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:
Sep. 16, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2000
Thomas J. Pennaz, Champlin, MN (US);
Gary R. Tucholski, N. Royalton, OH (US);
Morgan Adhesives Company, Stow, OH (US);
Abstract
The present invention is an improved EL lamp structure having a reduced number of printed component layers. The EL lamp utilizes a flexible dielectric film, such as polypropylene, polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), that acts as a combination dielectric layer and structural substrate for the remaining layers of the EL lamp structure. The flexible dielectric film reduces the need for a separate dielectric layer and substrate layer. Furthermore, the flexible dielectric film eliminates the need for several printed dielectric layers, thus reducing production time and the occurrence of manufacturing defects during the printing process. In an alternate embodiment, a low cost flexible metalized film is used as a combination rear electrode, dielectric layer and substrate. This embodiment further reduces the number of printed component layers required in the EL lamp structure.