Abstract: Novel green phosphors are disclosed having the comprise silicate-based compounds having the formula (Sr,A1)x(Si,A2)(O,A3)2+x:Eu2+, where A1 is at least one divalent cation (a 2+ ion) including Mg, Ca, Ba, or Zn, or a combination of 1+ and 3+ cations; A2 is a 3+, 4+, or 5+ cation, including at least one of B, Al, Ga, C, Ge, N, and P; A3 is a 1?, 2?, or 3? anion, including F, Cl, Br, and S; and x is any value between 1.5 and 2.5, both inclusive. The formula is written to indicate that the A1 cation replaces Sr; the A2 cation replaces Si, and the A3 anion replaces O. These green phosphors are configured to emit visible light having a peak emission wavelength greater than about 480 nm. They have applications in green illumination systems, red-green-blue backlighting systems, white LEDs, and plasma display panels (PDPs).

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a lamp body, a fluorescent layer and a discharge electrode. The lamp body has a discharge space in which ultraviolet light is generated. The fluorescent layer is formed on an inner surface of the lamp body to change the ultraviolet light into visible light. The discharge electrode is on an end portion of the lamp body to apply a voltage to the discharge space. A ratio of intensities of the visible light at wavelengths of about 545 nm and about 516 nm is about 1.32:1 to about 1.71:1. Therefore, color reproducibility and luminance may be improved.

Abstract: Powder of a crystal body is disposed in positions respectively facing the discharge cells formed in the discharge space S defined between the front glass substrate and the back glass substrate of a PDP. The crystal body is included among an MgO crystal body having properties of causing CL (and PL) emission having a peak within a 200-nm to 300-nm wavelength range upon excitation by ultraviolet rays, and has properties of having a higher intensity of light emission caused by 146-nm wavelength ultraviolet light than the intensity of light emission caused by 172-nm wavelength ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A low mercury consumption electric lamp is provided having a layer of a luminescent material which contains a phosphor blend having (1) about 50% by weight of the phosphor blend of a halophosphate phosphor wherein the average particle size of about 25% to 35% or more of the phosphor particles is about 3.3 to 4.0 microns or less, and (2) optionally, an intermediate layer of a Y, Sr, and borate material between the lamp surface and the phosphor layer.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a chemically stabilized inorganic phosphor, among oxynitride phosphors including alkaline earths, which oxynitride phosphor emits orange or red light at longer wavelengths at higher luminance than conventional sialon phosphors activated by rare earths. The present invention further aims at providing a light emitting instrument based on the phosphor, for a lighting instrument excellent in color rendering property and for an image displaying apparatus excellent in durability. The solving means resides in provision of a fundamental phosphor comprising: a composition on a pseudo-ternary phase diagram including AO (A is one kind or two or more kinds of element(s) selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba; and AO is oxide of A), Si3N4, and SiO2 as end members, respectively, and satisfying all of the following conditions: in a composition formula, pAO-qSi3N4-rSiO2(p+q+r=1), 0.1?p?0.95??(1), 0.05?q?0.9??(2), and 0?r?0.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp including a glass bulb, a protection layer formed on an inner surface of the glass bulb, and a phosphor layer formed on a surface of the protection layer. The surface of the protection layer that is in contact with the phosphor layer has cracks. The bulk density of the metal oxide particles in the protection layer 32 is 80% or more. The surface of the protection layer 32 has 20 to 200 cracks per millimeter in a tube axis direction. The average particle diameter of the metal oxide particles is in the range from 0.01 ?m to 1 ?m. The thickness of the protection layer is in the range from 0.5 ?m to 5 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light emitting device, in particular discharge lamps with inner or outer electrodes or electrodeless in which the emittance of red light is enhanced by using a monolithic ceramic luminescence converter.

Abstract: Blue-emitting phosphors for use with plasma display panels (PDP) or other vacuum ultraviolet-excited (VUV) devices are provided. These blue-emitting phosphors and mixtures thereof include at least a europium-activated calcium-substituted barium hexa-aluminate (CBAL) phosphor. Preferably, the CBAL phosphor has a composition which may be represented by the formula: Ba1.29-x-yCaxEuyAl12O19.29, wherein 0<x<0.25 and 0.01<y<0.20. These blue-emitting phosphors exhibit improved degradation characteristics, including reduced color shift and increased intensity maintenance, under conditions found in VUV-excited devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a zinc oxide phosphor characterized by emitting visible light with a broad emission spectrum close to white, and a process for producing the same. A powder prepared by adding a plurality of additives to zinc oxide and heat-treating the resulting mixture is further hydrogenated to improve the luminous efficiency of the zinc oxide phosphor. The zinc oxide phosphor providing a broad emission spectrum covering a wavelength range over substantially the entire visible region can be applied to a white diode, a white vacuum fluorescent display, and a fluorescent paint.

Abstract: Phosphor layers (110G, 110B, and 110R) are made of a combination of: blue and green phosphors that are positively charged on their surfaces and baked in an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere to reduce oxygen vacancy, and that have a ?-alumina crystal structure; and a red phosphor made of an yttrium oxide compound. Uniformly forming such phosphor layers on the wall surfaces of barrier ribs (109) provides equal charge characteristics of the phosphors of respective colors, reduces oxygen vacancy in the phosphors, and inhibits adsorption of various gases in the panel production process. This can stabilize the discharge characteristics and prevent luminance degradation at driving the panel.

Abstract: A phosphor having small reduction in brightness when exposed to the plasma, a phosphor paste comprising the phosphor are provided. The phosphor comprises the following fluorescent substances I and II, wherein the fluorescent substance I contains silicate and Mn as an activator and the fluorescent substance II contains a compound represented by the formula (1) or a compound represented by the formula (2) and Tb as the activator. (M11?aM2a)(Mg1?b?cZnb)Al11?dMnc+dO19?(a+d)/2??(1) [In the formula (1), M1 is at least one selected from the group consisting of La, Y and Gd, M2 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr and Ba, a is not less than 0 and not more than 0.6, b is not less than 0 and not more than 1, c is not less than 0 and not more than 0.5, d is not less than 0 and not more than 0.5, b+c is not more than 1 and c+d is more than 0 and not more than 0.5.] M32O3.mAl2O3.

Abstract: To provide a phosphor for an electron beam excitation with a small deterioration in an emission efficiency and capable of maintaining a high luminance, even when an excitation density of an electron beam for a phosphor excitation is increased. As raw materials, Ca3N2(2N), AlN(3N), Si3N4(3N), and Eu2O3(3N) are prepared, and the raw materials thus prepared are measured and mixed, so that a molar ratio of each element becomes (Ca+Eu):Al:Si=1:1:1. Then, the mixture thus obtained is maintained and fired for at 1500° C. for 3 hours, and thereafter crushed, to manufacture the phosphor having a composition formula Ca0.985SiAlN3:Eu0.015.

Abstract: This invention is intended to overcome the problems with conventional phosphor materials, specifically to overcome the problems of insufficient luminance and of color impurity on the screens of color display units when green phosphor materials have blue or red light emission. This invention is intended to provide vacuum ultraviolet excited green phosphor materials that include terbium, gadolinium-doped rare-earth aluminum scandium borate represented by the following general formula: (Y1-x-yGdxTby)Al3-zScz(BO3)4 (0?x<0.5, 0<y<0.5, 0<z?3). The phosphor materials of this invention can be used for light-emitting devices. Using the phosphor materials in combination with blue phosphor materials and red phosphor materials enables the formation of white emitting device.

