Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a plurality of light emitting devices, each light emitting device having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and at least one side surface connecting the top surface and the bottom surface. A wavelength converting layer is disposed in direct contact with the top surface and one side surface of each of the plurality of light emitting devices to mechanically connect each of the plurality of light emitting devices together. The wavelength converting layer is made up of a wavelength converting material, an adhesive material, and a transparent material that has a thermal conductivity of at least 0.2 W/mK. The adhesive material and the transparent material have indices of refraction that vary less than ten percent.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a plurality of light emitting devices (1), one of the light emitting devices in the plurality being configured to emit light having a first peak wavelength. A wavelength converting layer (30) is disposed in a path of light emitted by the plurality of light emitting devices. The wavelength converting layer (30) absorbs light emitted by the light emitting device and emits light having a second peak wavelength. The light emitting devices (1) are mechanically connected to each other only through the wavelength converting layer (30). In other embodiments a light converting layer is placed over the light emitting devices and an adhesive or optical element layer is placed at the side surfaces and over the light converting layer, the light emitting devices are mechanically connected to each other only through the wavelength converting layer.