Patent ID: 8459840

Claim:
A semiconductor light emitting apparatus, comprising: a solid-state light emitting device operable to emit primary light having an emission peak within a blue wavelength region from 430 nm to less than 475 nm; and a wavelength convertor operable to convert the primary light into secondary light at a longer wavelength, wherein the wavelength convertor is an inorganic compact that includes a transparent wavelength conversion layer with a thickness in a range from 30 μm to less than 100 μm, the wavelength conversion layer containing a Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ -based phosphor having a garnet crystal structure, wherein the Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ -based phosphor is expressed by the chemical formula (Y 1-a-x Gd a Ce x ) 3 Al 5 O 12 , “x” expressed in atomic % denotes a Ce 3+ substitution amount, the Ce 3+ substitution amount falling within a range from greater than 0.5 atomic % to 1 atomic %, and “a” expressed in atomic % denotes a Gd 3+ substitution amount, the Gd 3+ substitution amount falling within a range from 0 atomic % to 30 atomic %, both inclusive.