (t0/3) in the active layer is
d2, the well layers may be disposed in the active layer to
satisfy the relation dx thickness of the active layer is t0, the well layer density
in the active layer first region ARX ranging from the first
GaN-based compound semiconductor layer-side interface to the
thickness of (t0/2) in the active layer is di, and the well
layer density in the active layer second region AR2 ranging
from the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer-side
interface to the thickness of (t0/2) in the active layer is
d2, the well layers may be disposed in the active layer to
satisfy the relation dx thickness of the active layer is t0, the well layer density
in the active layer first region ARi ranging from the first
GaN-based compound semiconductor layer-side interface to the
thickness of (t0/3) in the active layer is dx, and the well
layer density in the active layer second region AR2 ranging
from the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer-side
interface to the thickness of (2t0/3) in the active layer is
d2/ the well layers may be disposed in the active layer to
satisfy the relation di [0053]
In the present invention with the above-described
various preferred forms and constitutions, the well layers
are preferably disposed in the active layer to satisfy the
relation 1 preferably 1.5 by forming barrier layers with uniform thicknesses.
Specifically, the thicknesses of the barrier layers in the
active layer are changed from the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side to the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side (for example, changed in multiple
steps or three or more steps). More specifically, a
structure may be used, in which the thicknesses of the
barrier layers in the active layer are decreased stepwisely
from the first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer side
to the first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer side.
[0054]
Alternatively, in the present invention with the abovedescribed
various preferred forms and constitutions, the
thicknesses of the barrier layers in the active layer are
preferably changed, for example, stepwisely so that the
thickness of the barrier layer nearest the second GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer is preferably 20 nm or less, or
the thickness of the barrier layer nearest the first GaN-
based compound semiconductor layer is twice or more the
thickness of the barrier layer nearest the second GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer.
[0055]
Further, in the present invention with the abovedescribed
various preferred forms and constitutions, the
active layer may contain indium atoms and, more specifically,
the composition AlxGai-x-yInyN (wherein x > 0, y > 0, and 0 + y semiconductor layer and the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer include a GaN layer, an AlGaN layer, an
InGaN layer, and AlInGaN layer. These compound
semiconductor layers may further contain boron (B) atoms,
thallium (Tl) atoms, arsenic (As) atoms, phosphorus (P)
atoms, or antimony (Sb) atoms.
[0056]
Further, in the present invention with the abovedescribed
various preferred forms and constitutions, the
number (WL) of the well layers in the active layer is 2 or
more and preferably 4 or more.
[0057]
Further, in the present invention with the abovedescribed
various preferred forms and constitutions, the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device may further
include:
(D) an underlying layer containing In atoms and formed
between the first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer and
the active layer; and
(E) a superlattice layer containing a p-type dopant and
formed between the active layer and the second GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer.
In this constitution, the more stable operation of the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device can be achieved at
a high operating current density while further improving the
luminous efficiency and further decreasing the operating
voltage.
[0058]
In this constitution, an undoped GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer is preferably formed between the active
layer and the superlattice layer, the thickness of the
undoped GaN-based compound semiconductor layer being 100 nm
or less. The total thickness of the superlattice layer is
preferably 5 nm or more, and the period of a superlattice
structure in the superlattice layer is preferably 2-atom
layer to 20 nm. In addition, the concentration of the ptype
dopant contained in the superlattice layer is
preferably 1 x 1018/cm3 to 4 x 1020/cm3. Alternatively, the
thickness of the underlying layer is 20 nm or more, and an
undoped GaN-based compound semiconductor layer is preferably
formed between the underlying layer and the active layer,
the thickness of the undoped GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer being 50 nm or less. Further, the
underlying layer and the active layer may contain In, and
the In ratio in the underlying layer is 0.005 or more which
is lower than that in the active layer. The underlying
layer may contain 1 x 1016/cm3 to 1 x 1021/cm3 of n-type
dopant.
[0059]
The GaN-based compound semiconductor layer constituting
the active layer is preferably composed of an undoped GaNbased
compound semiconductor or the n-type impurity
concentration of the GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
constituting the active layer is preferably less than 2 x
1017/cm3.
[0060]
Further, in the present invention with the abovedescribed
various preferred forms and constitutions, the
length of the short side (when the active layer has a
rectangular planar shape) or the short diameter (when the
active layer has a circular or elliptic planar shape) of the
active layer is 0.1 mm or less and preferably 0.03 mm or
less. When the active layer has a planar shape such as a
polygon or the like in which the short side or short
diameter cannot be defined, the diameter of a circle
estimated to have the same area as that of the active layer
is defined as the short diameter. In the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device of the present invention,
a shift of the emission wavelength, particularly, at a high
operating current density is decreased. However, in a GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device of a smaller size,
the effect of decreasing a shift of the emission wavelength
is significant. Therefore, when the present invention is
applied to a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
of a smaller size than that of a conventional GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device, it is possible to
realize a high-density (high-definition) GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device at a low cost and an
image display device using the light-emitting device.
[0061]
For example, when a 32-inch high-definition television
receiver (1920 x 1080 x RGB) generally used as a home
television receiver is realized by arranging such GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices in a matrix, the size
of one pixel including a combination of a red light-emitting
device, a green light-emitting device, and blue lightemitting
device corresponding to sub-pixels is about 360-jam
square, and each sub-pixel essentially has a long side
length of 300 and a short side length of 100 fxm.
Alternatively, for example, in a projection-type display in
which such GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices
are arranged in a matrix for projection through a lens, like
in a conventional projection-type liquid crystal display
device or DMD light valve, a size of 1 inch or less is
preferred from the viewpoint of optical design and cost.
Even in a three-plate type using a dichroic prism, in order
to realize DVD of 1 inch in diagonal length with a general
resolution of 720 x 480, the required size of a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device is 30 ju,m or less. In
this way, when the short side (short diameter) is 0.1 mm or
less and more preferably 0.03 mm or less, an emission
wavelength shift in a region with the dimensions can be
significantly decreased as compared with a conventional GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device, thereby widening
a practical application range and causing high usefulness.
[0062]
In the present invention with the above-described
various preferred forms and constitutions, as a method for
forming various GaN-based compound semiconductor layers such
as the first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer, the
active layer, and the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer, a metalorganic chemical vapor
deposition method (MOCVD method), a MBE method, or a hydride
vapor deposition method in which halogen contributes to
transport or reaction can be used.
[0063]
In the MOCVD method, trimethyl gallium (TMG) gas or
triethyl gallium (TEG) gas can be used as an organic gallium
source gas, and ammonia gas or hydrazine gas can be used as
a nitrogen source gas. In forming the first GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer having n-type conductivity, for
example, silicon (Si) may be added as a n-type impurity (ntype
dopant). In forming the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer having p-type conductivity, for example,
magnesium (Mg) may be added as a p-type impurity (p-type
dopant). When a GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
contains aluminum (Al) or indium (In) as a constituent atom,
trimethylaluminum (TMA) gas may be used as an Al source or
trimethylindium (TMI) gas may be used as an In source. In
addition, monosilane gas (SiH4 gas) may be used as a Si
source, and cyclopentadienyl magnesium gas,
methylcyclopentadienyl magnesium, or biscyclopentadienyl
magnesium (Cp2Mg) may be used as a Mg source. Examples of
the n-type impurity (n-type dopant) other than Si include Ge,
Se, Sn, C, and Ti. Examples of the p-type impurity (p-type
dopant) other than Mg include Zn, Cd, Be, Ca, Ba, and 0.
[0064]
A p-type electrode connected to the second GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer having p-type conductivity
preferably has a single-layer or multi-layer structure
containing at least one metal selected from the group
consisting of palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), Al
(aluminum), Ti (titanium), gold (Au), and silver (Ag). A
transparent conductive material such as ITO (Indium Tin
Oxide) may be used. In particular, silver (Ag), Ag/Ni, or
Ag/Ni/Pt, which can reflect light with high efficiency, is
preferably used. A n-type electrode connected to the first
GaN-based compound semiconductor layer having n-type
conductivity preferably has a single-layer or multi-layer
structure containing at least one metal selected from the
group consisting of gold (Au), silver (Ag), palladium (Pd),
Al (aluminum), Ti (titanium), tungsten (W), Cu (copper), Zn
(zinc), tin (Sn), and indium (In). For example, Ti/Au,
Ti/Al, or Ti/Pt/Au can be used. The n-type electrode and
the p-type electrode can be formed by a PVD method such as
vacuum evaporation or sputtering.
[0065]
Further, a pad electrode may be provided on each of the
n-type electrode and the p-type electrode, for electrically
connecting the electrode to an external electrode or circuit,
The pad electrode preferably has a single-layer or multilayer
structure containing at least one metal selected from
the group consisting of Ti (titanium), Al (aluminum), Pt
(platinum), Au (gold), and Ni (nickel). The pad electrode
may have a multilayer structure, for example, a Ti/Pt/Au
multilayer structure or a Ti/Au multilayer structure.
[0066]
In the present invention with the above-described
preferred forms and constitutions, an assembly of a GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device may have a face-up
structure or a flip-chip structure.
[0067]
In the present invention, the quantity of light
(luminance) emitted from a GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device can be controlled by controlling the pulse
width of the driving current, the pulse density of the
driving current, or combination of both, in addition to the
control of the peak current value of the driving current.
This is because a change in the peak current value of the
driving current slightly affects the emission wavelength of
a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device.
[0068]
Specifically, for example, in one type of GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device, the peak current of a
driving current for a certain emission wavelength A,0 is
expressed by I0, and the pulse width of the driving current
is expressed by P0. In a GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device or a light illuminator, an image display
device, a planar light source device, or a liquid crystal
display assembly, in which the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device is incorporated, the one-operation
period of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
is expressed by T0p. In this case, a control method
includes:
(1) controlling (adjusting) the peak current value I0 of
the driving current to control the quantity of light
(luminance) emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device; and
(2) controlling the pulse width P0 of the driving
current (pulse width control of driving current) to control
the quantity of light (brightness or luminance) emitted from
the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device; and/or
(3) controlling the number of pulses (pulse density)
with the pulse width P0 in the one-operation period T0p of
the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device (pulse
density control of driving current) to control the quantity
of light (brightness or luminance) emitted from the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device.
[0069]
The above-described control of the quantity of light
emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device can be achieved by a driving circuit for the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device, the driving
circuit including:
(a) pulse driving current supply means for supplying a
pulse driving current to the GaN-based semiconductor light-
emitting device;
(b) pulse driving current setting means for setting the
pulse width and pulse density of the driving current; and
(c) means for setting the peak current value.
The driving current can be applied to not only the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device of the present invention
characterized by the well layer density but also a
conventional GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device.
[0070]
The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device of
the present invention can be exemplified by a light-emitting
diode (LED) and a semiconductor laser (LD). The structure
and constitution of the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device are not particularly limited as long as the
multilayer structure thereof has a light-emitting diode
structure or laser structure. Besides the above-described
light-emitting device, image display device, planar light
source device, and liquid crystal display assembly including
a color liquid crystal display assembly, the application
field of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
of the present invention includes lamp fittings and lamps
for transport means such as automobiles, electric railcars,
ships, and aircrafts (e.g., headlights, tail lights, highmount
stop lights, small lights, turn signal lights, fog
lights, room lamps, meter-panel lights, light sources
provided in various buttons, destination lamps, emergency
lamps, and emergency exit guide lights); various lamp
fittings and lamps in buildings (e.g., outdoor lights, room
lamps, lightings, emergency lights, and emergency exit guide
lights); various indicating lamp fittings of street lights,
traffic signals, advertising displays, machines, and
apparatuses; lightings and lighting parts in tunnels and
underground passages; special illuminations in various
inspection devices such as biological microscopes;
sterilizers using light; deodorizing sterilizers combined
with optical catalysts; exposure devices for photographs and
semiconductor lithography; and devices for modulating light
to transmit information through spaces, optical fibers, or
waveguides.
[0071]
In the present invention, the well layers are disposed
in the active layer so as to satisfy the relation di wherein di is the well layer density on the first GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer side in the active layer and d2
is the well layer density on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side. Therefore, it is possible to
suppress a large shift of the emission wavelength due to an
increase in the operating current density while improving
the luminous efficiency. As a result of experiments
conducted by the inventors, it was found that in a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device, a well layer
contributing light emission is gradually shifted to a well
layer on the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
side as the operating current density increases. A possible
cause is a difference in mobility between electrons and
holes. It is thought that since holes have low mobility in
a GaN-based compound semiconductor, holes reach only a well
layer near the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer,
and thus light emission due to recombination of holes and
electrons is localized on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side. In addition, with respect to the
carrier transmittance of a hetero-barrier including a well
layer and a barrier layer, another possible cause is that
holes with large effective mass have difficulty in reaching
a well layer on the first GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer side through a plurality of barrier layers. Namely,
in the present invention, a large number of well layers are
present in a range (the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side) where holes can reach. For
example, since the thickness of the barrier layer on the
first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer side in the
active layer is larger than that of the barrier layer on the
second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer side in the
active layer, the transmittance of holes is improved to
facilitate uniform distribution of holes. As a cause of a
shift of the emission wavelength to the short wavelength
side due to an increase in the operating current density in
a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device, "band
filling of localized level" and "screening of piezo-electric
field" accompanying an increase in carrier concentration in
a well layer have been proposed. However, holes are
effectively distributed to improve the recombination
probability, and holes are uniformly distributed to decrease
the carrier concentration per well layer, thereby possibly
decreasing a shift of the emission wavelength to the short
wavelength side.
[0072]
Therefore, even when the driving current (operating
current) of a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
is increased for increasing the optical output of the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device, the problem of
causing a shift of the emission wavelength due to an
increase in the driving current (operating current) can be
prevented. In particular, when the operating current
density in a blue light-emitting or green light-emitting
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device is increased
to 30 A/cm2 or further increased to 50 A/cm2 or 100 A/cm2 or
more, a larger effect (increasing luminance and decreasing a
shift of the emission wavelength to the short wavelength
side) can be obtained. In the present invention, since
light emission from well layers localized in a specified
region of the active layer is effectively used, a higher
efficiency can be realized by a synergistic effect with a
light extraction technique having a high optical resonator
effect, and an improvement in characteristics of a
semiconductor layer can be expected.
[0073]
In the image display device, the planar light source
device, or the liquid crystal display assembly including a
color liquid crystal display assembly, the pulse width
and/or the pulse density of the driving current is
controlled, and the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device is driven at a high peak current of the driving
current (operating current) to increase optical output,
thereby increasing luminance while decreasing a shift of the
emission wavelength, i.e., in the state where the emission
wavelength is not much changed due to a change in the
driving current (operating current). In other words, the
luminance can be controlled by controlling the pulse width
and/or the pulse density of the driving current and
controlling the peak current of the driving current
(operating current). Therefore, the number of control
parameters of luminance is increased in comparison to a
conventional technique, thereby permitting luminance control
in a wider range. Namely, a wide dynamic range of luminance
can be obtained. Specifically, for example, the luminance
of the whole device may be controlled by controlling the
peak current of the driving current (operating current), and
the luminance may be finely controlled by controlling the
pulse width and/or the pulse density of the driving current.
In contrast, the luminance of the whole device may be
controlled by controlling the pulse width and/or the pulse
density of the driving current, and the luminance may be
finely controlled by controlling the peak current of the
driving current (operating current). Since a light-emitting
device causes a small shift of the emission wavelength of
the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device, stable
chromaticity can be realized regardless of the current value,
In particular, this control is useful for a white light
source including a combination of a blue or near-ultraviolet
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device and a color
conversion material.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0074]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a conceptual view showing the layer
structure of a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
of Example 1.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device of Example 1.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a graph showing the results of
measurement of a relationship between the operating current
density and optical output of each of GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices of Example 1 and
Comparative Example 1.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a graph showing a relationship
between the operating current density and emission peak
wavelength of each of GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a conceptual view showing the state
in which a driving current is supplied to a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device in order to evaluate the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device.
[Fig. 6A] Fig. 6A is schematic top view of a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device of Example 1.
[Fig. 6B] Fig. 6B is a schematic sectional view (in
which oblique lines are omitted) taken along arrows B-B in
Fig. 6A.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a schematic top view showing two
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices which are
connected in series.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a graph showing a band diagram and
Fermi levels near an active layer in Example 1.
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a graph showing a band diagram and
Fermi levels near an active layer in Comparative Example 1.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a graph showing the results of
calculation of hole concentrations in Example 1.
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a graph showing the results of
calculation of hole concentrations in Comparative Example 1
[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a graph showing the results of
calculation of hole concentrations at each of different ntype
impurity concentrations in an active layer having a
structure of Example 1.
[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is a graph showing the results of
calculation of hole concentrations in Example 1.
[Fig. 14] Fig. 14 is a graph showing the results of
calculation of hole concentrations in modified example A of
Example 1.
[Fig. ISA] Fig. ISA is a graph showing a band diagram
and Fermi levels near an active layer in modified example B
of Example 1.
[Fig. 15B] Fig. 14 is a graph showing the results of
calculation of hole concentrations in modified example B of
Example 1.
[Fig. 16A] Fig. 16A is a graph showing a band diagram
and Fermi levels near an active layer in modified example C
of Example 1.
[Fig. 16B] Fig. 16B is a graph showing the results of
calculation of hole concentrations in modified example C of
Example 1.
[Fig. 17A] Fig. 17A is a graph showing a band diagram
and Fermi levels near an active layer in Comparative Example
1-A.
[Fig. 17B] Fig. 17B is a graph showing the results of
calculation of hole concentrations in Comparative Example 1-
A.
[Fig. 18] Fig. 18 is a graph showing a relationship
between the operating current density and emission peak
wavelength of each of GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices of Example 3 and Comparative Example 3.
[Fig. 19A] Fig. 19A is schematic top view of a GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device of Example 4.
[Fig. 19B] Fig. 19B is a schematic sectional view (in
which oblique lines are omitted) taken along arrows B-B in
Fig. 19A.
[Fig. 20A] Fig. 20A is a graph showing a relationship
between the operating current density and peak wavelength
shift of each of GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices of Example 4A and Comparative Example 4A.
[Fig. 20B] Fig. 20B is a graph showing a relationship
between the operating current density and peak wavelength
shift of each of GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices of Example 4B and Comparative Example 4B.
[Fig. 21A] Fig. 21A is a circuit diagram of a passive
matrix-type, direct-view-type image display device (image
display device according to embodiment 1A) of Example 6.
[Fig. 21B] Fig. 21B is a schematic sectional view of a
light-emitting device panel in which GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting devices are arranged in a two-dimensional
matrix.
[Fig. 22] Fig. 22 is a circuit diagram of an active
matrix-type, direct-view-type image display device (image
display device according to embodiment 1A) of Example 6.
[Fig. 23] Fig. 23 is a conceptual view of a projectiontype
image display device (image display device according to
embodiment IB) including a light-emitting device panel in
which GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices are
arranged in a two-dimensional matrix.
[Fig. 24] Fig. 24 is a conceptual view of a projectiontype,
color-display image display device (image display
device according to embodiment 1C) including a red lightemitting
device panel, a green light-emitting device panel,
and a blue light-emitting device panel.
[Fig. 25] Fig. 25 is a conceptual view of a projectiontype
image display device (image display device according to
embodiment ID) including a GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device and a light transmission controller.
[Fig. 26] Fig. 26 is a conceptual view of a colordisplay,
projection-type image display device (image display
device according to embodiment ID) including three sets of
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device and a light
transmission controller.
[Fig. 27] Fig. 27 is a conceptual view of a projectiontype
image display device (image display device according to
embodiment IE) including a light-emitting device panel and a
light transmission controller.
[Fig. 28] Fig. 28 is a conceptual view of a colordisplay,
projection-type image display device (image display
device according to embodiment IF) including three sets of a
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device and a light
transmission controller.
[Fig. 29] Fig. 29 is a conceptual view of a colordisplay,
projection-type image display device (image display
device according to embodiment 1G) including three GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices and a light
transmission controller.
[Fig. 30] Fig. 30 is a conceptual view of a colordisplay,
projection-type image display device (image display
device according to embodiment 1H) including three lightemitting
device panels and a light transmission controller.
[Fig. 31] Fig. 31 is a circuit diagram of an active
matrix-type, direct-view-type, color-display image display
device (image display device according to embodiment 2A) of
Example 7.
[Fig. 32A] Fig. 32A is a schematic view showing the
arrangement and array state of light-emitting devices in a
planar light source device of Example 8.
[Fig. 32B] Fig. 32B is a schematic partial sectional
view showing a planar light source device and a color liquid
crystal display assembly.
[Fig. 33] Fig. 33 is a schematic partial sectional view
showing a color liquid crystal display device.
[Fig. 34] Fig. 34 is a conceptual view showing a color
liquid crystal display device of Example 9.
[Fig. 35] Fig. 35 is a schematic sectional view of a
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device including LED
having a flip-chip structure.
[Fig. 36] Fig. 36 is a graph in which the ratios of a
blue light emission peak component to the whole in a GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device of each of
reference products 1 to 5 are plotted.
Reference Numerals
[0075]
1, 101 ... GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device, UN ... light-emitting device unit, 10 ... substrate,
11 ... buffer layer, 12 ... undoped GaN layer, 13 ... first
GaN-based compound semiconductor layer with n-type
conductivity, 14 ...undoped GaN layer, 15 ... active layer,
16 ... undoped GaN layer, 17 ... second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer with p-type conductivity, 18 ... Mgdoped
GaN layer, 19A ... n-type electrode, 19B ... p-type
electrode, 21 ... sub-mount, 22 ... plastic lens, 23A ...
gold wire, 23B ... outer electrode, 24 ... reflector cup,
25 ... heat sink, 26 ... driving circuit, 27 ... control
part, 28 ... driving current source, 29 ... pulse generator
circuit, 30 ... driver, 41, 43 ... column driver, 42, 44 ...
row driver, 45 ... driver, 50 ... light-emitting device
panel, 51 ... support, 52 ... X-direction wiring, 53 ... Ydirection
wiring, 54 ... transparent substrate, 55 ... micro
lens, 56 ... projection lens, 57 ... dichroic prism, 58 ...
liquid crystal display device, 59 ... light guide member,
102 ... heat sink, 200, 200A ... color liquid crystal
display assembly, 210 ... color liquid crystal display
device, 220 ... front panel, 221 ... first substrate, 222 ...
color filter, 223 ... overcoat layer, 224 ... transparent
first electrode, 225 ... alignment film, 226 ... polarizing
film, 227 ... liquid crystal material, 230 ... rear panel,
231 ... second substrate, 232 ... switching element, 234 ...
transparent second electrode, 235 ... alignment film, 236 . ..
polarizing film, 240 ... planar light source device, 241 ...
casing, 242A ... bottom of casing, 242B ... side surface of
casing, 243 ... outer frame, 244 ... inner frame, 245A,
245B ... spacer, 246 ... guide member, 247 ... bracket
member, 251 ... diffusion plate, 252 ... diffusion sheet,
253 ... prism sheet, 254 ... polarization conversion sheet,
255 ... reflective sheet, 250 ... planar light source device,
260 . . . light source, 270 . . . light): guide plate, 271 . . .
first surface of light guide plate 272 ... irregularity of
first surface, 273 ... second surface of light guide plate,
274 . . . first side surface of light} guide plate, 275 . . .
second side surface of light guide plate, 276 ... third side
surface of light guide plate, 281 ... reflective member,
282 . . . diffusion sheet, 283 . . . prfism sheet, 301, 302 . . .
solder layer, 303 ... aluminum layex, 304 ... SiO2 layer,
304 ... passivation layer
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0076]
The characteristics of a GaN-bfcsed light-emitting diode
were preliminarily examined prior tp description of the
present invention on the basis of examples with reference to
the drawings.
[0077]
Namely, a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
(reference product 0) including an active layer having nine
well layers and eight barrier layer^ was produced. The GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device has a structure
shown in a conceptual view of Fig. fL in which a buffer layer
11 (thickness 30 nm) ; an undoped GaJN layer 12 (thickness 1
jam) ; a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 13 with
n-type conductivity (thickness 3 jam) ; an undoped GaN layer
14 (thickness 5 nm); an active layer 15 having a multi-
quantum well structure including well layers and burrier
layers for separating between the well layers (the well
layers and the burrier layers are not shown in the drawing);
an undoped GaN layer 16 (thickness 10 nm); a second GaNbased
compound semiconductor layer 17 with p-type
conductivity (thickness 20 nm); and a Mg-doped GaN layer
(contact layer) 18 (thickness 100 nm) are stacked in order.
In some drawings, the buffer layer 11, the undoped GaNlayer
12, the undoped GaN layer 14, the undoped GaN layer 16,
and the Mg-doped GaN layer 18 are not shown. The undoped
GaN layer 14 is provided for improving the crystallinity of
the active layer 15 formed thereon by crystal growth, and
the undoped GaN layer 16 is provided for preventing a dopant
(for example, Mg)-in the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer 17 from diffusing into the active layer
15. In the active layer 15, each well layer is an InGaN
(Ino.23Gao.77N) layer having a thickness of 3 nm and an In
ratio of 0.23, and each barrier layer is a GaN layer having
a thickness of 15 nm. The well layers with such a
composition may be referred to as "composition-A well
layers".
[0078]
In the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
(reference product-0), at an operating current density of 60
A/cm2, the emission peak wavelength was 515 nm, and the
luminous efficiency was 180 mW/A. Like a commercial LED,
when the light-emitting device is mounted on a highreflectivity
mount and subjected to resin molding with high
refractive index,-an efficiency of about two times or more
can be obtained in total luminous flux measurement.
[0079]
Next, a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
with a similar layer structure was produced, in which the In
composition ratio of only a specified layer of the nine well
layers was adjusted, i.e., a well layer (may be referred to
as composition-B well layer for the convenience 'sake) of
InGaN (Ino.i5Ga0.85N) having a thickness of 3 nm and an In
ratio of 0.15 was provided, and the other eight layers were
composition-A well layers. A GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device' in which the first well layer from the first
GaN-based compound semiconductor layer side is a
composition-B well layer is referred to as a "reference
product-1"; a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
in which the third well layer is a composition-B well layer
is referred to as a "reference product-2"; a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device in which the fifth well
layer is a composition-B well layer is referred to as a
"reference product-3"; a GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device in which the seventh well layer is a
composition-B well layer is referred to as a "reference
product-4"; and a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device in which the ninth well layer is a composition-B well
layer is referred to as a "reference product-5". In each of
the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device of
reference products-1 to 5, the other well layers were
composition-A well layers as described above.
[0080]
The purpose of this experiment is that when light is
emitted from a green light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device (light-emitting diode) having nine
well layers, the luminous ratios of the well layers are
visualized.
[0081]
In each of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices of the reference products-1 to 5, at an operating
current density of 60 A/cm2, the emission peak wavelength
was 515 nm, and the luminous efficiency was 180 mW/A.
However, some reference products, a small emission peak was
observed in a blue emission region (emission wavelength:
about 450 nm) other than green emission (emission
wavelength: about 515 nm) due to the composition-B well
layers. The ratios of the blue, emission peak component to
the whole are plotted in Fig. 36. In Fig. 36, the first
layer, the third layer, ... inn the abscissa show positions
of the composition-B well layers from the first GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer side. Namely, the data of the
ratio of the blue emission peak component to the whole
corresponding to the Qth layer (Q = 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9)
indicates the data of the ratio of the blue emission peak
component of the Qth well layer to the whole for each
operating current density in the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device having the composition-B well layers.
[0082]
It is necessary to pay attention to the point that
green emission (emission wavelength: about 515 nm) and blue
emission (emission wavelength: about 450 nm) are different
in band gap energy by 350 meV, and the typical decay times
are different (for example, in Fig. 6 of S. F. Chichibu, et
al., Materials Science & Engineering B59(1999), p.298, the
emission decay time of LED having an In composition ratio of
0.15 (blue light emission) is 6 nanoseconds, while the
emission decay time of LED having an In composition ratio of
0.22 (green light emission) is 9 nanoseconds). However, the
method of experimentally showing an emission distribution as
shown in Fig. 36 is a noneonventiona1 method.
[0083]
As shown in Fig. 36, at any operating current density,
emission is localized in a region of about 2/3 of the active
layer in the thickness direction on the second GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer side of the active layer having
a multi-quantum well structure. In addition, 80% of
emission is caused in a region of 1/2 in the thickness
direction of the active layer on the second GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer side. A possible cause of
significant localization of emission is a difference in
mobility between electrons and holes, as described in PCT
Japanese Translation Patent Publication No. 2003-520453.
Since holes have low mobility in a GaN-based compound
semiconductor, holes reach only the well layers near the
second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer, and thus
emission due to recombination of holes and electrons is
possibly localized on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side. In addition, with respect to
carrier transmittance of a hetero barrier layer including
well layers and barrier layers, another possible cause is
that holes with a large effective mass have difficulty in
reaching well layers on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side through a plurality of barrier
layers.
[0084]
Therefore, in order to effectively utilize emission
localized on the second GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer side, a multi-quantum well structure with a well layer
asymmetric distribution which is localized on the second
GaN-based compound semiconductor layer side can be proposed.
Further, it is found that the emission distribution has a
peak in a region of 1/3 to 1/4 of the active layer in the
thickness direction on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side. It is also found that as in a
semiconductor layer or a light-emitting diode using an
optical resonator effect (refer to, for example, Y. C. Shen,
et al., Applied Physics Letters, vol. 82 (2003), p. 2221),
in order to realize higher-efficiency induced emission or
light extraction by concentrating well layers serving as
luminescent layers in a specified narrow region, it is
preferred to use a multi-quantum well structure in which the
well layer distribution is localized in a region of about
1/3 of the active layer in the thickness direction on the
second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer side.
EXAMPLE 1
[0085]
Example 1 relates to a GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device of the present invention and, more
specifically, a light-emitting diode (LED). Fig. 1 is a
conceptual view of a layer structure, and Fig. 2 is a
schematic sectional view. A GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device 1 of Example 1 has the same layer
constitution and structure as the reference product-0 except
the constitution and structure of the active layer 15.
[0086]
The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 is
fixed to a sub-mount 21 and electrically connected to an
outer electrode 23B through wiring (not shown) and gold
wires 23A provided on the sub-mount 21, the outer electrode
23B being electrically connected to a driving circuit 26.
The sub-mount 21 is attached to a reflector cup 24 which is
provided on a heat sink 25. Further, a plastic lens 22 is
disposed above the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device 1, and the space between the plastic lens 22 and the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 is filled
with a light-transmitting medium layer (not shown) for light
emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device 1, for example, a transparent epoxy resin (refractive
index: for example, 1.5), a gelatinous material (e.g., trade
name OCK-451 (refractive index: 1.51) or trade name OCK-433
(refractive index: 1.46) of Nye Lubricants Inc.), silicone
rubber, or an oil compound material such as silicone oil
compound (e.g., trade name TSK5353 (refractive index: 1.45)
of Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.).
[0087]
In addition, the well layers are disposed in the active
layer 15 so as to satisfy the relation di the well layer density on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side in the active layer 15 and d2 is
the well layer density on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side. Details of a multi-quantum well
structure of the active layer 15 are shown in Table 1 below.
In Table 1 and Tables 2 and 3 given below, a numeral in
parentheses at the right of the thickness of each of the
well layers and barrier layers represents the integrated
thickness from the first GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer-side interface in the active layer 15 (more
specifically, the interface between the undoped GaN layer 14
and the active layer 15 in Example 1).
[0088]
(Table Removed)
[0089]
In Example 1, when the total thickness of the active
layer 15 is t0, the well layer density in an active layer
first region ARi ranging from the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer-side interface (more specifically, the
interface between the undoped GaN layer 14 and the active
layer 15 in Example 1) to the thickness of (2t0/3) in the
active layer 15 is di, and the well layer density in an
active layer second region AR2 ranging from the second GaNbased
compound semiconductor layer-side interface (more
specifically, the interface between the undoped GaN layer 16
and the active layer 15 in Example 1) to the thickness of
(t0/3) is d2, the well layers are disposed in the active
layer 15 to satisfy the relation di [0090]
Specifically, the well layer density di and the well
layer density d2 are determined from the equations (1-1) and
(1-2) as follows:
[0091]
[Example 1]
d2 = (WL2/WL)/(t2/t0)
= (4/10)/(50/150)
= 1.20
di = (WLi/WL)/(ti/t0)
=(6/10)/(100/150)
- 78 -
= 0.90
[0092]
For comparison, a GaN-based semiconductor light -
emitting device including an active layer shown as
Comparative Example 1 in Table 1 was produced.
[0093]
In each of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, in order to
evaluate and simplify the manufacture process, the first
GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 13 with n-type
conductivity was partially exposed on the basis of a
lithography process and an etching process, a p-type
electrode 19B composed of Ag/Ni was formed on the Mg-doped
GaN layer 18, and a n-type electrode 19A composed of Ti/Al
was formed on the first GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer 13. Then, probe tips were brought into contact with
the n-type electrode 19A and the p-type electrode 19B, and a
driving current was supplied to detect light emitted from
the back of the substrate 10. This state is shown in a
conceptual view of Fig. 5. Fig. 6A is a schematic top view
of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1, and
Fig. 6B is a schematic sectional view (in which oblique
lines are omitted) taken along arrows B-B in Fig. 6A. The
operating current density of a GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device is a value obtained by dividing the
operating current by the area of an active layer (area of a
junction region). For example, when the active layer area
(area of a junction region) of the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device 1 shown in Figs. 6A and 6B is 6 x 10"4
cm2, and the driving current is 20 mA, the operating current
density is calculated at 33 A/cm2. For example, even in a
state in which the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices are connected in series as shown in Fig. 7, the
operating current density is calculated at 33 A/cm2.
[0094]
The well layer density di and the well layer density d2
in Comparative Example 1 are determined from the equations
(1-1) and (1-2) as follows:
[0095]
[Comparative Example 1]
d2 = (WL2/WL)/(t2/t0)
= ( ( 3 + l/3)/10}/(49/147)
= 1.00
dx = (WL1/WL)/(t1 / t 0 )
= {(6 + 2/3)}/10}/(98/147)
= 1.00
[0096]
Fig. 3 shows the results of measurement of a
relationship between the operating current density and
optical output of a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device. The optical output of the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device 1 of Example 1 more increases than in
Comparative Example 1 corresponding to a conventional GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device. The difference
in optical output between the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
devices of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1
becomes significant at an operating current density of 50
A/cm2 or more and is 10% or more at an operating current
density of 100 A/cm2 or more. Namely, since the optical
output of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
1 of Example 1 more increases than in a conventional GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device at an operating
current density of 50 A/cm2 or more and preferably 100 A/cm2
or more, the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1
is preferably used at an operating current density of 50
A/cm2 or more and more preferably 100 A/cm2 or more.
[0097]
Further, Fig. 4 shows a relationship between the
operating current density and emission peak wavelength of a
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device. When the
operating current density is increased from 0.1 A/cm2 to 300
A/cm2, in Comparative Example 1, AX = -19 nm, while in
Example 1, AA, =. -8 nm, and thus a small emission wavelength
shift is realized. In particular, at an operating current
density of 30 A/cm2 or more, substantially no wavelength
shift is observed. In other words, since the emission
wavelength is little changed at an operating current density
of 30 A/cm2 or more, the operating current density is
preferred from the viewpoint of control of the emission
wavelength and luminous color. In particular, at an
operating current density of 50 A/cm2 or more, further 100
A/cm2 or more, the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device 1 of Example 1 causes a significantly smaller
wavelength shift than that of a conventional GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device of Comparative Example 1,
and is thus apparently superior to the conventional GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device.
[0098]
In order to theoretically prove the effect, band
diagrams of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were
calculated. The compositions and doping concentrations were
as described below in [Step-100] to [Step-140], and the ntype
impurity concentration in the active layer was 1 x
1017/cm3. In addition, an outer bias was 3 volts.
[0099]
The diagrams and Fermi levels near the active layers of
Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, which were determined
by calculation, are shown in Figs. 8 and 9, respectively.
In any one of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, the
active layer includes ten well layers and is characterized
by band inclination (diagonally right down) due to a piezo
electric field in the well layers and large band bending
(diagonally right up) before and after the well layers. The
difference between Example 1 and Comparative Example 1
appears in the envelopes thereof. In Comparative Example 1
in which the well layers are uniformly distributed, the
envelope is gently diagonally right down, while in Example 1,
the envelope is greatly bend at a portion (about 1/3 from
the interface between the active layer and the first GaNbased
compound semiconductor layer) where the barrier layer
is changed in thickness.
[0100]
On the basis of these results, hole concentrations in
Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were calculated. The
results are shown in Figs. 10 and 11. These figures
indicate that in Comparative Example 1, holes are
distributed up to only the third well layer from the
interface of the second GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer, while in Example 1, the hole concentrations in all
well layers are higher than in Comparative Example 1, and
holes are distributed up to the ninth layer from the
interface of the second GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer. As described above, the hole concentration
distribution in Comparative Example 1 is possibly due to the
fact that holes reach only the vicinity of the interface of
the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer because of
the mobility and effective mass of holes. In Example 1,
holes can be distributed to many well layers and distributed
to the well layer away from the interface of the second GaNbased
compound semiconductor layer. This possibly results
in improvement in the output and a decrease in the emission
wavelength shift of the light-emitting device.
[0101] -
By using the same calculation, hole concentrations were
calculated at various n-type impurity concentrations in the
active layer of the structure of Example 1. The results are
shown in Fig. 12. At a n-type impurity concentration of 5 x
1016/cm3, holes are distributed to a small number of well
layers, but distributed to four well layers at
concentrations of 100 times or more higher than those at a
n-type impurity concentration of 1 x I017/cm3. On the other
hand, at a n-type impurity concentration of 2 x 1017/cm3 or
more, holes reach only two or three layers near the
interface of the second GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer, and the hole concentrations are also low. Therefore,
preferably, the n-type impurity concentration is less than 2
x 1017/cm3 or the active layer is undoped. The active layer
may be partially doped by delta doping, not uniformly doped.
In this case, the average n-type impurity concentration in
the whole active layer is preferably less than 2 x 1017/cm3.
[0102]
A GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device having
the structure shown in the right column of Table 1 was
produced as a modified example of Example 1. In the
modified example-A of Example 1, the thickness of the first
barrier layer was twice, i.e., 50 nm. In addition, the
number of the well layers and the number of the barrier
layers were decreased by 1 each to control the total
thickness of the active layer. Broadly, in the structure,
the thicknesses of the barrier layers decrease stepwisely.
[0103]
The results of calculation of holes concentrations in
Example 1 and modified example-A of Example 1 are shown in
Figs. 13 and 14. In Example 1, holes are distributed at
high concentrations in a larger number of well layers than
that in Comparative Example 1, but a high hole concentration
is observed in only one well layer. On the other hand, in
modified example-A of Example 1, a higher hole concentration
is observed in two well layers, thereby causing higher
usefulness for improving the luminous efficiency and
decreasing the emission wavelength shift.
[0104]
Table 2 shows the structures of modified examples of
Example 1 (modified example-B and modified example-C of
Example 1) in which the number of well layers is 4, and the
structure of Comparative Example 1-A. The band diagram and
Fermi levels near the active layers in modified example-B
and modified example-C of Example 1 and Comparative Example
1-A, which were determined by calculation, are shown in Figs,
ISA, 16A, and 17A, respectively. The results of calculation
of hole concentrations are shown in Figs. 15B, 16B, and 17B.
In modified example-B of Example 1, the hole concentration
of the rightmost well layer (nearest the interface of the
second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer) shown in Fig.
15B is lower than that in Comparative Example 1-A, but the
holes concentrations of the other well layers are higher
than those in Comparative Example 1-A. In particular, the
central two well layers have very high hole concentrations.
In modified example-C of Example 1, the hole concentration
of the rightmost well layer (nearest the interface of the
second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer) shown in Fig.
16B is equivalent to that in Comparative Example 1-A, and
the concentrations of holes distributed in the other well
layers are higher•than those in Comparative Example 1-A.
Therefore, it is thought that these examples are effective
in improving the luminous efficiency and decreasing the
emission wavelength shift.
[0105]
(Table Removed)
[0106]
Therefore, in the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device, the hole concentration distribution can be
variously changed by changing the well layer distribution in
the active layer having a multi-quantum well structure. In
the present invention, the effect of improving luminous
efficiency and decreasing the emission wavelength shift is
exhibited in the visible region from blue to green of the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device. However,
even in the blue-violet (wavelength: about 400 nm) region in
which the emission wavelength shift is basically small, the
present invention is effective in improving luminous
efficiency. Further, in the ultraviolet (wavelength: 365 nm
or less) region of an AlGaN system having a higher piezo
electric field, the present invention is effective in
decreasing the emission wavelength shift and improving
luminous efficiency.
[0107]
In addition to the method using the peak current value
I0 of the driving current, the quantity of light (luminance)
emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device may be controlled by controlling the pulse width of
the driving current, the pulse density of the driving
current, or combination of both. In the examples described
below, the quantity of light (luminance) emitted from the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device may be
controlled by the same method.
[0108]
When the total thickness of the active layer 15 is t0,
the well layer density in the active layer first region ARo.
ranging from the first GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer-side interface (more specifically, the interface
between the undoped GaN layer 14 and the active layer 15) to
the thickness of (t0/2) in the active layer 15 is di, and the
well layer density in the active layer second region AR2
ranging from the second GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer-side interface (more specifically, the interface
between the undoped GaN layer 16 and the active layer 15) to
the thickness of (t0/2) is d2, the well layers are disposed
in the active layer 15 to satisfy the relation di this case, the well layer density di and the well layer
density d2 are determined from the equations (1-1) and (1-2)
as follows:
[0109]
[Example 1 equivalent]
d2 = (WL2/WL)/(t2 / t 0 )
= (6/10)7(75/150)
= 1.20
dx = (WL1/WL)/(t1/ t0)
= (4/10)/(75/150)
= 0 . 80
[0110]
[Comparative Example 1 equivalent]
d2 = (WLa/WL)/ (t2/t0)
= (5/10)/{ (73 + l/2)/147}
= 1.00
di = (WLi/WL)/(ti/tp)
= (5/10)/{ (73 +
= 1.00
[0111]
When the total thickness of the active layer 15 is t0,
the well layer density in an active layer first region ARi
ranging from the first GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer-side interface (more specifically, the interface
between the undoped GaN layer 14 and the active layer 15) to
the thickness of (t0/3) in the active layer 15 is dl7 and the
well layer density in an active layer second region AR2
ranging from the second GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer-side interface (more specifically, the interface
between the undoped GaN layer 16 and the active layer 15) to
the thickness of (2t0/3) is d2, the well layers are disposed
in the active layer 15 to satisfy the relation dx this case, the well layer density di and the well layer
density d2 are determined from the equations (1-1) and (1-2)
as follows:
[0112]
[Example 1 equivalent]
d2 = (WL2/WL)/(t2/t0)
= (8/10)/(50/150)
= 2.40
di = (WLi/WL)/(ti/t0)
= (2/10)/(100/150)
= 0.30
[0113]
[Comparative Example 1 equivalent]
d2 = (WL2/WL)/(t2/ t0)
= { (6 + 2/3)/10}/(98/147)
= 1.00
di = (WL1/WL)/(t1 / t 0 )
= { (3 + l/3)/10}/{49/147)
= 1.00
[0114]
As described above, in any case corresponding to
Example 1, the well layers are disposed in the active layer
15 so as to satisfy the relation di d2.
[0115]
In Example 1, as shown in Fig. 2, the driving circuit
26 includes a control part 27, a driving current source 28
serving as a supply source of the driving current, a pulse
generator circuit 29 for generating predetermined pulse
signals, and a driver 30. The driving current source 28,
the pulse generator circuit 29, and the driver 30 correspond
to pulse driving current supply means for supplying a pulse
driving current to the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device. The control part 27 corresponds to pulse
driving current setting means for setting the pulse width
and pulse density of the pulse driving current and
corresponds means for setting the peak current value.
[0116]
In the driving circuit 26, the peak current value I0 of
the driving current is output from the driving current
source 28 under control by the control part 27. In addition,
a pulse signal is-output from the pulse generator circuit 29
in order to control the pulse width P0 of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 and the number of
pulses (pulse density) having the pulse width P0 in the oneoperation
period T0p of the GaN-based semiconductor light-
emitting device 1 under control by the control part 27. In
the driver 30 receiving the driving current and the pulse
signal, the driving current supplied from the driving
current source 28 is pulse-modulated on the basis of the
pulse signal output from the pulse generator circuit 29 to
supply the pulse driving current to the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 1. Therefore, the
quantity of light emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device 1 is controlled.
[0117]
The summary of the method for manufacturing the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 of Example 1
will be described below.
[0118]
[Step-100]
First, sapphire with a C plane as a main plane is used
as the substrate 10, cleaned in a hydrogen carrier gas at a
substrate temperature of 1050°C for 10 minutes, and then
cooled to a substrate temperature of 500°C. Then, on the
basis of a MOCVD process, trimethylgallium (TMG) gas is
supplied as a gallium source under the supply of ammonia gas
as a nitrogen raw material to deposit the buffer layer 11
composed of low-temperature GaN and 30 nm in thickness by
crystal growth on the substrate 10. Then, the supply of TMG
gas is stopped.
[0119]
[Step-110]
Next, the substrate temperature is increased to 1020°C,
and then the supply of TMG gas is again started to form the
undoped GaN layer 12 having a thickness of 1 urn by crystal
growth on the buffer layer 11. Then the supply of
monosilane (SiH4) gas as a silicon raw material is started
to form the first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 13
composed of Si-doped GaN (GaN:Si) and having n-type
conductivity and a thickness of 3 )nm by crystal growth on
the undoped GaN layer 12. The doping concentration is about
5 x 1018/cm3.
[0120]
[Step-120]
Then, the supply of TMG gas and SiH4 gas is stopped, and
the carrier gas is changed from hydrogen gas to nitrogen gas,
and, at the same time, the substrate temperature is
decreased to 750°C. Then, triethylgallium (TEG) gas used as
a Ga source and trimethylindium (TMI) gas used as an In
source are supplied by valve switching. First, the undoped
GaN layer 14 having a thickness of 5 nm is formed by crystal
growth, then the active layer 15 having a multi-quantum well
structure including a well layer composed of undoped or
doped InGaN with a n-type impurity concentration of less
than 2 x I017/cm3 and a barrier layer composed of undoped or
doped GaN with a n-type impurity concentration of less than
2 x 1017/cm3 is formed. The well layer has an In composition
ratio of, for example, 0.23 corresponding to an emission
wavelength A, of 515 nm. The In composition ratio of the
well layer may be determined on the basis of the desired
emission wavelength. Details of the multi-quantum well
structure are as shown in Table 1 for example.
[0121]
[Step-130]
After the formation of the multi-quantum well structure
is completed, the substrate temperature is increased to
800°C while the undoped GaN layer 16 of 10 nm is grown. The
supply of trimethylaluminum (TMA) gas used as an Al raw
material and biscyclopentadienyl magnesium (Cp2Mg) gas used
as a Mg raw material is started to form, by crystal growth,
the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 17 having
p-type conductivity and a.thickness of 20 nm and composed of
Mg-doped AlGaN (AlGaN:Mg) with an Al composition ratio of
0.20. The doping concentration is about 5 x 1019/cm3.
[0122]
[Step-140]
Then, the supply of TEG gas, TMA gas, and Cp2Mg gas is
stopped, and the carrier gas is changed from nitrogen gas to
hydrogen gas, and, at the same time, the substrate
temperature is increased to 850°C. Then, the supply of TMG
as and Cp2Mg gas is started to form the Mg-doped GaN layer
(GaN:Mg) 18 having a thickness of 100 nm by crystal growth
on the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 17.
The doping concentration is about 5 x 1019/cm3. Then, the
supply of TMG gas and Cp2Mg gas is stopped and, at the same
time, the substrate temperature is decreased. At a
substrate temperature of 600°C, the supply of ammonia gas is
stopped. The substrate temperature is decreased to room
temperature to complete crystal growth.
[0123]
The substrate temperature TMAX after the growth of the
active layer 15 satisfies the relation TMAX (°C) and preferably TMAX is the emission wavelength. By using such a substrate
temperature TMAX after the growth of the active layer 15,
thermal deterioration of the active layer 15 can be
suppressed as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 2002-319702.
[0124]
After the crystal growth is completed, the substrate is
annealed in a nitrogen gas atmosphere at 800°C for 10
minutes to activate the p-type impurity (p-type dopant).
Then, like in a usual LED wafer process and chip forming
process, the substrate is cut into chips by dicing after a
photolithography process and an etching process, and a step
of forming a p-type electrode and a n-type electrode by
metal evaporation. Further, resin molding and packaging are
performed to form various light-emitting diodes such as a
shell type and a surface mounting type.
EXAMPLE 2
[0125]
Example 2 is a modification of Example 1. In a GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device of Example 2, an
underlying layer containing In atoms is formed between the
first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 13 and the
active layer 15 (more specifically, the first GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer 13 and the undoped GaN layer 14
in Example 2). In addition, a superlattice layer containing
a p-type dopant is formed between the active layer 15 and
the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 17 (more
specifically, the undoped GaN layer 16 and the second GaNbased
compound semiconductor layer 17 in Example 2). In
this structure, a more stable operation of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device can be achieved at a
high operating current density while further improving the
luminous efficiency and further decreasing the operating
voltage.
[0126]
The underlying layer is a Si-doped InGaN layer having
an In composition ratio of 0.03 and a thickness of 150 nm.
The doping concentration is 5 x I018/cm3. on the other hand,
the superlattice layer has a superlattice structure in which
an AlGaN layer (Mg-doped) with a thickness of 2.4 nm and a
GaN layer (Mg-doped) with a thickness of 1.6 nm are stacked
in five cycles. The Al composition ratio of the AlGaN layer
is 0.15. The concentration of the p-type dopant contained
in the superlattice layer is 5 x 1019/cm3.
[0127]
Except these points, the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device of Example 2 has the same constitution and
structure as those of Example 1, and thus detailed
description is omitted. The constitution and structure of
the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device of Example
2 can be applied to GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices of Examples 3 and 4 which will be described below.
EXAMPLE 3
[0128]
Example 3 is a modification of Example 1. Table 3
below shows details of a multi-quantum well structure of an
active layer 15 in a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device of Example 3. In Example 3 and Comparative Example 3,
the In composition ratio of a well layer is controlled so
that the emission wavelength is about 445 nm.
[0129]
[Table 3]
(Table Removed)
[0130]
The well layer density di and the well layer density d2
are determined from the equations (1-1) and (1-2) as
follows:
[0131]
[Example 3]
d2 = (WL2/WL)/(t2/to)
= { (5 + 2/9)/10}/{ (40 + 2/3)/122}
= 1.57
di = (WLi/WL)/(ti/t0)
= {(4 + 7/9)/10}/{(81 + l/3)/122}
= 0.72
[0132]
For comparison, a GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device including an active layer shown as
Comparative Example 3 in Table 3 was produced. The well
layer density di and the well layer density d2 in Comparative
Example 3 are determined from the equations (1-1) and (1-2)
as follows:
[0133]
[Comparative Example 3]
d2 = (WL2/WL)/(t2/t0)
= ((3 + l/3)/10}/{(41 + l/2)/(124 + 1/2)}
= 1.00
di = (WL1/WL)/(t1/t0)
= { ( 6 + 2/3)}/10}/{83/(124 + 1/2)}
= 1.00
[0134]
The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices of
Example 3 and Comparative Example 3 were evaluated on the
basis of the same method as in Example 1.
[0135]
Fig. 18 shows a relation between the operating current
density and emission peak wavelength of each of the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting devices. When the
operating current density is increased from 0.1 A/cm2 to 300
