Patent ID: 6495380
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of fabricating a semiconductor photodiode comprising epitaxially grown layers of semiconductor material lying substantially parallel to each other, the photodiode having a horizontal direction lying parallel to the layers and a vertical direction lying perpendicular to the layers, the method comprising the steps of:forming a first doped layer having a p-type conductivity; forming at least one intrinsic layer, one such intrinsic layer lying adjacent to the first doped layer; forming a second doped layer having an n-type conductivity, such that the second doped layer is adjacent to one intrinsic layer; etching parts of the second doped layer to produce an island-like structure, and thereby partially exposing the intrinsic layer lying adjacent to the second doped layer; following the step of etching parts of the second doped layer, forming a doped region having a p-type conductivity in each of two horizontal edges of each layer except the second doped layer to form two generally vertical boundaries, such that the horizontal dimension of the portion of each layer which does not contain the doped regions decreases with vertical proximity to the second doped layer.