IP Library Granted Patent US 8,940,187
Granted Patent B2
US 8,940,187 · App. 13/638,021 · Granted Jan 27, 2015

Ceramic composite for light conversion, process for production thereof, and light-emitting devices provided with same

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,940,187
App. No.
13/638,021
Granted
Jan 27, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a ceramic composite for light conversion, which is capable of maintaining a high radiant flux even when the proportion of Gd and Ce is increased to tune the fluorescence peak wavelength to the longer wavelength side, a process for producing the ceramic composite, and a light emitting device including the ceramic composite. The ceramic composite for light conversion is a solidification product including a composition that is represented by a specific formula, and has a texture of continuously and three-dimensionally mutually entangled oxide phases including at least two phases of a first phase and a second phase, characterized in that the first phase is a Y 3 Al 5 O 12 fluorescent phase activated with Ce, and the second phase is an Al 2 O 3 phase, and the first phase and second phase account for 97% by area or more of a cross section of the solidification product, or characterized in that the first phase is a Y 3 Al 5 O 12 fluorescent phase activated with Gd and Ce, and the second phase is an Al 2 O 3 phase, and the first phase and second phase account for 97% by area or more of a cross section of the solidification product.

Claims (46)

1. A ceramic composite for light conversion, the ceramic composite being a solidification product comprising a composition represented by the formula (1), the composition having a texture of continuously and three-dimensionally mutually entangled oxide phases comprising at least two phases of a first phase and a second phase, characterized in that

the first phase is a Y 3 Al 5 O 12 fluorescent phase activated with Ce, and the second phase is an Al 2 O 3 phase, and

the first phase and second phase account for 97% by area or more of a cross section of the solidification product

[Formula 1]

x AlO 3/2 - y ( a YO 3/2 - c CeO 2 )  (1)

(x, y, a, and c represent molar fractions, 0.770<x<0.835; 0.002≦c<0.012; x+y=1; and a+c=1).

2. The ceramic composite for light conversion according to claim 1 , characterized in that the ceramic composite absorbs light with a peak at a wavelength of 420 nm to 500 nm to produce fluorescence with a peak at 550 nm to 565 nm.

3. A ceramic composite for light conversion, the ceramic composite being a solidification product comprising a composition represented by the formula (2), the composition having a texture of continuously and three-dimensionally mutually entangled oxide phases comprising at least two phases of a first phase and a second phase, characterized in that

the first phase is a Y 3 Al 5 O 12 fluorescent phase activated with Gd and Ce, and the second phase is an Al 2 O 3 phase, and

the first phase and second phase account for 97% by area or more of a cross section of the solidification product

[Formula 2]

x AlO 3/2 - y ( a YO 3/2 - b GdO 3/2 - c CeO 2 )  (2)

(x, y, a, b, and c represent molar fractions, 0.770<x<0.835; 0<b<0.2, 0<c<0.01; x+y=1; and a+b+c=1).

4. The ceramic composite for light conversion according to claim 3 , characterized in that the ceramic composite absorbs light with a peak at a wavelength of 420 nm to 500 nm to produce fluorescence with a peak at 550 nm to 580 nm.

5. A light emitting device characterized in that is comprises a light emitting element and the ceramic composite for light conversion according to claim 1 .

6. A light emitting device characterized in that is comprises a light emitting element and the ceramic composite for light conversion according to claim 2 .

7. A light emitting device characterized in that is comprises a light emitting element and the ceramic composite for light conversion according to claim 3 .

8. A light emitting device characterized in that is comprises a light emitting element and the ceramic composite for light conversion according to claim 4 .

9. The light emitting device according to claim 6 , characterized in that the light emitting element emits light with a peak at a wavelength of 420 nm to 500 nm.

10. The light emitting device according to claim 8 , characterized in that the light emitting element emits light with a peak at a wavelength of 420 nm to 500 nm.

11. The light emitting device according to claim 5 , characterized in that the light emitting element is a light emitting diode element.

12. The light emitting device according to claim 6 , characterized in that the light emitting element is a light emitting diode element.

13. The light emitting device according to claim 7 , characterized in that the light emitting element is a light emitting diode element.

14. The light emitting device according to claim 8 , characterized in that the light emitting element is a light emitting diode element.

15. The light emitting device according to claim 9 , characterized in that the light emitting element is a light emitting diode element.

16. The light emitting device according to claim 10 , characterized in that the light emitting element is a light emitting diode element.

17. A method for producing a ceramic composite for light conversion according to claim 1 , by melting a raw material oxide and solidifying the melt by an unidirectional solidification method,

characterized in that the raw material oxide is a composition represented by the formula (3), a temperature decrease gradient of 40° C./cm or more is provided in a solidification direction of the unidirectional solidification method, and a transfer rate is 25 mm/hour or less in the solidification direction

[Formula 3]

x ′AlO 3/2 - y ′( a ′YO 3/2 - c ′CeO 2 )  (3)

(x′, y′, a′, and c′ represent molar fractions, 0.770<x′<0.835; 0.004≦c′<0.04; x′+y′=1; and a′+c′=1).

18. A method for producing a ceramic composite for light conversion according to claim 2 , by melting a raw material oxide and solidifying the melt by an unidirectional solidification method,

characterized in that the raw material oxide is a composition represented by the formula (3), a temperature decrease gradient of 40° C./cm or more is provided in a solidification direction of the unidirectional solidification method, and a transfer rate is 25 mm/hour or less in the solidification direction

[Formula 3]

x ′AlO 3/2 - y ′( a ′YO 3/2 - c ′CeO 2 )  (3)

(x′, y′, a′, and c′ represent molar fractions, 0.770<x′<0.835; 0.004≦c′<0.04; x′+y′=1; and a′+c′=1).

19. A method for producing a ceramic composite for light conversion according to claim 3 , by melting a raw material oxide and solidifying the melt by an unidirectional solidification method,

characterized in that the raw material oxide is a composition represented by the formula (4), a temperature decrease gradient of 40° C./cm or more is provided in a solidification direction of the unidirectional solidification method, and a transfer rate is 25 mm/hour or less in the solidification direction,

[Formula 4]

x ′AlO 3/2 - y ′( a ′YO 3/2 - b ′GdO 3/2 - c ′CeO 2 )  (4)

(x′, y′, a′, b′, and c′ represent molar fractions, 0.770<x′<0.835; 0<b′<0.3, 0.001≦c′<0.04; x′+y′=1; and a′+b′+c′=1).

20. A method for producing a ceramic composite for light conversion according to claim 4 , by melting a raw material oxide and solidifying the melt by an unidirectional solidification method,

characterized in that the raw material oxide is a composition represented by the formula (4), a temperature decrease gradient of 40° C./cm or more is provided in a solidification direction of the unidirectional solidification method, and a transfer rate is 25 mm/hour or less in the solidification direction

[Formula 4]

x ′AlO 3/2 - y ′( a ′YO 3/2 - b ′GdO 3/2 - c ′CeO 2 )  (4)

(x′, y′, a′, b′, and c′ represent molar fractions, 0.770<x′<0.835; 0<b′<0.3, 0.001≦c′<0.04; x′+y′=1; and a′+b′+c′=1).

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 14, 2023
From: UBE INDUSTRIES, LTD.
To: UBE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064275/0021 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2012
From: OHTSUBO, HIDEKI; SAKATA, SHIN-ICHI; ISHITOBI, SHINICHI; ICHIZONO, YASUYUKI; MIYAMOTO, NORIFUMI; IBA, HISAYOSHI
To: UBE INDUSTIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 029225/0225 →