Ce3+ Bonded Phosphor Wavelength Converter for Laser Color Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wavelength converters using phosphor single crystals or translucent phosphor ceramics face challenges in controlling color tone due to high linear transmittance and color unevenness, especially when excited by high-density light sources like lasers, and struggle with achieving high-output fluorescence.
Innovation Solution
A wavelength converter comprising a first and second phosphor, both activated by Ce3+, which are bonded through a chemical reaction or adhesion, forming a solid solution or adhesion portion, enhancing thermal conductivity and light scattering properties, allowing for controlled color tone and high-output fluorescence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If phosphor single crystal or translucent phosphor ceramics are used as wavelength converter, then high linear transmittance is achieved allowing LED light and laser light to pass through, but color tone unevenness occurs and color tone control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The wavelength converter is divided into multiple independent phosphor particles instead of using a single crystal or translucent ceramic structure. Each phosphor particle acts as an independent unit, and the collective assembly provides both high transmittance and uniform color tone through the statistical averaging effect of multiple particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite phosphor particles consisting of a phosphor core and a transparent matrix material. This composite structure combines the high transmittance property of the transparent matrix with the wavelength conversion capability of the phosphor core, while the particulate nature prevents color tone unevenness.
2Manufacturing precision
If phosphor activated by Eu2+ is used to obtain nitride-based red phosphor with large red light component intensity, then color tone control is improved, but afterglow becomes too long for high-output phosphor under high-density light excitation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the activation element from Eu2+ to Ce3+, which fundamentally alters the luminescence characteristics. Ce3+-activated phosphors exhibit ultrashort afterglow duration while maintaining excellent color tone control capability, resolving the contradiction between afterglow duration and color tone control.
3Power
If high-density light source like laser is used to excite phosphor, then output increase is achieved, but temperature quenching and saturation occur due to long afterglow of phosphor
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the activation element to Ce3+, the afterglow duration is reduced to ultrashort levels. This allows the phosphor to rapidly release absorbed energy as light rather than storing it as heat, preventing temperature quenching and saturation effects even under high-density laser excitation, thereby maintaining high output and reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient wavelength conversion with ultrashort afterglow properties, improved thermal conductivity, and controlled color tone, suppressing temperature quenching and saturation under high-density light excitation, resulting in high-output fluorescence and uniform light emission.
Implementation Method 1
a first phosphor composed of an inorganic phosphor activated by Ce3+; and a second phosphor composed of an inorganic phosphor activated by Ce3+
Implementation Method 2
enables efficient wavelength conversion with ultrashort afterglow properties
Implementation Method 3
enhancing thermal conductivity and light scattering properties
Implementation Method 4
The first phosphor and the second phosphor are bonded to each other by at least one of a chemical reaction in a contact portion between the compound that constitutes the first phosphor and a compound that constitutes the second phosphor
Implementation Method 5
The first phosphor and the second phosphor are bonded to each other by at least one of a chemical reaction in a contact portion between the compound that constitutes the first phosphor and a compound that constitutes the second phosphor and of adhesion between the compound that constitutes the first phosphor and the compound that constitutes the second phosphor
Implementation Method 6
enhancing thermal conductivity... improved thermal conductivity, and controlled color tone, suppressing temperature quenching
Data Source
AI summary
A wavelength converter 100 includes: a first phosphor 1 composed of an inorganic phosphor activated by Ce3+; and a second phosphor 2 composed of an inorganic phosphor activated by Ce3+ and different from the first phosphor. At least one of the first phosphor and the second phosphor is particulate. The first phosphor and the second phosphor are bonded to each other by at least one of a chemical reaction in a contact portion between the compound that constitutes the first phosphor and a compound that constitutes the second phosphor and of adhesion between the compound that constitutes the first phosphor and the compound that constitutes the second phosphor.