IP Library Granted Patent US 9,263,646
Granted Patent B2
US 9,263,646 · App. 14/176,442 · Granted Feb 16, 2016

Phosphor particle group and light emitting apparatus using the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,263,646
App. No.
14/176,442
Granted
Feb 16, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light emitting phosphor particles each of which is a β-type SiAlON substantially represented by a general formula: EuaSibAlcOdNe, where 0.005≦a≦0.4, b+c=12, d+e=16, wherein 60% or more of the phosphor particle group is composed of the phosphor particles in which a value obtained by dividing a longer particle diameter by a shorter particle diameter is greater than 1.0 and not greater than 3.0. A high-efficiency and stable light emitting apparatus using a β-type SiAlON, which includes a light converter using the phosphor particle group, and a phosphor particle group therefor are also provided.

Claims (26)

1. A white light emitting apparatus comprising:

a light emitting element of a gallium nitride-based semiconductor emitting primary light having a peak wavelength of 440-470 nm; and

a light converter absorbing a part of said primary light to emit secondary light having a wavelength longer than a wavelength of said primary light,

said light converter including a phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light emitting phosphor which is a β-type SiAlON substantially represented by a general formula:

Eu a Si b Al c O d N e ,

where 0.005≦a≦0.2, b+c=12, d+e=16,

said phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light consisting of a columnar particle in which a value obtained by dividing a longer particle diameter by a shorter particle diameter is greater than 1.0 and not greater than 3.0, and

the light converter further comprising phosphor particles of a red light emitting phosphor.

2. The white light emitting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the red light emitting phosphor particles are particles of a divalent europium-activated nitride red light emitting phosphor expressed by a general formula (MI 1-f Eu f )MIISiN 3 , wherein MI is an alkaline-earth metal selected from the groups consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba; and MII is a trivalent metallic element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La, Gd and Lu; and 0.001<f<0.10.

3. The white light emitting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a median diameter of the phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light is in a range of 6-20 μm.

4. The white light emitting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a median diameter of the phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light is in a range of 6-20 μm.

5. A white light emitting apparatus comprising:

a light emitting element of a gallium nitride-based semiconductor emitting primary light having a peak wavelength of 440-470 nm; and

a light converter absorbing a part of said primary light to emit secondary light having a wavelength longer than a wavelength of said primary light,

said light converter including a phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light emitting phosphor which is a β-type SiAION substantially represented by a general formula:

Eu a Si b Al c O d N e ,

where 0.005≦a≦0.2, b+c=12, d+e=16,

wherein 60% or more of the phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light is composed of columnar phosphor particles in which a value obtained by dividing a longer particle diameter by a shorter particle diameter is greater than 1.0 and not greater than 3.0, and

the light converter further comprising phosphor particles of a red light emitting phosphor.

6. The white light emitting apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the red light emitting phosphor particles are particles of a divalent europium-activated nitride red light emitting phosphor expressed by a general formula (MI 1-f Eu f )MIISiN 3 , wherein MI is an alkaline-earth metal selected from the groups consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba; and MII is a trivalent metallic element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La, Gd and Lu; and 0.001<f<0.10.

7. The white light emitting apparatus of claim 6 , wherein 80% or more of the phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light is composed of the phosphor particles in which a value obtained by dividing a longer particle diameter by a shorter particle diameter is greater than 1.0 and not greater than 3.0.

8. The white light emitting apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a median diameter of the phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light is in a range of 6-20 μm.

9. The white light emitting apparatus of claim 6 , wherein a median diameter of the phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light is in a range of 6-20 μm.

10. The white light emitting apparatus of claim 5 , wherein 80% or more of the phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light is composed of the phosphor particles in which a value obtained by dividing a longer particle diameter by a shorter particle diameter is greater than 1.0 and not greater than 3.0.

11. The white light emitting apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a median diameter of the phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light is in a range of 6-20 μm.

12. The white light emitting apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a median diameter of the phosphor particle group of divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light is in a range of 6-20 μm.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 24, 2025
From: GE PHOSPHORS TECHNOLOGY, LLC
To: DOLBY PHOSPHORS TECHNOLOGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 070312/0559 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: DOLBY PHOSPHORS TECHNOLOGY, LLC
To: EDISON INNOVATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 070281/0434 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2020
From: GE PHOSPHORS TECHNOLOGY, LLC
To: GE PHOSPHORS TECHNOLOGY, LLC; DENKA COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 052497/0138 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2016
From: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: GE PHOSPHORS TECHNOLOGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 038334/0086 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2014
From: HANAMOTO, TETSUYA; MASUDA, MASATSUGU; TERASHIMA, KENJI
To: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 032183/0318 →