Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Plural power supplies – Plural cathode and/or anode load device
Reexamination Certificate
1995-06-07
2001-05-08
Shingleton, Michael B (Department: 2817)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Plural power supplies
Plural cathode and/or anode load device
C313S502000, C313S503000, C313S505000, C313S498000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229265
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to an electroluminescent display formed of a plurality of electroluminescent (EL) line segments aligned side-by-side to form a display area of light segments adaptable to providing a raster-like screen for information such as liquid crystal information presented in a layer overlying the display area.
In our prior patents, electroluminescent display areas have been disclosed including electroluminescent panel assemblies as set forth in our U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,404 issued May 17, 1977 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,761 issued Feb. 16, 1983 in the latter of which a plurality of independently activatable energized light emitting strips are aligned in side-by-side relation to form an integrated light field. Within the context of such disclosure and that of co-pending application Ser. No. 07/245,894 filed on Sep. 19, 1988, the present invention deals with formation of electroluminescent display areas formed of closely spaced narrow EL line segments which form a display area of thin lines of light which can be activated to provide a light field for information superimposed or overlying the field.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The line segments of the present invention are electrically activated closely spaced lines of light emitting material provided with a common electrode on one side and each segment being provided with its own individual electrode on the opposite side, whereby the line segments can be activated selectively individually or in sequence to provide a desired light effect. All can be activated simultaneously or can be individually activated on and off in sequence such as by a pulsed signal at a frequency of sequential repetition which will provide the effect of an overall unified or integrated light area reliant upon the eye persistence of a viewer. That is, the frequency of sequencing and repetition of sequencing of activation of the adjacent light line segments is adequate to produce the effect of a continuously lit unified area of the plurality of short bursts of light from the plurality of adjacent light segments.
In another form of the invention the common electrode can be sandwiched as a common electrode between two opposite layers of such individually activatable light segments, each layer of light segments also being activatable simultaneously or preferably in on-off sequence effective to provide to a viewer an overall unified lighted area due to the eye persistence of the viewer. The common electrode can be a light transmissive or a light transparent electrically conductive layer so that light from both layers of EL line segments can be complementary in providing desired light effects from one or both sides of the bank of EL line segments.
In still another form of such arrangement the EL line segments of two opposite layers can be aligned in parallel relation, each layer being staggered from the other with light segments on the opposite side layer, thereby to complementarily enhance the light output of the layers with each other.
In a still further form of the invention, the light segments on opposite layers can be aligned in crossed relation, either diagonally or right angularly, with light segments being activatable either individually or in sequence to provide a unified coherent light field or a variety of different desired light effects.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an energy efficient light screen for lighting purposes and more particularly adaptable to providing light to enhance the visibility of superimposed information either in pictorial, graphic or written form.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a light output with a minimum distributive power source to make intelligible matter visible at a low cost and with a minimum power consumption.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a light-weight planar light unit having a distributive power source for energization of light segments in selected patterned relations dependent upon the visual result sought.
A feature of the invention lies in its capability to provide desired visual effects with low power consumption, and in view of its operability with a small power source at a relatively low voltage it can be made into a construction of extremely small is and light weight size.
The electroluminescent screen can be made in any of a wide range of sizes and can be made flexible or rigid and of different thicknesses as needs and uses dictate.
Other objects and features which are believed to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention, however, both in organization and manner of construction, together with further objects and features thereof, may be best understood with reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3194003 (1965-07-01), Polin
patent: 3258906 (1966-07-01), Demby
patent: 3328790 (1967-06-01), Rhodes
patent: 3594610 (1971-07-01), Evans
patent: 3885196 (1975-05-01), Fischer
patent: 4204349 (1980-05-01), Heynisch
patent: 4238793 (1980-12-01), Hochstrate
patent: 4266164 (1981-05-01), Schroeder
Schroeder Charles F.
Schroeder-Perry Becky J.
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