# US 9,437,788 B2 · Light emitting diode (LED) component comprising a phosphor with improved excitation properties

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- Number: US 9,437,788 B2
- Document ID: US9437788B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/453,878
- Filed: 2014-08-07
- Published: 2014-11-20
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-19
- Assignees: Cree, Inc.
- Applicants: Cree, Inc.
- Inventors: David M. Clatterbuck; Harry A. Seibel; Douglas E. Kinkenon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437788B2

## CPC

- H10H 20/8512: {Wavelength conversion materials}
- C09K 11/7774: {Aluminates}
- H10H 20/8513: {having two or more wavelength conversion materials}
- H10H: INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) component comprises an LED having a dominant wavelength in a range of from about 425 nm to less than 460 nm and a phosphor in optical communication with the LED. The phosphor includes a host lattice comprising yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), and may include an activator comprising Ce and a substitutional dopant comprising Ga incorporated in the host lattice. An emission spectrum of the phosphor has a maximum intensity in a wavelength range of from about 540 nm to about 570 nm, and an excitation spectrum of the phosphor comprises an intensity at 440 nm equivalent to at least about 85% of a maximum intensity of the excitation spectrum.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A phosphor with improved excitation properties, the phosphor comprising:
a host lattice comprising yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG); and
an activator comprising Ce and a substitutional dopant comprising Ga incorporated in the host lattice,
wherein the phosphor comprises a chemical formula YaCebGdcAldGaeOz, where 0<a<3, 0<b≦0.6, 0≦c≦1, 0<d<5, 0<e≦2.5, and z is nominally 12,
wherein R=(a+b+c)/(d+e), and 0.5≦R<0.6, and
wherein an emission spectrum of the phosphor comprises a maximum intensity in a wavelength range of from about 540 nm to about 570 nm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The phosphor of claim 1, wherein the maximum intensity of the emission spectrum is in the wavelength range of from about 550 nm to about 560 nm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The phosphor of claim 1, wherein an excitation spectrum of the phosphor comprises an intensity at 440 nm equivalent to at least about 85% of a maximum intensity of the excitation spectrum.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The phosphor of claim 1, wherein c=0 and 0.1≦b≦0.6.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The phosphor of claim 1, wherein 0.3≦e≦2.5.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The phosphor of claim 1, wherein
b/(a+b+c)·100=mol. % Ce, and 3<mol. % Ce<20,
e/(d+e)·100=mol. % Ga, and 5<mol. % Ga<50, and
wherein mol. % Ga mol. % Ce.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The phosphor of claim 6, wherein 3.3≦mol. % Ce<15 and 12≦mol. % Ga<20.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The phosphor of claim 1, wherein d+e>5 and a+b=3.

### Claim 9

A light emitting diode (LED) component comprising:
an LED comprising a dominant wavelength in a range of from about 425 nm to less than 460 nm;
a phosphor in optical communication with the LED, the phosphor comprising: a host lattice comprising yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG); and an activator comprising Ce and a substitutional dopant comprising Ga incorporated in the host lattice,
wherein the phosphor comprises a chemical formula YaCebGdcAldGaeOz, where 0<a<3, 0<b≦0.6, 0≦c≦1, 0<d<5, 0<e≦2.5, and z is nominally 12,
wherein an emission spectrum of the phosphor comprises a maximum intensity in a wavelength range of from about 540 nm to about 570 nm, and
wherein an excitation spectrum of the phosphor comprises an intensity at 440 nm equivalent to at least about 85% of a maximum intensity of the excitation spectrum.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The LED component of claim 9, wherein R=(a+b+c)/(d+e), and 0.5≦R<0.6.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The LED component of claim 10, wherein d+e>5 and a+b=3.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The LED component of claim 9, wherein the maximum intensity of the emission spectrum is in the wavelength range of from about 550 nm to about 560 nm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The LED component of claim 9, wherein the intensity at 440 nm is equivalent to at least about 90% of the maximum intensity of the excitation spectrum.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The LED component of claim 9, wherein the phosphor comprises a ccx value of from about 0.44 to about 0.45 and a ccy value of from about 0.53 to about 0.54.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The LED component of claim 9, wherein
b/(a+b+c)·100=mol. % Ce, and 3<mol. % Ce<20,
e/(d+e)·100=mol. % Ga, and 5<mol. % Ga<50, and
wherein mol. % Ga mol. % Ce.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The LED component of claim 15, wherein 3.3 mol. % Ce<15 and 12≦mol. % Ga<20.