Light-emitting devices

Abstract

Light-emitting devices, and related components, systems and methods are disclosed.

1 - 35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . A light-emitting device comprising: 
 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.    
   
   
       37 . A light-emitting device, comprising: 
 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.    
   
   
       38 . The light-emitting device of  claim 37 , wherein a material having an index of refraction of less than about 1.5 is between the first sheet and the surface of the first layer.  
   
   
       39 . The light-emitting device of  claim 37 , wherein the light-emitting device is free of an encapsulant material.  
   
   
       40 . The light-emitting device of  claim 37 , wherein the surface of the first layer has a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a pattern.  
   
   
       41 . The light-emitting device of  claim 37 , wherein the light-emitting device is in the form of a packaged die.  
   
   
       42 . The light-emitting device of  claim 37 , wherein a gas is present between the multi-layer stack of materials and the first sheet.  
   
   
       43 . The light-emitting device of  claim 42 , wherein the gas comprises air.  
   
   
       44 . The light-emitting device of  claim 42 , wherein a pressure of the gas is less than about 100 Torr.  
   
   
       45 . The light-emitting device of  claim 37 , wherein the first and second sheets are configured so that light generated by the light-generating region that emerges via the surface of the first layer can interact with the phosphor material, and so that light that emerges via the surface of the first layer and interacts with the phosphor material emerges from the cover as substantially white light.  
   
   
       46 . The light-emitting device of  claim 37 , wherein the light-emitting device is free of an encapsulant material.  
   
   
       47 - 48 . (canceled)  
   
   
       49 . The light-emitting device of  claim 36 , wherein the surface of the first layer has features with a size of less than about λ/5, where λ is a wavelength of light that can be generated by the light-generating region and that can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer.  
   
   
       50 . The light-emitting device of  claim 37 , wherein the surface of the first layer has features with a size of less than about λ/5, where λ is a wavelength of light that can be generated by the light-generating region and that can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer.  
   
   
       51 . A light-emitting device, comprising: 
 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,    a layer comprising a material that is substantially transparent to light that emerges from the light-emitting device; and    a material having an index of refraction of at most about 1.5 disposed between the surface of the first layer and the layer that comprises the material that is substantially transparent to light that emerges from the light-emitting device.    wherein sidewalls of the light-emitting device are substantially devoid of the phosphor material.    
   
   
       52 . The light-emitting device of  claim 51 , wherein the light emitting device is packaged.  
   
   
       53 . The light-emitting device of  claim 52 , wherein at least some of the phosphor material is disposed within the layer that comprises the material that is substantially transparent to light that emerges from the light-emitting device.  
   
   
       54 . The light-emitting device of  claim 51 , wherein the pattern has an ideal lattice constant and a detuning parameter with a value greater than zero.  
   
   
       55 . The light-emitting device of  claim 51 , wherein the pattern does not extend into the light-generating region.  
   
   
       56 . The light-emitting device of  claim 51 , wherein the pattern does not extend beyond the first layer.  
   
   
       57 . The light-emitting device of  claim 51 , wherein the pattern extends beyond the first layer.  
   
   
       58 . The light-emitting device of  claim 51 , further comprising 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.