Abstract: A fluorescent lamp comprises at least one layer of a four-component phosphor blend for producing visible illumination having a white color. The quad-phosphor blend comprising a first and second red-emitting phosphor component with each red-emitting phosphor component having different visible emission spectrum principally in the 590 to 630 nm wavelength range. A third blue-emitting phosphor component has an emission spectrum principally in the 430 to 490 nm wavelength range. A fourth no-rare-earth green-emitting phosphor component has an emission spectrum principally in the 500 to 570 nm wavelength range. The relative proportions of the phosphor components are such that an enhanced color rendering index is produced as compared to tri-component blends formed from only three of the phosphor components.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp comprises a plurality of metameric blends of lamp phosphors for converting ultraviolet radiation to visible illumination.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp has a coating on the interior surface of the glass envelope comprising an alkaline earth metal halophosphate phosphor and a quad-phosphor blend wherein the combination of phosphors result in a predetermined color point from about 2700 to about 4200 K on or near the Planckian locus where the alkaline earth metal halophosphate phosphor comprises a blend of halophosphate phosphors having a color temperature substantially matching the color temperature of the quad-blend which includes an europium activated aluminate as a phosphor component.

Abstract: A host acting as an optical emitter and a process of making the same for the .sup..about. 1.3 .mu.m to .sup..about. 1.55 .mu.m spectral region utilized in optical communications is disclosed. The host is Cr-activated willemite (Zn.sub.2 SiO.sub.4). Efficient band-emission at room temperature, with peak at 1.42 .mu.m, is observed on exiting the material in the near infrared, typically at 730 nm and 829 nm.

Abstract: The lumen maintenance of fluorescent lamps containing yttrium vanadate phosphors is markedly improved by the presence of a protective oxide layer for the phosphor. The protective oxide layer is produced by evaporating aluminum isopropoxide, in a vacuum, over phorphor particles forming a continuous aluminum isopropoxide over the phosphor particles. The isopropoxide coating is subsequently oxidized by lehring the phosphor at a temperature from about 500.degree. C. to 625.degree. C. forming an alumina coating on the phosphor particles.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp containing a Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 coating on a layer of yttrium vanadate phosphor and a method of coating the layer of the yttrium vanadate phosphor with a continuous protective coating of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 is described. The method comprises applying a coating of a metal, such as yttrium or aluminum, on the yttrium vanadate phosphor then lehring the metallic coating at about 500.degree. C. to about 625.degree. C. to form a continuous protective coating of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 overlaying the layer of phosphor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to luminescent materials having the general formula:Ca(2-v-w-x-y-z) (NSF).sub.v Sr.sub.w Cd.sub.x Sn.sub.y Mn.sub.z P.sub.2 O.sub.7wherein:NSF is the non-stoicheometric factor;0.ltoreq.v.ltoreq.0.010.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.08;0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.05;0.01.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.03; and0.05.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.15.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to phosphors exhibiting efficient, narrow band UV emission, with peak emission at 330 nm (from excitation at 254). These phosphors are cerium-activated calcium pyrophosphate (beta-phase) of nominal formulationCa(.sub.2-w-x-y) (NSF).sub.w Ce.sub.x Na.sub.y P.sub.2 O.sub.7wherein:NSF is the non-stoicheometric factor;0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.1;0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.20; and0.05.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.20.

Abstract: An efficient green emitting phosphor results from the coactivation of yttrium fluoride with gadolinium and erbium. The excitation energy absorbed by the Gd.sup.3+ centers is transferred non-radiatively to minority Er.sup.3+ centers, whose emission produces green light when excited by 275 nanometer or 378 nanometer radiation.

Abstract: Yellow emitting fluorescent lamp phosphor compositions comprise cerium and manganese activated alkali-earth fluoroapatite compositions containing sodium having the approximate formula(Ca.sub.1-s Sr.sub.s).sub.t Ce.sub.v Na.sub.w Mn.sub.x (PO.sub.4).sub.y F.sub.zwhereins is from 0 to 1t is from about 3.43 to about 4.01v is about 0.3w is about 0.3x is from about 0.3 to about 0.4y is about 3.00z is from about 1.0 to about 4.0.An improved two step firing process for producing the disclosed phosphors is described and an improved fluorescent lamp employing the disclosed phosphors is also described.

Abstract: Yellow emitting fluorescent lamp phosphors comprise cerium and manganese activated calcium-strontium fluoroapatite compositions represented by the approximate formula(Ca.sub.1-t Sr.sub.t).sub.v Ce.sub.w Mn.sub.x (PO.sub.4).sub.y F.sub.zwhereint is from 0 to 1v is from about 4.12 to about 4.30w is about 0.295x is from about 0.147 to about 0.295y is about 3.0z is from about 1.72 to about 2.21.An improved two step firing process for producing the disclosed phosphors is described and an improved fluorescent lamp employing the disclosed phosphors is also described.

Abstract: Phosphors and a method for producing yellow-emitting tin-manganese coactivated calcium fluorophosphate phosphors having improved brightness comprises the steps of blending a powder mixture including the phosphates, carbonates, fluorides and oxides of calcium, tin, and manganese together with an ammonium salt, and firing the mixture at a temperature of between about 1100.degree. C. and about 1300.degree. C. for a period sufficient to produce a luminescent composition. The presence of an ammonium compound in the initial powder blend promotes the proper atmosphere during the firing step to insure the incorporation of proper levels of tin and manganese ions in the final phosphor.

Abstract: A luminescent phosphor composition having enhanced luminescent decay lifetime consists essentially of a non-stoichiometric cerium and manganese coactivated alkaline earth orthophosphate represented by the formulaSr.sub.(3-v-w-x-y-z) .quadrature..sub.v Mg.sub.w CA.sub.x (PO.sub.4).sub.2 :Ce.sub.y Mn.sub.zwhere0.001.ltoreq.v.ltoreq.0.050.180.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.350.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.080.015.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.050.01.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.10.An improved fluorescent lamp employing the disclosed phosphor is also described.

Abstract: A luminescent phosphor composition having enhanced luminescent decay lifetime consists essentially of a non-stoichiometric tin and manganese coactivated alkaline earth orthophosphate represented by the formulaSr.sub.(3-v-w-x-y-z) .quadrature..sub.v Mg.sub.w Ca.sub.x (PO.sub.2).sub.4 :Sn.sub.y Mn.sub.zwhere0.001.ltoreq.v.ltoreq.0.050.180.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.350.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.080.015.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.050.0005.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.0905.An improved fluorescent lamp employing the disclosed phosphor is also described.

Abstract: A luminescent glass comprising a host material consisting essentially of 25 to 36 mole percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, the balance P.sub.2 O.sub.5, and which is doped with cerium and terbium. The glass is an efficient emitter of visible radiation, predominantly green, when excited by ultraviolet radiation.