Patent ID: 8759128

Claim:
A method for fabricating a light emitting diode (LED) die comprising: forming a multi-layer semiconductor substrate comprising an n-type confinement layer, a multiple quantum well (MQW) layer in electrical contact with the n-type confinement layer configured to emit electromagnetic radiation, and a p-type confinement layer in electrical contact with the multiple quantum well (MQW) layer; forming a plurality of light extraction structures in the n-type confinement layer comprising a roughened surface; forming a recess in the n-type confinement layer proximate to the light extraction structures having sidewalls and a planar bottom surface; forming an electrode in the recess comprising a conductive material conforming to the sidewalls and to the bottom surface of the recess; planarizing the electrode to form a planar surface; wherein the planar surface of the electrode has a surface area corresponding to an area of the bottom surface of the recess with the area of the bottom surface selected such that the surface area is small enough to not be affected by the roughened surface; and mounting the die to a substrate of a light emitting diode (LED) system and wire bonding the planar surface of the electrode to a second electrode on the substrate.