Abstract: A light source for vehicles can include a base having a cavity formed on its upper surface, an LED chip mounted in the cavity of the base, a resin portion for sealing the LED chip in the cavity, an optical member disposed above the base and apart from the LED chip, a light shielding portion disposed on the inner surface of the optical member and which forms a cutoff suited for a light distribution pattern, and a fluorescent substance layer disposed at least in regions other than the light shielding portion on the inner surface of the optical member.

Abstract: In the light-emitting device provided with the conventional wavelength converter, colors became irregular, and light radiated to a side of the semiconductor light-emitting element from the wavelength converter could not be used as radiation light, thus lowered the conversion efficiency.

Abstract: In the light-emitting device provided with the conventional wavelength converter, colors became irregular, and light radiated to a side of the semiconductor light-emitting element from the wavelength converter could not be used as radiation light, thus lowered the conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A phosphor for use in an electroluminescent panel is produced by firing a material primarily composed of powder of zinc sulfide, preferably with high-frequency induction heating, under a predetermined pressure in an atmosphere of a halogen gas as a coactivator. The phosphor thus produced is of good emission characteristics having minimum particle size and impurity concentration irregularities.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a phosphor for use in an electroluminescent panel includes a storage body that is permeable to a fluid, and an open boat for containing a phosphor material. The open boat is stored in, and has a shape corresponding to, the storage body. The open boat and the storage body are housed in a reactor. A gas supply section introduces a nitrogen gas and a halogen gas into the reactor, and a heating device heats the reactor. A pressure control device selectively evacuates the reactor and introduces a gas pressure into the reactor to control the pressure in the reactor to be in a range from 10.sup.-3 to 1140 Torr.