Abstract: A plasma display apparatus is disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel and a driver. The plasma display panel includes a front substrate including a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, a rear substrate opposite to the front substrate, and a phosphor layer that is positioned between the front and rear substrates and includes a phosphor material and Mgo material. The driver supplies a rest signal to the scan electrode during a reset period of at least one of a plurality of subfields of a frame, supplies a scan signal to the scan electrode during an address period following the reset period, and supplies a first signal having a polarity opposite a polarity of the scan signal to the scan electrode between the reset signal and the scan signal.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp (20) includes a glass bulb (30) that has mercury enclosed therein, and a phosphor layer (32) formed on an inner side of the glass bulb (30). The phosphor layer (32) includes three types of phosphor particles, which are red phosphor particles (32R), green phosphor particles (32G) and blue phosphor particles (32B) that are excited by ultraviolet radiation to emit red light, green light and blue light respectively. The blue phosphor particles (32B) and green phosphor particles (32G) have a property of absorbing ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of 313 nm.

Abstract: Provided is a silicophosphate-based phosphor of Formula 1 and a light-emitting device including the same: [(Sr(1-x-y-a-b-c) BaaCabMgcEuxMny)4Si(PO4)4??(1) where 0<x?0.2, 0?y?0.2, 0?a?0.2, 0?b?0.5, and 0?c?0.5. The silicophosphate-based phosphor of Formula 1 is chemically and thermally stable and can be easily prepared. The phosphor exhibits a high luminous property when excited by a UV LED excitation light source having a wavelength of 360-420 nm, and emits light having a wavelength of 570 to 630 nm. Accordingly, the silicophosphate-based phosphor can be used in a LED, a lamp, a self-emission type liquid crystal display device, or the like. In particular, when a white LED includes the silicophosphate-based phosphor, the color rendering index of the white LED is high and thus an excellent color rendering property can be obtained.

Abstract: An LED lamp according to the present invention includes: at least one LED chip 12 that is mounted on a substrate 11; a phosphor resin portion 13 that covers the LED chip 12; a lens 22 to act on the outgoing light of the phosphor resin portion 13; and an optical diffusion layer (light-transmissive resin portion 20), which is arranged between the phosphor resin portion 13 and the lens 22 and in which particles to scatter the light are dispersed.

Abstract: A surface of a phosphor particle is coated with a coating member made of a material that is different from the phosphor in chemical vapor-phase reaction. The coating member is made of any of metal oxide, metal nitride and metal oxynitride. The coating member coats the surface of the phosphor with a substantially smooth film, or is formed such that a large number of fine particles, which are relatively smaller than the phosphor particle, aggregate to coat the whole surface of the phosphor particle. The coating member contains at least one metallic element selected from the group including Al, Si, and rare earth elements. In addition, the phosphor is a transparent water-soluble phosphor and is an alkaline-earth silicon-nitride phosphor, an alkaline-earth silicon oxynitride phosphor, or the like. A BET value of the coated phosphor is 1.0 to 10 times the BET value before coating. The average thickness of the coating is 10 nm to 500 nm.

Abstract: A phosphor composition that contains a phosphor host having as a main component a composition represented by a composition formula: MAlSiN3, where “M” is Sr or Sr in combination with at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Ba, and Zn, in which Sr is a main component. The phosphor composition is activated by replacing a part of the M in the phosphor host composition with Eu2+. This enables a light-emitting device emitting white light and satisfying both a high color rendering property and a high luminous flux to be provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a phosphor that has high luminance, a property of low luminance degradation during PDP driving, and chromaticity y comparable to that of BAM:Eu. The present invention is the phosphor that is represented by the general formula xAO.y1EuO.y2EuO3/2.DO.zSiO2 wherein A is at least one selected from Ca, Sr and Ba, D is at least one selected from Mg and Zn, and 2.970?x?3.500, 0.001?y1+y2?0.030, and 1.900?z?2.100 are satisfied, and that has 50 mol % or less of the divalent Eu ratio (ratio of the divalent Eu element to the total of the Eu elements) in the vicinity of the surface of the phosphor particle.

