Patent ID: 7449727

Claim:
A light-emitting semiconductor device protected against destruction or weakening due to overvoltages, comprising: (a) a substrate of electroconductive material having a major surface, the substrate being of a semiconductor of a first conductivity type; (b) a light-generating semiconductor region formed on the major surface of the substrate, the light-generating semiconductor region having a first major surface facing away from the substrate and a second major surface held against the major surface of the substrate and a side surface between the first and the second major surface; (c) a first electrode on the first major surface of the light-generating semiconductor region; (d) a second electrode electrically coupled to the substrate; and (e) a semiconductor film of a second conductivity type, opposite to said first conductivity type, held against the side surface of the light-generating semiconductor region, against the substrate to form a pn junction, and against the first electrode in electric contact therewith for protecting the light-emitting semiconductor device from overvoltages.