Fluorescent electroluminescent lamp

• US 5,586,879 A
• Filed: 12/20/1995
• Issued: 12/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Szpak, Archana
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramsey, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US08/575,267
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 445/24, 362/293, 362/260
• US Class Current: 445/24
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/145 Arrangements of the electroluminescent material

Abstract

A lamp panel provides a light source employing dual light producing mechanisms. Specifically, electroluminescence produces a source light which is passed through a translucent fluorescent filter that modifies the color spectrum to a desired color. The use of dual light producing mechanisms allows optimization of electroluminescent lamp durability and luminesce without regard to the final color desired. The light from the optimized EL lamp is converted to any desired color using an appropriate fluorescent pigment or mixture of fluorescent pigments.

Claims

1. A method of providing an electroluminescent lamp structure comprising the steps of:

providing an electroluminescent lamp having a phosphor selected to optimize lamp durability and luminance without regard to the color of light produced by said phosphor;

selecting a fluorescent pigment to modify light produced by said phosphor in said optimized electroluminescent lamp to a desired color by absorbing a portion of light emitted by said phosphor and re-emitting light by fluorescence to produce said desired color;

mixing said selected fluorescent pigment with a matrix material to form an ink; and

applying said ink to said electroluminescent lamp.