Chromium-Activated Phosphate Phosphor for Broad Infrared Emission

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional infrared light sources, such as near infrared light spectrometers, tungsten lamps, and mercury arcs, suffer from large volume, low spectral stability, high power consumption, short lifespan, and excessive heat generation, while phosphor-converted infrared LEDs have low efficiency and narrow spectra, limiting their application.

Innovation Solution

A phosphate phosphor with an activation center of trivalent chromium is used, which emits infrared light after excitation, enabling the development of high-efficiency, wide-spectrum infrared light emitting and detecting devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional infrared light sources (tungsten lamp, mercury arc) are used, then wide spectrum infrared light is achieved, but volume is large, power consumption is high, and heat generation is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfrared light spectrumVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the emission parameters of the light source by using a phosphor-converted LED structure with specific phosphor materials (Y3Al5O12:Ce and Y2O3:Eu) that convert blue LED light into broad-spectrum infrared light, achieving wide infrared spectrum with reduced power consumption compared to conventional thermal sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite phosphor materials (Y3Al5O12:Ce and Y2O3:Eu) combined with blue LED to create a phosphor-converted infrared LED that generates wide-spectrum infrared light through photoluminescence conversion, eliminating the need for high-power thermal sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Volume of moving object

If phosphor-converted infrared LED is used, then volume is reduced, but emission efficiency is low and spectrum is narrow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice volumeVSAvoidinfrared light spectrum

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple phosphor materials (Y3Al5O12:Ce with peak at 808nm and Y2O3:Eu with peak at 1030nm) with a single blue LED source to create a unified infrared emission system that delivers both compact size and broad spectrum coverage through combined photoluminescence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the phosphor conversion parameters by selecting specific phosphor materials with complementary emission peaks that together cover a broad infrared range (700-1100nm), transforming the narrow emission of single-phosphor LEDs into wide-spectrum infrared light

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional infrared light sources are used, then stable infrared emission is achieved, but lifespan is short and heat generation is massive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral stabilityVSAvoidlifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces thermal-mechanical infrared sources (tungsten lamps, mercury arcs) with a solid-state phosphor-converted LED system, eliminating mechanical wear and thermal degradation issues while maintaining spectral stability through solid-state photoluminescence conversion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful high-temperature operation of conventional infrared sources into beneficial low-heat solid-state luminescence, where the blue LED's high-energy photons are converted to infrared through phosphor down-conversion, achieving stable emission without thermal degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 phosphate phosphor with trivalent chromium provides a compact, efficient, and wide-spectrum infrared light emission, enhancing the applicability of light emitting and detecting devices with improved stability and reduced power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

the phosphate phosphor emits an infrared light after being excited by a light source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Data Source

PatentUS11879084B2Phosphate phosphor, light emitting device, and detecting device

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 ENNOSTAR CORP

AI summary

In the present disclosure embodiments, a phosphate phosphor including an activation center of trivalent chromium and a light emitting device are provided. The light emitting device includes a light source and the above mentioned phosphate phosphor, such that the phosphate phosphor is excited by the light source and emits a wide spectrum of the infrared light. The light emitting device with wide emission spectrum of the infrared light may be widely applied in detecting devices.