Abstract: A luminous touch screen includes a light guide having a light extracting feature on a first major surface and an interstitial layer on a second major surface. A touch screen overlies the interstitial layer. The light guide has an index of refraction, n1, the interstitial layer has an index of refraction, n2, and n1>n2. The interstitial layer is preferably a layer of resin bearing ink, which is cured or dried after deposition.

Abstract: A laminated bus bar assembly comprises alternating layers of a conductive layer and a foam dielectric layer. The foam dielectric layer has a dielectric constant greater than a solid non-porous dielectric constant of the same material, the use of which increases the partial discharge inception and extinction voltage levels, provides vibration resistance, decreases inductance and the like. The bus bar assembly of laminar construction is useful for power distribution systems, high power transistor modules, and the like.

Abstract: An article comprises a flexible support layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface; and a silicone grip disposed on, conformable, and in contact with the exterior surface of the flexible support layer, wherein the silicone grip comprises: a cured silicone layer with a Shore A Durometer of less than or equal to about 60 and having an exterior surface and an opposite, interior surface, wherein the silicone layer is formed from a curable silicone composition comprising a catalyst that promotes cure of the silicone composition, a higher molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, a lower molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, and an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule.

Abstract: A mat comprises a backing layer having a top surface and a bottom surface; a silicone grip disposed on, conformable, and in contact with the top surface of the backing layer to form a topside of the mat, wherein the silicone grip comprises: a cured silicone layer with a Shore A Durometer of less than or equal to about 60 and having an exterior surface and an opposite, interior surface; and wherein the silicone layer is formed from a curable silicone composition comprising a catalyst that promotes cure of the silicone composition, a higher molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, a lower molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, and an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a multilayer circuit comprising a liquid crystalline polymer layer, the method comprising treating the multilayer circuit with an amount of heat effective to raise the crystalline to nematic melting point, as defined by the peak endotherm above the glass transition temperature in a differential scanning calorimeter measurement, of the liquid crystalline polymer layer by at least about 10° C.

Abstract: The unlit margin of a first EL lamp is covered by the lit edge of a second EL lamp to provide a substantially seamless lit area. The lamps are joined mechanically. The EL lamps are connected in parallel electrically by conductive tape overlying at least a portion of the bus bars of the lamps. A plurality of lamps can be joined together to provide an EL lamp substantially larger than obtainable by other means.

Abstract: An electroluminescent panel having a front electrode overlying a translucent sheet, a phosphor layer overlying the front electrode, a dielectric layer overlying the phosphor layer, and a rear electrode overlying the dielectric layer, the electroluminescent panel further includes a mask layer between the front electrode and the phosphor layer, wherein the mask layer is patterned to define graphics optically and electrically. A layer other than the mask layer can also be patterned.

Abstract: A touch screen includes a resistive layer made from conductive ink and overlying at least a portion of a substrate. The resistive layer has a sheet resistance of 1,000-5,000 ?/ In one embodiment of the invention, the touch screen is transparent. The touch screen also includes a patterned conductive layer for linearizing current and an insulating layer overlying the patterned conductive layer and the resistive layer.

Abstract: A PDLC light shutter includes a conductive layer that is thermally bonded to the shutter as an electrode. The layer can be patterned to provide light transmission even if the conductive layer is relatively opaque. A patterned electrode can be reconfigured easily for prototype or low volume production yet the method and apparatus are suitable for volume production as well. Toner powder can be used as an adhesive and the conductive layer is patterned directly from a xerographic print.

Abstract: A method of forming a dielectric substrate comprises contacting a liquid crystalline polymer fibrous web having a thickness of 5 mils (127 micrometers) or less with a resin composition to form a dielectric composite. Contacting is carried out under vacuum, followed by pressure. The dielectric substrate is useful in circuit materials, circuits, and multi-layer circuits, economical to make, and has excellent dielectric strength.

