US5045755A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electroluminescent panel lamp with integral electrical connector
Assignee: E-L ACQUISITION Corp
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Filing: 1990-01-24
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Granted: 1991-09-03
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Expires: 2010-01-24
Abstract
Abstract An electroluminescent panel lamp being of either a split-electrode or parallel plate type is disclosed wherein the lamp consists of a main body having an electroluminescent layer between first and second conductive layers. An integral electrical connector tab is formed from the materials of the main body. In the parallel plate embodiment the first conductive element is exposed so as to form a front electrode, the rear electrode being the second conductive layer. In the split-electrode embodiment, the second conductive layer on the main body and connector tab is split into two halves, the two halves on the tab being the electrical connections and lying in the same plane. An alternating current charge applied to one half of the split second conductor will capacitively couple it to the other half through the unconnected first conductor. A universal connector that can connect an electrical power source to either the parallel plate or split-electrode embodiment is also disclosed. The connector has a pair of spaced apart contact fingers of different lengths that contact the front and rear electrodes of the parallel plate lamp or both halves of the second conductor in the split electrode lamp.
Inventors
- 👤 Gustaf T. Appelberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:13
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B33/00; H05B33/02; H05B33/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and electroluminescent layer there between and including an integral electrical connector tab contiguous with and extending from the main body in a direction substantially perpendicular to said thickness dimension with at least a portion of the integral electrical connector tab having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer there between, each layer in said portion of said tab being in the same plane as the corresponding layer consisting of the same material in the main body and at least one of said first and second conductive layers in said integral electrical connector tab defining a direct electrical and physical connection and the other of said first and second conductive layers in said integral electrical connector tab defining a second direct electrical and physical connection for said lamp.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and electroluminescent layer there between and including an integral electrical connector tab contiguous with and extending from the main body in a direction substantially perpendicular to said thickness dimension with at least a portion of the integral electrical connector tab having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer there between, each layer in said portion of said tab being in the same plane as the corresponding layer consisting of the same material in the main body and at least one of said first and second conductive layers in said integral electrical connector tab defining a direct electrical and physical connection and the other of said first and second conductive layers in said integral electrical connector tab defining a second direct electrical and physical connection for said lamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The lamp of claim 1 wherein the electrical connector tab includes said portion and another portion having the first conductive layer exposed for electrical connection thereto to define a parallel plate electroluminescent lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The lamp of claim 2 wherein said portion is proximate the main body on the tab and said another portion is distally located relative to the main body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The lamp of claim 2 wherein said portion and another portion form an interface substantially parallel with said thickness dimension of the main body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The lamp of claim 1 wherein the tab includes said portion with a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers of said portion to form split apart portions and the main body includes a groove through said one of said first and second conductive layers to define a split electrode electroluminescent lamp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The lamp of claim 5 wherein the groove of the tab and the groove of the main body are contiguous.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The lamp of claim 2 further including a pair of electrical contacts engaged to said tab with one of the contacts engaged to said portion and the other of the contacts engaged to said another portion and connected to a source of driving voltage so that said voltage can be applied between said first conductive layer and second conductive layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The lamp of claim 7 wherein the contacts are different in length.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The lamp of claim 5 further including a pair of electrical contacts engaged to said tab with one of the contacts engaged to one of said split apart portions on the tab and the other of the contacts engaged to the other of said split apart portions on the tab.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The lamp of claim 1 wherein the electrical connector tab includes said portion adjacent the main body and another portion remote from the main body along the length of the tab with said another portion having the first conductive layer thereon and exposed for electrical connection thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
The lamp of claim 10 further including an electrical connector attached to the electrical connector tab, said connector having an insulating body with an open-ended recess in which the tab is received and a pair of spaced apart contacts of different length such that one contact engages said portion on the tab adjacent the main body and the other contact engages said another portion on the tab remote from the main body along the length of the tab.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The lamp of claim 1 wherein the main body and tab have a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers to form laterally split apart conductive portions on the main body and tab with said split apart conductive portions on the tab extending along the length thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
The lamp of claim 12 further including an electrical connector attached to the electrical connector tab, said connector having an insulating body with an open-ended recess in which the tab is received and a pair of contacts spaced laterally apart a distance greater than the lateral width of the groove so that one contact engages one of the split apart conductive portions on the tab and the other contact engages the other of the split apart conductive portions on the tab.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
216 words
An electrical connector for use with electroluminescent panel lamps of different types wherein one type has an electrical connector tab with first and second conductive contact portions at different locations along the length of the tab and another type has first and second conductive contacts spaced laterally apart by a groove on the tab, said connector comprising an insulating body having an open-ended recess to receive the tab of either type of electroluminescent panel lamp and a pair of contact fingers spaced apart by a distance greater than the lateral width of the groove but less than the lateral width of the tab and of different selected lengths whereby when the tab of said one type of panel lamp is received in the recess, one of the contact fingers engages one of the first and second conductive contact portions and the other of the contact fingers engages the other of the first and second conductive portions at a different location along the length of the tab and when the tab of said another type is received in the recess, one of the contact fingers engages one of the laterally spaced first and second conductive contact portions and the other of the contact fingers engages the other of the laterally spaced first and second conductive contact portions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
216 words
An electrical connector for use with electroluminescent panel lamps of different types wherein one type has an electrical connector tab with first and second conductive contact portions at different locations along the length of the tab and another type has first and second conductive contacts spaced laterally apart by a groove on the tab, said connector comprising an insulating body having an open-ended recess to receive the tab of either type of electroluminescent panel lamp and a pair of contact fingers spaced apart by a distance greater than the lateral width of the groove but less than the lateral width of the tab and of different selected lengths whereby when the tab of said one type of panel lamp is received in the recess, one of the contact fingers engages one of the first and second conductive contact portions and the other of the contact fingers engages the other of the first and second conductive portions at a different location along the length of the tab and when the tab of said another type is received in the recess, one of the contact fingers engages one of the laterally spaced first and second conductive contact portions and the other of the contact fingers engages the other of the laterally spaced first and second conductive contact portions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
