The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 01, 1994
Filed:
Feb. 01, 1993
Daniel J Krause, East Aurora, NY (US);
Astronics Corporation, Orchard Park, NY (US);
Abstract
Each of a plurality of EL lamps in an instrument panel has its own control circuit for connecting the lamp to an adjustable AC voltage source. Each control circuit includes a photodetector for detecting the intensity of the illumination of its associated lamp, when the lamp is energized. With respect to a given input voltage of the AC voltage source, when the intensity of the light emitted by a given lamp begins to diminish, its control circuit will automatically increase the AC voltage applied across the electrodes of the lamp, thereby maintaining the light intensity of the lamp regardless of its age, for a given AC input voltage to the control circuit. The intensity of each lamp therefore remains consistent throughout substantially the full life of the EL lamp.