Patent US5797482A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5797482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electroluminescent keypad
Assignee: TECHNOMARK Inc
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Filing: 1996-11-25
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Granted: 1998-08-25
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Expires: 2016-11-25
Abstract
Abstract An electroluminescent keypad, and an electroluminescent lamp, with integral shunts, for use in a keypad. The keypad includes a circuit board that includes a plurality of contact pairs adapted to complete circuits to perform keypad functions. An elastomeric sheet that includes a plurality of key elements overlays the circuit board. Each of the key elements is associated with one of the contact pairs. An electroluminescent lamp with a plurality of integral shunts corresponding to the contact pairs is positioned between the elastomeric sheet and the circuit board.
Inventors
- 👤 Bradley J. LaPointe
- 👤 David G. Sime
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:32
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B33/00; H05B33/12; H05B33/26; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/702; H05B33/02; H05B33/06; H01H2219/00; H01H2219/002; H01H2219/018; H01H2219/036; H01H2219/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
An electroluminescent lamp, which comprises: a flexible transparent substrate; a transparent conducting layer adhered to said transparent substrate; an electroluminescent layer adhered to said transparent conducting layer; a dielectric layer adhered to said electroluminescent layer; a conducting layer adhered to said dielectric layer; a first insulating layer adhered to said conducting layer; and, at least one conducting shunt adhered to said first insulating layer, said conducting shunt being arranged to engage contacts of a circuit board upon deformation of said electroluminescent lamp.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
An electroluminescent lamp, which comprises: a flexible transparent substrate; a transparent conducting layer adhered to said transparent substrate; an electroluminescent layer adhered to said transparent conducting layer; a dielectric layer adhered to said electroluminescent layer; a conducting layer adhered to said dielectric layer; a first insulating layer adhered to said conducting layer; and, at least one conducting shunt adhered to said first insulating layer, said conducting shunt being arranged to engage contacts of a circuit board upon deformation of said electroluminescent lamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electroluminescent lamp as claimed in claim 1, including: a second insulating layer spacer adhered to said first insulating layer and surrounding said conducting shunt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The electroluminescent lamp as claimed in claim 1, including an integrally formed dome structure forming a convex top surface on said flexible transparent substrate, and a concave bottom surface on said insulating layer, wherein said conducting shunt is positioned in said concave bottom surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
153 words
A keypad, which comprises: a circuit board, said circuit board including a plurality of contact pairs; an elastomeric sheet overlaying said circuit board, said elastomeric sheet including a plurality said key elements, each of said key elements being associated with one of said contact pairs; and, an electroluminescent lamp positioned between said elastomeric sheet and said circuit board, said electroluminescent lamp including: a flexible transparent substrate underlying said elastomeric sheet; a transparent conducting layer adhered to said transparent substrate; an electroluminescent layer adhered to said transparent conducting layer; a dielectric layer adhered to said electroluminescent layer; a conducting layer adhered to said dielectric layer; a first insulating layer adhered to said conducting layer; and, a plurality of conducting shunts adhered to said first insulating layer, each of said conducting shunts being engageable with one of said contact pairs upon deformation of said electroluminescent lamp by the action of one of said key elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
153 words
A keypad, which comprises: a circuit board, said circuit board including a plurality of contact pairs; an elastomeric sheet overlaying said circuit board, said elastomeric sheet including a plurality said key elements, each of said key elements being associated with one of said contact pairs; and, an electroluminescent lamp positioned between said elastomeric sheet and said circuit board, said electroluminescent lamp including: a flexible transparent substrate underlying said elastomeric sheet; a transparent conducting layer adhered to said transparent substrate; an electroluminescent layer adhered to said transparent conducting layer; a dielectric layer adhered to said electroluminescent layer; a conducting layer adhered to said dielectric layer; a first insulating layer adhered to said conducting layer; and, a plurality of conducting shunts adhered to said first insulating layer, each of said conducting shunts being engageable with one of said contact pairs upon deformation of said electroluminescent lamp by the action of one of said key elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A keypad as claimed in claim 4, wherein said electroluminescent lamp includes a plurality of integrally formed dome structures, each of said dome structures including a convex top surface formed on said flexible transparent substrate, and a concave bottom surface formed on said insulating layer, wherein each of said conducting shunts is positioned in one said concave bottom surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The keypad as claimed in claim 5, wherein said electroluminescent lamp includes a second insulating layer adhered to said first insulating layer, said second insulating layer including a plurality of voids corresponding to said concave bottom surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
An electroluminescent lamp, which comprises: a front electrode; a back electrode; a layer of electroluminescent material disposed between the front electrode and the back electrode; and, a conducting shunt electrically isolated from and moveable with said back electrode, said conducting shunt being arranged to engage contacts of a circuit board upon deformation of said electroluminescent lamp, wherein said conducting shunt is deposited on a first insulating layer adhered to said back electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
An electroluminescent lamp, which comprises: a front electrode; a back electrode; a layer of electroluminescent material disposed between the front electrode and the back electrode; and, a conducting shunt electrically isolated from and moveable with said back electrode, said conducting shunt being arranged to engage contacts of a circuit board upon deformation of said electroluminescent lamp, wherein said conducting shunt is deposited on a first insulating layer adhered to said back electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The electroluminescent lamp as claimed in claim 7, including an integrally formed dome structure forming a convex top surface on said front electrode, and a concave bottom surface on said first insulating layer, wherein said conducting shunt is positioned in said concave bottom surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electroluminescent lamp as claimed in claim 7, including a second insulating layer adhered to said first insulating layer, said second insulating layer including a void surrounding said shunt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
117 words
An electroluminescent lamp, which comprises: a flexible transparent substrate; a transparent conducting layer adhered to said transparent substrate; an electroluminescent layer adhered to said transparent conducting layer; a dielectric layer adhered to said electroluminescent layer; a conducting layer adhered to said dielectric layer; a first insulating layer adhered to said conducting layer; at least one conducting shunt adhered to said first insulating layer, said conducting shunt being arranged to engage contacts of a circuit board upon deformation of said electroluminescent lamp; and, an integrally formed dome structure forming a convex top surface on said flexible transparent substrate, and a concave bottom surface on said insulating layer, wherein said conducting shunt is positioned in said concave bottom surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
117 words
An electroluminescent lamp, which comprises: a flexible transparent substrate; a transparent conducting layer adhered to said transparent substrate; an electroluminescent layer adhered to said transparent conducting layer; a dielectric layer adhered to said electroluminescent layer; a conducting layer adhered to said dielectric layer; a first insulating layer adhered to said conducting layer; at least one conducting shunt adhered to said first insulating layer, said conducting shunt being arranged to engage contacts of a circuit board upon deformation of said electroluminescent lamp; and, an integrally formed dome structure forming a convex top surface on said flexible transparent substrate, and a concave bottom surface on said insulating layer, wherein said conducting shunt is positioned in said concave bottom surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
200 words
A keypad, which comprises: a circuit board, said circuit board including a plurality of contact pairs; an elastomeric sheet overlaying said circuit board, said elastomeric sheet including a plurality of key elements, each of said key elements being associated with one of said contact pairs; and, an electroluminescent lamp positioned between said elastomeric sheet and said circuit board, said electroluminescent lamp including: a flexible transparent substrate underlying said elastomeric sheet; a transparent conducting layer adhered to said transparent substrate; an electroluminescent layer adhered to said transparent conducting layer; a dielectric layer adhered to said electroluminescent layer; a conducting layer adhered to said dielectric layer; a first insulating layer adhered to said conducting layer; a plurality of conducting shunts adhered to said first insulating layer, each of said conducting shunts being engageable with one of said contact pairs upon deformation of said electroluminescent lamp by the action of one of said key elements; and, a plurality of integrally formed dome structures, each of said dome structures including a convex top surface formed on said flexible transparent substrate, and a concave bottom surface formed on said insulating layer, wherein each of said conducting shunts is positioned in one said concave bottom surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
200 words
A keypad, which comprises: a circuit board, said circuit board including a plurality of contact pairs; an elastomeric sheet overlaying said circuit board, said elastomeric sheet including a plurality of key elements, each of said key elements being associated with one of said contact pairs; and, an electroluminescent lamp positioned between said elastomeric sheet and said circuit board, said electroluminescent lamp including: a flexible transparent substrate underlying said elastomeric sheet; a transparent conducting layer adhered to said transparent substrate; an electroluminescent layer adhered to said transparent conducting layer; a dielectric layer adhered to said electroluminescent layer; a conducting layer adhered to said dielectric layer; a first insulating layer adhered to said conducting layer; a plurality of conducting shunts adhered to said first insulating layer, each of said conducting shunts being engageable with one of said contact pairs upon deformation of said electroluminescent lamp by the action of one of said key elements; and, a plurality of integrally formed dome structures, each of said dome structures including a convex top surface formed on said flexible transparent substrate, and a concave bottom surface formed on said insulating layer, wherein each of said conducting shunts is positioned in one said concave bottom surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
An electroluminescent lamp, which comprises: a front electrode; a back electrode; a layer of electroluminescent material disposed between the front electrode and the back electrode; a conducting shunt electrically isolated from said back electrode, said conducting shunt being arranged to engage contacts of a circuit board upon deformation of said electroluminescent lamp; and, an integrally formed dome structure forming a convex top surface on said front electrode, and a concave bottom surface on said first insulating layer, wherein said conducting shunt is positioned in said concave bottom surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
An electroluminescent lamp, which comprises: a front electrode; a back electrode; a layer of electroluminescent material disposed between the front electrode and the back electrode; a conducting shunt electrically isolated from said back electrode, said conducting shunt being arranged to engage contacts of a circuit board upon deformation of said electroluminescent lamp; and, an integrally formed dome structure forming a convex top surface on said front electrode, and a concave bottom surface on said first insulating layer, wherein said conducting shunt is positioned in said concave bottom surface.
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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) | 2001-08-24 | 2002-02-23 | 2002-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-24 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-24 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |