Electrically insulated electroluminescent display

Abstract

An electroluminescent display has a transparent front-electrode, rear electrodes, and a layer of electroluminescent material located between the first and second electrodes. Conductive tracks are electrically connected to the rear electrodes and supply a driving voltage for the electroluminescent material to the rear electrodes. A backplane layer is provided between the electroluminescent material layer and the conductive tracks, and is electrically connected to the front electrode such that the potential difference across the electroluminescent material layer in the region of the conductive tracks is substantially zero. In this way, when the conductive track is supplying the driving voltage to the rear-electrodes, the electroluminescent material layer is not illuminated by an electric field between the conductive tracks and the front electrode. Gaps may be defined in the front electrode corresponding substantially to the location of the conductive tracks. This also prevents the voltage in the conductive tracks from illuminating the electroluminescent material layer. An addressable electroluminescent display may be included in an item of clothing.