Abstract: A cold cathode fluorescent tube where an electron emitting electrode is sealed in shows much deterioration in the luminance with time, thereby being not adequate for a long time use. The electrode emitting electrode is formed in such a shape that an electric field is not locally concentrated. By mixing a material of high heat conductivity, such as tungsten, as the material for the electron emitting electrode or using helium of high heat conductivity as the sealing gas, a long life of the cold cathode fluorescent tube is achieved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a phosphor that has high luminance, a property of low luminance degradation during PDP driving, and chromaticity y comparable to that of BAM:Eu. The present invention is the phosphor that is represented by the general formula xAO.y1EuO.y2EuO3/2.DO.zSiO2.wCaCl2 wherein A is at least one selected from Sr and Ba, D is at least one selected from Mg and Zn, and 2.970?x?3.500, 0.001?y1+y2?0.030, 1.900?z?2.100, and 0.001?w?0.100 are satisfied, and that has 50 mol % or less of the divalent Eu ratio (ratio of the divalent Eu element to the total of the Eu elements) in the vicinity of the surface of the phosphor particle.

Abstract: A plasma display device having a panel main body in which a pair of transparent substrates is arranged in opposition so as to form a discharge space between the substrates on at least a front side, barrier ribs are arranged on at least one of the substrates to divide the discharge space into a plurality of spaces, a group of electrodes is arranged on the substrates so as to generate discharge in the discharge space divided with the barrier ribs, and phosphor layers that emit by discharge are provided, in which the phosphor layers are equipped with a green phosphor layer including at least a mixture of Zn2SiO4: Mn and (Y, Gd)BO3: Tb, the surface of the Zn2SiO4: Mn is coated with aluminum oxide, and the ratio of the Al element to the Si element on the surface measured with an XPS apparatus is 0.6 to 7.0.

Abstract: Using Eu2+ as the luminescence center for a green-emitting phosphor, a plasma display panel and a PDP device using it are configured by using an Eu2+-activated silicate green-emitting phosphate (Ca1-xM1x)2-e.M2.Si2O7:Eue with improved decay characteristics. In the formula, M1 is at least one element selected from the group containing Sr and Ba; M2 is at least one element selected from the group containing Mg and Zn; and x indicates the mole fraction of the component M1 and e indicates the mole fraction of Eu respectively satisfy the following conditions: 0<x<1 and 0.001?e?0.2.

Abstract: The sensitivity of YPO4:Ce phosphors to 185 nm radiation may be increased by incorporating a praseodymium coactivator. The use of Ce and Pr as co-activators in a YPO4 phosphor improves the sensitivity of the phosphor to excitation by both 185 nm and 254 nm radiation and should increase total UVA and UVB output in fluorescent lamps. The co-activated phosphor has emission peaks at about 355 nm and about 335 nm.

Abstract: A plasma display panel includes a red phosphor layer, a green phosphor layer, and a blue phosphor layer. The thickness of the phosphor layer is satisfied by the following condition: when D is (S?2L)/S, D?0.64, S being a distance between barrier ribs at half the height of the barrier ribs, and L being a side thickness of the phosphor layer coated on the barrier ribs at half the height thereof.

Abstract: An object of the present invention to provide a fluorescent lamp in which after formation of a phosphor layer, a glass bulb is bent and in which the phosphor layer is not subject to cracking or peel-off even in bent parts with a small radius of curvature, thus offering a good appearance. A fluorescent lamp includes a glass bulb 1 having bent parts, a protective film 2 having a fine grain layer 2a comprising fine grains of average grain size at most 100 nm and attached to an inner surface of the glass bulb, and large-sized grains some of which are buried in the fine grain layer 2a, the other large-sized grains projecting from the fine grain layer 2a, a phosphor layer 3 formed on the protective film 2 of the glass bulb 1, discharge inducing means 4, 4 sealably installed in opposite ends of the glass bulb 1, and a discharge medium sealed in the glass bulb 1.

Abstract: A phosphor composition and a light source constructed therefrom are disclosed. The phosphor composition includes first and second phosphors. The first phosphor includes first phosphor particles that convert light of an excitation wavelength to light having a first spectrum characterized by an intensity of light that varies as a function of wavelength. The first phosphor particles are chosen such that the first spectrum is independent of the size of the particles. The second phosphor includes particles of a QD phosphor that convert the excitation light to light in a QD phosphor spectrum. The first phosphor particles and the QD phosphor particles are present in a ratio of concentrations. The ratio, the first phosphor particles, and the QD phosphor particles are chosen such that a combined spectrum has an intensity that is more uniform as a function of wavelength than either the QD phosphor spectrum or the first spectrum.

