Patent ID: 6952024

Claim:
A light emitting device comprising: a silicon carbide substrate; a cladding layer consisting essentially of an epitaxial layer of silicon carbide on said substrate; a Group III nitride cladding layer of Al x In y Ga 1-x-y N, where 0<x<1 and 0≦y<1 and (x+y)<1; an active layer of Al x In y Ga 1-x-y N, where 0≦x<1 and 0<y≦1 and (x+y)≦1, said active layer having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said active layer being in contact with said silicon carbide cladding layer and said second surface of said active layer being in contact with said Group III nitride cladding layer; wherein the molar fraction of aluminum in said Group III nitride cladding layer is greater than the molar fraction of aluminum in said active layer; wherein said silicon carbide cladding layer and said Group III nitride cladding layer have respective bandgaps that are larger than the bandgap of said active layer; and wherein said silicon carbide substrate, said silicon carbide cladding layer, and said active layer are doped layers of the same conductivity type, and said Group III nitride cladding layer is doped to the opposite conductivity type.