Patent US3883768A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3883768A
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Electrolytic light source
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
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Filing: 1973-11-12
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1993-11-12
Abstract
Abstract Two electrodes spaced apart by less than 1 mm, one or both of them being transparent, are separated by a thin dielectric frame such as a Teflon film so as to define a narrow chamber filled with an ionically conductive liquid including an electrolyte and a dissolved organic fluorescent compound. Upon the application of a d-c voltage across these electrodes, cations and anions are formed which instantly recombine and which interact with the fluorescent compound to provide sustained luminescence.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel Voinov
- 👤 James Dunnett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:41
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21K; F21K2/00; F21K2/06; F21K2/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
AN ELECTROLYTIC LIGHT SOURCE COMPRISING: A PAIR OF ELECTRODES WITH BROAD PARALLEL SURFACES CLOSELY CONFRONTING EACH OTHER, AT LEAST ONE SAID ELECTRODES BEING OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT; NONCONDUCTIVE SPACING MEANS HOLDING SAID ELECTRODES APART BY A DISTANCE OF NOT MORE THAN ABOUT 50 MICRONS AND FORMING THERWITH A FLUIDTIGHT CHAMBER; AN IONICALLY CONDUCTIVE LIQUID IN SAID CHAMBER INCLUDING A FLUORESCENT MATERIAL DISSOLVED THEREIN; AND A SUPPLY OF DIRECT CURRENT FOR PLACING ACROSS SAID CHAMBER A CONTINUOUS VOLTAGE DIFFERENCE OF NOT MORE THAN ABOUT 5 VOLTS SUFFICIENT TO IONIZE A CONSTITUENT OF SAID LIQUID WITH RELEASE OF CATIONS AND ANIONS WHOSE INTERACTION INDUCES THE EMISSION OF LUMINOUS ENERGY BY SAID FLUORESCENT MATERIAL, SAID ELECTRODES RESPECTIVELY FORMING AN ANODE AND A CATHODE CONNECTED ACROSS SAID SOURCE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
AN ELECTROLYTIC LIGHT SOURCE COMPRISING: A PAIR OF ELECTRODES WITH BROAD PARALLEL SURFACES CLOSELY CONFRONTING EACH OTHER, AT LEAST ONE SAID ELECTRODES BEING OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT; NONCONDUCTIVE SPACING MEANS HOLDING SAID ELECTRODES APART BY A DISTANCE OF NOT MORE THAN ABOUT 50 MICRONS AND FORMING THERWITH A FLUIDTIGHT CHAMBER; AN IONICALLY CONDUCTIVE LIQUID IN SAID CHAMBER INCLUDING A FLUORESCENT MATERIAL DISSOLVED THEREIN; AND A SUPPLY OF DIRECT CURRENT FOR PLACING ACROSS SAID CHAMBER A CONTINUOUS VOLTAGE DIFFERENCE OF NOT MORE THAN ABOUT 5 VOLTS SUFFICIENT TO IONIZE A CONSTITUENT OF SAID LIQUID WITH RELEASE OF CATIONS AND ANIONS WHOSE INTERACTION INDUCES THE EMISSION OF LUMINOUS ENERGY BY SAID FLUORESCENT MATERIAL, SAID ELECTRODES RESPECTIVELY FORMING AN ANODE AND A CATHODE CONNECTED ACROSS SAID SOURCE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid comprises an electrolytically inert solvent for said fluorescent material, said solvent being nonreactive with said electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A light source as defined in claim 2 wherein said liquid further contains an ionizable solute capable of furnishing cations nonreactive with said electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light source as defined in claim 3 wherein said solvent is benzonitrile, said solute being tetrabutyl ammonium perchlorate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A light source as defined in claim 3 wherein said fluorescent material includes at least one organic compound reducible at said cathode and oxidizable at said anode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A light source as defined in claim 5 wherein said compound is rubrene or 9,10-diphenylanthracene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A light source as defined in claim 3 wherein said fluorescent material comprises two Synergistically interacting organic compounds reducible at said cathode and oxidizable at said anode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A light source as defined in claim 7 wherein one of said compounds is thianthrene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A light source as defined in claim 8 wherein the other of said compounds is 9,10-diphenylanthracene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A light source as defined in claim 9 wherein said fluorescent material further includes rubrene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrodes are flat plates, said spacing means comprising a dielectric film inserted between opposite marginal zones of said electrodes and framing said chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A light source as defined in claim 11 wherein said film consists of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said transparent electrode comprises a glass plate provided with a thin light-transmissive conductive coating on the surface confronting the other electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A light source as defined in claim 13 wherein said coating has a thickness less than one micron.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said electrodes is an opaque plate with a reflective surface confronting the other electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said cathode consists, at least along its surface confronting said anode, of an electrolytically nonreducible substance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A light source as defined in claim 16 wherein said nonreducible substance is gold.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said anode consists, at least along its surface confronting said cathode, of an electrolytically nonoxidizable substance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A light source as defined in claim 18 wherein said nonoxidizable substance is tin oxide.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |