Abstract: In a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device having an n-side and a p-side electrode pad formed on the same side of a substrate wherein current distribution in the light-emitting device is improved by forming branch electrodes extended from the p-side electrode pad (and the n-side electrode pad), when sheet resistance values of n-side and p-side layers in the device are low enough, contact resistance between a p-type nitride semiconductor layer and a current diffusion layer of a transparent conductive film formed thereon is reduced and in-plane distribution of the sheet resistance is made uniform whereby improving the optical output, by increasing in a prescribed condition the sheet resistance value of the current diffusion layer.

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light emitting element is provided with: a substrate; a nitride semiconductor laminate section on the substrate; a current diffusion layer that is provided on the nitride semiconductor laminate section; a first protection film that is provided on the current diffusion layer; and a first electrode. The nitride semiconductor laminate section has: a first conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer that is provided on the substrate; an active layer that is provided on the first conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer; and a second conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer that is provided on the active layer. The first electrode is electrically connected to the first conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer. Furthermore, a part of the first electrode is formed above the second conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer with the first protection film therebetween.

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device includes a nitride semiconductor light-emitting element, a package substrate and an optically transparent resin sealing portion. The nitride semiconductor light-emitting element includes a substrate, a nitride semiconductor multilayer portion having a light-emitting layer and a protective layer. The nitride semiconductor multilayer portion is provided on the substrate. The protective layer is provided on an upper portion of the nitride semiconductor multilayer portion. The resin sealing portion seals the nitride semiconductor light-emitting element that is mounted on the package substrate. An air gap layer is formed in at least one of an area between the substrate and the light-emitting layer in the nitride semiconductor light-emitting element, an area between the light-emitting layer and the protective layer in the nitride semiconductor light-emitting element and an area in the package substrate.

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device includes a nitride semiconductor light-emitting element, a package substrate and an optically transparent resin sealing portion. The nitride semiconductor light-emitting element includes a substrate, a nitride semiconductor multilayer portion having a light-emitting layer and a protective layer. The nitride semiconductor multilayer portion is provided on the substrate. The protective layer is provided on an upper portion of the nitride semiconductor multilayer portion. The resin sealing portion seals the nitride semiconductor light-emitting element that is mounted on the package substrate. An air gap layer is formed in at least one of an area between the substrate and the light-emitting layer in the nitride semiconductor light-emitting element, an area between the light-emitting layer and the protective layer in the nitride semiconductor light-emitting element and an area in the package substrate.

Abstract: In a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device having an n-side and a p-side electrode pad formed on the same side of a substrate wherein current distribution in the light-emitting device is improved by forming branch electrodes extended from the p-side electrode pad (and the n-side electrode pad), when sheet resistance values of n-side and p-side layers in the device are low enough, contact resistance between a p-type nitride semiconductor layer and a current diffusion layer of a transparent conductive film formed thereon is reduced and in-plane distribution of the sheet resistance is made uniform whereby improving the optical output, by increasing in a prescribed condition the sheet resistance value of the current diffusion layer.

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device includes at least one n-type semiconductor layer, an active layer and at least one p-type semiconductor layer within a rectangle nitride semiconductor region on a substrate. The n-type semiconductor layer has a partial exposed area, a p-side branch electrode integral with a p-side electrode pad formed on a current diffusion layer formed on the p-type semiconductor layer, an n-side branch electrode integral with an n-side electrode pad formed on the partial exposed area of the n-type semiconductor layer, the p-side and n-side branch electrodes extend parallel to each other along two opposite sides of the semiconductor region, and conditions of 0.3<M/L<1.1 and L<Lmax are satisfied; L is the distance between centers of the p-side and n-side electrode pads, M is the distance between the p-side and n-side branch electrodes, and Lmax represents a distance between the centers of the p-side and n-side electrode pads.