Patent ID: 7642626
Filing Date: 2010-01-05
Classification: H01L,H01S

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor device comprising: a semiconductor structure defining a semiconductor mesa having a mesa surface and mesa sidewalls; a first passivation layer on at least portions of the mesa sidewalls wherein at least a portion of the mesa surface is free of the first passivation layer and wherein the first passivation layer comprises a first material; and a second passivation layer on the first passivation layer wherein at least a portion of the mesa surface is free of the second passivation layer, and wherein the second passivation layer comprises a second material different than the first material wherein a combined thickness of the first and second passivation layers is greater than a thickness of the semiconductor mesa, and wherein the semiconductor mesa is on a semiconductor base layer, wherein the mesa sidewalls are between the mesa surface and the semiconductor base layer, wherein the semiconductor base layer extends beyond the mesa sidewalls in a direction parallel with respect to the mesa surface, and wherein the semiconductor structure defines a current path through the semiconductor mesa and portions of the semiconductor base layer outside the semiconductor mesa.