Patent ID: 8684562

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 containing a Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ -based phosphor having a garnet crystal structure, wherein the wavelength conversion layer is one of: a sintered body of phosphor powder; transparent phosphor ceramics; phosphor glass; phosphor single crystal; and a composite of phosphor and ceramic material, and wherein the Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ -based phosphor is expressed by the chemical formula (Y 1 âˆ’aâˆ’x Gd a Ce x ) 3 Al 5 O 12 , â€œxâ€ 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 â€œaâ€ 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.