Flexible Backlit Display
First Claim
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1. A color day-night backlit display assembly comprising:
- a conformable and flexible electroluminescent panel including;
a first electrode layer defining an opaque side of the panel,a second, transparent electrode layer defining a light transmission side of the panel, andan electroluminescent layer oriented between the first electrode and second electrode,wherein the electroluminescent panel is operable in a first, energized state, in which clean white light is produced, and a second, non-energized state, in which no light is produced by the panel, and wherein, in the energized state, the light transmission layer appears a first color to a viewer of the panel and, in the non-energized state, the light transmission layer appears a second color to the viewer of the panel; and
a translucent, flexible optical interface layer coupled to the light-transmission side of the electroluminescent panel, wherein, when the panel is in its non-energized state, the optical interface layer shifts the color of the light transmission layer from the second color to the first color.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed toward a graphics display assembly configured to display a true color palette in illuminated and non-illuminate states. The graphics display assembly includes a backlit electroluminescent (EL) panel and optical interface layer. The optical interface layer is translucent, preventing color shift of transmitted light. In operation, the optical interface layer masks the pink or rose-colored hue visible when the EL panel is in its non-illuminated state.
39 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A color day-night backlit display assembly comprising:
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a conformable and flexible electroluminescent panel including; a first electrode layer defining an opaque side of the panel, a second, transparent electrode layer defining a light transmission side of the panel, and an electroluminescent layer oriented between the first electrode and second electrode, wherein the electroluminescent panel is operable in a first, energized state, in which clean white light is produced, and a second, non-energized state, in which no light is produced by the panel, and wherein, in the energized state, the light transmission layer appears a first color to a viewer of the panel and, in the non-energized state, the light transmission layer appears a second color to the viewer of the panel; and a translucent, flexible optical interface layer coupled to the light-transmission side of the electroluminescent panel, wherein, when the panel is in its non-energized state, the optical interface layer shifts the color of the light transmission layer from the second color to the first color. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for producing backlit, true color day-night graphic display, the method comprising:
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(a) obtaining flexible electroluminescent panel operable to emit light, the panel including an electroluminescent layer including a phosphor component, and a light transmission layer operable to permit the transmission of light therethrough, wherein; the panel is operable in an illuminated state and a non-illuminated state, in the illuminated state, the light transmission layer appears white to a viewer of the panel, and in the non-illuminated state, light from an external source reflects off of the phosphor component to cause a color shift in the light transmission layer such that the light transmission layer appears non-white to a viewer of the panel; (b) applying a translucent optical interface layer over an outer surface of the light transmission layer, wherein the optical interface layer is operable to prevent the color shift and maintain the white appearance of the light transmission layer in both the illuminated and non-illuminated states; and (c) applying an image layer to the optical interface layer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of selectively displaying true day/night graphics, the method comprising:
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(a) obtaining a true color day-night backlit display assembly comprising; a conformable and flexible electroluminescent panel including; a first electrode layer defining an opaque side, a second electrode layer including a light transmission layer, the second electrode defining a light-emitting side, and an electroluminescent layer oriented between the first electrode and second electrode, wherein the electroluminescent panel is operable in a first, energized state, in which clean white light is produced, and a second, non-energized state, in which no light is produced, and wherein, in the energized state, the light transmission layer appears a first color to a viewer of the panel and, in the non-energized state, the light transmission layer appears a second color to the viewer of the panel, and a translucent, flexible optical interface layer coupled directly to the light-transmission layer of the electroluminescent panel, wherein, when the panel is in its non-energized state, the optical interface layer shifts the color of the light transmission layer from the second color to the first; and (b) coupling the non-light emitting side of the electroluminescent panel to a vehicle having a contoured surface such that the panel conforms to contours of the vehicle surface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification