Light emitting systems

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a light-generating region and a first layer supported by the light-generating region,
• wherein:
• a surface of the first layer is configured so that light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer;
• the surface has a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a nonperiodic pattern;
• and
• the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a light-generating region and a first layer supported by the light-generating region,
• wherein:
• a surface of the first layer is configured so that light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer;
• the surface has a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a complex periodic pattern;
• and
• the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a layer of n-doped material, a layer of p-doped material, and a light-generating region;
• and
• a layer of reflective material that is capable of reflecting at least about 50% of light generated by the light-generating region that impinges on the layer of reflective material,
• wherein:
• a surface of the layer of n-doped material is configured so that light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the layer of n-doped material;
• the surface of the layer of n-doped material has a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a pattern;
• a distance between the layer of p-doped material and the layer of reflective material is less than a distance between the layer of n-doped material and the layer of reflective material;
• and
• the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the n-doped layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a light-generating region and a first layer supported by the light-generating region, a surface of the first layer being configured so that light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, and the surface of the first layer has a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a pattern;
• and
• a layer of reflective material that is capable of reflecting at least about 50% of light generated by the light-generating region that impinges on the layer of reflective material,
• wherein:
• the light-generating region is between the layer of reflective material and the first layer;
• the pattern does not extend beyond the first layer;
• and
• the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a light-generating region, and a first layer supported by the light-generating region, a surface of the first layer being configured so that light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer;
• and
• a material in contact with the surface of the first layer, the material having an index of refraction less than about 1.5,
• wherein the light emitting device is packaged, and the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a light-generating region and a first layer supported by the light-generating region, a surface of the first layer being configured so that light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the surface of the first layer having a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a pattern;
• and
• a phosphor material supported by the surface of the first layer,
• wherein sidewalls of the light-emitting device are substantially devoid of the phosphor material, and the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a light-generating region and a first layer supported by the light-generating region, a surface of the first layer being configured so that light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the surface of the first layer having a dielectric function that varies spatially as a pattern;
• and
• a phosphor material configured so that light generated by the light-generating region that emerges via the surface of the first layer interacts with the phosphor material so that light that emerges from the phosphor layer is substantially white light,
• wherein a ratio of a height of the light-emitting device to an area of the light-emitting device is sufficiently small enough for the white light to extend in all directions, and the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a light-generating region, and a first layer supported by the light-generating region, a surface of the first layer being configured so that light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer;
• a first sheet comprising a material that is substantially transparent to light that emerges from the light-emitting device;
• and
• a second sheet comprising a phosphor material, the second sheet being adjacent the first sheet,
• wherein the light-emitting device is packaged, and the first and second sheets form a portion of the package for the light-emitting device, and the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a light-generating region and a first layer supported by the light-generating region,
• wherein:
• a surface of the first layer is configured so that light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer;
• the surface of the first layer has a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a pattern;
• the pattern is configured so that light generated by the light-generating region that emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer is more collimated than a Lambertian distribution of light;
• and
• the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a light-generating region and a first layer supported by the light-generating region so that, during use of the light-emitting device, light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via a surface of the first layer,
• wherein:
• the surface of the first layer has a dielectric function that varies spatially as a pattern, and at least about 45% of a total amount of light generated by the light-generating region that emerges from the light-emitting device emerges via the surface of the light-emitting device;
• and
• the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a light-generating region and a first layer supported by the light-generating region so that, during use of the light-emitting device, light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via a surface of the first layer,
• wherein:
• the light-emitting device has an edge which is at least about one millimeter long, and the light-emitting device is designed so that an extraction efficiency of the light-emitting device is substantially independent of the length of the edge of the light-emitting device;
• and
• the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a light-generating region and a first layer supported by the light-generating region so that, during use of the light-emitting device, light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via a surface of the first layer,
• wherein:
• the light-emitting device has an edge which is at least about one millimeter long, and the light-emitting device is designed so that a quantum efficiency of the light-emitting device is substantially independent of the length of the edge of the light-emitting device;
• and
• the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.

A light-emitting system including a light-emitting device that comprises:

• a multi-layer stack of materials including a light-generating region and a first layer supported by the light-generating region so that, during use of the light-emitting device, light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via a surface of the first layer,
• wherein:
• the light-emitting device has an edge which is at least about one millimeter long, and the light-emitting device is designed so that a wall plug efficiency of the light-emitting device is substantially independent of the length of the edge of the light-emitting device;
• and
• the light-emitting device is configured so that, when light generated by the light-generating region emerges from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer, the light can emerge from the light-emitting system.