Semiconductor Emitter Structure With Plasmonic Extraction and Pixel Reflectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrooptical elements suffer from reduced light extraction efficiency and maximum luminance due to total reflection on the emission surface and wide emission angles, leading to inefficient light utilization.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a light emitter on a substrate, a metallic nanoantenna structure using surface plasmon resonance, and a reflector to improve light extraction and directionality, while maintaining high internal quantum efficiency of the exciton.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional electrooptical element is used, then the device structure is simple, but light extraction efficiency is reduced due to total reflection on the emission surface
Solution Approach 1:
The emission surface is segmented by forming microlens arrays that divide the surface into multiple optical units, each capable of independently controlling light extraction. This segmentation allows light to be extracted through multiple pathways, overcoming the total reflection problem while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized lens array fabrication processes
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a planar emission surface to a three-dimensional microlens structure. By adding vertical dimensionality with lens protrusions, light extraction occurs not only from the top surface but also from the lateral surfaces of the microlenses, effectively increasing the extraction area and efficiency without significantly complicating the manufacturing process
2Device complexity
If a conventional electrooptical element is used, then the device configuration is simple, but light utilization efficiency is reduced due to wide emission angle
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the microlens array are designed with varying optical properties to control light emission directionality. By adjusting the local curvature, size, and material composition of individual microlenses, light can be directed toward specific angles and regions, improving light utilization efficiency while maintaining overall device configuration simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The microlens array is pre-configured during manufacturing to establish predetermined light emission patterns. This preliminary optical path design ensures that light is directed toward intended display regions before emission, reducing wasted light in unintended directions without requiring complex real-time control mechanisms
3Illumination intensity
If light extraction efficiency is improved, then maximum luminance increases, but light leakage between adjacent pixels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microlens array is segmented with individual lenses corresponding to specific pixel regions, and reflectors are positioned between adjacent pixel areas. This segmentation confines light extraction to designated pixel zones while using reflectors to block and redirect light that might otherwise leak into adjacent pixels, thereby maintaining high luminance without increasing light leakage
Solution Approach 2:
Light that would normally leak between pixels is converted into a beneficial resource by using reflectors to redirect this stray light back toward the intended emission direction or toward adjacent pixels that could utilize it. This transforms the harmful light leakage into additional useful light output, maintaining or even enhancing maximum luminance while reducing pixel crosstalk
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances light extraction efficiency and utilization, suppressing the reduction in maximum luminance and power consumption, and reducing light leakage between adjacent pixels.
Implementation Method 1
a microstructure made of metal disposed on a side opposite to the substrate with the light emitter interposed between the microstructure and the substrate
Implementation Method 2
a reflector provided on the substrate, the reflector partitioning the semiconductor device and an adjacent semiconductor device
Data Source
AI summary
Reduction of the maximum luminance is suppressed. A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a light emitter (105) provided on an upper surface of a substrate, a metal microstructure (108) disposed on a side opposite to the substrate with the light emitter interposed therebetween and spaced apart from the light emitter by a predetermined distance, and a reflector (109) provided on the substrate so as to partition adjacent semiconductor devices.