Light Emitting Thyristor Island Structures for High Density Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Increasing the density of light emitting thyristors in a light emitting element array to achieve higher resolution in electro-photographic printers without reducing the amount of light emission from each thyristor is challenging due to the conventional structure limitations.
Innovation Solution
A light emitting element array with island structures of stacked semiconductor layers, where multiple light emitting thyristors are connected to a common shift thyristor, and the depth of the first element-isolating groove is minimized to reduce the interval between thyristors, allowing for a smaller pitch without reducing light emission output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the density of light emitting thyristors is increased to achieve higher resolution, then the resolution is improved, but the area of each light emitting thyristor is reduced and the amount of light emission is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies vertical stacking of semiconductor layers to create island structures, transitioning from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration. This allows multiple light emitting thyristors to be positioned vertically above each other within the same footprint area, increasing density without reducing the active area of each individual thyristor, thereby maintaining light emission intensity while achieving higher resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the semiconductor structure into multiple discrete island structures, each containing light emitting thyristors connected to a common shift thyristor. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each island's thyristor area while achieving high overall density through the stacked configuration, resolving the contradiction between individual thyristor area and overall device density
2Measurement precision
If the pitch of light emitting elements is reduced to increase density, then the resolution is improved, but the area of each light emitting thyristor is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By stacking semiconductor layers vertically to form island structures, the patent enables reduced horizontal pitch between light emitting elements while maintaining adequate vertical separation and active area for each thyristor. The third dimension provides additional space that decouples the pitch reduction from area reduction, allowing high density without compromising individual device dimensions
3Device complexity
If multiple light emitting thyristors are connected to one shift thyristor to simplify structure, then the number of wirings is reduced, but the density of light emitting thyristors is limited by the conventional structure
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical stacking of island structures allows multiple light emitting thyristors to be connected to a single shift thyristor through vertical interconnections, simplifying the wiring structure. The three-dimensional arrangement enables higher density by positioning thyristors in the vertical dimension while maintaining simple lateral connections, thus achieving both wiring simplification and increased density simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
In a light emitting element array in which a plurality of components having multiple light emitting thyristors connected to a single shift thyristor are arranged in a plurality of lines, the density of the light emitting thyristor is increased without reduction in the amount of light emission of each of the light emitting thyristors. In the light emitting element array in which multiple light emitting thyristors are formed on a single island structure and the multiple light emitting thyristors are connected to a single shift thyristor, a first element-isolating groove that element-isolates the multiple light emitting thyristors from each other inside the single island structure is formed shallower than a second element-isolating groove that element-isolates the island structure.