Light source comprising a light-emitting element

[0002] The invention relates to a light source with a light-emitting element that emits in a first spectral realm, preferably in the blue and/or ultraviolet range of that visual spectrum, and with a luminophore that either is derived from the group of alkaline-earth ortho-silicates or that contains at least a component from this group of luminescent materials that absorbs a portion of the emission from the light-emitting element and then emits in another region of the spectrum, preferably in the yellow-green, yellow, or orange ranges. The luminophore selected may also be used in mixtures with other luminophores from this group and/or with other luminescent materials that do not belong to this group.

[0003] The light-emitting element is preferably an inorganic light-emitting diode (LED), but may also be an organic LED, a laser diode, and inorganic thick-layer electro-luminescence film, or an inorganic thin-layer electro-luminescence component.

[0004] Inorganic LED's distinguish themselves by, among other things, long service life, low space requirements, insensitivity to vibration, and narrow-band spectral emissions.

[0005] Numerous emission colors, especially wide-band spectral colors, cannot be realized from LED's because of the intrinsic emission of an active semiconductor material, or can only be inefficiently realized. This especially applies to the creation of white light.

[0006] In accordance with the state of the art, emission colors that cannot be intrinsically realized by a semiconductor are created using color conversion.

[0007] The technique of color conversion is essentially based on the principle that at least one luminophore is positioned above the LED “die.” It absorbs a portion of the emission from the die, and is thus excited to photo-luminescence. The emission or light color of the source then results from the mixing of the emission transmitted from the die with the emission emitted from the luminescent material.

[0008] Either organic or inorganic systems may basically be used. The significant advantage of inorganic pigments is their higher chemical, thermal, and emission stability in comparison to organic systems. In connection with the long service life of inorganic LED's, long-life inorganic luminophores ensure a high level of color stability of the light source consisting of both light sources.

[0009] If the emitted emission from LED's emitting blue is to be converted into white light, luminescent materials are used that effectively absorb the blue light (450-490 nm) and convert it into predominantly yellow luminescent emission. However, there is only a limited number of inorganic luminophores that meet these specifications. At this time, materials from the YAG class of luminescent materials are used as color conversion pigments for blue LED's (WO 98/05078; WO 98/05078; WO 98/12757). These, however, include the disadvantage that they possess a high degree of efficiency only at an emission maximum of less than 560 nm. For this reason, only cold white light colors with color temperatures between 6,000 K and 8,000 K, and accordingly with comparatively reduced color reproduction (typical values for color reproduction index Ra lie between 70 and 75), may be used with the YAG pigments in combination with blue diodes (450-490 nm). This results in severely-limited application possibilities. On the one hand, higher demands are imposed as a rule during application of white-light sources for general illumination, and on the other, consumers in Europe and North America prefer warmer light colors with color temperatures between 2,700 and 5,000 K.

[0010] It is further known from WO 00/33389 to use Ba₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ among others as a luminophore to convert the light from blue LED's. The maximum of the emission from the Ba_{2 SiO4}:Eu²⁺ luminescent material is, however, 505 nm, so that white light cannot be reliably created using such a combination.

[0011] In works by S. H. M. Poort et al.: “Optical Properties of Eu²⁺-activated orthosilicates and orthophosphates,” Journal of Alloys and Compounds 260 (1997), pp. 93-97, the characteristics of Eu-activated Ba₂SiO₄and of phosphates such as KBaPO₄and KSrPO₄are investigated. It was also determined here that the emission from Ba₂SiO₄is about 505 nm.

[0012] The task of this invention is to alter a light source of the type mentioned at the outset so that white light colors with warmer color temperatures, especially those color locations that lie within the tolerance ellipses established by the CIE for general illumination may be created under conditions of high luminous efficiency and a high degree of color reproduction quality.