Abstract: A fluorescent tanning lamp having a glass envelope has an ultra-violet light reflecting coating covering at least 180° of an inside surface of the envelope; and a phosphor layer covering substantially 360° of the inside surface of the envelope, including overlying the ultra-violet reflecting coating. An odor reducing photocatalytic material is provided on an outside surface of the envelope, the photocatalytic material being coextensive with the ultra-violet light reflecting material. A preferred material is anatase TiO2; i.e., the crystalline form.

Abstract: An alkaline earth aluminate phosphor for a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, which is represented by the compositional formula a (P1-xEux)O.(Q1-yMny)O.bAl2O3 and which is characterized by emitting light when irradiated with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of from 180 to 300 nm (provided that in the above formula, P represents at least one alkaline earth metal element selected from Ba, Sr and Ca, Q represents at least one bivalent metal element selected from Mg and Zn, and a, b, x and y represent numbers which satisfy 0.8?a?1.2, 4.5?b?5.5, 0.05?x?0.25 and 0.2?y?0.4, respectively).

Abstract: An adhesive agent for fluorescent dyes for adhering a fluorescent layer on a substrate, wherein the adhesive agent contains or consists of a glass composition.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively producing one or more of a plurality of wavelength distributions of radiation. The apparatus comprises a primary UV radiation source and one or more wavelength transforming materials separated from the primary UV radiation source, that in response to irradiation by the primary UV radiation source, produce transformed radiation having a wavelength distribution that is different from the wavelength distribution of the primary UV radiation source. None, one, or more than one of the various WT materials can be selected by the apparatus, to allow the primary UV radiation, any individual transformed radiation, or any combination of the various radiations to be to be emitted from the apparatus.

Abstract: In a phosphor whose host crystal is constituted of an oxide, a method of preparing the phosphor where the oxygen deficiencies in the phosphor are not many, and a plasma display device using the same are provided. After processes of weighing, mixing and filling powders of the phosphor, a process for firing in a reducing atmosphere and a process for firing in an oxidizing atmosphere after the last reducing atmosphere process are provided. In addition, a firing temperature in the oxidizing atmosphere process is not less than 600° C. and not more than 1000° C.

Abstract: A light emission device with improved high voltage stability, and a display device having the light emission device as its light source, the light emission device comprising front and rear substrates disposed to face each other, an electron emission unit disposed on the front substrate and having a plurality of electron emission elements, and a light emission unit including a metal reflective layer formed on the rear substrate and a phosphor layer formed on the metal reflective layer. Each of the electron emission elements includes first electrodes, second electrodes arranged between the first electrodes, and electron emission regions electrically connected to the first electrodes and having a thickness smaller that of the first electrodes.

Abstract: To provide a phosphor mixture realizing a light emitting device having a phosphor and a light emission element, by which light emission is performed, with a small color shift due to a feeding current and having an excellent color rendering properties. CaAlSin3:Eu as a red phosphor and YAG:Ce as a yellow phosphor are manufactured, and emission spectra thereof are obtained. Meanwhile, the emission spectrum of an excitation light emitted by a light emitting part is obtained. From the emission spectra thus obtained, a relative mixing ratio of each phosphor is obtained by simulation, so that a correlated color temperature of the light emitting device becomes a target temperature. Then, based on the relative mixing ratio thus obtained, each phosphor is measured and mixed, and a phosphor mixture is thereby obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a plasma display unit that employs phosphors having an amount of charge controlled close to zero, by which degradation in luminance, color temperature, and charge characteristics can be minimized. A phosphor bearing positive or negative charge is coated with a compound for controlling the amount of charge of the phosphor through a strong chemical bonding, whereby the amount of charge of a phosphor can be suppressed within ±0.01 ?C/g. Controlling the amount of charge of phosphors close to zero can keep impurity gases away from the phosphor particle when the panel is in operation, suppressing problems critical to driving a plasma display unit, such as luminance degradation of phosphors, improper alignment of color in panel operation, luminance degradation when the panel displays all white.

