Patent ID: 7601989

Claim:
A light emitting diode (LED) structure comprising: a plurality of LED layers including a first cladding layer, an active layer, and a second cladding layer grown on a growth substrate, the first cladding layer being of a first conductivity type, and the second cladding layer being of an opposite second conductivity type; a porous semiconductor layer overlying the second cladding layer, the porous semiconductor layer containing pores having a sub-micron minimum diameter, the pores having characteristics that diffuse light generated by the active layer; a first metal, overlying the porous semiconductor layer, that electrically contacts the second cladding layer such that a majority of current flows between the first metal and the second cladding layer without being substantially conducted through porous areas of the porous semiconductor layer; a second metal electrically contacting the first cladding layer; and metal-filled vias through the porous semiconductor layer to allow the first metal to electrically contact the second cladding layer.