# US 12,765,129 B2 · Light-emitting diode current steering device

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- Number: US 12,765,129 B2
- Document ID: US12765129B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/532,658
- Filed: 2023-12-07
- Published: 2024-06-27
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2022-12-25
- Assignees: Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor Corporation
- Applicants: Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor Corporation
- Inventors: Kuo-Chen Wu; Ching-Shih Ma
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12765129B2

## CPC

- H10H 20/8312: {extending at least partially through the bodies}
- H10H 20/82: Roughened surfaces, e.g. at the interface between epitaxial layers
- H10H 20/833: Transparent materials
- H10H: INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS

## Abstract

A light-emitting diode current steering device for enhancing the light extraction efficiency of the light-emitting diode and improving current-steering includes a contact electrode; a substrate connected to the contact electrode; a first electrode connected to the substrate; a first semiconductor layer electrically connected to the first electrode; the light-emitting layer electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer; the second semiconductor layer electrically connected to the light-emitting layer; the second electrode having a main electrode and a plurality of extension electrodes; a current steering layer disposed between one side of the second semiconductor layer and one side of the second electrode and having a main semiconductor layer and an etched region etched with the second electrode as a pattern reference to increase the resistance by etching so that the current flows in the direction toward the main semiconductor layer to achieve a steering effect.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A light-emitting diode current-steering device for enhancing light extraction efficiency of a light-emitting diode and improving current-steering, comprising:
a contact electrode;
a substrate connected to the contact electrode;
a first electrode connected to the substrate;
a first semiconductor layer electrically connected to the first electrode;
a light-emitting layer electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer;
a second semiconductor layer electrically connected to the light-emitting layer;
a second electrode having a main electrode and a plurality of extension electrodes; and
a current-steering layer disposed between one side of the second semiconductor layer and one side of the second electrode, the current-steering layer having a main semiconductor layer and an etched region formed by etching the current-steering layer such that the current-steering layer directly below the main electrode is completely removed, thereby increasing electrical resistance below the main electrode so that current flows in a direction toward the main semiconductor layer to achieve a steering effect.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The light-emitting diode current-steering device of claim 1, wherein the contact electrode is composed of a combination of titanium/gold or nickel/gold.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The light-emitting diode current-steering device of claim 1, wherein the first semiconductor layer is a P-type epitaxial layer or an N-type epitaxial layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The light-emitting diode current-steering device of claim 1, wherein the second semiconductor layer is a P-type epitaxial layer or an N-type epitaxial layer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The light-emitting diode current-steering device of claim 1, wherein a roughening process is performed on the main semiconductor layer to improve the light extraction efficiency.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The light-emitting diode current-steering device of claim 1, wherein the main semiconductor layer is a P-type epitaxial layer or an N-type epitaxial layer and has a thickness thinner than other semiconductor layers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The light-emitting diode current-steering device of claim 1, wherein a transparent electrode is further included between the first electrode and the substrate, and the transparent electrode is a conductive oxide.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The light-emitting diode current-steering device of claim 7, wherein a metal layer is optionally included between the first electrode and the substrate and is disposed on one side of the transparent electrode, and the metal layer is composed of titanium, gold, nickel or platinum.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The light-emitting diode current-steering device of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is composed of germanium, titanium, nickel, platinum, gold or chromium.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The light-emitting diode current-steering device of claim 1, wherein the main electrode and the extension electrodes are used as a reference for the etched region to determine a position of the etched region.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The light-emitting diode current-steering device of claim 10, wherein when the main electrode and the extension electrodes are used as the reference for the position of the etched region, the current-steering layer corresponding to a connection position between the main electrode and the extension electrodes is not etched to form the etched region, thereby achieving an improved steering effect.