A/cm2, in Comparative Example 3, AA, = -9 nm, while in Example
3, AX = -1 nm and a very small emission wavelength shift is
realized. Therefore, the blue light-emitting GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 of Example 3 exhibits
a significantly small shift of the emission wavelength and
is thus obviously superior to a conventional GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device.
EXAMPLE 4 . .
[0136]
Example 4 is also a modification of Example 1. In
Example 4, Fig. 19A is a schematic top view of a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device of Example 4, and Fig.
19B is a schematic sectional view (oblique lines are
omitted9 taken along arrows B-B in Fig. 19A. The GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 of Example 4 is
different in the planar shape of an active layer from the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 of Example 1
shown in Figs. 6A and 6B. Namely, in Example 4, the active
layer 15 of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device 1 has a circular planar shape having a diameter
(corresponding to a short diameter) L2 of 14 fxm and an area
of about 1.5 x 10"6 cm2. Except this point, the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 of Example 4 has the
same constitution and structure as those of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 of Example 1. The
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 of Example 4
is referred to as the "GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device of Example 4A" for convenience sake.
[0137]
Furthermore, a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device 1 having the same constitution and structure as those
of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 of
Example 1 shown in Figs. 6A and 6B was produced, in which
the active layer had a partially cut-away square planar
shape (area: about 6.8 x 10~4 cm2) having a side length
(corresponding to a short side) LI of 300 jum. The GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 is referred to as the
"GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device of Example
4B" for convenience sake.
[0138]
[Comparative Example 4]
For comparison, a GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device having the same structure as that of the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 of Example 4
except that the constitution of the active layer was the
same as Comparative Example 1 was produced as Comparative
Example 4. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device is referred to as the "GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device of Comparative Example 4A" for convenience
sake. Furthermore, a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device having the same constitution and structure as those
of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 of
Comparative Example 1 was produced, in which the active
layer had a partially cut-away square planar shape (area:
about 6.8 x 10"4 cm2) having a side length (corresponding to
a short side) LI of 300 j^m. The GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device is referred to as the "GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device of Comparative Example
4B" for convenience sake.
[0139]
When the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices
of Example 4A and Comparative Example 4A and Example 4B and
Comparative Example 4B were driven at an operating current
density of 30 A/cm2, the driving current values are about 50
jaA and about 20 mA, respectively.
[0140]
Fig. 20A shows a relation between the operating current
density and peak wavelength shift of each of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices of Example 4A and
Comparative Example 4A, and Fig. 2OB shows a relation
between the operating current density and peak wavelength
shift of each of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices of Example 4B and Comparative Example 4B.
[0141]
In the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device of
any size, when the operating current density is 30 A/cm2 or
more, the emission wavelength shift of the example is
smaller than that of the comparative example. It is thus
said that the effect of an asymmetric distribution in the
active layer is exhibited regardless of size. On the other
hand, it is found that in comparison at the same operating
current density, the emission wavelength shift of Example 4A
is smaller than Example 4B.
[0142]
Furthermore, for example, variations in the composition
and thickness, doping, light emission, and threshold voltage
of the quantum well layers are present in a plane of a GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device. The minimummaximum
difference of the variations increases as the area
of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emit ting device
increases. When a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device is a large size and has a transverse passage of a
current flow, it is difficult to uniformly pass a current
due to the sheet resistance of a layer, thereby causing
variations in the operating current density in a plane. For
these reasons, in a large GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device, a shift of the emission wavelength due to a
change in the operating current density is more emphasized.
In contrast, in a small GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device, a shift of the emission wavelength can be
further decreased.
[0143]
Such GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices
capable of further decreasing the emission wavelength sift
and each including an active layer having a diameter of
about 14 ^im, for example, can be formed at a high density in
a matrix shape on a substrate and used for a projection-type
display or mounted on a large substrate to realize a directview-
type large television receiver. In addition, since the
emission wavelength shift can be decreased, the
manufacturing cost of a GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device can be decreased, and a display device with
an excellent dynamic range, gradation, and color stability
can be realized by modulating the pulse amplitude and pulse
density (pulse width).
EXAMPLE 5
[0144]
Example 5 relates to a light illuminator of the present
invention. The light illuminator of Example 5 includes a
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device and a color
conversion material on which light emitted from the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device is incident and
which emits light at a wavelength different from that of the
light emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device. The light illuminator of Example 5 has the
same structure as that of a conventional light illuminator,
and the color conversion material is applied, for example,
on a light emission portion of the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device.
[0145]
The basic constitution and structure of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device (light-emitting diode)
are the same as described in Examples 1 to 4. Namely, the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device includes:
(A) the first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 13
having n-type conductivity;
(B) the active layer 15 having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and barrier layers for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
17 having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active
layer 15 so as to satisfy the relation di the well layer density on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side in the active layer and d2 is the
well layer density on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side.
[0146]
In Example 5, light emitted from the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device is blue, and light
emitted from the color conversion material is yellow. The
color conversion material includes YAG (yttrium aluminum
garnet) fluorescent particles and white light is emitted by
color mixing of the light (blue) emitted from the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device and the light (yellow)
emitted from the color conversion material.
[0147]
Alternatively, in Example 5, light emitted from the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device is blue, and
light emitted from the color conversion material is green
and red so that white light is emitted by color mixing of
the light (blue) emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device and the light (green and red) emitted
from the color conversion material. Specifically, the color
- 106 -
onversion material emitting green light includes green
light-emitting fluorescent particles of SrGa2S4:Eu which are
excited by the blue light emitted from the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device, and the color
conversion material emitting red light includes red lightemitting
fluorescent particles of CaS:Eu which are excited
by the blue light emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device.
[0148]
In the light-emitting device of Example 5, the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device may be driven by,
for example, the driving circuit 26 described in Example 1,
and the luminance (brightness) of the light-emitting device
can be controlled by controlling the peak current of the
driving current, and the pulse width and/or the pulse
density of the driving current. In this case, a large shift
of the emission wavelength can be suppressed using the same
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device (lightemitting
diode) as described in Examples 1 to 4, thereby
stabilizing the emission wavelength of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device.
EXAMPLE 6
[0149]
Example 6 relates to an image display device according
to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image
display device of Example 6 includes a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device for displaying an image.
The basic constitution and structure of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device (light-emitting diode)
are the same as described in Examples 1 to 4. Namely, the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device includes:
(A) the first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 13
having n-type conductivity;
(B) the active layer 15 having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and barrier layers for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
17 having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active
layer 15 so as to satisfy the relation di the well layer density on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side in the active layer and d2 is the
well layer density on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side.
[0150]
In the image display device of Example 6, the operating
current density (or the driving current) of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device for displaying an image
can be controlled, and the pulse width and/or the pulse
density of the driving current can be controlled to control
the luminance (brightness) of a display image. Namely, the
number of control parameters of luminance is increased in
comparison to a conventional technique, thereby permitting
luminance control in a wider range. Thus, a wide dynamic
range of luminance can be obtained. Specifically, for
example, the luminance of the whole image display device may
be controlled by controlling the peak current of the driving
current (operating current), and the luminance may be finely
controlled by controlling the pulse width and/or the pulse
density of the driving current. In contrast, the luminance
of the whole image display device may be controlled by
controlling the pulse width and/or the pulse density of the
driving current, and the luminance may be finely controlled
by controlling the peak current of the driving current
(operating current). In this case, a large shift of the
emission wavelength can be suppressed using the same GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device (light-emitting
diode) as described in Examples 1 to 4, thereby stabilizing
the emission wavelength of the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device.
[0151]
Examples of the image display device of Example 6
includes image display devices with constitutions and
structures which will be described below. Unless otherwise
specified, the number of GaN-based semiconductor light-
emitting devices constituting an image display device or a
light-emitting device panel may be determined on the basis
of the specifications required for the image display device.
[0152]
[1] Image display device according to embodiment 1A
A passive matrix-type, direct-view-type image display
device including:
(a) a light-emitting device panel 50 including GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 arranged in a
two-dimensional matrix;
wherein the emission state of each of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 can be directly
observed by controlling the emission/non-emission state of
each GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 to
display an image.
[0153]
Fig. 21A is a diagram showing a circuit including the
light-emitting device panel 50 constituting the passive
matrix-type direct-view image display device, and Fig. 21B
is a schematic sectional view of the light-emitting device
panel in which the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1 are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. One of
the electrodes (p-type electrode or n-type electrode) of
each of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices 1
is connected to a column driver 41, and the other electrode
(n-type electrode or p-type electrode) of each of the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 is connected to
a row driver 42. The emission/non-emission state of each
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 is
controlled by, for example, the row driver 42, and a driving
current for driving each GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device 1 is supplied from the column driver 41.
One of the functions of the column driver 41 is the same as
that of the driving circuit 26 of Example 1. Since each
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 can be
selected and driven by a known method, detailed description
is omitted.
[0154]
The light-emitting device panel 50 includes a support
51 including, for example, a printed wiring board, the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 mounted on the
support 51, X-direction wiring 52 formed on the support 51
to be electrically connected to electrodes (p-type
electrodes or n-type electrodes) of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 and connected to the
column driver 41 or the row driver 42, Y-direction wiring 53
electrically connected to the other electrodes (n-type
electrodes or p-type electrodes) of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 and connected to the
row driver 42 or the column driver 41, a transparent
substrate 54 covering the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
devices 1, and micro lenses 55 provided on the
transparent substrate 54. However, the light-emitting
device panel 50 is not limited to this constitution.
[0155]
[2] Image display device according to embodiment 1A
An active matrix-type, direct-view-type image display
device including:
(a) a light-emitting device panel including GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 arranged in a twodimensional
matrix;
wherein the emission state of each of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 can be directly
observed by controlling the emission/non-emission state of
each GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 to
display an image.
[0156]
Fig. 22 is a diagram showing a circuit including the
light-emitting device panel constituting the active matrixtype
direct-view image display device. One of the
electrodes (p-type electrode or n-type electrode) of each of
the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 is
connected to a driver 45 which is connected to a column
driver 43 and a row driver 44. The other electrode (n-type
electrode or p-type electrode) of each of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 is connected to a
ground wire. The emission/non-emission state of each GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 is controlled by,
for example, the row driver 44 which selects the drivers 45,
and a luminance signal for driving each GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 is supplied from the
column driver 43. When a predetermined voltage is
separately supplied to each of the drivers 45 from a power
supply not shown in the drawing, the drivers 45 supply a
driving current (based on PDM control or PWM control) to the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 according
to the luminance signal. One of the functions of the column
driver 43 is the same as that of the driving circuit 26 of
Example 1. Since each GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device 1 can be selected and driven by a known
method, detailed description is omitted.
[0157]
[3] Image display device according to embodiment IB
A passive matrix-type or active matrix-type,
projection-type image display device including:
(a) a light-emitting device panel 50 including GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 arranged in a
two-dimensional matrix;
wherein the emission/non-emission state of each GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 is controlled to
display an image by projection on a screen.
[0158]
A diagram of a circuit including the light-emitting
device panel constituting the passive matrix-type image
display device is the same as shown in Fig. 21A, and a
diagram of a circuit including the light-emitting device
panel constituting the active matrix-type image display
device is the same as shown in Fig. 22. Therefore, detailed
description is omitted. Fig. 23 is a conceptual view of the
light-emitting device panel 50 in which the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 are arranged in a
two-dimensional matrix. Light emitted from the lightemitting
device panel 50 is projected on a screen through a
projection lens 56. Since the constitution and structure of
the light-emitting device panel 50 are the same as those
described with reference to Fig. 21B, detailed description
is omitted.
[0159]
[4] Image display device according to embodiment 1C
A color-display, direct-view-type or projection-type
image display device including:
(a) a red light-emitting device panel 50R including red
light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting devices (.for
example, AlGalnP-based semiconductor light-emitting devices
or GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices) 1R
arranged in a two-dimensional matrix;
(P) a green light-emitting device panel 50G including
green light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1G arranged in a two-dimensional matrix;
(y) a blue light-emitting device panel SOB including
blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices IB arranged in a two-dimensional matrix; and
(8) means (for example, a dichroic prism 57) for
collecting the light emitted from the red light-emitting
device panel 50R, the green light-emitting device panel 50G,
and the blue light-emitting device panel BOB in an optical
path ;
wherein the emission/non-emission state of each of the
red light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting devices 1R,
the green light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1G, and the blue light-emitting semiconductor lightemitting
devices IB is controlled.
[0160]
A diagram of a circuit including the light-emitting
device panel constituting the passive matrix-type image
display device is the same as shown in Fig. 21A, and a
diagram of a circuit including the light-emitting device
panel constituting the active matrix-type image display
device is the same as shown in Fig. 22. Therefore, detailed
description is omitted. Fig. 24 is a conceptual view of the
light-emitting device panels 50R, 50G, and 50B in which the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices 1R, 1G, and
IB, respectively, are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix.
Lights emitted from the light-emitting device panels 50R,
50G, and BOB are incident on the dichroic prism 57 to be
converged in one optical path. In the direct-view-type
image display device, the light is directly viewed, and in
the projection-type image display device, the light is
projected on a screen through the projection lens 56. Since
the constitution and structure of each of the light-emitting
device panels 50R, 50G, and SOB are the same as those of the
light-emitting device panel 50 described with reference to
Fig. 21B, detailed description is omitted.
[0161]
In this image display device, the semiconductor lightemitting
devices 1R, 1G, and IB constituting the lightemitting
device panels 50R, 50G, and SOB, respectively, are
preferably the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1 described in Examples 1 to 4. However, according
to circumstances, for example, the semiconductor lightemitting
devices 1R constituting the light-emitting device
panel 50R may be AlInGaP-based compound semiconductor lightemitting
diodesv and the semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1G and IB constituting the light-emitting device
panels 50G and SOB, respectively, may be the GaN-based
compound semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 described in
Examples 1 to 4.
[0162]
(5) Image display device according to embodiment ID
A direct-view type or projection-type image display
device including:
(a) a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
101; and
(p) a light transmission controller (for example, a
liquid crystal display 58 including a high-temperature
polysilicon-type thin film transistor, this applies to the
description below) which is a light valve for controlling
transmission/non-transmission of light emitted from the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device 101;
wherein transmission/non-transmission of light emitted
from the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 101
is controlled by the liquid crystal display device 58
serving as the light transmission controller to display an
image.
[0163]
The number of GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices may be determined on the basis of the specifications
required for the image display device and may be 1 or more.
In an example in which a conceptual view of an image display
device is shown in Fig. 25, the number of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 101 is 1, and the GaNbased
semiconductor light emitting device 101 is mounted on
a heat sink 102. Light emitted from the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 101 is guided by a light
guiding member 59 including a light guide member composed of
a transparent material such as a silicone resin, an epoxy
resin, or a polycarbonate resin, and a reflector such as a
mirror and is incident on the liquid crystal display device
58. In the direct-view-type image display device, the light
emitted from the liquid crystal display device 58 is
directly viewed, and in the projection-type image display
device, the light is projected on a screen through the
projection lens 56. The GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device 101 may be the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device 1 described in Examples 1 to 4.
[0164]
The image display device may include a red lightemitting
semiconductor light-emitting device (for example,
an AlGalnP-based semiconductor light-emitting device or GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device) 101R, a light
transmission controller (for example, a liquid crystal
display 58R) which is a light valve for controlling
transmission/non-transmission of light emitted from the red
light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting device 101R, a
green light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device 101G, a light transmission controller (for example, a
liquid crystal display 58G) which is a light valve for
controlling transmission/non-transmission of light emitted
from the green light-emitting GaN-base semiconductor lightemitting
device 101G, a blue light-emitting GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 101B, a light
transmission controller (for example, a liquid crystal
display 58B) which is a light valve for controlling
transmission/non-transmission of light emitted from the blue
light-emitting GaN-base semiconductor light-emitting device
101B, light guide members 59R, 59G, and 59B for guiding
lights emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
devices 101R, 101G, and 101B, respectively, and
means (for example, a dichroic prism 57) for collecting the
lights in one optical path. In this case, a color-display,
direct-view-type or projection-type image display device can
be obtained. An example whose conceptual view is shown in
Fig. 26 corresponds to a color-display, projection-type
image display device.
[0165]
In this image display device, the semiconductor lightemitting
devices 101R, 101G, and 101B are preferably the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 described
in Examples 1 to 4. However, according to circumstances,
for example, the semiconductor light-emitting device 101R
may be an AlInGaP-based compound semiconductor lightemitting
diode, and the semiconductor light-emitting devices
101G and 101B may be the GaN-based compound semiconductor
light-emitting devices 1 described in Examples 1 to 4.
[0166]
[6] Image display device according to embodiment IE
A direct-view-type or projection-type image display
device including:
(a) a light-emitting device panel 50 including GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting devices arranged in a
two-dimensional matrix; and
((3) a light transmission controller (liquid crystal
display device 58) for controlling transmission/nontransmission
of light emitted from the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1;
wherein transmission/non-transmission of light emitted
from the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 is
controlled by the light transmission controller (liquid
crystal display device 58) to display an image.
[0167]
Fig. 27 is a conceptual view showing the light-emitting
device panel 50, etc. The constitution and structure of the
light-emitting device panel 50 may be the same as those of
the light-emitting device panel 50 described with reference
to Fig. 2IB, and thus detailed description is omitted. The
transmission/non-transmission and brightness of light
emitted from the light-emitting device panel 50 are
controlled by the operation of the liquid crystal display
device 58. Thus, the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1 constituting the light-emitting device panel 50
may be constantly lighted or repeatedly lighted and
unlighted at an appropriate period. Light emitted from the
light-emitting device panel 50 is incident on the liquid
crystal display device 58. In the direct-view-type image
display device, the light emitted from the liquid crystal
display device 58 is directly viewed, and in the projectiontype
image display device, the light is projected on a
screen through the projection lens 56.
[0168]
[7] Image display device according to embodiment IF
A color-display, direct-view-type or projection-type
image display device including:
(a) a red light-emitting device panel 50R including red
light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting devices (for
example, AlGalnP-based semiconductor light-emitting devices
or GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices) 1R
arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and a red light
transmission controller (liquid crystal display device 58R)
for controlling transmission/non-transmission of light
emitted from the red light-emitting device panel 50R;
a green light-emitting device panel 50G including
green light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1G arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and a green
light transmission controller (liquid crystal display device
58G) for controlling transmission/non-transmission of light
emitted from the green light-emitting device panel 50G;
(y) a blue light-emitting device panel SOB including
blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices IB arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and a blue
light transmission controller (liquid crystal display device
58B) for controlling transmission/non-transmission of light
emitted from the blue light-emitting device panel 50B; and
(8) means (for example, a dichroic prism 57) for
collecting the light transmitted through the red light
transmission controller 58R, the green light transmission
controller 58G, and the blue light transmission controller
58B in an optical path;
wherein the transmission/non-transmission of light
emitted from the light-emitting device panels 50R, SOG, and
SOB is controlled by the light transmission controllers 58R,
58G, and 58B, respectively, to display an image.
[0169]
Fig. 28 is a conceptual view showing the light-emitting
device panels 50R, 50G, and SOB including the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1R, 1G, and IB,
respectively, arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. The
transmission/non-transmission of light emitted from the
light-emitting device panels 50R, 50G, and SOB is controlled
by the light transmission controllers 58R, BOG, and 58B,
respectively. The light is incident on the dichroic prism
57 to be collected in one optical path. In the direct-viewtype
image display device, the light is directly viewed, and
in the projection-type image display device, the light is
projected on a screen through the projection lens 56. The
constitution and structure of each of the light-emitting
device panels 50R, 50G, and SOB may be the same as those of
the light-emitting device panel 50 described with reference
to Fig. 2IB, and thus detailed description is omitted.
[0170]
In this image display device, the semiconductor lightemitting
devices 1R, 1G, and IB constituting the lightemitting
device panels 50R, 50G, and SOB, respectively, are
preferably the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1 described in Examples 1 to 4. However, according
to circumstances, for example, the semiconductor lightemitting
devices 1R constituting the light-emitting device
panel 50R may be AlInGaP-based compound semiconductor lightemitting
diodes, and the semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1G and IB constituting the light-emitting device
panels 50G and SOB, respectively, may be the GaN-based
compound semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 described in
Examples 1 to 4.
[0171]
[8] Image display device according to embodiment 1G
A field sequential-system, color-display image display
device (direct-view type or projection type) including:
(a) a red light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting
device (for example, an AlGalnP-based semiconductor lightemitting
device or GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device) 1R;
(0) a green light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device 1G;
(y) a blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device IB;
(5) means (for example, a dichroic prism 57) for
collecting the light emitted from the red light-emitting
semiconductor light-emitting device 1R, the green lightemitting
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1G,
and the blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device IB in an optical path; and
(s) a light transmission controller (liquid crystal
display device 58) for controlling transmission/nontransmission
of. light emitted from the means (dichroic prism
57) for colleting the light in the optical path;
wherein the transmission/non-transmission of light
emitted from each of the light-emitting devices is
controlled by the light transmission controller 58 to
display an image.
[0172]
Fig. 29 is a-conceptual view showing the semiconductor
light-emitting devices 101R, 101G, and 101B. The light
emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting devices 101R,
101G, and 101B is incident on the dichroic prism 57 to be
converged in one optical path. The transmission/nontransmission
of the light emitted from the dichroic prism 57
is controlled by the light transmission controller 58. In
the direct-view-type image display device, the light is
directly viewed, and in the projection-type image display
device, the light is projected on a screen through the
projection lens 56. In this image display device, the
semiconductor light-emitting devices 101R, 101G, and 101B
are preferably the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1 described in Examples 1 to 4. However, according
to circumstances, for example, the semiconductor lightemitting
device 101R may be an AlInGaP-based compound
semiconductor light-emitting diode, and the semiconductor
light-emitting devices 101G and 10IB may be the GaN-based
compound semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 described in
Examples 1 to 4.
[0173]
[9] Image display device according to embodiment 1H
A field sequential-system, color-display image display
device (direct-view type or projection type) including:
(a) a red light-emitting device panel 50R including red
light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting devices (for
example, AlGalnP-based semiconductor light-emitting devices
or GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices) 1R
arranged in a two-dimensional matrix;
(P) a green light-emitting device panel 5G including
green light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1G arranged in a two-dimensional matrix;
(y) a blue light-emitting device panel BOB including
blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices IB arranged in a two-dimensional matrix;
