PHOSPHOR AND LIGHT-EMITTING EQUIPMENT USING PHOSPHOR

1 . A phosphor, comprising a CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase, wherein the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb.

2 . The phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase comprises at least one of:

an inorganic compound having the same crystal structure as CaAlSiN 3 ; and

an inorganic compound having the same X-ray diffraction pattern as CaAlSiN 3 .

3 . The phosphor according to claim 2 , wherein:

the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase comprises the inorganic compound having the same crystal structure as CaAlSiN 3 ; and

the inorganic compound has lattice constants that differ from lattice constants of CaAlSiN 3 due to replacement of at least one constituent element of CaAlSiN 3 with at least one other element.

4 . The phosphor according to claim 2 , wherein:

the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase comprises the inorganic compound having the same X-ray diffraction pattern as CaAlSiN 3 ; and

the X-ray diffraction pattern of the inorganic compound exhibits at least ten peaks present in the X-ray diffraction pattern of CaAlSiN 3 .

5 . The phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase comprises:

at least one divalent element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba;

at least one trivalent element selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La, Gd, and Lu; and

at least one tetravalent element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, and Hf.

6 . The phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase comprises at least Eu, Ca, Sr, Al, Si, and N.

7 . The phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase comprises at least O and N.

8 . The phosphor according to claim 6 , wherein the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase comprises at least O and N.

9 . The phosphor according to claim 7 , wherein the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase comprises O and N in amounts satisfying: 0.5≦(number of atoms of N)/{(number of atoms of N)+(number of atoms of O)}1.

10 . The phosphor according to claim 8 , wherein the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase comprises O and N in amounts satisfying:

0.5≦(number of atoms of N)/{(number of atoms of N)+(number of atoms of O)}1.

11 . The phosphor according to claim 6 , wherein the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase comprises Ca and Sr in amounts satisfying:

0.02≦(number of atoms of Ca)/{(number of atoms of Ca)+(number of atoms of Sr)}<1.

12 . The phosphor according to claim 8 , wherein the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase comprises Ca and Sr in amounts satisfying:

0.02≦(number of atoms of Ca)/{(number of atoms of Ca)+(number of atoms of Sr)}<1.

13 . The phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein the CaAlSiN 3 family crystal phase has a composition given by:

M a A b D c E d X e

wherein:

M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb;

A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of divalent metal elements other than M;

D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of tetravalent metal elements;

E is at least one element selected from the group consisting of trivalent metal elements;

X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of O, N, and F;

a+b= 1;

0.00001 ≦a≦ 0.1;

0.5≦ c≦ 1.8;

0.5≦ d≦ 1.8;

0.8×(⅔+ 4/3 ×c+d ) e ; and

e≦ 1.2×(⅔+ 4/3 ×c+d ).

14 . The phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a peak emission intensity at a wavelength of from 570 nm to 700 nm.

15 . The phosphor according to claim 6 , wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a peak emission intensity at a wavelength of from 570 nm to 700 nm.

16 . The phosphor according to claim 11 , wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a peak emission intensity at a wavelength of from 570 nm to 700 nm.

17 . The phosphor according to claim 13 , wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a peak emission intensity at a wavelength of from 570 nm to 700 nm.

18 . The phosphor according to claim 1 , wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a color satisfying:

0.45 ≦x≦ 0.7

as a value of (x, y) on the CIE chromaticity coordinates.

19 . The phosphor according to claim 6 , wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a color satisfying:

0.45≦ x≦ 0.7

as a value of (x, y) on the CIE chromaticity coordinates.

20 . The phosphor according to claim 11 , wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a color satisfying:

0.45 ≦x≦ 0.7

as a value of (x, y) on the CIE chromaticity coordinates.

21 . The phosphor according to claim 13 , wherein, when irradiated by an excitation source, the phosphor emits light having a color satisfying:

0.45 ≦x≦ 0.7

as a value of (x, y) on the CIE chromaticity coordinates.

22 . A phosphor, comprising a solid solution crystal phase comprising an inorganic compound, wherein:

the inorganic compound has the same crystal structure as CaAlSiN 3 crystal phase as a host crystal with an optically active element incorporated therein; and

the optically active element comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu.

23 . A phosphor, comprising an inorganic compound, wherein:

the inorganic compound comprises M, A, D, E, and X;

M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb;

A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of divalent metal elements other than M;

D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of tetravalent metal elements;

E is at least one element selected from the group consisting of trivalent metal elements;

X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of O, N, and F; and

the inorganic compound has the same crystal structure as CaAlSiN 3 .

24 . The phosphor according to claim 23 , wherein the inorganic compound has lattice constants that differ from lattice constants of CaAlSiN 3 due to replacement of at least one constituent element of CaAlSiN 3 with at least one other element.

25 . The phosphor according to claim 23 , wherein the inorganic compound comprises Sr.

26 . The phosphor according to claim 25 , wherein the inorganic compound comprises Ca and Sr in amounts satisfying:

0.02≦(number of atoms of Ca)/{(number of atoms of Ca)+(number of atoms of Sr)}<1.