Abstract: A fluorescent substance comprising a plurality of particles of (Yx,Gd1-x)BO3:Euy (0.4?x?0.9, 0<y?0.3), wherein a half-band width in a profile of “charge amount vs. number distribution” of the particles measured by a charge amount distribution analyzer is 0.5-2.0 (fC/10 ?m).

Abstract: A phosphor includes Eu-activated YVO4:Eu doped Pith 10 ppm to 3,000 ppm of Tb and/or 50 ppm to 4,500 ppm of Sm. The luminance of light emitted by ultraviolet excitation is higher than that of undoped YVO4:Eu.

Abstract: Emergency lighting for an aircraft employs a photoluminescent substrate that is activated by exposure to light wherein the substrate has portions with different light emitting characteristics whereby, in the absence of activating light, a first substrate portion provides a higher light output than a second substrate portion for an initial period after which the second substrate portion provides a higher light output than the first substrate portion.

Abstract: This invention provides an alkaline earth chlorophosphate phosphor for a blue light emitting cold cathode fluorescent lamp, represented by (Sr10-k-l-m-nBakCalMgmEun)(PO4)6Cl2 wherein 0<k?1.5, 0?1?1.2, 0?m?0.25 and 0.05?n?0.3, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp using a blue light emitting phosphor represented by (Sr10-k-l-m-nBakCalMgmEun)(PO4)6Cl2 wherein 0?k?1.5, 0?1?1.2, 0?m?0.25 and 0.05?n?0.3, and a color liquid crystal display device using the lamp as backlight. The phosphor causes no significant lowering in luminescence brightness over time and no significant change in luminescent chromaticity over time under excitation with ultraviolet light at a wavelength of 180 to 300 nm and, particularly when used as backlight for a liquid crystal display, can realize image display with a wide color reproduction range.

Abstract: Sialon fluorescent materials with activated Eu or other rare earth ions have been known as fluorescent materials capable of being excited by blue light to emit yellow light. An oxynitride fluorescent material can emit light having a far wider range of wavelengths than ever before, and can be included in a light-emitting device. A fluorescent material contains as a main component a crystal phase having a general formula La3Si8N11O4 or La3Si8?xAlxN11?xO4+x where 0<x?4, to which an optically active element (M) including one or more elements selected from Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu is added and contained as a luminescence center component.

Abstract: Provided are a phosphor paste composition, a flat display device including the same, and a method of manufacturing the flat display device. The phosphor paste composition contains a phosphor with at least a heat-resistant material selected from a Group II atom-containing material, a Group III atom-containing material, and a Group IV atom-containing material, a binder, and an organic solvent. By using the phosphor paste composition, the deterioration of the phosphor can be prevented during a heat treating process. The flat display device includes a phosphor layer containing the phosphor coated with the heat-resistant material such that lifetime of the flat display device is increased and a permanent residual image phenomenon, the adsorption of water by the phosphor, and the like can be prevented.

Abstract: The present invention aims at realizing a PDP and a mercury-free fluorescent lamp feasible to maintain excellent luminescent characteristics over long periods by suppressing time-lapse changes in luminescent characteristics of a phosphor that is excited by vacuum ultraviolet light to thereby emit light. To accomplish this object, the oxide phosphor of the invention comprises individual particles, each of which has a region at and near the surface thereof modified, and the elemental composition of the surface region is in a more oxidized state than that of the internal region of the particles. Alternatively, the surface region has more halogen or chalcogen in the elemental composition. In the phosphor treatment method of the invention, the surface region of individual phosphor particles is selectively modified by (i) forming a highly reactive gas atmosphere by exciting gas which contains reactive gas, and (ii) exposing the phosphor to the gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a light source and a liquid crystal display panel. The light source includes a blue-emitting phosphor configured to emit blue light, a green-emitting phosphor configured to emit green light, and a red-emitting phosphor configured to emit red light. The liquid crystal display panel includes color filters configured to control the transmittance of light from the light source and transmit one of blue, green, and red light on a pixel basis. The green-emitting phosphor is represented by a compositional formula of (La1?x?y,Tbx,Cey)PO4, wherein “x” and “y” are compositional ratios satisfying both the following conditions: 0.500<(x+y)<0.700 and 1.20<(y/x)<2.00. The compositional ratios “x” and “y” preferably satisfy the following conditions: 0.50<(x+y)<0.65 and 1.50<(y/x)<1.70.

