Vertically printing leds in series

An illumination structure comprising:

• a conductor surface;
• a first layer of first vertical light emitting diodes (VLEDs) distributed on the conductor surface, the first VLEDs having a bottom electrode electrically contacting the conductor surface;
• a first dielectric layer between the first VLEDs;
• a first transparent conductor layer overlying the first VLEDs and first dielectric layer, the first VLEDs having a top electrode electrically contacting the first transparent conductor layer;
• a transparent second dielectric layer overlying the first transparent conductor layer;
• a second transparent conductor layer overlying the second dielectric layer;
• a second layer of second VLEDs distributed on the second transparent conductor layer, the second VLEDs having a bottom electrode electrically contacting the second transparent conductor layer, the second layer of second VLEDs overlying the first layer of first VLEDs;
• a transparent third dielectric layer between the second VLEDs;
• and
• a third transparent conductor layer overlying the second VLEDs and third dielectric layer, the second VLEDs having a top electrode electrically contacting the third transparent conductor layer,
• wherein the first VLEDs are connected in parallel by the conductor surface and the first transparent conductor layer,
• wherein the second VLEDs are connected in parallel by the second transparent conductor layer and the third transparent conductor layer,
• wherein the first layer of first VLEDs and the second layer of second VLEDs are connectable in series by shorting the first transparent conductor layer to the second transparent conductor layer;
• and
• wherein the first VLEDs and the second VLEDs are not vertically aligned so that a majority of light exiting the first VLEDs is not blocked by the second VLEDs when the first VLEDs and the second VLEDs are turned on.

A process for forming an illumination structure comprising:

• providing a substrate with a conductor surface;
• printing a first layer of first vertical light emitting diodes (VLEDs) on the conductor surface, the first VLEDs having a bottom electrode electrically contacting the conductor surface;
• depositing a first dielectric layer between the first VLEDs;
• depositing a first transparent conductor layer overlying the first VLEDs and first dielectric layer, the first VLEDs having a top electrode electrically contacting the first transparent conductor layer;
• printing a second layer of second VLEDs on the first transparent conductor layer, the second VLEDs having a bottom electrode electrically contacting the first transparent conductor layer, the second layer of second VLEDs overlying the first layer of first VLEDs, the second VLEDs not being vertically aligned with the first VLEDs;
• depositing a transparent second dielectric layer between the second VLEDs;
• and
• depositing a second transparent conductor layer overlying the second VLEDs and second dielectric layer, the second VLEDs having a top electrode electrically contacting the second transparent conductor layer,
• wherein the first VLEDs are connected in parallel by the conductor surface and the first transparent conductor layer,
• wherein the second VLEDs are connected in parallel by the first transparent conductor layer and the second transparent conductor layer,
• wherein the first layer of first VLEDs and the second layer of second VLEDs are connected in series by the first transparent conductor layer;
• and
• wherein the first VLEDs and the second VLEDs are arranged such that a majority of light exiting the first VLEDs is not blocked by the second VLEDs when the first VLEDs and the second VLEDs are turned on.