Patent ID: 6420732
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A light emitting diode, comprising:a first electrode; a substrate formed on said first electrode; a first confining layer of a first conductivity type formed on said substrate; an active region formed on said first confining layer; a second confining layer of a second conductivity type formed on said active region; a window layer of said second conductivity type formed on said second confining layer, said window layer having a hollow portion extending from the top surface of said window layer and extending into said window layer; a contact layer of said second conductivity type formed on said window layer for making ohmic contact, said contact layer having a hollow portion extending from the top surface of said contact layer to the bottom surface of said contact layer, thereby exposing said hollow portion in said window layer; an electrically conductive oxide layer having a lower surface and an upper surface formed on said contact layer, said electrically conductive oxide layer being at least partially transparent, said electrically conductive oxide layer having an outer region and an inner current blocking region, said inner current blocking region of said conductive oxide layer extending from said lower surface of said electrically conductive oxide layer through said hollow portion in said contact layer and into said hollow portion in said window layer, electrical resistivity of said electrically conductive oxide layer being less than electrical resistivity of said window layer and said contact layer; and a second electrode formed on a portion of said upper surface of said electrically conductive oxide layer, said second electrode being approximately aligned with said hollow portion in said contact layer and said hollow portion in said window layer.