Patent ID: 6236065
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A light-emitting diode array comprising:a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, and a plurality of light-emitting elements linearly arranged on the substrate of the first conductivity type,each of the plurality of light-emitting elements having integrally formed light-emitting and pad electrode sections and comprising:a lower cladding layer of the first conductivity type; an upper cladding layer of a second conductivity type; an (Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x)In.sub.1-y P (where 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1 and 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1) active layer interposed between the lower cladding layer and the upper cladding layer the upper cladding layer being contained, from a plan view, within the active layer; a current diffusion layer of the second conductivity type deposited on the upper cladding layer; an insulating layer formed on the current diffusion layer in the pad electrode section, but not in the light-emitting section; an electrode of the second conductivity type having a first portion formed on the insulating layer in the pad electrode section and a second portion formed on the current diffusion layer in the light-emitting section; and a bonding pad formed on the first portion of the electrode of the second conductivity type,wherein an isolation groove that surrounds both the light-emitting section and the pad electrode section of each of two adjacent light-emitting elements among the plurality of light-emitting elements is provided in order to isolate these two adjacent light-emitting elements into respective, isolated island-like mesa regions, the isolation groove penetrating at least the current diffusion layer and the upper cladding layer, but not reaching the upper surface of the lower cladding layer, andwherein a surface of each island-like region defined by the electrode of the corresponding light-emitting element is flat, except for a stepped portion between the first and second portions of the electrode due to the thickness of the insulating layer.