Electroluminescent lamp membrane switch

• US 7,049,536 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2005
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 2461729 Ontario Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Oryon Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Brown, Thomas L., Marcus, M. Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US11/148,216
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.A, 200/512, 200310-317, 341/22, 313483-522, 313/463, 345168-176, 349/69, 365/110, 365/111, 427/66
• US Class Current: 200/310
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/186 using an electroluminiscent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/032 Several contacts formed in one plate or layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/008 Part of substrate or membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/02 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/028 Printed information
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/046 above switch site
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/052 Phosphorescence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/182 Illumination of the symbols or distinguishing marks H01H9/181 takes precedence

Abstract

An electroluminescent lamp membrane switch includes a deformable substrate. Graphic indicia is imprinted on the substrate. An electroluminescent lamp is imprinted on the graphic indicia layer and a membrane switch is formed on the lamp.

Claims

1. An electroluminescent lamp membrane switch comprising:

a film including graphic indicia printed thereon;

an electroluminescent lamp having a front surface and a back surface, said front surface being imprinted on said film; and

a membrane switch formed on said back surface of said lamp.

2. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 1 wherein said front surface of said lamp includes an insulating layer.

3. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 1 wherein said back surface of said lamp includes an insulating layer.

4. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 1 wherein said graphic indicia includes an alpha display.

5. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 1 wherein said graphic indicia includes a numeric display.

6. An electroluminescent lamp membrane switch comprising:

a deformable substrate having a front surface and a back surface;

graphic indicia imprinted on said deformable substrate;

an electroluminescent lamp having a front surface and a back surface, said front surface being imprinted on said back surface of said deformable substrate; and

a membrane switch formed on said back surface of said lamp.

7. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 6 wherein said graphic indicia is imprinted on said front surface of said deformable substrate.

8. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 6 wherein said graphic indicia is imprinted on said back surface of said deformable substrate.

9. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 6 wherein said front surface of said lamp includes an insulating layer.

10. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 9 wherein said back surface of said lamp includes an insulating layer.

11. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 10 wherein said front surface and said back surface insulating layers of said lamp form an envelope for enclosing said lamp.

12. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 6 wherein said graphic indicia is imprinted on said front surface and said back surface of said deformable substrate.

13. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 6 which said graphic indicia includes an alpha/numeric display.

14. An electroluminescent lamp membrane switch comprising:

a flexible substrate having a front surface and a back surface;

graphic indicia imprinted on said flexible substrate;

an electroluminescent lamp enclosed in an insulating envelope, said envelope having a top layer having a front surface and a back surface and a bottom layer having a front surface and a back surface;

said front surface of said top layer of said envelope being imprinted on said flexible substrate; and

a membrane switch formed on said back surface of said bottom layer of said envelope.

15. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 14 wherein said graphic indicia is imprinted on said front surface of said flexible substrate.

16. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 14 wherein said graphic indicia is imprinted on said back surface of said flexible substrate and said front surface of said top layer of said envelope is imprinted on said graphic indicia.

17. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 14 wherein said graphic indicia is imprinted on said front surface and said back surface of said flexible substrate and said front surface of said top layer of said envelope is imprinted on said graphic indicia on said back surface of said flexible substrate.

18. The electroluminescent lamp membrane switch of claim 14 wherein said graphic indicia includes an alpha/numeric display.