Patent ID: 8546818

Claim:
A light emitting diode (LED) device comprising: an n-electrode; an LED stack comprising an n-type semiconductor layer in electrical contact with the n-electrode, an active layer configured to emit light, and a p-type semiconductor layer on the active layer; and a p-electrode in electrical contact with the active layer configured as an electrically conductive current guiding structure for guiding current through the active layer, the p-electrode comprising a high contact resistance area aligned with the n-electrode configured to provide a first current path to an area of the active layer aligned with the n-electrode and to provide a second current path to at least one area of the active layer not aligned with the n-electrode, with the first current path providing less electrical current than the second current path, wherein the p-electrode comprises a barrier metal layer and a reflective layer on the barrier metal layer having a space aligned with the high contact resistance area.