Patent ID: 8008676

Claim:
A solid state light emitting device comprising: a first element, at least a first region of said first element having an index of refraction gradient; at least one light emitting active layer structure, said first element on said light emitting active layer structure; and at least one second structure selected from (1) at least one lumiphor and (2) at least one encapsulant region, said first element between said second structure and said light emitting active layer structure, so that at least some light emitted from the light emitting active layer passes through the first element and then through the second structure, a first surface of said light emitting active layer structure facing said first element and in direct contact with said first element, a first region of said light emitting active layer structure comprising at least a portion of said first surface of said light emitting active layer structure, said first region of said light emitting active layer structure having an active layer first region index of refraction, a second surface of said second structure facing said first element, a second region of said second structure comprising at least a portion of said second surface of said second structure, said second region of said second structure having a second structure second region index of refraction, said index of refraction gradient ranging from said active layer first region index of refraction to said second structure second region index of refraction.