Irradiated images described by electrical contact
First Claim
1. A method for generating an image describing selective contact, comprising:
- (a) providing a laminate, the laminate including an outer receiving surface, a luminescent layer, a dielectric layer and a translucent electrode layer, the receiving surface on the laminate separated from the translucent electrode layer by the dielectric layer and the luminescent layer;
(b) connecting a power source to the translucent electrode layer;
(c) touching the receiving surface with a contact surface, wherein said touching is effective to selectively couple the power source through the contact surface and across the laminate in a pattern in register with zones of contact between the contact surface and the receiving surface; and
(d) responsive to said selective coupling, energizing the luminescent layer so as to generate light in said pattern.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device generating images described by contact, in which the contact itself closes an open circuit to generate radiation in a pattern in register with the contact. The resulting irradiated image corresponds directly to the contact pattern energizing the radiation. In a preferred embodiment enabled by an electroluminescent system without a back electrode, a fingerprint is disposed to close the open circuit by making contact and thereby serving as a "temporary" back electrode. The electroluminescent then energizes in a pattern in register with the contact (i.e. the fingerprint) to emit a high-resolution image of visible light with high fidelity to the contact. This visible light image may then be directed on to a photosensitive array standard in the art suitable for pixelation and conversion into an electrical signal representative of the image. This signal is available for computerized storage, analysis, processing and comparison.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for generating an image describing selective contact, comprising:
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(a) providing a laminate, the laminate including an outer receiving surface, a luminescent layer, a dielectric layer and a translucent electrode layer, the receiving surface on the laminate separated from the translucent electrode layer by the dielectric layer and the luminescent layer; (b) connecting a power source to the translucent electrode layer; (c) touching the receiving surface with a contact surface, wherein said touching is effective to selectively couple the power source through the contact surface and across the laminate in a pattern in register with zones of contact between the contact surface and the receiving surface; and (d) responsive to said selective coupling, energizing the luminescent layer so as to generate light in said pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 13)
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5. Apparatus for generating an electroluminescent image describing contact on an electroluminescent system by an independent contact surface, comprising:
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a laminate, the laminate having an outer receiving surface, the laminate including a luminescent layer, a dielectric layer and a translucent electrode layer, the laminate further disposed so that the receiving surface is separated from the translucent electrode layer by the dielectric layer and the luminescent layer; means for concurrently connecting a power source to the translucent electrode and to the contact surface; and means for selectively coupling the power source across the laminate in a pattern in register with zones of contact between the contact surface and the receiving surface, wherein responsive to said selective coupling, the luminescent layer generates light in said pattern. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for generating an electroluminescent image describing contact on an electroluminescent system by a fingerprint, comprising:
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a polymer thick film laminate, the laminate having an outer receiving surface, the laminate comprising; a dielectric layer including barium-titanate as an active ingredient; a luminescent layer including encapsulated phosphor as an active ingredient; a translucent electrode layer including indium-tin-oxide as an active ingredient; and a bus bar layer; the laminate further disposed so that (1) the receiving surface is separated from the translucent electrode layer by the dielectric layer and the luminescent layer, and (2) the translucent electrode layer separates the bus bar layer from the receiving surface; means for concurrently connecting a power source to the bus bar and to the fingerprint, the means for connecting to the fingerprint including an electrode disposed in physical proximity to the receiving surface so that the fingerprint can touch the electrode concurrently with making contact with the receiving surface; and means for selectively coupling the power source across the laminate in a pattern in register with zones of contact between the fingerprint and the receiving surface, wherein responsive to said selective coupling, the luminescent layer generates light in said pattern. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification