US5726953A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electroluminescent lamp with buried indiciae and method for making same
Assignee: TECHNOMARK Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-14
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Granted: 1998-03-10
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Expires: 2016-05-14
Abstract
Abstract An electroluminescent ("EL") lamp has EL material sandwiched between front and back conductive layers, which are disposed on a transparent substrate. The indiciae are formed from ink or other material deposited on the second surface of the front conductive layer, thereby completely burying the indicia within the EL lamp. The material may be transparent or colored, conductive or insulating, or made with an EL phosphor. The buried indicia provide sufficient contrast, when viewed with the EL lamp in an illuminated or non-illuminated state, to be seen. The present invention also describes a method for fabrication of such EL lamps.
Inventors
- 👤 Bradley J. LaPointe
- 👤 David G. Sime
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:02
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B33/00; H05B33/02; G; G04; G04B; G04B19/00; G04B19/30; H05B33/10; H05B33/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An electroluminescent lamp with buried indiciae, comprising: a polymer substrate; a front electrode comprising electrically-conductive material and having a first surface adhered to the polymer substrate; electrically insulating EL phosphor indiciae material deposited in a predetermined pattern directly on a second surface of the front electrode, said indiciae material being capable of providing sufficient contrast when viewed with the electroluminescent lamp in an illuminated or non-illuminated state; an electroluminescent layer deposited on the front electrode and the indiciae material; an insulating layer comprising electrically-insulating material deposited on the electroluminescent layer; and a back electrode comprising electrically-conductive material deposited on the electrically-insulating layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An electroluminescent lamp with buried indiciae, comprising: a polymer substrate; a front electrode comprising electrically-conductive material and having a first surface adhered to the polymer substrate; electrically insulating EL phosphor indiciae material deposited in a predetermined pattern directly on a second surface of the front electrode, said indiciae material being capable of providing sufficient contrast when viewed with the electroluminescent lamp in an illuminated or non-illuminated state; an electroluminescent layer deposited on the front electrode and the indiciae material; an insulating layer comprising electrically-insulating material deposited on the electroluminescent layer; and a back electrode comprising electrically-conductive material deposited on the electrically-insulating layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The electroluminescent lamp of claim 1 wherein the indiciae material is opaque.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The electroluminescent lamp of claim 1 wherein the indiciae material is colored.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
Method for fabricating an electroluminescent lamp with buried indiciae, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a transparent substrate; (b) depositing a first transparent, electrically-conductive layer on the transparent substrate forming a front electrode; (c) depositing electrically insulating indiciae material in a predetermined pattern directly on the front electrode; (d) depositing an electroluminescent layer on the front electrode and indiciae material; (e) depositing an electrically-insulating layer on the electroluminescent layer; and (f) depositing a second conductive layer on the insulating layer forming a back electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
Method for fabricating an electroluminescent lamp with buried indiciae, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a transparent substrate; (b) depositing a first transparent, electrically-conductive layer on the transparent substrate forming a front electrode; (c) depositing electrically insulating indiciae material in a predetermined pattern directly on the front electrode; (d) depositing an electroluminescent layer on the front electrode and indiciae material; (e) depositing an electrically-insulating layer on the electroluminescent layer; and (f) depositing a second conductive layer on the insulating layer forming a back electrode.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for fabricating an electroluminescent lamp with buried indiciae, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a transparent substrate; (b) adhering a transparent first electrically-conductive layer to the transparent substrate; (c) depositing electrically-insulating indiciae material in a predetermined pattern directly on the first electrically-conductive layer; (d) adhering an electroluminescent layer to the first electrically-conductive layer; (e) adhering an insulating layer to the electroluminescent layer; and (f) adhering a second electrically-conducting layer to the electrically-insulating layer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for fabricating an electroluminescent lamp with buried indiciae, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a transparent substrate; (b) adhering a transparent first electrically-conductive layer to the transparent substrate; (c) depositing electrically-insulating indiciae material in a predetermined pattern directly on the first electrically-conductive layer; (d) adhering an electroluminescent layer to the first electrically-conductive layer; (e) adhering an insulating layer to the electroluminescent layer; and (f) adhering a second electrically-conducting layer to the electrically-insulating layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
An electroluminescent lamp with buried indiciae, comprising: a polymer substrate; a front electrode comprising electrically-conductive material and having a first surface adhered to the polymer substrate; electrically-conductive transparent indiciae material deposited in a predetermined pattern on a second surface of the front electrode, said indiciae material being capable of providing sufficient contrast when viewed with the electroluminescent lamp in an illuminated or non-illuminated state; an electroluminescent layer deposited on the front electrode and the indiciae material; an insulating layer comprising electrically-insulating material deposited on the electroluminescent layer; and a back electrode comprising electrically-conductive material deposited on the electrically-insulating layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
An electroluminescent lamp with buried indiciae, comprising: a polymer substrate; a front electrode comprising electrically-conductive material and having a first surface adhered to the polymer substrate; electrically-conductive transparent indiciae material deposited in a predetermined pattern on a second surface of the front electrode, said indiciae material being capable of providing sufficient contrast when viewed with the electroluminescent lamp in an illuminated or non-illuminated state; an electroluminescent layer deposited on the front electrode and the indiciae material; an insulating layer comprising electrically-insulating material deposited on the electroluminescent layer; and a back electrode comprising electrically-conductive material deposited on the electrically-insulating layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electroluminescent lamp with buried indiciae, comprising: a transparent substrate; a layer of transparent electrically-conductive material adhered to the transparent substrate to form a front electrode, the layer of transparent electrically-conductive material having in contact therewith, in a predetermined pattern, electrically-conducting transparent indiciae material; an electroluminescent layer adhered to the front electrode; an insulating layer comprising electrically-insulating material adhered to the electroluminescent layer; and a back electrode comprising electrically-conducting material adhered to the electrically-insulating layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electroluminescent lamp with buried indiciae, comprising: a transparent substrate; a layer of transparent electrically-conductive material adhered to the transparent substrate to form a front electrode, the layer of transparent electrically-conductive material having in contact therewith, in a predetermined pattern, electrically-conducting transparent indiciae material; an electroluminescent layer adhered to the front electrode; an insulating layer comprising electrically-insulating material adhered to the electroluminescent layer; and a back electrode comprising electrically-conducting material adhered to the electrically-insulating layer.
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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) | 2001-03-09 | 2001-09-08 | 2002-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-09 | 2005-09-08 | 2006-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-09 | 2009-09-08 | 2010-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |