Three-Terminal Light Emitting Thyristor Array Wiring

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increased number of wirings and electrodes in three-terminal light emitting thyristor array chips leads to a higher possibility of short circuiting and larger device sizes due to crossing wirings and electrodes, which is not effectively addressed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

A semiconductor device with a three-terminal light emitting element array where a common layer connects adjacent elements, and lead-out wiring portions extend perpendicular to the element arrangement, preventing crossing and optimizing space usage to reduce short circuiting and device size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If three-terminal light emitting thyristors are used instead of LEDs, then light emission control capability is improved, but the number of wirings and electrodes increases leading to higher short circuit risk and larger device size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight emission control capabilityVSAvoidshort circuit risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cathode connections of multiple adjacent light emitting thyristors into a common cathode layer, eliminating the need for individual cathode wirings for each element. This reduces the total number of wirings and electrodes while maintaining the three-terminal control capability, thereby reducing short circuit risk without sacrificing adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common cathode layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the cathode terminal for all light emitting thyristors, provides a common electrical connection, and serves as a structural baseline for arranging the light emitting elements. This multi-functionality reduces the overall wiring complexity and improves reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If three-terminal light emitting thyristors are used instead of LEDs, then light emission control capability is improved, but the device size increases due to crossing wirings and electrodes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight emission control capabilityVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple cathode connections into a single common cathode layer, the patent eliminates the need for separate cathode wirings for each light emitting thyristor. This consolidation significantly reduces the space required for wirings and electrodes, preventing device size increase while maintaining full control capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from planar wiring arrangements to a layered three-dimensional structure where the common cathode layer is positioned beneath the light emitting elements. This dimensional change allows wirings to be arranged more efficiently in space, reducing the footprint and preventing device size increase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the number of wirings and electrodes is increased, then three-terminal light emitting thyristor functionality is achieved, but the possibility of short circuiting increases due to wiring crossings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethree-terminal functionalityVSAvoidshort circuit possibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple cathode wirings into a single common cathode layer, directly reducing the number of wiring crossings and potential short circuit points while preserving the three-terminal functionality of each light emitting thyristor through the common connection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the cathode connection function from individual wirings for each light emitting thyristor and consolidates it into a shared common cathode layer. This extraction eliminates redundant wirings and their associated crossing points, reducing short circuit possibility while maintaining functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2272677B1Semiconductor device, optical print head and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2017.02.15 OKI DATA CORP

AI summary

A semiconductor device includes three-terminal light emitting element array provided on a substrate, which includes a plurality of three-terminal light emitting elements which are substantially linearly arranged. Each three-terminal light emitting elements includes a first, second and third terminals. The third terminal is used to control a current between the first and second terminals. A Lead-out wiring portion is connected to the plurality of three-terminal light emitting elements. The three-terminal light emitting element array includes a common layer provided between two or more three-terminal light emitting elements adjacent to each other. The common layer mutually connects the second terminals (or the third terminals) of che two or three three-terminal light emitting elements. The lead-out wiring portion includes wirings led from the common layer and the plurality of three-terminal light emitting elements and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to an arranging direction of the plurality of three-terminal light emitting elements.