Elongated electroluminescence element and manufacturing method thereof

Claim 1

An elongated EL element characterized by comprising: an elongated substrate (12) having a back electrode (12a), an insulating layer (12b) and a luminescent layer (12c) which are superimposed upon each other with said insulating layer positioned between said back electrode and said luminescent layer; an elongated transparent conductive film (14) superimposed upon said substrate (12) in parallel relation thereto, wherein said luminescent layer (12c) of said substrate is in contact with said transparent conductive film (14); an elongated auxiliary electrode (17) having its width narrower than that of each of said substrate (12) and said transparent conductive film (14), said auxiliary electrode having an insulating film (20), a conductive metal layer (21) and a conductive adhesive layer (22) which are superimposed upon each other with said conductive metal layer positioned between said insulating film and said conductive adhesive layer, said auxiliary electrode (17) being sandwiched between said substrate (12) and said transparent conductive film (14) superimposed one upon the other and extending longitudinally of said substrate and said transparent conductive film, wherein said insulating film (20) is in contact with said luminescent layer (12c) of said substrate (12), while said conductive adhesive layer (22) is bonded to said transparent conductive film (14); and dampproof film means (18) with which an assembly of said substrate (12), said transparent conductive film (14) and said auxiliary electrode (17) is covered in a se­aled fashion.

Claim 10

A method of manufacturing an elongated EL element, comprising the steps of: preparing a substrate (12) in the form of a continuous web having a back electrode (12a), an insulating layer (12b) and a luminescent layer (12c) which are superimposed upon each other with said insulating layer positioned between said back electrode and said luminescent layer, a transparent conductive film (14) in the form of a continuous web, and an auxiliary electrode (17) having a width narrower than that of each of said substrate (12) and said transparent conductive film (14), said auxiliary electrode (17) being in the form of a continuous tape having an insulating film (20), an conductive metal layer (21) and a conductive adhesion layer (22) which are superimposed upon each other with said conductive metal layer positioned between said insulating film and said conductive adhesive layer; superimposing said substrate (12) and said transparent conductive film (14) one upon the other with their respective longitudinal axes extending parallel to each other, while sandwiching said auxiliary electrode (17) between said substrate (12) and said transparent conductive film (14) such that said auxiliary electrode extends longitudinally of said substrate and said transparent conductive film, wherein said luminescent layer (12c) of said substrate (12) is in contact with said transparent conductive film (14), and wherein said insulating film (20) of said auxiliary electrode (17) is in contact with said luminescent layer (12c) of said substrate, while said conductive adhesive layer (22) of said auxiliary electrode (17) is in contact with said transparent conductive film (14); applying heat and pressure to the superimposed substrate and transparent conductive film (12 and 14) with said auxiliary electrode (17) sandwiched therebetween, to thermocompression-bond the superimposed substrate and transparent conductive film (12 and 14) to each other and to bond said conductive adhesive layer (22) of said auxiliary electrode (17) to said transparent conductive film (14); covering an assembly of said substrate (12), said transparent conductive film (14) and said auxiliary electrode (17) with dampproof film material (18) in a sealed fashion; and cutting said assembly covered with said dampproof means (18), into a predetermined length to form the elongated EL element (1).

Claim 11

A method of manufacturing an elongated EL element, comprising the steps of: preparing a substrate (12) in the form of a continuous web having a back electrode (12a), an insulating layer (12b) and a luminescent layer (12c) which are superimposed upon each other with said insulating layer positioned between said back electrode and said luminescent layer, a transparent conductive film (14) in the form of a continuous web, and an auxiliary electrode (17) having a width narrower than that of each of said substrate (12) and said transparent conductive film (14), said auxiliary electrode (17) being in the form of a continuous tape having an insulating film (20), an conductive metal layer (21) and a conductive adhesion layer (22) which are superimposed upon each other with said conductive metal layer positioned between said insulating film and said conductive adhesive layer; superimposing said substrate (12) and said transparent conductive film (14) one upon the other with their respective longitudinal axes extending parallel to each other, while sandwiching said auxiliary electrode (17) between said substrate (12) and said transparent conductive film (14) such that said auxiliary electrode extends longitudinally of said substrate and said transparent conductive film, wherein said luminescent layer (12c) of said substrate (12) is in contact with said transparent conductive film (14), and wherein said insulating film (20) of said auxiliary electrode (17) is in contact with said luminescent layer (12c) of said substrate, while said conductive adhesive layer (22) of said auxiliary electrode (17) is in contact with said transparent conductive film (14); applying heat and pressure to the superimposed substrate and transparent conductive film (12 and 14) with said auxiliary electrode (17) sandwiched therebetween, to thermocompression-bond the superimposed substrate and transparent conductive film (12 and 14) to each other and to bond said conductive adhesive layer (22) of said auxiliary electrode (17) to said transparent conductive film (14); covering an assembly of said substrate (12), said transparent conductive film (14) and said auxiliary electrode (17) with dampproof film material (18) in a sealed fashion; and cutting said assembly covered with said dampproof means (18), into a predetermined length to form the elongated EL element (1).

Claim 15

A method according to anyone of the claims 9 to 12, characterized in that said auxiliary electrode (17) in the form of a continuous tape is wound into a roll (34), and that said method includes the step of unwinding said auxi­liary electrode (17) from its roll (34) to feed the unwound auxiliary electrode toward said nip to sandwich the unwound auxiliary electrode (17) between said substrate (12) and said transparent conductive film (14) at said nip.

Claim 16

A method according to anyone of the claims 8 to 13, characterized in that said conductive metal layer (21) of said auxiliary electrode (17) is vacuum-deposited or la­minated on said insulating film (20).

Claim 17

A method according to anyone of the claims 8 to 14, characterized in that said conductive metal layer (21) of said auxiliary electrode (17) has its one side in contact with said insulating film (20), and that said conductive ad­hesive layer (22) of said substrate (12) is formed of con­ductive adhesive coated on the other side of said conductive metal layer (21).

Claim 18

A method according to anyone of the claims 9 to 15, characterized in that said back electrode (12a) of said substrate (12) is formed of an aluminium foil, and that said auxiliary electrode (17) has its thickness which is absorbed by said transparent conductive film (14) at said applying step so that said substrate (12) is made substantially pla­nar.

Claim 19

A method according to anyone of the claims 9 to 15, characterized in that said back electrode (12a) of said substrate (12) is formed of a softened aluminium foil, and that said auxiliary electrode (17) has its thickness which is absorbed by said substrate (12) at said applying step so that said transparent conductive film (14) is made substan­tially planar.

Claim 20

A method according to anyone of the claims 9 to 17, characterized in that at said cutting step, said auxi­liary electrode (17) is cut into a predetermined length lon­ger than that of each of said substrate (12) and said trans­parent conductive film (14) so that said auxiliary electrode (17) has its one end portion projecting from one end of the respective substrate and transparent conductive film (12 and 14), said one end portion of said auxiliary electrode (17) serving as a lead terminal (17a).

Claim 21

A method according to anyone of the claims 9 to 18, characterized in that said auxiliary electrode (17) ex­tends along one side edge of the respective substrate and transparent conductive film (12 and 14).