Laminated EL display

• US 5,621,274 A
• Filed: 02/27/1996
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Durel Corporation (Rogers Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Durel Corporation (Rogers Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: McGuigan, Ralph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYNES, MACK NELSON
• Application Number:
  US08/607,714
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 313/498, 313/500, 313/504, 313/506, 313/510-512, 174/52.1, 174/52.4, 174/52.5, 174/61, 174/62, 315/1, 315/169.3
• US Class Current: 313/512
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/00 Electroluminescent light sources

Abstract

An EL panel has the material around each lamp removed to form a first rail and a second rail and a plurality of lamps mechanically isolated from each other and located on predetermined centers between the rails. Each lamp is connected to each rail by an arm and each arm includes a hole for locating the panel in a fixture. The arms are collinear and intersect the rails at an angle of 45°. The panel is located in a fixture by pins through the holes in the arms and laminated to a backing plate or other device, also located in the fixture.

Claims

1. An EL panel having a plurality of lamps on precise centers, said panel comprising:

a first rail and a second rail;

a plurality of lamps located on said centers between said rails, wherein each lamp is connected to said first rail by a first arm and is connected to said second rail by a second arm; and

a plurality of holes for locating said panel in a fixture.

2. The EL panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of holes includes a hole in said first arm and a hole in said second arm of each of said lamps.

3. The EL panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arms are collinear and intersect said first rail and said second rail at an angle.

4. The EL panel as set forth in claim 3 wherein said angle is approximately 45°

.

5. A method for laminating a plurality of EL lamps in a panel to another structure with said EL lamps on precise centers, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an EL panel from which said EL lamps are to be made;

removing portions of said panel from between said EL lamps to produce a pair of opposed rails with said EL lamps connected between said rails by arms extending to each rail;

locating said EL panel in a fixture with said structure; and

laminating said EL panel to said structure.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein

said locating step is preceded by the step of forming at least one hole in each arm;

and

said locating step includes the step of inserting a locating pin through the hole in each arm for locating each lamp individually in said fixture.