150 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and electroluminescent layer therebetween and including an integral electrical connector tab extending from the main body with a portion of the electrical connector tab adjacent the main body having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer there between and another portion remote from the main body having the first conductive layer thereon and exposed, and an electrical connector attached to said integral electrical connector tab, said connector having an insulating body with an open-ended recess in which the tab is received and a pair of spaced apart contacts of different length such that one contact engages said portion on the tab adjacent the main body and the other engages said another portion on the tab remote from the main body along the length of the tab.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
150 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and electroluminescent layer therebetween and including an integral electrical connector tab extending from the main body with a portion of the electrical connector tab adjacent the main body having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer there between and another portion remote from the main body having the first conductive layer thereon and exposed, and an electrical connector attached to said integral electrical connector tab, said connector having an insulating body with an open-ended recess in which the tab is received and a pair of spaced apart contacts of different length such that one contact engages said portion on the tab adjacent the main body and the other engages said another portion on the tab remote from the main body along the length of the tab.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
193 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and electroluminescent layer therebetween and including an integral electrical connector tab extending from the main body with a portion of the electrical connector tab adjacent the main body having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer therebetween, the main body and tab having a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers to form laterally split apart conductive portions in one of said first and second conductive layers on the main body and tab with said split apart conductive portions on the main body and tab extending along the length thereof, and an electrical connector attached to the integral electrical connector tab, said connector having an insulating body with an open-ended recess in which the tab is received and a pair of contacts spaced laterally apart a distance greater than the lateral width of the groove so that one contact engages one of the split apart conductive portions on the tab and the other contact engages the other of the split apart conductive portions on the tab.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
193 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and electroluminescent layer therebetween and including an integral electrical connector tab extending from the main body with a portion of the electrical connector tab adjacent the main body having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer therebetween, the main body and tab having a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers to form laterally split apart conductive portions in one of said first and second conductive layers on the main body and tab with said split apart conductive portions on the main body and tab extending along the length thereof, and an electrical connector attached to the integral electrical connector tab, said connector having an insulating body with an open-ended recess in which the tab is received and a pair of contacts spaced laterally apart a distance greater than the lateral width of the groove so that one contact engages one of the split apart conductive portions on the tab and the other contact engages the other of the split apart conductive portions on the tab.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
106 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and an electroluminescent layer therebetween and including an integral electrical connector tab extending from the main body with a portion of the electrical connector tab adjacent the main body having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer therebetween wherein said connector tab includes said portion having a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers of said portion to form split apart portions and the main body including a groove through said one of said first and second conductive layers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
106 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and an electroluminescent layer therebetween and including an integral electrical connector tab extending from the main body with a portion of the electrical connector tab adjacent the main body having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer therebetween wherein said connector tab includes said portion having a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers of said portion to form split apart portions and the main body including a groove through said one of said first and second conductive layers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and an electroluminescent layer therebetween and including an integral electrical connector tab extending from the main body with a portion of the electrical connector tab adjacent the main body having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer therebetween wherein said tab includes said portion with a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers of said portion to form split apart portions and the main body includes a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers wherein the groove of the tab and the groove of the main body are contiguous.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and an electroluminescent layer therebetween and including an integral electrical connector tab extending from the main body with a portion of the electrical connector tab adjacent the main body having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer therebetween wherein said tab includes said portion with a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers of said portion to form split apart portions and the main body includes a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers wherein the groove of the tab and the groove of the main body are contiguous.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
153 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and an electroluminescent layer therebetween and including an integral electrical connector tab extending from the main body with a portion of the electrical connector tab adjacent the main body having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer therebetween wherein said tab includes said portion with a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers of said portion to form split apart portions and the main body includes a groove through said one of said first and second conductive layers further including a connector having a pair of electrical contacts engaged to said tab with one of the contacts engaged to one of said split apart portions on the tab and the other of the contacts engaged to the other of said split apart portions on the tab.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
153 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and an electroluminescent layer therebetween and including an integral electrical connector tab extending from the main body with a portion of the electrical connector tab adjacent the main body having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer therebetween wherein said tab includes said portion with a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers of said portion to form split apart portions and the main body includes a groove through said one of said first and second conductive layers further including a connector having a pair of electrical contacts engaged to said tab with one of the contacts engaged to one of said split apart portions on the tab and the other of the contacts engaged to the other of said split apart portions on the tab.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and an electroluminescent layer therebetween and including an integral electrical connector tab extending from the main body with a portion of the electrical connector tab adjacent the main body having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer therebetween wherein the main body and tab have a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers to form laterally split apart conductive portions on the main body and tab with said split apart conductive portions on the tab extending along the length thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electroluminescent panel lamp comprising: a main body having a thickness including a first conductive layer, second conductive layer and an electroluminescent layer therebetween and including an integral electrical connector tab extending from the main body with a portion of the electrical connector tab adjacent the main body having said first conductive layer and second conductive layer with the electroluminescent layer therebetween wherein the main body and tab have a groove through one of said first and second conductive layers to form laterally split apart conductive portions on the main body and tab with said split apart conductive portions on the tab extending along the length thereof.
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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) | 1994-09-02 | 1995-03-04 | 1995-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-02 | 1999-03-04 | 1999-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-02 | 2003-03-04 | 2003-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |