Solid state transducer devices, including devices having integrated electrostatic discharge protection, and associated systems and methods

A solid state transducer device, comprising:

• a solid state emitter (SSE) formed on an epitaxial substrate;
• a plurality of electrostatic discharge (ESD) junctions arranged in parallel and/or series between a first shared contact and a second shared contact, the plurality of ESD junctions carried by the SSE, wherein:
• the plurality of ESD junctions include a portion of the epitaxial substrate;
• and
• the first and second shared contacts are the only externally accessible active electrical contacts for both the SSE and the plurality of ESD junctions.

A solid state transducer device, comprising:

• a solid state emitter (SSE) including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the first and second semiconductor layers;
• a reflective material coupled to the first semiconductor layer;
• and
• a plurality of electrostatic discharge (ESD) junctions arranged in parallel and/or series between a first shared contact and a second shared contact, the plurality of ESD junctions coupled to the reflective material, wherein the first and second shared contacts are the only externally accessible active electrical contacts for both the SSE and the plurality of ESD junctions.