Patent ID: 7737451

Claim:
A light emitting diode (LED), comprising: a first n-type layer of Group III nitride semiconductor material; an active region of Group III nitride semiconductor material electrically connected to said first n-type layer; a p-type layer of Group III nitride semiconductor material electrically connected to said active region; a second n-type layer of Group III nitride semiconductor material electrically connected with said p-type layer; a p-type junction layer of Group III nitride semiconductor material interposed directly between said second n-type layer and said p-type layer such that there are no intervening layers and comprising a material different from said second n-type layer and said p-type layer; and a tunnel junction between said p-type layer and second n-type layer, such that said active region emits light upon the application of a bias applied across said first and second n-type layers, wherein said junction layer comprises AlGaN and said second n-type and p-type layers comprise GaN.