Patent ID: 7923749

Claim:
A III-nitride compound semiconductor light emitting device including an n-type III-nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer made of III-nitride semiconductor and deposited over the n-type III-nitride semiconductor layer, a p-type III-nitride semiconductor layer deposited over the active layer made of III-nitride semiconductor, and a p-side electrode deposited over the p-type III-nitride semiconductor layer, the light emitting device comprising: a first layer composed of a carbon-containing compound layer, the first layer interposed between the p-type III-nitride semiconductor layer and the p-side electrode, and the first layer being grown on the p-type III-nitride semiconductor layer; a second layer composed of a III-nitride semiconductor layer, the second layer including a plurality of island-like protrusions, each of the protrusions being formed on a top surface of the first layer; and the p-side electrode being formed on said second layer.