Patent ID: 7829358

Claim:
A method of shaping an emitter layer of the LED, comprising: determining an exit area (b) and an emitter area (a) of a miniature emitter, wherein the exit area (b) has an exit face in a first geometric configuration and wherein the emitter area (a) has a quantum well region in a second geometric configuration; determining a minimum height (h) of the miniature emitter utilizing the exit area (b) and the emitter area (a); removing matter from an emitting material or growing the emitting material according to the first geometric configuration, the second geometric configuration, and the minimum height (h) to form a shaped portion having one or more miniature emitters meeting the minimum height (h); and shaping sidewalls of the miniature emitters, wherein each sidewall is positioned and shaped to cause at least a majority of rays having a straight transmission path from the emitter area to that sidewall to reflect to the exit face with an angle of incidence at the exit face at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit face.