Patent ID: 8076694

Claim:
A three-terminal nitride semiconductor element comprising: a protective element portion having an n-type Si substrate, the protective element portion extending between a first main surface which is a surface of said n-type Si substrate, and a second main surface which is opposite to said first main surface; a light emitting element portion having a nitride semiconductor layer laminated on said n-type Si substrate of said protective element portion, said nitride semiconductor layer of said light emitting element being laminated directly on said protective element portion, such that said light emitting element portion is laminated directly on said second main surface of said protective element portion; a p-electrode, as one of three terminals, provided on said light emitting element portion; a first n-electrode, as another of three terminals, provided on said light emitting element portion; and a second n-electrode, as another of three terminals, provided on said first main surface of said protective element portion; wherein said protective element portion includes a p-type Si semiconductor layer, said nitride semiconductor layer includes a n-type nitride semiconductor layer, and a junction portion between said protective element portion and said light emitting element portion is formed by said p-type Si semiconductor layer and said n-type nitride semiconductor layer.