a b s t r a c tIn this paper a novel technique to analyze the low-voltage breakdown regime of silicon diodes is presented. It is shown that the field emission tunnel current component of the reverse current does not cause energy transitions of carriers, and therefore will not emit photons. All photons being emitted from the pn junction are due to avalanche electroluminescence as a result of hot carrier energy relaxation processes. Measuring the light intensity output as a function of reverse current, the two current components (field emission and impact ionization) can be extracted as a function of reverse voltage. The experimental results were verified using the differential dynamic impedance method, as well as fitting a theoretical model to the extracted tunnel current. The temperature coefficient of current also indicated the transition from tunneling to avalanche.
Display technologies always seem to find a wide range of interesting applications. As devices develop towards miniaturization, niche applications for small displays may emerge. While OLEDs and LCDs dominate the market for small displays, they have some shortcomings as relatively expensive technologies. Although CMOS is certainly not the dominating semiconductor for photonics, its widespread use, favourable cost and robustness present an attractive potential if it could find application in the microdisplay environment. Advances in improving the quantum efficiency of avalanche electroluminescence and the favourable spectral characteristics of light generated through the said mechanism may afford CMOS the possibility to be used as a display technology. This work shows that it is possible to integrate a fully functional display in a completely standard CMOS technology mainly geared towards digital design while using light sources completely compatible with the process and without any post processing required.
CMOS offers the advantage of large scale functional integration into small form factor integrated circuits. Current mainstream display technologies such as OLEDs and LCDs dominate the market for small displays. The possibility, however, of extending microdisplay capabilities to CMOS may be useful for a number of reasons. Although CMOS is certainly not the dominating semiconductor for photonics, the platform may offer advantages in terms of cost and the ability to integrate driver and logic circuitry on a single die. This, together with the technology maturity and long standing manufacturing experience, may result in a potent platform for microdisplays. Advances in improving the quantum efficiency of avalanche electroluminescence and the favourable spectral characteristics of light generated through the said mechanism may afford CMOS the possibility to be used as a display technology. This work shows that it is possible to integrate a fully functional display in a completely standard CMOS technology, utilizing avalanche electroluminescence for visible light. The prototype was designed and manufactured in a standard process geared towards digital design while using light sources completely compatible with the process and without any post processing required.
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