Abstract: A light guide includes a transparent sheet exhibiting total internal reflection in at least one direction and phosphor printed on the transparent sheet. The phosphor extracts light from the transparent sheet when the sheet is edge-lit and converts the light from one wavelength to another wavelength. The phosphor is pressed into the surface of the sheet after heating the surface to its softening temperature.

Abstract: A display includes a light switch overlying a backlight and having at least two light shutters which do not, by themselves, convey information by the shape thereof. The lit area of the backlight is equal to or greater than the sum of the areas of the shutters within the area. The display can also include a graphics layer overlying the light switch. The information content of the display is changed by changing the graphics layer.

Abstract: An insulated metal substrate laminate includes a metal substrate, a dielectric layer disposed upon the metal substrate, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a thermoplastic film having a thickness of less than or equal to 10 micrometers, a thermal resistance of less than or equal to 0.050 Kelvin-square inches per watt, and a breakdown voltage greater than or equal to 1000 volts (alternating current), and an electrically conductive layer disposed upon the dielectric layer.

Abstract: An antenna includes an element that is made by thermally bonding a patterned conductive layer to a dielectric sheet. The antenna can be redesigned easily for prototype or low volume production yet the invention is suitable for volume production as well. The antenna, or an element thereof, can be made from a xerographic print using toner as an adhesive.

Abstract: A luminous touch sensor includes a major surface on the touch sensor, a thin plastic sheet overlying at least a portion of the major surface, and at least one light emitting diode optically coupled to the plastic sheet. The light emitting diode emits light from an edge into an edge of the plastic sheet, which acts as a light guide and redirects the light away from the major surface. The touch sensor can be opaque or transparent, with the plastic sheet positioned accordingly.

Abstract: A driver for electroluminescent (EL) lamps is an integrated circuit that includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and an inductor connected in series between the first transistor and the second transistor. The driver also includes at least four output circuits coupled to said inductor for separately driving at least four electroluminescent lamps. The driver further includes memory for storing data representing dimming levels and device addresses. Data is communicated to the driver through a serial interface that recognizes at least one standard protocol.

Abstract: A net negative charge is used to eliminate silver migration in an EL lamp. An electrode containing silver, either the entire electrode, a bus bar on the electrode, or a contact area on the electrode, receives a net negative charge while the EL lamp is being driven with alternating current. The net negative charge can be provided by the driver itself or by a current source, such as a battery or a charged capacitor; or by asymmetric current means in the current path of the EL lamp, including the lamp itself.

Abstract: Articles are disclosed, comprising a polymer foam layer having a first surface and an opposite second surface; a plurality of cells between the first surface and the opposite second surface of the polymer foam layer, wherein the thickness of the polymer foam layer between the first surface and the opposite second surface is 1.0 to 1.5 times the average height of the plurality of cells; and a plurality of magnetic, electrically conductive particles aligned into a plurality of mutually isolated chains that essentially continuously span the foam between the first surface and the opposite second surface of the polymer foam layer. The foams are useful as gaskets for electromagnetic shielding, grounding pads, battery contact conductive spring elements, and the like.

Abstract: A method of assembling a multilayer bus bar assembly includes coating a dielectric layer with a molten reactive hot-melt adhesive, placing the dielectric layer between first and second subassemblies, wherein the first and second subassemblies comprise a conductive element, adhering the molten reactive hot-melt adhesive to the subassemblies by applying a pressure of at least about one bar to the multilayer bus bar assembly for at least about one minute prior to the adhesive cooling to room temperature to provide a bonding strength between the dielectric material and a selected one of the first and second subassemblies of at least 1500 Newtons on a 25 millimeter by 25 millimeter sample when tested in accordance with ASTM D-1062.

Abstract: A driver for powering an EL lamp includes a boost circuit for converting low voltage DC to high voltage DC and an inverter for converting direct current to alternating current. The driver also includes at least one transistor for discharging,the EL lamp and a generator for producing a ramp voltage that is coupled to the base of the transistor. The ramp voltage causes the discharge current through the EL lamp to be sinusoidal, without harmonics. The discharge current does not cause the EL lamp to produce sound.