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:
Apr. 15, 1997
Filed:
May. 12, 1995
Jose Santana, Woodbury, CT (US);
Harold Thorgersen, Woodbury, CT (US);
John Dixon, London, GB;
Andrew C Ledesma, Cebu, PH;
Timex Corporation, Middlebury, CT (US);
Abstract
The method and structure for providing surface designs to electroluminescent (EL) lamps involves two essential steps. First, a layer of transflective material is introduced to the EL lamp comprising a transparent substrate and front and back electrodes sandwiching an electroluminescent layer and an insulating layer. The layer of transflective material reflects incident ambient light and transmits light emitted by an energized electroluminescent layer. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the layer of transflective material replaces the front electrode of the EL lamp. Second, a predetermined surface design is provided to the transparent substrate to enhance diffusion and fringing of both the reflected incident ambient light and the light emitted by the energized electroluminescent layer. This enhanced diffusion and fringing leads to a visually appealing appearance.