[0013] This task is solved by a light source based on the invention of the type mentioned at the outset so that the luminophore is an alkaline-earth ortho-silicate activated with bivalent Europium of the following composition:

[0014] (2-x-y)SrO·x(Ba_u, Ca_v)O·(1-a-b-c-d)SiO₂·aP₂O₅bAl₂O₃cB₂O₃dGeO₂:yEu²⁺

[0015] where

[0016] 0≦x<1.6 0.005<y<0.5x+y≦1.6

[0017] 0≦a,b,c,d<0.5 u+v=1

[0018] applies;

[0019] and/or an alkaline-earth ortho-silicate of the following composition:

[0020] (2-x-y)BaO·x(Sr_u, Ca_v)O·(1-a-b-c-d)SiO₂·aP₂O₅bAl₂O₃cB₂O₃dGeO₂:yEu²⁺

[0021] where

[0022] 0.01<x<1.6 0.005<y<0.5

[0023] 0≦a,b,c,d<0.5 u+v=1 x·u≧0.4

[0024] applies, whereby preferably at least one of the values a, b, c, and d is greater than 0.01. A portion of the Silicon may be replaced by Gallium in both formulas.

[0025] Surprisingly it has been found that white light with good color reproduction and a high degree of luminous efficiency may be realized through a combination of a blue LED with a luminophore selected from a group of alkaline-earth ortho-silicates activated with Europium of the above-named composition based on the invention. In contrast to luminophores based on pure Barium ortho-silicates that emit bluish-green light, yellow-green and yellow to orange luminescent light may be created using Barium-Strontium-orthosilicate mixed crystals, and even completely orange luminescent light may be created by incorporation of Calcium into the ortho-silicate crystal lattice, so that, by mixing the transmitted light from the blue LED with the luminescent light from the selected luminophore, white light with good color reproduction and a high degree of luminous efficiency may be generated. Displacement of emission color by means of substitution of Ba with Sr in ortho-cilicates has previously been known only for excitation using hard UV emission (254-nm excitation) from the above-mentioned work by Poort et al. No description was made of the fact that this effect surprisingly occurs more strongly under irradiation with blue light in the range of 440-475 nm. Ba—Sr—Ca ortho-silicate mixed crystals and their strong emission capability under excitation with low-frequency UV emission or blue light were previously completely unknown.

[0026] The selected luminophore may also be used in mixtures with other luminophores of this group and/or with additional luminescent materials not belonging to this group. The latter luminophores include, for example, blue-emitting alkaline-earth aluminates activated using bivalent Europium and/or Manganese, along with the red-emitting luminophores of the group Y(V,P,Si)O₄:Eu,B₁, Y₂O₂S:Eu,Bi, or :Eu²⁺,Mn²⁺ alkaline-earth Magnesium di-silicates activated with Europium or Manganese according to the formula

[0027] Me_(3-x-y)MgSi₂O₈:xEu, yMn,

[0028] whereby

[0029] 0.005<x<0.5 0.005<y<0.5

[0030] and Me═Ba and/or Sr and/or Ca applies.

[0031] As will be shown in the following embodiment examples, the Sr component in the mixed-crystal luminophores based on the invention must not be too small in order to be able to generate white light.

[0032] Surprisingly, it has further been found that the additional inclusion of P₂O₅, Al₂O₃, and/or B₂O₃into the crystal lattice, as well as the substitution of a portion of the Silicon by Germanium, may also have a significant influence on the emission spectrum of a given luminophore, so that this may be further advantageously varied for a particular application. For this, smaller ions than Si(IV) cause displacement of the emission maximum into a lower-frequency range, while larger ions displace the bulk of the emission into higher frequencies. It could further be shown that it is advantageous for the crystallinity, emission capability, and particularly for the stability of luminophores based on the invention if small amounts of monovalent ions such as halogenides and/or alkali metal ions are additionally included in the luminophore.

[0033] Based on a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the light source includes at least two different luminophores, whereby at least one is an alkaline-earth ortho-silicate luminescent material. The white tone required for a particular application may be especially accurately adjusted in this manner, and Ra values greater than 80 may particularly be achieved. A further advantageous version of the invention consists of a combination of an LED emitting in the ultra-violet range of the spectrum, e.g., in the range between 370 and 390 nm, with at least three luminescent materials, of which at least one is an alkaline-earth ortho-silicate luminescent material based on the invention. Blue-emitting alkaline-earth aluminates activated with Europium and/or manganese and/or red-emitting luminophores from the group Y(V,P,Si)O₄:Eu,B₁, Y₂O₂S:Eu,Bi, or from the group of alkaline-earth Magnesium di-silicates activated with Europium and Manganese may be used as additional luminescent materials in corresponding mixtures of luminescent materials.

