Lighted display with electroluminescent lamps

Abstract

An electroluminescent lamp and associated method for manufacturing the same having coplanar contact pads, thereby allowing the lamp to be positioned at any point along a conductive bus bar. The lamp includes a base nonconductive film having an electrically conductive coating. A first layer of illuminative material is screen printed on to the base film. A second layer of insulative material is applied over the first layer of illuminative material. A third layer comprised of a conductive ink coating is then screen printed over the second layer of insulative material in inlaid fashion. An insulative coating is then applied over the third layer of conductive material to effectively seal the first, second, and third layers between the base nonconductive film and the insulative coating. First and second coplanar contact pads are then formed on the lamp for electrically connecting the lamp to a power supply. The first electrical conductive contact pad is electrically connected to the base film conductive coating. The second electrically conductive contact pad is electrically connected to the third layer of the conductive ink coating. The contact pads are coplanar such that the EL lamp may be inserted into a bus bar to electrically connect the contact pads with the bus wires. The lamp may be inserted to one of two or more positions in the bus bar to create alternative lighting sequences, such as constant, flashing, or running illumination sequences.