Automatic actuation of device according to UV intensity

• US 20030227256A1
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Inventors: Hsiao, Shun-Hsiang, Chen, Kuei-Hung, Su, Wen-Wei
• Application Number:
  US10/453,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/510
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/30 using electroluminescent panels

Abstract

A thin-film electro-luminescence display includes a light-emitting layer for emitting light in response to an alternate current voltage; a back electrode layer disposed at a side of the light-emitting layer; and a light-transmitting conductive layer disposed at another side of the light-emitting layer opposite to the back electrode layer, and cooperating with the back electrode layer to provide the alternate current voltage for the light-emitting layer. The light-emitting layer and the light-transmitting conductive layer are patterned to define a plurality of independent display zones, and when the alternate current voltage is applied between the back electrode layer and the light-transmitting conductive layer in a specified portion of the display zones, light is emitted by the light-emitting layer in the specified portion of display zones to show a specific character.

Claims

1. A thin film display, comprising:

a light-emitting layer for emitting light in response to an alternate current voltage;

a back electrode layer disposed at a side of said light-emitting layer; and

a light-transmitting conductive layer disposed at another side of said light-emitting layer opposite to said back electrode layer, and cooperating with said back electrode layer to provide said alternate current voltage for said light-emitting layer,

wherein said light-emitting layer and said light-transmitting conductive layer are patterned to define a plurality of independent display zones, and when said alternate current voltage is applied between said back electrode layer and said light-transmitting conductive layer in a specified portion of said display zones, light is emitted by said light-emitting layer in said specified portion of display zones to show a specific character.

2. The thin film display according to claim 1 further comprising a dielectric layer formed between said back electrode layer and said light-emitting layer.

3. The thin film display according to claim 1 wherein said light-transmitting conductive layer, said light-emitting layer and said back electrode layer are formed on a transparent substrate of a vehicle.

4. The thin film display according to claim 3 wherein said transparent substrate is a rearview mirror or windscreen.

5. The thin film display according to claim 1 further comprising a control circuit electrically connected to said light-emitting layer and said light-transmitting conductive layer, determining said specified portion of display zones according to said specific character to be shown, and selectively providing said alternate current voltage for said specified portion of display zones.

6. The thin film display according to claim 1 further comprising:

a lower light-transmitting protective film formed on said back electrode layer; and

an upper light-transmitting protective film formed on said light-transmitting conductive layer.

7. The thin film display according to claim 1 wherein said light-emitting layer is an electro-luminescence (EL) layer.

8. The thin film display according to claim 1 wherein said independent display zones include a plurality of sets of seven-segment display zones.

9. A thin film electro-luminescence (EL) display module, comprising:

a light-emitting layer for emitting light in response to an alternate current voltage;

a back electrode layer disposed at a side of said light-emitting layer;

a light-transmitting conductive layer disposed at another side of said light-emitting layer opposite to said back electrode layer, and cooperating with said back electrode layer to provide said alternate current voltage for said light-emitting layer, said light-emitting layer and said light-transmitting conductive layer being patterned to define a plurality of independent display zones;

a flexible and light-transmitting housing for accommodating therein said back electrode layer, said light-emitting layer and said light-transmitting conductive layer; and

a control circuit electrically connected to said light-emitting layer and said light-transmitting conductive layer, determining said specified portion of display zones according to a specific character to be shown, and selectively providing said alternate current voltage for said specified portion of display zones to show said specific character.

10. The thin film EL display according to claim 9 further comprising a dielectric layer formed between said back electrode layer and said light-emitting layer.

11. The thin film EL display according to claim 10 wherein said light-transmitting conductive layer, said light-emitting layer, said dielectric layer and said back electrode layer are formed on a transparent substrate of a vehicle.

12. The thin film EL display according to claim 11 wherein said transparent substrate is a rearview mirror or windscreen.

13. The thin film EL display according to claim 9 wherein said flexible and light-transmitting housing comprises:

a lower flexible and light-transmitting protective film formed on said back electrode layer; and

an upper flexible and light-transmitting protective film formed on said light-transmitting conductive layer.

14. The thin film EL display according to claim 13 wherein said lower and upper flexible and light-transmitting protective films are made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin.

15. A vehicular rearview mirror, comprising:

a reflective mirror for showing image of an object; and

at least one thin-film display unit attached to said reflective mirror for showing an active information,

wherein said thin-film electro-luminescence display unit comprises a plurality of independent display zones, said plurality of independent display zones are selectively activated to emit light so as to show a specific character.

16. The vehicular rearview mirror according to claim 15 wherein said thin-film electro-luminescence display unit comprises:

a light-emitting layer for emitting light in response to an alternate current voltage;

a back electrode layer disposed at a side of said light-emitting layer; and

a light-transmitting conductive layer disposed at another side of said light-emitting layer opposite to said back electrode layer, and cooperating with said back electrode layer to provide said alternate current voltage for said light-emitting layer,

wherein said light-emitting layer and said light-transmitting conductive layer are patterned to define said plurality of independent display zones, and when said alternate current voltage is applied between said back electrode layer and said light-transmitting conductive layer in a specified portion of said display zones, light is emitted by said light-emitting layer in said specified portion of display zones to show said specific character.

17. The vehicular rearview mirror according to claim 15 further comprising a dielectric layer formed between said back electrode layer and said light-emitting layer, and said light-transmitting conductive layer, said light-emitting layer, said dielectric layer and said back electrode layer are formed on said reflective mirror.

18. The vehicular rearview mirror according to claim 15 wherein said specified portion of display zones is determined by a built-in control circuit.

19. The vehicular rearview mirror according to claim 15 wherein said specified portion of display zones is determined by a card inserted into said vehicular rearview mirror.

20. The vehicular rearview mirror according to claim 15 comprising a plurality of thin-film display units attached to different positions of said reflective mirror for showing different active informations.