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EP0172985A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electroluminescent lamp

Assignee: Ball Engineering Corp
•
Filing: 1985-03-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-03-27
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Abstract

Abstract An electroluminescent apparatus comprises a substrat (12); a first conductor (14) fixed to the substrate (12) in a preselected pattern to form a first electrode; a luminescent coating (16) covering a first portion (18) of the first conductor (14) while leaving a second portion (20) of the first conductor uncovered; and a pair of second conductors (22, 24) situated adjacent to, but separated from, each other on the substrate (12), wherein one (22) of the pair of second conductors (22 and 24) contacts a selected one of the group consisting of the luminescent coating (16) and the first conductor (14), and wherein the other (24) of the pair of second conductors (22, 24) contacts the unselected one of said group. A method of forming the electroluminescent device is also described.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard W. Mental

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 08:54
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B33/00; H05B33/12; H05B33/26

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim 97 words
An electroluminescent apparatus comprising a substrate, a first conductor fixed to tne sudstrate in a preselected pattern to form a first electrode, a luminescent coating covering a first portion of the first conductor leaving a second portion of tne first conductor uncovered; and a pair of second conductors situated adjacent to, but separated from, eacn other on tne substrate, one of the pair of second conductors contacting a selected one of the group consisting of the luminescent coating and the first conductor, the other of tne pair of second conductors contacting the unselected one of said group.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 97 words
An electroluminescent apparatus comprising a substrate, a first conductor fixed to tne sudstrate in a preselected pattern to form a first electrode, a luminescent coating covering a first portion of the first conductor leaving a second portion of tne first conductor uncovered; and a pair of second conductors situated adjacent to, but separated from, eacn other on tne substrate, one of the pair of second conductors contacting a selected one of the group consisting of the luminescent coating and the first conductor, the other of tne pair of second conductors contacting the unselected one of said group.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wnerein tne substrate comprises a flexible transparent sneet composed of a polymeric resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 tne first conductor comprises a transparent metal oxide film spaced inwardly from the edge of tne substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the luminescent coating covers suostantially tne wnole of tne first conductor leaving at least one edge of tne first conductor uncovered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
Tne apparatus of claim 4 wnerein one of said pair of second conductors extends along said at least one edge of the first conductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein tne substrate comprises a body portion and a lead portion, said first conductor being confined to said body portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wnerein said pair of second conductors extend along said lead portion parallel to each other from said body portion to a terminal and remote therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 7 furtner comprising a pair of pin elements attached to the terminal end of said pair of second conductors remote from said body portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 furtner comprising a water vapor impervious coating extending over the entirety of the luminescent coating and all but an end portion of the pair of second conductors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wnerein the luminescent coating comprises a light-emitting layer and an opaque, light-reflecting layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
ll. The apparatus of claim 10 wnerein the opaque layer comprises a metal oxide power in a matrix.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising, an insulative layer opposite tne substrate covering all but a terminal portion of tne conductors, and a conductive shielding layer substantially coextensive witn tne insulative layer, tne snielding layer including a terminal portion adapted to be connected to a suitable ground.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 27 words
Tne device of claim 12 wnerein tne terminal portion of the shielding layer overlies the terminal portion of one of the conductors and is electrically connected thereto.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 36 words
The device of claim 13 further comprising a pin element connected to the terminal portion of eacn of the conductors, one of the pin elements electrically connecting the shielding layer to said one of the conductors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 46 words
The device of claim 12 wnerein tne terminal portion of tne shielding layer is situated adjacent to and spaced from tne terminal portions of tne conductors, eacn terminal portion further comprising a pin element connected tnereto in a preselected spaced relation to eacn other pin element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 51 words
The device of claim 12 wnerein tne substrate comprises a body portion and a lead portion, tne electrodes and electroluminescent layer being confined to the body portion, the conductors extending form tne pody portion to a distal end of tne lead portion where the terminal portion of the conductors are situated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 33 words
The device of claim 12 wnerein one of tne conductors is unitary witn one of the electrodes tne conductor connected to tne other electrode extending along an edge thereof to form a bus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 24 words
The device of claim 12 furtner comprising a protective overcoat of abrasion resistant, water vapor impervious material lying on top of tne snielding layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 35 words
The device of claim 18 furtner comprising an adhesive layer and a removable release sneet situated on top of the overcoat, tne release sneet being adapted for later removal to permit mounting of the device.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 99 words
The method of forming an electroluminescent device comprising the steps of: a) providing a substrate; b) depositing a first conductor on the substrate in a preselected pattern to form a first electrode; c) covering a first portion of tne first conductor with a luminescent coating while leaving a second portion of the first conductor uncovered; and d) depositing simultaneously a pair of second conductors adjacent to each other, one of tne pair of second conductors contacting only the luminescent coating and the substrate, the other of tne pair of second conductors contacting only the first conductor and the substrate.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 99 words
The method of forming an electroluminescent device comprising the steps of: a) providing a substrate; b) depositing a first conductor on the substrate in a preselected pattern to form a first electrode; c) covering a first portion of tne first conductor with a luminescent coating while leaving a second portion of the first conductor uncovered; and d) depositing simultaneously a pair of second conductors adjacent to each other, one of tne pair of second conductors contacting only the luminescent coating and the substrate, the other of tne pair of second conductors contacting only the first conductor and the substrate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 20 furtner comprising the step of forming the substrate to include a body portion and a lead portion, the first conductor being deposited only on the body portion.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 42 words
The method of Claim 2l wnerein step d) includes depositing said pair of conductors adjacent to each other on said lead portion of the substrate, said pair of conductors contacting the first conductor and tne luminescent coating only on said body portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 44 words
The method of claim 20 wherein step c) comprises the steps of depositing a mixture of a pnospnor and binder on said first portion of the first conductor; and depositing a mixture of a reflective opacifier in a matrix over the phosphor and binder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 30 words
Tne method of claim 20 furtner comprising the step of overcoating all but an end portion of said pair of conductors witn a protective overcoat of water vapor impervious material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method or claim 20 further comprising the step of attaching a pin element to an end of eacn of the pair of second conductors.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of Claim 20 furtner comprising the step of cutting the substrate to separate the formed device from adjacently formed devices.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising tne steps of: a) depositing an insulative film so as to cover the pair of second conductors; and b) depositing a conductive snielding layer over the insulative film, tne shielding layer including a terminal portion adapted to be connected to a suitable ground.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 29 words
Tne method of claim 27 wnerein tne terminal portion of the shielding layer is deposited on top of a terminal portion of one of said pair of second conductors.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 49 words
The method of claim 28 furtner comprising the step of attacning a pin element to tne terminal portion of each of the pair of second conductors, one of the pin elements electrically connecting tne terminal portion of the shielding layer to tne underlying terminal portion of a second conductor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 27 wnerein tne terminal portion of the shielding layer is deposited adjacent to the terminal portions of the pair of second conductors at a preselected spacing tnerefrom.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of attaching a pin element to tne end of eacn of the second conductors and the shielding layer at a preselected spacing.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 18 words
Tne method of claim 27 furtner comprising the step of applying a protective overcoat over the shielding layer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 32 wherein tne protective overcoat includes an adhesive layer and a removable release sneet.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 20 words
The metnod of claim 27 furtner comprising tne step of cutting the device from a sheet of tne substrate material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 22 words
Tne method of claim wnerein tne preselected pattern employed is one which forms a plurality of devices simultaneously on a single suostrate.

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