[0034] Several options exist for mechanical implementation of the light source based on the invention. Based on one embodiment example, it is intended that one or more LED chips be positioned on a circuit board within a reflector, and the luminophore be dispersed in a light disk positioned above the reflector.

[0035] It is also possible to position one or more LED chips on a circuit board within the reflector, and to mount the luminophore on the reflector.

[0036] The LED chips are preferably cast in a domed shape using a transparent casting compound. On the one hand, this casting compound provides mechanical protection, and on the other, it also improves the optical characteristics (better escape of the light from the LED dice).

[0037] The luminophore may also be dispersed in a casting compound that connects a configuration of LED chips on a circuit board with a polymer lens, preferably one without gas content, whereby the polymers and the casting compound include refractive indices that vary from one another by no more than 0.1. This casting compound may directly include the LED dice, but it is also possible that they be cast using a transparent casting compound (this results in a transparent casting compound and a casting compound containing the luminophore). Because of the similar refractive indices, there is very little loss at the bordering surfaces due to reflection.

[0038] The polymer lens preferably is of spherical or ellipsoid shape that is filled by the casting compound, so that the LED array is secured closely adjacent to the polymer lens. The height of the mechanical structure may thus be reduced.

[0039] In order to achieve uniform distribution of the luminophore, it is useful if the luminophore is reduced to slurry in a preferably inorganic matrix.

[0040] When using at least two luminophores, it is useful if the minimum two luminophores are individually dispersed within matrices that are positioned one after the other within the spread of light. Thus, the concentration of luminophores may be reduced in comparison to that obtained in a uniform dispersion of various luminophores,

[0041] The essential steps to manufacture the luminophore using an advantageous version of the invention are shown in the following:

[0042] Depending on the selected composition for production of the alkaline-earth ortho-silicate luminophore, the stoichiometric quantities of alkaline-earth carbonate, Silicon dioxide, and Europium oxide output materials are mixed internally, and are converted into the desired luminophore using the solid-body reaction conventionally used in the production of luminescent materials in reduced atmosphere at temperatures between 1100° C. and 1400° C. For this, it is advantageous for the crystallinity to add small amounts, preferably smaller than 0.2 mol, of ammonium chloride or other halogens to the reaction mixture. Within the meaning of the displayed invention, a portion of the Silicon may be replaced by Germanium, Boron, Aluminum, or Phosphorus, which may be realized by the addition of corresponding amounts of compounds of the named elements that may be converted thermally into oxides. In a similar manner, it is possible for small amounts of alkali metal ions to be included in the particular lattice.

[0043] The ortho-silicate luminophores thus obtained emit at wavelengths between about 510 nm and 600 nm, and possess a half-width value of up to 110 nm.

[0044] By means of proper configuration of reaction parameters and specific additives, e.g., of monovalent halogenide and/or alkali metal ions, the distribution of grain sizes of the luminophore based on the invention may be adapted to the demands of the particular application without having to use damaging mechanical size-reduction processes. In this manner, all narrow- and wide-band grain-size distributions with mean grain sizes d₅₀of about 2 μm and 20 μm may be adjusted.

[0045] Further advantages of the invention are explained in the following using embodiment examples and Figures.

[0046] FIGS. 1-6 show spectra (relative intensity I dependent on wavelength) of various LED light sources based on the invention; and FIGS. 7-10 show various embodiment examples of LED light sources based on the invention.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows the emission spectrum of a white LED with a color temperature of 2700 K that is formed by combination of a LED emitting blue light with effective wavelength of 464 nm with luminophore based on the invention of composition (Sr_1.4Ca_0.6SiO₄:Eu²⁺) that emits light in a second spectral region with a maximum value of 596 nm.

