Patent ID: 7504658

Claim:
Semiconductor sensor element having a substrate base ( 1 ), a homogeneous semiconductor layer ( 2 , 2 f ) which is disposed on the substrate base ( 1 ) and contains semiconductor compounds based on nitrides of the main Group III elements or is formed therefrom, the surface of the homogeneous semiconductor layer ( 2 , 2 f ) orientated towards the substrate base ( 1 ) at least partially not abutting directly on the substrate base ( 1 ) or having a spacing from the surface of the substrate base ( 1 ) orientated towards the homogeneous semiconductor layer ( 2 , 2 f ), wherein at least two electrical conducting contacts ( 5 ) for conducting an electrical output signal which can be generated by the homogeneous semiconductor layer ( 2 , 2 f ) on the basis of a change in a physical variable to be determined by means of the semiconductor sensor element are disposed on, at and/or under the homogeneous semiconductor layer ( 2 , 2 f ) or are integrated in the latter, and wherein there is disposed on or at the homogeneous semiconductor layer ( 2 , 2 f ) on the side thereof oriented away from the substrate base, a cover layer ( 2 e ) of Al y Ga 1-y N or In y Ga 1-y N or In y Al 1-y N with a relative element content of 0<=y<=1.0, in order to form a heterostructure of semiconductor compounds based on nitrides of the main Group III elements.