Mn4+ Activated Fluoride Phosphors for High CRI White LEDs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current white LED lighting systems using blue emitting chips and yellow phosphors have excessive yellow emission, which reduces the color gamut and luminous efficacy, and are not suitable for applications requiring high color rendering index (CRI) and correlated color temperature (CCT) above 5000K without yellow phosphors.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a red line-emitting phosphor with a peak emission wavelength between 610 and 650 nm, along with a green emitting phosphor and a blue or near-UV emitting LED chip, to produce white light with improved luminous efficacy and CRI, using complex fluoride phosphors activated with Mn4+ as the red line-emitting phosphor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If yellow phosphors are used in white LED lighting systems, then the luminous output is improved, but the color gamut is reduced and excessive yellow emission occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminous efficacyVSAvoidcolor gamut
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes yellow phosphors from the lighting system and replaces them with red line-emitting phosphors having peak emission wavelengths between 610-650 nm. This extraction of the problematic yellow emission component while maintaining luminous output through alternative phosphor materials directly resolves the contradiction between luminous efficacy and color gamut.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Use of energy by moving object

If yellow phosphors are used to achieve high luminous output, then the luminous efficacy is improved, but excessive yellow emission reduces color rendering quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminous efficacyVSAvoidexcessive yellow emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful excessive yellow emission into beneficial red line emission by using red phosphors with peak wavelengths between 610-650 nm. This transformation maintains the high luminous efficacy while eliminating the harmful yellow emission that degrades color rendering, effectively turning the problem into a solution.

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

3Illumination intensity

If yellow phosphors are used in LED systems, then the luminous output is maintained, but the system is not suitable for applications requiring CRI above 5000K

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminous outputVSAvoidapplicability to high CRI and CCT applications
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the emission wavelength parameter of the phosphor material from yellow (560-580 nm) to red line emission (610-650 nm). This parameter change enables the system to achieve both high luminous output and suitability for high CRI and CCT applications above 5000K, expanding the adaptability to different application requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 achieves high luminous efficacy and CRI values above 280 lm/W at CCTs greater than 5000K with minimal yellow emission, enhancing the color gamut and meeting the requirements for backlighting applications.

Implementation Method 1

A phosphor is a luminescent material that absorbs radiation energy in a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and emits energy in another portion of the electromagnetic spectrum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Implementation Method 2

complex fluoride phosphors activated with Mn4+ as the red line-emitting phosphor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLuminescence: Luminescence

Implementation Method 3

a green emitting phosphor having a peak emission wavelength between 510 and 550 nm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP1999230B1Red line emitting phosphors for use in LED applications
Publication Date: 2012.06.13 GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS LLC
  • EP1999230B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1999230B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1999230B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Light emitting apparatuses including backlights having a light source and a phosphor material including a complex fluoride phosphor activated with Mn4+, which may include at least one of (A) A2[MF5]Mn4+, (B) A3[MF6]Mn4+,; (C) Zn2[MF7];Mn4+; (D) A[In2F7]:Mn4+; (E) A2[MF6]:Mn4+; (F) E[MF6]:Mn4+; (G) Bao.65Zro.35F2.7o:Mn4+;or (H) A3[ZrF7]:Mn4+.