[0048] Further examples for the combination of an LED emitting light at 464 nm with one of the ortho-silicate luminophores are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. If a yellow-emitting luminophore of composition (Sr_1.90Ba_0.08Ca_0.02SiO₄:Eu²⁺) is used for color conversion, a white-light color with color temperature of 4100 K may be set, but with use of the luminophore (Sr_1.84Ba_0.16SiO₄:Eu²⁺), for example, a white-light color with color temperature of 6500 K may be obtained.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows the typical spectrum for the combination of a 464-nm LED with two ortho-silicate luminophores based on the invention. The luminescent materials used possess the compositions (Sr_1.4Ca_0.6SiO₄:Eu²⁺) and (Sr_1.00Ba_1.00SiO₄:Eu²). For the concrete spectrum shown in FIG. 4, a color temperature of 5088 K and a color reproduction index Ra of 82 are obtained. However, depending on the selected quantity ratios of luminophores, all color temperatures in the range of about 3500 K and 7500 K may be achieved, whereby the great advantage of such mixtures of two ortho-silicate luminophores based on the invention consists of the fact that Ra values greater than 80 may be achieved.

[0050] This is documented in FIG. 5 using an example. The spectrum shown stands for the combination of a 464-nm LED with a mixture of the two luminophores with composition of (Sr_1.6Ca_0.4Si_0.98Ga_0.02O₄:Eu²⁺) and (Sr_1.10Ba_0.90SiO₄:Eu²), which produces an Ra value of 82 at a color temperature of 5000 K.

[0051] If a UV LED is used as an emission-emitting element that emits in a first spectral region with a maximum of 370-390 nm, then Ra values of greater than 90 may be realized by means of combination of such an LED with a luminescent-material mixture containing the luminophores based on the invention and shown in FIG. 4 as well as a specific portion of a Barium-Magnesium-Aluminate:Eu,Mn luminescent material. FIG. 6 shows the emission spectrum of a corresponding white-light source that produces an Ra value of 91 at a color temperature of 6500 K.

[0052] Further examples may be taken from the following presentation. In it, along with the emission wavelengths of the inorganic LED's used, the resulting color temperatures, Ra values, and color locations of the light sources are given for each composition of luminophores based on the invention:

[0053] T=2778 K (464 nm+Sr_1.4Ca_0.6SiO₄:Eu²⁺); x=0.4619, y=0.4247, Ra=72

[0054] T=2950 K (464 nm+Sr_1.4Ca_0.6SiO₄:Eu 2+); x=0.4380, y=0.4004, Ra=73

[0055] T=3497 K (464 nm+Sr_1.6Ba_0.4SiO₄:Eu²⁺); x=0.4086, y=0.3996, Ra=74

[0056] T=4183 K (464 nm+Sr_1.9Ba_0.08Ca_0.02SiO₄:Eu²⁺); x=0.3762, y=0.3873, Ra=75

[0057] T=6624 K (464 nm+Sr_1.9Ba_0.02Ca_0.08SiO₄:Eu²⁺); x=0.3101, y=0.3306, Ra=76

[0058] T=6385 K (464 nm+Sr_1.6Ca_0.4SiO₄:Eu²⁺+Sr_0.4Ba_1.6SiO₄:Eu²⁺); x=0.3135, y=0.3397, Ra=82

[0059] T=4216 K (464 nm+Sr_1.9Ba_0.08Ca_0.02SiO₄:Eu²⁺); x=0.3710, y=0.3696, Ra=82

[0060] 3954 K (464 nm+Sr_1.6Ba_0.4SiO₄:Eu²⁺+Sr_0.4Ba_1.6SiO₄:Eu²⁺+YVO4:Eu³⁺); x=0.3756, y=0.3816, Ra=84

[0061] T=6489 K (UV-LED+Sr_1.6Ca_0.4SiO₄:Eu²⁺+Sr_0.4Ba_1.6SiO₄:Eu²⁺+Barium Magnesium aluminate:Eu 2+); x=0.3115, y=0.3390, Ra=86

[0062] T=5097 K (464 nm+Sr_1.6Ba_0.4(Si_0.98B_0.02)O₄:Eu²⁺+Sr_0.6Ba_1.4SiO₄:Eu²⁺); x=0.3423, y=0.3485, Ra=82

[0063] T=5084 K (UV-LED+Sr_1.6Ca_0.4(Si_0.99B_0.01)O₄:Eu²⁺+Sr_0.6Ba_1.4SiO₄:Eu²⁺+Strontium Magnesium aluminate:Eu²⁺);x=0.3430, y=0.3531, Ra=83

