Light source and technique for mounting light emitting diodes

A light source comprising:

• a substrate;
• a light emitting diode having a light emitting junction perpendicular to the substrate;
• a non-conductive layer for reflection on a face of the light emitting diode parallel to the junction;
• a metal layer over the non-conductive layer;
• at least one hole through the non-conductive layer for electrical contact between the metal layer and the light emitting diode;
• and
• means for mounting the light emitting diode on the substrate with the junction and the metal layer perpendicular to the substrate, the metal layer being in electrical contact with a conductive area on the substrate.

A light source comprising:

• a substrate comprising:
• a first plurality of electrically conductive areas formed on the substrate for electrical connection between a light emitting diode and an external circuit,
• an insulating layer over at least a portion of the conductive areas, and
• a hole through the insulating layer for electrical contact;
• a light emitting diode having a light emitting junction perpendicular to the substrate and having a first electrically conductive layer on an end face of the light emitting diode parallel to the junction and a second electrically conductive layer on an opposite end face of the light emitting diode parallel to the junction;
• means for mounting the light emitting diode on the substrate with the junction perpendicular to the substrate and the electrically conductive layers in electrical contact with the conductive areas through the hole;
• a non-conductive layer formed over the substrate and covering at least a portion of the first conductive areas;
• a second plurality of electrically conductive areas formed on the non-conductive layer;
• wherein the insulating layer covers at least a portion of the second plurality of electrically conductive areas;
• a plurality of holes through the insulating and non-conductive layers, each hole overlying such a second conductive area on the non-conductive layer and also overlying a first conductive area formed on the substrate;
• and
• a light emitting diode mounted in each hole with a light emitting junction perpendicular to the substrate, each light emitting diode comprising a metal layer on each of a pair of end faces parallel to the junction, the metal layer on one end face being in electrical contact with a first conductive area on the substrate and the metal layer on another end face being in electrical contact with a second conductive area on the non-conductive layer.