(5) means (for example, a dichroic prism 57) for
collecting the light emitted from the red light-emitting
device panel 50R, the green light-emitting device panel 50G,
and the blue light-emitting device panel 50B in an optical
path; and
(E) a light transmission controller (liquid crystal
display device 58) for controlling transmission/nontransmission
of light emitted from the means (dichroic prism
57) for colleting the light in the optical path;
wherein the transmission/non-transmission of light
emitted from the light-emitting device panels 50R, 50G, and
SOB is controlled by the light transmission controller 58 to
display an image.
[0174]
Fig. 30 is a conceptual view showing the light-emitting
device panels 50R, 50G, and BOB including the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1R, 1G, and IB,
respectively, arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. The
light emitted from the light-emitting device panels 50R, 50G,
and SOB is incident on the dichroic prism 57 to be converged
in one optical path. The transmission/non-transmission of
the light emitted from the dichroic prism 57 is controlled
by the light transmission controller 58. In the directview-
type image display device, the light is directly viewed,
and in the projection-type image display device, the light
is projected on a screen through the projection lens 56.
The constitution and structure of each of the light-emitting
device panels 50R, 50G, and SOB may be the same as those of
the light-emitting device panel 50 described with reference
to Fig. 2IB, and thus detailed description is omitted.
[0175]
In this image display device, the semiconductor lightemitting
devices 1R, 1G, and IB constituting the lightemitting
device panels 50R, 50G, and SOB, respectively, are
preferably the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1 described in Examples 1 to 4. However, according
to circumstances, for example, the semiconductor lightemitting
devices 1R constituting the light-emitting device
panel 5OR may be AlInGaP-based compound semiconductor lightemitting
diodes, and the semiconductor light-emitting
devices 1G and IB constituting the light-emitting device
panels 50G and BOB, respectively, may be the GaN-based
compound semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 described in
Examples 1 to 4.
EXAMPLE 7
[0176]
Example 7 relates to an> image display device according
to a second embodiment of the present invention. The image
display device of Example 7 includes light-emitting device
units UN for displaying a color image, which are arranged in
a two-dimensional-matrix and each of which includes a first
light-emitting device emitting blue light, a second lightemitting
device emitting green light, and a third lightemitting
device emitting red light. A GaN-based
semiconductor light emitting device (light-emitting diode)
constituting at least one of the first light-emitting device,
the second light-emitting device, and the third lightemitting
device has the same constitution and structure as
described in Examples 1 to 4. Namely, the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device includes:
(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 13
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer 15 having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and barrier layers for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 17
having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active
layer so as to satisfy the relation di well layer density on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side in the active layer and d2 is the
well layer density on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side.
[0177]
In the image display device, any one of the first
light-emitting device, the second light-emitting device, and
the third light-emitting device may be the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 described in Examples
1 to 4. According to circumstances, for example, the red
light-emitting device may be an AlInGaP-based compound
semiconductor light-emitting diode.
[0178]
In the image display device of Example 7, the luminance
(brightness) of a display image can be controlled by
controlling the pulse width and/or the pulse density of the
driving current in addition to the control of the operating
current density (or the driving current) of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device for displaying an image.
Therefore, the number of control parameters of luminance is
increased in comparison to a conventional technique, thereby
permitting luminance control in a wider range. Namely, a
wide dynamic range of luminance can be obtained.
Specifically, for example, the luminance of the whole image
display device may be controlled by controlling the peak
current of the driving current (operating current), and the
luminance may be finely controlled by controlling the pulse
width and/or the pulse density of the driving current. In
contrast, the luminance of the whole image display device
may be controlled by controlling the pulse width and/or the
pulse density of the driving current, and the luminance may
be finely controlled by controlling the peak current of the
driving current (operating current). In addition, by using
the same GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
(light-emitting diode) as described in Examples 1 to 4, a
large shift of the emission wavelength can be suppressed to
stabilize the emission wavelength of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device.
[0179]
Examples of the image display device of Example 7
includes image display devices with constitutions and
structures which will be described below. The number of
light-emitting device units may be determined on the basis
of the specifications required for the image display device.
[0180]
[1] Image display devices according to embodiments 2A
and 2B
In a passive matrix-type or active matrix-type, directview,
color-display image display device, the emission/nonemission
state of each of first, second, and third lightemitting
devices is controlled to directly observe the
emission state of each light-emitting device and display an
image. In a passive matrix-type or active matrix-type,
projection-type, color-display image display device, the
emission/non-emission state of each of first, second, and
third light-emitting devices is controlled to display an
image by projection on a screen.
[0181]
Fig. 31 is a diagram showing a circuit including a
light-emitting device panel constituting the active matrixtype
direct-view, color-display image display device. One
of the electrodes (p-type electrode or n-type electrode) of
each of GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 (in
Fig. 31, a red light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting
device is shown by "R", a green light-emitting semiconductor
light-emitting device is shown by "G", and a blue light-
emitting semiconductor light-emitting device is shown by
"B") is connected to a driver 45 which is connected to a
column driver 43 and a row driver 44. The other electrode
(n-type electrode or p-type electrode) of each of the GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 is connected to
a ground wire. The emission/non-emission state of each GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 is controlled by,
for example, the row driver 44 which selects the drivers 45,
and a luminance signal for driving each GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 is supplied from the
column driver 43. When a predetermined voltage is
separately supplied to each of the drivers 45 from a power
supply not shown in the drawing, the drivers 45 supply a
driving current (based on PDM control or PWM control) to the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices 1 according
to the luminance signal. One of the functions of the column
driver 43 is the same as that of the driving circuit 26 of
Example 1. Each of the red light-emitting semiconductor
light-emitting device R, the green light-emitting
semiconductor light-emitting device G, and the blue lightemitting
semiconductor light-emitting device B is selected •
by the driver 45. The emission/non-emission states of the
red light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting device R,
the green light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting device
G, and the blue light-emitting semiconductor light-emitting
device B may be time-division-controlled or simultaneously
controlled. Since each GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device can be selected and driven by a known method,
detailed description is omitted. In the direct-view-type
image display device, the light is directly viewed, and in
the projection-type image display device, the light is
projected on a screen through the projection lens 56.
[0182]
[2] Image display device according to embodiment 2C
A field sequential-system, color-display image, directview-
type or projection-type image display device including
a light transmission controller (for example, a liquid
crystal display device) for controlling transmission/nontransmission
of light emitted from each of light-emitting
device units arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, wherein
the emission/non-emission state of each of first, second,
and third light-emitting devices in the light-emitting
device units is time-division-controlled and
transmission/non-transmission of light emitted from the
first, second, and third light-emitting devices is
controlled by the light transmission controller to display
an image.
[0183] -.
A conceptual view of the image display device is the
same as shown in Fig. 23. In the direct-view-type image
display device, light is directly viewed, and in the
projection-type image display device, light is projected on
a screen through a projection lens.
EXAMPLE 8
[0184]
Example 8 relates to a planar light source device and a
liquid crystal display assembly (specifically, a color
liquid crystal display assembly) of the present invention.
The planar light source device of Example 8 is a planar
light source device for irradiating the back of a
transmissive or transflective color liquid crystal display
device. The color liquid crystal display assembly of
Example 8 is a color liquid crystal display assembly
including a transmissive or transflective color liquid
crystal display device and a planar light source device for
irradiating the back of the color liquid crystal display
device.
[0185]
A GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device (lightemitting
diode) used as a light source of the planar light
source device has the same basic constitution and structure
as described in Examples 1 to 4. Namely, the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device includes:
(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 13
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer 15 having a multi-quanturn well
structure including well layers and barrier layers for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 17
having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active
layer so as to satisfy the relation di well layer density on the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side in the active layer and d2 is the
well layer density on the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side.
[0186]
In the planar light source device of Example 8, the
luminance (brightness) of the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device serving as the light source can be
controlled by controlling the operating current density (or
the driving current) of the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device serving as the light source and the pulse
width and/or the pulse density of the driving current.
Namely, the number of control parameters of luminance is
increased in comparison to a conventional technique, thereby
permitting luminance control in a wider range. Thus, a wide
dynamic range of luminance can be obtained. Specifically,
for example, the luminance of the whole planar light source
device may be controlled by controlling the peak current of
the driving current (operating current), and the luminance
may be finely controlled by controlling the pulse width
and/or the pulse density of the driving current. In
contrast, the luminance of the whole planar light source
device may be controlled by controlling the pulse width
and/or the pulse density of the driving current, and the
luminance may be finely controlled by controlling the peak
current of the driving current (operating current). In this
case, a large shift of the emission wavelength can be
suppressed using the same GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device (light-emitting diode) as described in
Examples 1 to 4', thereby stabilizing the emission wavelength
of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device.
[0187]
Fig. 32A is a schematic view showing the arrangement
and array state of the light-emitting devices in the planar
light source device of Example 8, Fig. 32B is a schematic
partial sectional view showing the planar light source
device and the color liquid crystal display assembly, and
Fig. 33 is a schematic partial sectional view showing the
color liquid crystal display assembly.
[0188]
More specifically, the color liquid crystal display
assembly 200 of Example 8 includes:
a transmissive color liquid crystal display device 210
including:
(a) a front panel 220 provided with a transparent first
electrode 224;
(b) a rear panel 230 provided with a transparent second
electrode 234; and
(c) a liquid crystal material 227 disposed between the
front panel 220 and the rear panel 230; and
(d) a planar light source device (direct-lighting type
back light) 240 having semiconductor light-emitting devices
1R, 1G, and IB serving as light sources.
The planar light source device (direct-lighting type back
light) 240 is opposed to the rear panel 230, for irradiating
the rear panel side of the color liquid crystal display
device 210.
[0189]
The direct-lighting type planar light source device 240
includes a casing 241 including an outer frame 243 and an
inner frame 244. The ends of the transmissive color liquid
crystal display device 210 are held between the outer frame
243 and the inner frame 244 with spacers 245A and 245B
provided therebetween. Also, a guide member 246 is disposed
between the outer frame 243 and the inner frame 244 to form
a structure in which the color liquid crystal display device
210 held between the outer frame 243 and the inner frame 244
is not deviated. Further, a diffusion plate 251 is provided
in an upper portion of the casing 241 to be attached to the
inner frame 244 through a spacer 245C and a bracket member
247. Further, an optical functional sheet group consisting
of a diffusion sheet 252, a prism sheet 253, and a
polarization conversion sheet 254 is stacked on the
diffusion plate 251.
[0190]
A reflective sheet 255 is provided in a lower portion
of the casing 241. The reflective sheet 255 is disposed so
that the reflective surface faces the diffusion plate 251
and is attached to the bottom 242A of the casing 241 through
an attachment member not shown in the drawing. The
reflective sheet 255 includes a silver amplified reflective
film having a structure in which for example, a silver
reflective film, a low-refractive-index film, and a highrefractive-
index film are stacked in order on a base sheet.
The reflective sheet 255 reflects light emitted from a
plurality of red light-emitting AlGalnP-based semiconductor
light-emitting devices 1R, a plurality of green lightemitting
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices 1G,
and a plurality of blue light-emitting GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices IB, and light reflected
by the side 242B of the casing 241. Therefore, red light,
green light, and blue right emitted from the plurality of
semiconductor light-emitting devices 1R, 1G, and IB are
mixed to obtain white light with high color purity as
illuminating light. The illuminating light passes through
the diffusion plate 251 and the optical functional sheet
group consisting of the diffusion sheet 252, the prism sheet
253, and the polarization conversion sheet 254 and is
applied to the rear side of the color liquid crystal display
device 210.
[0191]
In an array state of the light-emitting devices, for
example, a plurality of light-emitting device rows each
including a set of a red light-emitting AlGalnP-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 1R, a green lightemitting
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1G,
and a blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device IB can be arrayed in a horizontal direction
to form a light-emitting device row array, and a plurality
of the light-emitting device row arrays can be arrayed in a
vertical direction. The numbers of the respective lightemitting
devices constituting each light-emitting device row
are, for example, two red light-emitting AlGalnP-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices, two green lightemitting
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices, and
one blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device. In this case, the light-emitting devices
are arrayed in the order of the red light-emitting AlGalnP-
based semiconductor light-emitting device, the green lightemitting
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device, the
blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device, the green light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device, and the red light-emitting AlGalnPbased
semiconductor light-emitting device.
[0192]
As shown in Fig. 33, the front panel 220 constituting
the color liquid crystal display device 210 includes a first
substrate 221 including, for example, a glass substrate, and
a polarizing film 226 provided on the outer surface of the
first substrate 221. The front panel further includes a
color filter 222 provided on the inner surface of the first
substrate 221 and covered with an overcoat layer 223
composed of an acrylic resin or an epoxy resin, the
transparent first electrode (also referred to as the "common
electrode" and composed of, for example, ITO) 224 being
formed on the overcoat layer 223. Further, an alignment
film 225 is formed on the transparent first electrode 224.
On the other hand, more specifically, the rear panel
includes a second substrate 231 including, for example, a
glass substrate, a switching element (specifically, a thin
film transistor, TFT) 232 and the transparent second
electrode (also referred to as the "pixel electrode" and
composed of ITO) 234, which are provided on the inner
surface of the second substrate 231 so that conduction/nonconduction
of the transparent second electrode 234 is
controlled by the switching element 232, and a polarizing
film 236 provided on the outer surface of the second
substrate 231. Further, an alignment film 235 is formed
over the entire surface including the transparent second
electrode 234. The front panel 220 and the rear panel 230
are bonded together in the peripheral region through a
sealing material (not shown in the drawing). The switching
element 232 is not limited to TFT, and, for example, a MIM
element can be used. In the drawing, reference numeral 237
denotes an insulating layer provided between the switching
elements 232.
[0193]
Since the members and the liquid crystal material which
constitute the transmissive color liquid crystal display
device may be known members and material, detailed
description is omitted.
[0194]
Each of the red light-emitting semiconductor lightemitting
device 1R, the green light-emitting GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device 1G, and the blue lightemitting
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device IB
has the structure shown by (A) in Fig. 2 and is connected to
the driving circuit 26. Each light-emitting device is
driven by the same method as described in Example 1.
[0195]
When a planar light source device is divided into a
plurality of regions so that each region is independently
dynamically controlled, the dynamic range of luminance of a
color liquid crystal display device can be further widened.
In other words, a planar light source device is divided into
a plurality of ranges for each image display frame, and the
brightness of the planar light source device is changed in
each region according to an image signal (for example, the
luminance of each region of the planar light source device
is changed in proportion to the maximum luminance of the
corresponding region of an image). In this case, in a
bright region of an image, the corresponding region of the
planar light source device is brightened, while in a dark
region of an image, the corresponding region of the planar
light source device is darkened, so that the contrast ratio
of the color liquid crystal display device can be
significantly improved. Furthermore, the mean power
consumption can be decreased. In this technique, it is
important to decrease color variations between the regions
of the planar light source device. In a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device, variations easily occur
in luminous colors during the manufacture. However, the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device used in
Example 8 is the same as described in Examples 1 to 4, and
thus a planar light source device with little variation in
luminous colors between the regions can be achieved.
Further, in addition to the control of the operating current
density (or the driving current) of the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device used as the light source,
the luminance (brightness) of the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device used as the light source can be
controlled by controlling the pulse width and/or the pulse
density of the driving current. Therefore, the independent
dynamic control of each of a plurality of divided regions
can be securely easily performed. Specifically, for example,
the luminance of each region of the planar light source
device may be controlled by controlling the peak current of
the driving current (operating current), and the luminance
may be finely controlled by controlling the pulse width
and/or the pulse density of the driving current. In
contrast, the luminance of the whole planar light source
device may be controlled by controlling the pulse width
and/or the pulse density of the driving current, and the
luminance may be finely controlled by controlling the peak
current of the driving current (operating current).
EXAMPLE 9
[0196]
Example 9 is a modification of Example 8. In Example 8,
the planar light source device is a direct-lighting type.
However, in Example 9, a planar light source device is an
edge light type. Fig. 34 is a conceptual view of a color
liquid crystal display assembly of Example 9. A schematic
partial sectional view of a color liquid crystal display
device of Example 9 is the same as shown in Fig. 33.
[0197]
A color liquid crystal display assembly 200A of Example
9 includes:
a transmissive color liquid crystal display device 210
including:
(a) a front panel 220 with a transparent first
electrode 224;
(b) a rear panel 230 with a transparent second
electrode 234; and
(c) a liquid crystal material 227 disposed between the
front panel 220 and the rear panel 230; and
(d) a planar light source device (edge light-type back
light) 250 including a light guide plate 270 and a light
source 260, for irradiating the rear panel side of the color
liquid crystal display device 210.
The light guide plate 270 is opposed to the rear panel 230.
[0198]
The light source 260 includes, for example, a red
light-emitting AlGalnP-based semiconductor light-emitting
device, a green light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device, and a blue light-emitting GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device. These semiconductor
light-emitting devices are not shown in the drawing. As the
green light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device and the blue light-emitting GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device, the same GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device as described in Example 1 to 4 can be
used. The constitution and structure of each of the front
panel 220 and the rear panel 230 constituting the color
liquid crystal display device 210 are the same.as those of
the front panel 220 and the rear panel 230 of Example 8
described with reference to Fig. 33, and thus detailed
description is omitted.
[0199]
For example, 'the light guide plate 270 composed of a
polycarbonate resin has a first surface (bottom) 271, a
second surface (top) 273 opposite to the first surface 271,
the first side 274, a second side 275, a third side 276
opposite to the first side 274, and a fourth side opposite
to the second side 274. A specific example of the shape of
the light guide plate 270 is a wedge-shaped truncated
quadrangular pyramid shape as a whole. In this case, the
two opposing sides of the truncated quadrangular prism
correspond to the first and second surfaces 271 and 273, and
the bottom of the truncated quadrangular prism corresponds
to the first side 274. Furthermore, an irregular portion
272 is provided on the surface of the first surface 271.
The continuous irregular portion of the light guide plate
270 has a triangular sectional shape taken along a virtual
plane vertical to the first surface in the incidence
direction of the light guide plate 270. In other words, the
irregular portion 272 provided on the surface of the first
surface 271 has a prisms shape. The second surface 273 of
the light guide plate 270 may be smooth (i.e., a mirror
surface) or may be provided with blast crimps having a
diffusion effect (i.e., a fine irregular surface). Further,
a reflective member 281 is disposed opposite to the first
surface 271 of the light guide plate 270. The color liquid
crystal display device 210 is disposed opposite to the
second surface 273 of the light guide plate 270. Further, a
diffusion sheet 282 and a prism sheet 283 are disposed
between the color liquid crystal display device 210 and the
second surface 273 of the light guide plate 270. Light
emitted from the light source 260 is incident on the light
guide plate 270 from the first side 274 (for example,
corresponding to the bottom of the truncated quadrangular
prism), scattered by collision with the irregular portion
272 of the first surface 271, emitted from the first surface
271, reflected by the reflective member 281, again incident
on the first surface 271, emitted from the second surface
273, and passes through the diffusion sheet 282 and the
prism sheet 283 to illuminate the color liquid crystal
display device 210.
[0200]
Although the present invention is described above on
the basis of the preferred examples, the present invention
is not limited to these examples. The constitutions and
structures of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device described in each example, and the light-emitting
device, the image display device, the planar light source
device, and the color liquid crystal display assembly in
each of which the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device is incorporated are illustrative, and the members and
materials constituting these devices are also illustrative.
Thus, appropriate changes can be made. The order of the
stacked layers in the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device may be reversed. A direct-view-type image display
device may be a type in which an image is projected on the
human retina. In each example, the n-type electrode and the
p-type electrode are formed on the same side (upper side) of
the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device. However,
alternatively, the substrate 10 is separated, and the n-type
electrode and the p-type electrode may be formed on
different sides of the GaN-based semiconductor light-
emitting device, i.e., the lower side and the upper side,
respectively. In addition, a reflective electrode of silver
or aluminum may be used as an electrode instead of the
transparent electrode, and the long side (long diameter) and
the short side (short diameter) may be changed.
[0201]
Fig. 35 is a schematic sectional view showing a GaNbased
semiconductor light-emitting device 1 including a LED
having a flip-chip structure. However, in Fig. 35, oblique
lines in each component are omitted. The layer structure of
the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 may be
the same as that of the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device 1 described in Examples 1 to 4. The side of
each layer is covered with a passivation film 305, a n-type
electrode 19A is formed on an exposed portion of the first
GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 13, and a p-type
electrode 19B also functioning as a light reflecting layer
is formed on the Mg-doped GaN layer 18. The lower portion
of the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 is
surrounded by a SiO2 layer 304 and an aluminum layer 303.
Further, the p-type electrode 19B and the aluminum layer 303
are fixed to a sub-mount 21 with solder layers 301 and 302,
respectively. In this structure, it is preferred to satisfy
the following relation:
0.5(Vn0) wherein L is the distance from the active layer 15 to the ptype
electrode 19B also functioning as a light reflecting
layer, n0 is the refractive index of the compound
semiconductor layer present between the active layer 15 and
the p-type electrode 19B, and "k is the emission wavelength.
[0202]
Further, a semiconductor laser can be formed using the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device. An example
of a layer structure of such a semiconductor laser includes
the layers below which are stacked in order on a GaN
substrate. The emission wavelength is about 450 nm.
(1) a Si-doped GaN layer having a thickness of 3 jam
(doping concentration of 5 x 1018 /cm3) ;
(2) a superlattice layer having a total thickness of 1
jam (a stacked structure of 250 pairs of layers each
including a Si-doped Al0.iGa0.9N layer having a thickness of
2.4 nm and a Si-doped GaN layer having a thickness of 1.6 nm,
doping concentration of 5 x 1018 /cm3) ;
(3) a Si-doped layer having a thickness of
150 nm (doping concentration of 5 x 1018 /cm3) ;
(4) an undoped In0.o3Ga0.97N layer having a thickness of 5
nm
(5) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure (In0.i5Ga0.85N well layer having a thickness of 3
barrier layer having a thickness of 15
nm/In0.i5Ga0.85N well layer having a thickness of 3
barrier layer having a thickness of 5
well layer having a thickness of 3
.gvN barrier layer having a thickness of 5
.ssN well layer having a thickness of 3 nm) ;
(6) an undoped GaN layer having a thickness of 10 nm;
(7) a superlattice layer having a total thickness of 20
nm (a stacked structure of 5 pairs of layers each including
a Mg-doped Alo.aGao.sN layer having a thickness of 2.4 nm and
a Mg-doped GaN layer having a thickness of 1.6 nm, doping
concentration of 5 x 1019 /cm3) ;
(8) a Mg-doped GaN layer having a thickness of 120 nm,
(doping concentration of 1 x 1019 /cm3) ;
(9) a superlattice layer having a total thickness of
500 nm {a stacked structure of 125 pairs of layers each
including a Mg-doped Alo.iGao.gN layer having a thickness of
2.4 nm and a Mg-doped GaN layer having a thickness of 1.6 nm,
doping concentration of 5 x 1019 /cm3) ;
(10) a Mg-doped GaN layer having a thickness of 20 nm
(doping concentration of 1 x 1020 /cm3) ; and
(11) a Mg-doped Ino.isGao.ssN layer having a thickness of
5 nm (doping concentration of 1 x 1020 /cm3) .
[0203]
The temperature characteristics (temperature-emission
wavelength relation) of an AlGalnP-based semiconductor
light-emitting device and a GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device may be previously determined so that the
temperatures of the AlGalnP-based semiconductor lightemitting
device and the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device in a planar light source device or a color
liquid crystal display assembly are monitored. In this case,
it is possible to realize the stable operations of the
AlGalnP-based semiconductor light-emitting device and the
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device immediately
after the supply of electric power.
[0204]
The above-described driving circuit 26 can be applied
to not only the drive of the GaN-based semiconductor lightemitting
device of the present invention but also the drive
of a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device (for
example, the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
described in Comparative Example 1) having conventional
constitution and structure.
[0205]
As the driving circuit, the driving circuit disclosed
in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2003-22052 can also be used. This driving circuit includes
emission wavelength correction means for correcting
variations in emission wavelength between a plurality of
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices by
controlling the currents supplied to the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting devices and luminance
correction means for correcting variation in luminance
between the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting devices.
The emission wavelength correction means includes a current
mirror circuit provided for each GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device to be driven so that the current
flowing in each GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device is controlled by the current mirror circuit. The
current flowing on the reference side of the current mirror
is controlled by controlling the current flowing through a
plurality of active elements connected in parallel. The
luminance correction means includes a constant-current
circuit for supplying a current to each GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device to be driven, and on-off
of a switching element of the constant-current circuit is
controlled.