[0064] T=3369 K (464 nm+Sr_1.4Ca_0.6Si_0.95Ge_0.05O₄:Eu²⁺); x=0.4134, y=0.3959, Ra=74

[0065] T=2787 K (466 nm+Sr_1.4Ca_0.6Si_0.98P_0.02O_4.01:Eu²⁺); x=0.4630, y=0.4280, Ra=72

[0066] T=2913 K (464 nm+Sr_1.4Ca_0.6Si_0.98Al_0.02O₄:Eu²); x=0.4425, y=0.4050, Ra=73

[0067] T=4201 K

[0068] In a preferred version of the invention, color conversion is performed as follows:

[0069] One or more LED chips 1 (see FIG. 7) are assembled on a circuit board 2. An encapsulation medium 3 in the form of a hemisphere or a half-ellipsoid is positioned directly above the LED's (first, to protect the LED chip, and second, in order to be able better to decouple the light created within the LED chip. This encapsulation medium 3 may either include each die individually, or it may represent a common shape for all LED's. The circuit board 2 thus configured is inserted into a reflector 4, or the reflector 4 is drawn over the LED chips 1.

[0070] A light disk 5 is placed on the reflector 4. This light disk 5 first serves to protect the configuration, and second, the luminophore 6 is mixed into this light disk. The blue light (or the ultra-violet emission) that passes through the light disk 5 is proportionally converted upon passage through the luminophore 6 into a second spectral region, so that the overall impression of white light is created. Losses through waveguiding effects, which may occur in parallel plates are reduced by the opaque, scattering characteristics of the disk. Further, the reflector 4 ensures that only pre-directed light strikes the light disk 5 so that total reflection effects may be reduced in advance.

[0071] It is also possible to mount the luminophore 6 onto the reflector 4, as shown in FIG. 8. No light disk is required in this case.

[0072] Alternatively, a reflector 4′ may be placed over each LED chip (see FIG. 9), and the reflector may be poured out in a domed shape (encapsulation medium 31) and a light disk 5 may be positioned above each reflector 3′ Or above the entire assembly.

[0073] It is useful in the manufacture of illumination sources to use LED arrays instead of individual LED's. In a preferred version of the invention, color conversion is performed as follows on an LED array 1′ (see FIG. 10), in which the LED chips 1 area assembled directly on the circuit board 2:

[0074] A LED array 1′ (see FIG. 10) is attached to a transparent polymer lens 7 consisting of a different material (e.g., PMMA) by means of a casting compound 3 (e.g., epoxy resin). The material of the polymer lens 7 and of the casting compound 3 are so selected that they possess refractive indices that are as close to each other as possible, or phase-adapted. The casting compound 3 is located in a maximally hemispherical- or ellipsoid-shaped hollowing of the polymer lens 7. The shape of the hollowing is significant in that the color conversion material is dispersed in the casting compound 3, and it may thus be ensured by its shape that angle-independent emission colors are created. Alternatively, the array may first be cast with a transparent casting compound and subsequently be attached to the polymer lens by means of the casting compound containing the color conversion material.

[0075] In order to produce white LED's with particularly good color reproduction n which at least two different luminophores are used, it is useful not to disperse the two together in a matrix, but rather to disperse and mount them separately. This particularly applies to combinations in which the final light color is created by means of a multi-step color-conversion process. That means that the emission color with the longest wavelength is generated in an emission process that progresses as follows: absorption of LED emission by the first luminophore; emission from the first luminophore; absorption of the emission from the first luminophore by the second luminophore; and emission from the second luminophore. It is particularly preferred for such a process to arrange the individual materials in order in the direction the light is spreading, since the concentration of the materials may be reduced in comparison to a combined dispersion of the individual materials.

[0076] This invention is not limited to the described embodiments. The luminophores may also be included in the polymer lens (or in another optical element). It is also possible to position the luminophore directly above the LED dice or on the surface of the transparent casting compound, The luminophore may also be mounted in a matrix together with scattering particles. This prevents fading within the matrix and ensures uniform light emission.