Patent ID: 6489659
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A non-hermetic APD that during operation has a reverse bias voltage applied thereto, comprisinga semiconductor body including Group III-V compounds from the InP/InGaAsP materials system, a p-n junction formed in said body so as to intersect a top surface thereof, a patterned dielectric region formed on said surface so as to cover at least those areas where said junction intersects said surface, said dielectric region having an opening therein that exposes an underlying portion of said surface on one side of said junction, an electrode formed in said opening so as to make electrical contact to said one side of said junction, characterized in that said APD is exposed to a moisture-containing ambient, said dielectric region comprises a multiplicity of layers having a total thickness greater than about 2 &mgr;m, thereby reducing the leakage current therethrough to less than about 1 nA and inhibiting any significant oxidation of said dielectric region, and said multiplicity comprises a nitride first layer, that includes silicon and nitrogen, disposed on said surface, an organic second layer disposed on said first layer, and a hard dielectric third layer disposed on said second layer.