I CLAIMS
1. A GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
comprising:
(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and barrier layers for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active layer so as to satisfy the relation di 2. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the following relations are
satisfied:
500 (nm) 0 wherein X2 (nm) is the emission wavelength of the active layer when an operating current density is 30 A/cm2, and X3 (nm) is the emission wavelength of the active layer when an

operating current density is 300 A/cm2.
3. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the following relations are
satisfied:
500 (nm) 0 0 wherein ~ki (nm) is the emission wavelength of the active layer when an operating current density is 1 A/cm2, A,2 (nm) is the emission wavelength of the active layer when an operating current density is 30 A/cm2, and X3 (nm) is the emission wavelength of the active layer when an operating current density is 300 A/cm2.
4. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the following relations are
satisfied:
430 (nm) 0 wherein A,2 (nm) is the emission wavelength of the active layer when an operating current density is 30 A/cm2, and X3 (nm) is the emission wavelength of the active layer when an operating current density is 300 A/cm2.
5. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the following relations are
satisfied:
430 (nm) 0 0 wherein lx (nm) is the emission wavelength of the active layer when an operating current density is 1 A/cm2, X2 (nm) is the emission wavelength of the active layer when an .operating current density is 30 A/cm2, and X3 (nm) is the emission wavelength of the active layer when an operating current density is 300 A/cm2.
6. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein when the total thickness of
the active layer is t0, the well layer density in an active
layer first region ranging from the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer-side interface to the thickness of
(to/3) in the active layer is di, and the well layer density
in an active layer second region ranging from the second
GaN-based compound semiconductor layer-side interface to the
thickness of (2t0/3) in the active layer is d2, the well
layers are disposed in the active layer to satisfy the
relation di 7. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein when the total thickness of
the active layer is t0, the well layer density in an active
layer first region ranging from the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer-side interface to the thickness of
(to/2) in the active layer is di, and the well layer density
in an active layer second region ranging from the second
GaN-based compound semiconductor layer-side interface to the
thickness of (t0/2) in the active layer is d2/ the well
layers are disposed in the active layer to satisfy the
relation di 8. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein when the total thickness of
the active layer is t0, the well layer density in an active
layer first region ranging from the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer-side interface to the thickness of
(2to/3) in the active layer is di, and the well layer density in an active layer second region ranging from the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer-side interface to the thickness of (t0/3) in the active layer is d2, the well layers are disposed in the active layer to satisfy the relation di 9. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device

