Abstract: A movable pointer includes an elongated, translucent substrate having an EL lamp covering one side of the substrate. The pointer emits light from an adjoining, narrower, front side which is roughened slightly. The ends of the substrate are capped or coated to prevent light emission. A second EL lamp can be attached to a second side of the substrate. The width of the EL lamp can be tapered to provide a pointer which is brighter at one end than at the other. Electrical connection to the EL lamp is made with a compliant ribbon having conductive stripes on one or both sides thereof. The ribbon is mechanically and electrically attached to contacts on the EL lamp.

Abstract: An electroluminescent lamp has a luminescent layer placed between a rear electrode layer and a top electrode layer, which is at least partially transparent to light. The electrodes are arranged to excite the luminescent layer by applying a potential to the layer. An insulating layer is placed between the rear electrode layer and the luminescent layer, to increase the capacitance of the lamp. At least one of the layers includes a terpolymer, e.g., vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene. In some applications (e.g., in wristwatches), the luminescent layer includes phosphor, the insulating layer includes barium titanate, and the rear electrode includes silver, all distributed through the terpolymer. In other applications (e.g., in cellular phones or pagers), the rear electrode includes carbon.

Abstract: An EL lamp includes a transparent electrode, an electroluminescent dielectric layer overlying the transparent electrode, a patterned insulating layer overlies selected portions of the dielectric layer for reducing the electric field across the selected portions of the electroluminescent dielectric layer, and a rear electrode overlying the insulating layer and the electroluminescent dielectric layer. The insulating layer is preferably a low dielectric constant material and can overlie the electroluminescent dielectric layer or can be located between a separate dielectric layer and a phosphor layer. A gray scale is produced by depositing or printing more than one thickness of insulating layer.

Abstract: An EL panel includes a pair of EL lamps on a common substrate, separated by a predetermined distance along a longitudinal axis. A first flexible, electrically conductive trace on the substrate interconnects the front electrodes of the lamps and a second flexible, electrically conductive trace on the substrate interconnects the rear electrodes of the lamps. The lamps share a common front electrode and the first trace overlies the front electrode between the lamps. One of the lamps is rotated relative to the other to position the lamps one above the other in separate, parallel planes.

Abstract: An EL lamp includes a transparent electrode, an electroluminescent dielectric layer overlying the transparent electrode, a patterned insulating layer overlies selected portions of the dielectric layer for reducing the electric field across the selected portions of the electroluminescent dielectric layer, and a rear electrode overlying the insulating layer and the electroluminescent dielectric layer. The insulating layer is preferably a low dielectric constant material and can overlie the electroluminescent dielectric layer or can be located between a separate dielectric layer and a phosphor layer. A gray scale is produced by depositing or printing more than one thickness of insulating layer.