Abstract: An electroluminescent (EL) panel is provided wherein the phosphor bodies are excited to luminesce by a low duty cycle pulsed high frequency potential. Power consumption is reduced further by the use of an inductor coupled across a subdivided EL panel activated by a low frequency pulse.

Abstract: An electroluminescent (EL) panel for use as a backlight in a passive electrooptical display of the light control type is provided wherein the phosphor bodies in each segment of the panel are excited to luminesce by a low duty cycle pulsed high frequency potential. Power consumption is reduced further by the use of a subdivided EL panel sequentially activated (multiplexed) by the pulsed high frequency potential. The multiplexing frequency is selected to substantially effect a perceived continuous (for as long as needed), evenly distributed source of light coming from all of the segments of the panel. Since the segments are only sequentially excited, the power drain on battery sources of power is greatly reduced without adversely affecting the perceived continuous and evenly distributed level of illumination produced by the panel as a unitary light source.