according to claim 1, wherein the well layers are disposed in the active layer to satisfy the relation 1.2 10. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the thicknesses of the barrier
layers change from the first GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side to the second GaN-based compound
semiconductor layer side.
11. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the thicknesses of the barrier
layers change in three steps or more from the first GaN-
based compound semiconductor layer side to the second GaN-
based compound semiconductor layer side.
12. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the barrier
layer nearest the second GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer is 20 nm or less.
13. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the barrier
layer nearest the first GaN-based compound semiconductor
layer is twice or more the thickness of the barrier layer
nearest the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer.
14. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the active layer contains
indium atoms.
15. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the number of the well layers
in the active layer is 4 or more.
16. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, further comprising:
(D) an underlying layer containing In atoms and formed
between the first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer and
the active layer; and
(E) a superlattice layer containing a p-type dopant and
formed between the active layer and the second GaN-based
compound semiconductor layer.
17. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the GaN-based compound
semiconductor layers constituting the active layer are
composed of an undoped GaN-based compound semiconductor, or
the n-type impurity concentration of the GaN-based compound
semiconductor layers constituting the active layer is less
than 2 x 1017/cm3.
18. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the length of the short side
or the short diameter of the active layer is 0.1 mm or less.
19. The GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device
according to claim 1, wherein the length of the short side
or the short diameter of the active layer is 0.03 mm or less
20. A light illuminator comprising a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device and a color conversion
material on which light emitted from the GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device is incident and which
emits light at a wavelength different from the wavelength of
the light emitted from GaN-based semiconductor light-
emitting device, the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device including:

(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and barrier layers for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active
layer so as to satisfy the relation d1 21. The light illuminator according to claim 20, wherein
light emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor light-
emitting device is blue, and light emitted from the color
conversion material is at least one type of light selected
from the group consisting of yellow, green, and red.
22. The light illuminator according to claim 20, wherein
the colors of light emitted from the GaN-based semiconductor
light-emitting device and light emitted from the color
conversion material are mixed to emit white light.
23. An image display device comprising a GaN-based
semiconductor light-emitting device for displaying an image,
the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device including:

(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and barrier layers for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active layer so as to satisfy the relation d1 24. An image display device comprising light-emitting device units for displaying a color image, which are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix and each of which includes a first light-emitting device emitting blue light, a second light-emitting device emitting green light, and a third light-emitting device emitting red light, a GaN-based semiconductor light emitting device constituting at least one of the first light-emitting device, the second light-emitting device, and the third light-emitting device including:
(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and barrier layers for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active layer so as to satisfy the relation d1 25. The image display device according to claim 23 or 24,
further comprising a light valve.
26. The image display device according to claim 23 or 24,
wherein the length of the short side or the short diameter
of the active layer is 0.1 mm or less.
27. The image display device according to claim 23 or 24,
wherein the length of the short side or the short diameter
of the active layer is 0.03 mm or less.
28. A planar light source device for illuminating the
back of a transmissive or transflective liquid crystal
display device, the planar light source device comprising a
GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device provided as a
light source, the GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting
device including:
(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and barrier layers for
separating between the well layers; and
(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active layer so as to satisfy the relation d1 29. A liquid crystal display assembly comprising a transmissive or transflective liquid crystal display device and a planar light source device for illuminating the back of the liquid crystal display device, a GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device provided as a light source in the planar light source device including:
(A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer
having n-type conductivity;
(B) an active layer having a multi-quantum well
structure including well layers and barrier layers for
separating between the well layers; and

(C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer having p-type conductivity;
wherein the well layers are disposed in the active layer so as to satisfy the relation d1


Documents:

3304 PETITION.pdf

3304 PETITION.pdf ONLINE

3304-delnp-2007-Abstract-(30-11-2012).pdf

3304-delnp-2007-abstract.pdf

3304-delnp-2007-Claims-(30-11-2012).pdf

3304-delnp-2007-claims.pdf

3304-delnp-2007-Correspondance Others-(16-12-2014).pdf

3304-delnp-2007-Correspondence Others (30-11-2012).pdf

3304-delnp-2007-Correspondence Others-(30-11-2012).pdf

3304-delnp-2007-correspondence-others.pdf

3304-delnp-2007-description (complete).pdf

3304-delnp-2007-Drawings-(30-11-2012).pdf

3304-delnp-2007-drawings.pdf

3304-delnp-2007-form-1.pdf

3304-delnp-2007-Form-18-(18-07-2007).pdf

3304-delnp-2007-Form-2-(30-11-2012).pdf

3304-delnp-2007-form-2.pdf

3304-delnp-2007-Form-3-(30-11-2012).pdf

3304-delnp-2007-form-3.pdf

3304-delnp-2007-form-5.pdf

3304-delnp-2007-GPA-(16-12-2014).pdf

3304-delnp-2007-pct-301.pdf

3304-delnp-2007-pct-304.pdf

3304-delnp-2007-Petition-137-(30-11-2012).pdf


Patent Number 265688
Indian Patent Application Number 3304/DELNP/2007
PG Journal Number 11/2015
Publication Date 13-Mar-2015
Grant Date 05-Mar-2015
Date of Filing 03-May-2007
Name of Patentee SONY CORPORATION
Applicant Address 1-7-1 KONAN, MINATO-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 GOSHI BIWA AND HIROYUKI OKUYAMA C/O SONY CORPORATION OF 1-7-1 KONAN, MINATO-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN
PCT International Classification Number H01L 33/00
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP2006/317881
PCT International Filing date 2006-09-08
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 NA