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US5491379A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electroluminescent edge connect-composite lamp/strip and method of making the same

Assignee: Timex Group USA Inc
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Filing: 1994-10-11
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Granted: 1996-02-13
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Expires: 2014-10-11
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Abstract

Abstract The method and structure for providing a pair of electrical contact terminals on the back side of an electroluminescent (EL) lamp. The EL lamp has a first conductive layer, a layer of EL material, a first insulating layer, a second conductive layer, a second insulating layer and a film of conductive material, all disposed on a transparent substrate, respectively. The film of conductive material extends around the second insulating layer to come in electrical contact with the first conductive layer. This allows an electrical contact terminal to be established on the film of conductive material, rather than directly on the first conductive layer. The other electrical contact terminal is positioned on the second conductive layer. The second insulating layer serves to electrically separate the two contact terminals.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lyman R. Daigle
  • 👤 Andrew C. Ledesma
  • 👤 Sotero A. Ang

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 13:58
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B33/00; H05B33/12; H05B33/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 174 words
A process for providing a pair of electrical contact areas on one side of an electroluminescent lamp, comprising the steps of: providing a transparent substrate having a first conductive layer thereon, the first conductive layer having an edge; depositing an electroluminescent layer on the first conductive layer, the electroluminescent layer having an edge spaced from the edge of the first conductive layer; depositing a first insulating layer on the electroluminescent layer, the first insulating layer having an edge spaced from the edge of the first conductive layer; depositing a second conductive layer on the first insulating layer, the second conductive layer having an edge spaced from the edge of the first conductive layer; depositing a second insulating layer on the second conductive layer, the second insulating layer having an insulating end extending around and enclosing the edge of the second conductive layer; and depositing a film of conductive material on the second insulating layer, the film having a conductive end extending around the insulating end and making electrical contact with the first conductive layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 174 words
A process for providing a pair of electrical contact areas on one side of an electroluminescent lamp, comprising the steps of: providing a transparent substrate having a first conductive layer thereon, the first conductive layer having an edge; depositing an electroluminescent layer on the first conductive layer, the electroluminescent layer having an edge spaced from the edge of the first conductive layer; depositing a first insulating layer on the electroluminescent layer, the first insulating layer having an edge spaced from the edge of the first conductive layer; depositing a second conductive layer on the first insulating layer, the second conductive layer having an edge spaced from the edge of the first conductive layer; depositing a second insulating layer on the second conductive layer, the second insulating layer having an insulating end extending around and enclosing the edge of the second conductive layer; and depositing a film of conductive material on the second insulating layer, the film having a conductive end extending around the insulating end and making electrical contact with the first conductive layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of depositing the first insulating layer on the electroluminescent layer includes having the edge of the first insulating layer in substantial alignment with the edge of the electroluminescent layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
The process according to claim 2, wherein the step of depositing the second conductive layer on the first insulating layer includes having the edge of the second conductive layer spaced from the edge of the first insulating layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 40 words
The process according to claim 3, wherein the step of depositing the second insulating layer on the second conductive layer includes having the insulating end in substantial alignment with the edges of the first insulating layer and the electroluminescent layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 185 words
A process for providing a pair of electrical contact areas on one side of an electroluminescent lamp, comprising the steps of: providing a transparent substrate having a first conductive layer thereon, the first conductive layer having a first edge and a second edge; depositing an electroluminescent layer on the first conductive layer, the electroluminescent layer having an edge Spaced from the first edge; depositing a first insulating layer on the electroluminescent layer, the first insulating layer having an edge spaced from the first edge; depositing a second conductive layer on the first insulating layer, the second conductive layer having an edge spaced from the first edge; depositing a second insulating layer on the second conductive layer, the second insulating layer having an insulating end extending around and enclosing the edge of the second conductive layer and a second end spaced from the second edge; and depositing a film of conductive material on the second insulating layer, the film having a conductive end extending around the insulating end and making electrical contact with the first conductive layer and a second end spaced from the second edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 185 words
A process for providing a pair of electrical contact areas on one side of an electroluminescent lamp, comprising the steps of: providing a transparent substrate having a first conductive layer thereon, the first conductive layer having a first edge and a second edge; depositing an electroluminescent layer on the first conductive layer, the electroluminescent layer having an edge Spaced from the first edge; depositing a first insulating layer on the electroluminescent layer, the first insulating layer having an edge spaced from the first edge; depositing a second conductive layer on the first insulating layer, the second conductive layer having an edge spaced from the first edge; depositing a second insulating layer on the second conductive layer, the second insulating layer having an insulating end extending around and enclosing the edge of the second conductive layer and a second end spaced from the second edge; and depositing a film of conductive material on the second insulating layer, the film having a conductive end extending around the insulating end and making electrical contact with the first conductive layer and a second end spaced from the second edge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
The process according to claim 5, wherein the step of depositing the first insulating layer on the electroluminescent layer includes having the edge of the first insulating layer in substantial alignment with the edge of the electroluminescent layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 38 words
The process according to claim 6, wherein the step of depositing the second conductive layer on the first insulating layer includes having the edge of the second conductive layer spaced from the edge of the first insulating layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
The process according to claim 7, wherein the step of depositing the second insulating layer on the second conductive layer includes having the insulating end in substantial alignment with the edges of the first insulating layer and the electroluminescent layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 39 words
The process according to claim 5, wherein the step of depositing the film of conductive material on the second insulating layer includes having the second end of the film spaced from the second end of the second insulating layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 155 words
An electroluminescent lamp for a timepiece, which comprises: a transparent substrate having a first conductive layer thereon, the first conductive layer having an edge; an electroluminescent layer on the first conductive layer, the electroluminescent layer having an edge spaced from the edge of the first conductive layer; a first insulating layer on the electroluminescent layer, the first insulating layer having an edge spaced from the edge of the first conductive layer; a second conductive layer on the first insulating layer, the second conductive layer having an edge spaced from the edge of the first conductive layer; a second insulating layer on the second conductive layer, the second insulating layer having an insulating end extending around and enclosing the edge of the second conductive layer; and a film of conductive material on the second insulating layer, the film having a conductive end extending around the insulating end and making electrical contact with the first conductive layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 155 words
An electroluminescent lamp for a timepiece, which comprises: a transparent substrate having a first conductive layer thereon, the first conductive layer having an edge; an electroluminescent layer on the first conductive layer, the electroluminescent layer having an edge spaced from the edge of the first conductive layer; a first insulating layer on the electroluminescent layer, the first insulating layer having an edge spaced from the edge of the first conductive layer; a second conductive layer on the first insulating layer, the second conductive layer having an edge spaced from the edge of the first conductive layer; a second insulating layer on the second conductive layer, the second insulating layer having an insulating end extending around and enclosing the edge of the second conductive layer; and a film of conductive material on the second insulating layer, the film having a conductive end extending around the insulating end and making electrical contact with the first conductive layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 166 words
An electroluminescent lamp for a timepiece, which comprises: a transparent substrate having a first conductive layer thereon, the first conductive layer having a first edge and a second edge; an electroluminescent layer on the first conductive layer, the electroluminescent layer having an edge spaced from the first edge; a first insulating layer on the electroluminescent layer, the first insulating layer having an edge spaced from the first edge; a second conductive layer on the first insulating layer, the second conductive layer having an edge spaced from the first edge; a second insulating layer on the second conductive layer, the second insulating layer having an insulating end extending around and enclosing the edge of the second conductive layer and a second end spaced from the second edge; and a film of conductive material on the second insulating layer, the film having a conductive end extending around the insulating end and making electrical contact with the first conductive layer and a second end spaced from the second edge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 166 words
An electroluminescent lamp for a timepiece, which comprises: a transparent substrate having a first conductive layer thereon, the first conductive layer having a first edge and a second edge; an electroluminescent layer on the first conductive layer, the electroluminescent layer having an edge spaced from the first edge; a first insulating layer on the electroluminescent layer, the first insulating layer having an edge spaced from the first edge; a second conductive layer on the first insulating layer, the second conductive layer having an edge spaced from the first edge; a second insulating layer on the second conductive layer, the second insulating layer having an insulating end extending around and enclosing the edge of the second conductive layer and a second end spaced from the second edge; and a film of conductive material on the second insulating layer, the film having a conductive end extending around the insulating end and making electrical contact with the first conductive layer and a second end spaced from the second edge.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4238793A Cited
US4534743A Cited
US4775964A Cited
US5194777A Cited
US5265071A Cited
US5346718A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-02-12 1999-08-14 2000-02-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-02-12 2003-08-14 2004-02-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-02-12 2007-08-14 2008-02-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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