US Patent 7196354 Wavelength-converting light-emitting devices

A light-emitting device is provided. The device may include a thermally conductive region in contact with a wavelength-converting region (e.g., a phosphor region). The thermally conductive region may aid in the extraction of heat resulting from light absorption in the wavelength-converting region, which, if excessive, may impair device operation. The presence of a thermally conductive region can enable devices including wavelength-converting regions to operate even at high power levels (e.g., light generated by the light-generating region and/or by the light-emitting device having a total power greater than 0.5 Watts) for long operating lifetimes (e.g., greater than 2,000 hours).