Warm white LED-based lamp incoporating divalent EU-activated silicate yellow emitting phosphor

1. A lighting apparatus for emitting light comprising: a light source; and a phosphor material radiationally coupled to the light source and capable of converting at least a portion of the radiation emitted by the light source into light having a different wavelength, said phosphor material comprising:

a yellow emitting phosphor (Mg,Ca,Sr,Ba,Zn) 2 Si 1−x O 4−2x :Eu 2+ , wherein 0<x≦0.2,

a red emitting phosphor having peak emission in the range of about 610 to 660 nm, and

an optional blue, green, or blue-green emitting phosphor having a peak emission in the range of about 440 to 550 nm.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a semiconductor light emitting diode (LED) emitting radiation having a peak emission wavelength in the range of from about 250 to about 450 nm.

3. The lighting apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said light emitting diode Comprises a nitride compound semiconductor represented by the formula In i Ga j Al k N, where 0≦i; 0≦j, 0≦k, and i+j+k=1.

4. The lighting apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said light emitting diode emits radiation having a peak wavelength in the range of from about 370 to about 440 nm.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source is an organic emissive structure.

6. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the phosphor material is coated on a surface of the light source.

7. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an encapsulant surrounding the light source and the phosphor material.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the phosphor material is dispersed in the encapsulant.

9. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a reflector cup.

10. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said yellow emitting phosphor comprises Sr 2−u−e Ca u Eu e Si 1−x O 4−2x , where 0.25≦u≦0.50, 0.01≦e≦0.06 and 0.02≦x≦0.20.

11. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said red emitting phosphor comprises a nitride phosphor doped with at least one of Eu 2+ and Ce 3+ .

12. The lighting apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said red emitting phosphor comprises at least one member of the group consisting of: Ca 1−a−b Ce a Eu b Al 1+a Si 1−a N 3 , where 0<a≦0.2, 0≦b≦0.2; Ca 1−c−d Ce c Eu d Al 1−c (Mg,Zn) c SiN 3 , where 0<c≦0.2, 0≦d≦0.2; Ca 1−2e−f Ce e (Li,Na) e Eu f AlSiN 3 , where 0≦e≦0.2, 0≦f≦0.2, e+f>0; and Ca 1−g−h−i Ce g (Li,Na) h Eu i Al 1+g−h Si 1−g+h N 3 where 0≦g≦0.2, 0<h≦0.4, 0≦i≦0.2, g+i>0.

13. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said optional blue, green, or blue-green emitting phosphor comprises at least one of an alkaline earth haloapatite activated with Eu 2+ and an alkaline earth aluminate activated with Eu 2+ .

14. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said phosphor material further comprises one or more additional phosphors.

15. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , where said lighting apparatus emits light having a CCT of less than 4500K.

16. The lighting apparatus of claim 15 , where said lighting apparatus emits light having a CCT of less than 3500K.

17. The lighting apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said apparatus has a lm/W value of greater than 30 with a CRI equal to or greater than 90.

18. The lighting apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said apparatus has a lm/W value of greater than 40.

19. The lighting apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the light source is a semiconductor light emitting diode (LED) emitting radiation having a peak emission wavelength in the range of from about 250 to about 450 nm.

20. The lighting apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said yellow emitting phosphor comprises asilicate doped with at least one of Eu 2+ and Ce 3+ .

21. The lighting apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said at least one blue, green, or blue-green emitting phosphor comprises an alkaline earth haloapatite doped with Eu 2+ .

22. The lighting apparatus of claim 18 , where said lighting apparatus emits light having a CCT of less than 3500K.

23. The lighting apparatus of claim 21 , wherein said apparatus has a lm/W value of greater than 30 with a CRI equal to or greater than 90.

24. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus has a lm/W value of greater than 40 lm/W.

25. A phosphor blend comprising i) a yellow emitting phosphor (Mg,Ca,Sr,Ba,Zn) 2 Si 1−x O 4−2x :Eu 2+ (wherein 0<x≦0.2), ii) a red emitting phosphor having peak emission in the range of about 610 to 660 nm, and iii) an optional blue, green, or blue-green emitting phosphor having peak emission in the range of about 440 to 550 nm.