Electroluminescent sign

• US 6,203,391 B1
• Filed: 08/04/1997
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lumimove Company MO L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Lumimove Company MO L.L.C.
• Inventors: Murasko, Matthew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramsey, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US08/905,528
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 445/24, 445/58, 427/66, 405/44, 313/506
• US Class Current: 445/24
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/10 Changing, amusing, or secret pictures
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00

Abstract

Signs including electroluminescent lamps are described. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, electroluminescent lamps are coupled to a sign by first forming a rear electrode on a front surface of the sign. After forming the rear electrode on the sign, a dielectric layer is screen printed over the rear electrode, and a phosphor layer is screen printed over the dielectric layer. A layer of indium tin oxide ink is then screen printed to the phosphor layer to form an EL lamp.

Claims

1. A method for forming an illuminated design on a substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

forming an ultraviolet coating on the substrate;

screen printing a rear electrode over the ultraviolet coating;

forming at least one dielectric layer over the rear electrode;

forming a phosphor layer over the dielectric layer;

forming an indium tin oxide ink layer over the phosphor layer; and

screen printing a front electrode over the dielectric layer to transport energy to the indium tin oxide layer.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein forming the rear electrode on the substrate comprises the step of screen printing the rear electrode to the substrate.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is a sign having a front surface, and wherein forming the rear electrode on the substrate comprises the step of screen printing the rear electrode to the front surface of the sign.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein forming at least one dielectric layer over the rear electrode comprises the step of screen printing the dielectric layer over the rear electrode.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein forming a phosphor layer over the dielectric layer comprises the step of screen printing the phosphor layer as a forward image having substantially the same shape and size as the illuminated design.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein forming an indium tin oxide layer over the phosphor layer comprises the step of screen printing indium tin oxide ink over the phosphor layer as a forward image having substantially the same shape and size as the illuminated design.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of forming an ultraviolet coating on the substrate so that the ultraviolet coating substantially covers the indium tin oxide layer and the front electrode.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of printing a background on the substrate.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is metal.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is plastic.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is cardboard.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the phosphor layer defies at least two illumination portions.

23. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of screen printing a front electrode layer comprises the step of screen printing the front electrode layer such that a portion of the front electrode layer contacts an outer perimeter of the indium tin oxide layer.

13. A method for forming an integral electroluminescent lamp and display sign, the display sign including a surface and an illumination arts, said method comprising the steps of:

screen printing a first electrode on the surface of the sign;

screen printing an indium tin oxide layer on the surface of the sign;

screen printing a phosphor layer over the indium tin oxide layer;

screen printing a dielectric layer onto the sign surface;

forming a second electrode on the sign surface over the dielectric layer; and

screen printing a dielectric background layer over the sign surface, the dielectric background layer including an illumination portion which is substantially aligned with the illumination area.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the sign is fabricated from substantially clear plastic and includes a rear surface, and wherein forming a first electrode on the surface of the sign comprises the step of screen printing a front electrode on the rear surface of the sign.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said step of forming a first electrode comprises the step of screen printing a first electrode onto the sign surface such that the first electrode contacts the outer perimeter of the illumination portion.

16. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said step of forming an indium tin oxide layer comprises the step of screen printing a layer of indium tin oxide onto the sign surface.

17. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said step of forming a second electrode on the sign surface over the dielectric layer comprises the step of screen printing a rear electrode over the dielectric layer.

18. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising the step of screen printing a UV coating to the sign rear surface over the first electrode, the indium tin oxide layer, the phosphor layer, the dielectric layer, and the second electrode layer.

19. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising an initial step of printing a background substrate onto the surface of the sign.

20. A sign comprising a surface and an illuminated design coupled thereto, said sign comprising:

a first electrode formed on said sign surface;

an indium tin oxide layer screen printed on said sign surface;

a phosphor layer screen printed on said indium tin oxide layer;

a dielectric layer screen printed onto said sign surface;

a second electrode formed on the sign surface over the dielectric layer; and

a dielectric background layer screen printed over the sign surface, said dielectric background layer including an illumination portion substantially aligned with the illuminated design.

21. A sign in accordance with claim 20 wherein said first electrode comprises a front electrode, and wherein said front electrode is screen printed on said sign surface as a reverse image.

22. A sign in accordance with claim 20 wherein said second electrode is a rear electrode, and wherein said rear electrode is screen printed on said dielectric layer as a reverse image.