Abstract: A phosphor of the present invention is characterized by: having a phosphor main portion containing zinc silicate as a base material and manganese as an activator; and having at least one element from among titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), and hafnium (Hf), or having at least one element from among molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W), added to the phosphor main portion. The phosphor with such a composition is capable of precisely controlling the composition of a surface region (i.e. the surface including the vicinity) of each phosphor particle and improving the crystallinity, which leads to a high luminous efficiency and a reduction in time-lapse degradation.

Abstract: A low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp has a light-transmitting discharge vessel (10) enclosing, in a gastight manner, a discharge space (11) provided with a filling of mercury and a rare gas. The discharge vessel (10) comprises discharge means for maintaining a discharge in the discharge space (13). At least a part of an inner wall (12) of the discharge vessel (10) is provided with a protective layer (16). The discharge vessel (10) is provided with a luminescent layer (17) comprising a luminescent material. The luminescent layer (17) further comprises inorganic softening particles (27) with a softening point above 450° C. The size of the softening particles (27) is in the range from 0.01 to 10 gm. Preferably, the softening particles (27) are selected from the group formed by strontium borate, barium borate, yttrium borate, yttrium-strontium borate and calcium pyrophosphate.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp including a curved glass bulb that has a layer including a phosphor layer on an inner surface, mercury and a rare gas enclosed inside, and a pair of electrodes at both ends, and when a tube inner diameter (mm) of the glass bulb is plotted on a horizontal axis of an orthogonal coordinate system and a total amount of CO2 and CO (mol %) contained in gas present inside the glass bulb is plotted on a vertical axis of the orthogonal coordinate system, the tube inner diameter and the total amount of CO2 and CO are in a predetermined area or on a boundary thereof, the predetermined area being bounded by line segments AB, BC, CD, and DA that connect a point A (1.5 mm, 0.008 mol %), a point B (4.0 mm, 0.0005 mol %), a point C (4.0 mm, 0 mol %), and a point D (1.5 mm, 0 mol %) in the stated order. As a result, a fluorescent lamp that has no illumination failure caused by snaking can be obtained even though the fluorescent lamp is in a curved shape.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes: a UV light-generating unit including a lamp seat, a lamp vessel sealed hermetically to the lamp seat, and a luminous gas contained sealingly in the lamp vessel for generating UV light when excited; and an outer vessel mounted detachably on the lamp seat, enclosing the lamp vessel, and having an inner surface coated with a UV-converting material.

Abstract: Disclosed are a phosphor in which prevention of aging deterioration of luminance and prevention of deterioration of discharging characteristics are compatible, a method of manufacturing the phosphor, and a plasma display panel manufactured by using the phosphor. A phosphor of the invention containing Mn as an activator is one with Mn serving as a major emission, wherein a ratio of an activator concentration in a superficial portion of a phosphor particle to an activator concentration inside the phosphor particle is 0.3-0.7.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus for emitting white light including a semiconductor light source emitting radiation with a peak at from about 250 nm to about 500 nm; a first phosphor having a peak emission between about 450 and 550 nm; and a second phosphor having a peak emission between about 615 and 670 nm; wherein the overall emission spectrum of the lighting apparatus has a depression between about 550 and 615 nm, said depression extending to between about 5% and 25% of the highest intensity of the emission spectrum of the lighting apparatus in the region from 400 to 700 nm. In this apparatus, the red-green color contrast is increased versus the referent illuminant.