WOVEN ELECTROLUMINESCENT PANEL
United States Patent 3803437
A woven electroluminescent panel having a plurality of parallel insulating fibres, a plurality of parallel electrode fibres woven over and under alternate ones of the insulating fibres and a layer of electroluminescent phosphor overlying the insulating and electrode fibres.
US Patent References:
Electroluminescent lamp
Payne - June 1958 - 2838715
Image reproducing device
Davis - February 1960 - 2925525
Electroluminescent lamp
Bartels - March 1960 - 2928015
Flexible electroluminescent strand
Dow - September 1962 - 3052812
Light producing formation comprising luminescent electrically excitable fibers
Masaharu - October 1966 - 3278784
Electroluminescent lamp
Payne - June 1958 - 2838715
Image reproducing device
Davis - February 1960 - 2925525
Electroluminescent lamp
Bartels - March 1960 - 2928015
Flexible electroluminescent strand
Dow - September 1962 - 3052812
Light producing formation comprising luminescent electrically excitable fibers
Masaharu - October 1966 - 3278784
Application Number:
05/028796
Publication Date:
04/09/1974
Filing Date:
04/15/1970
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Export Citation:
Assignee:
Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory, Inc. (Buffalo, NY)
Primary Class:
International Classes:
H05B33/12; H05B33/02
Field of Search:
313/18A,18B 315/169R,169TV
Primary Examiner:
Demeo, Palmer C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Jaffe, Allen J.
Claims:
1. A woven and completely flexible electroluminescent display panel, comprising;
2. The woven panel according to claim 1, wherein
3. The woven panel according to claim 1, further comprising;
4. The woven panel according to claim 3, further comprising;
5. The woven panel according to claim 1, wherein
6. The woven panel according to claim 5, further comprising;
7. The woven panel according to claim 6, further comprising;
8. The woven panel according to claim 1, wherein
9. The woven panel according to claim 8, further comprising;
10. The woven panel according to claim 9, further comprising;
2. The woven panel according to claim 1, wherein
3. The woven panel according to claim 1, further comprising;
4. The woven panel according to claim 3, further comprising;
5. The woven panel according to claim 1, wherein
6. The woven panel according to claim 5, further comprising;
7. The woven panel according to claim 6, further comprising;
8. The woven panel according to claim 1, wherein
9. The woven panel according to claim 8, further comprising;
10. The woven panel according to claim 9, further comprising;
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a woven electroluminescent display panel.
Prior electroluminescent light producing devices are known which comprise a plurality of flexible wires or filaments that may be utilized as such or that may be woven into a fabric structure. In all of the known structure of this type, each wire or filament is identical to every other wire or filament in the finished product. These wires or filaments are the basic building block for the final structure and usually comprise a pair of electrodes with electroluminescent phosphor embedded therebetween and an outer coating to bond the electrodes and phosphor together. Thus, before any weaving of the wires or filaments can take place, the wires or filaments must first be fabricated by combining the electrodes and the electroluminescent phosphor. This procedure is expensive and time consuming. Additionally, an extremely thin structure is not attainable because the basic light producing filament is of a sandwich construction thereby necessitating a greater thickness than would be required with a substantially planar construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing, as well as other, disadvantages of prior devices are overcome according to the principles of the present invention which provides a planar woven electroluminescent fabric.
According to the teachings of the present invention, the conducting wires or filament electrodes of the electroluminescent display are in fact fibres that are woven through fixed insulating threads. Thus, the electrodes may form the woof and the insulating threads may form the warp of the woven display panel. Electroluminescent phosphor is simply coated over the entire area of woven fabric. Excitation voltage may be applied through conducting buses attached to the electrode wire or filament ends.
The panel and method of fabricating the same according to the present invention finds specific application in area illumination as well as lighting of air-borne, land-borne and sea-going vehicles. Specific area-type illumination applications includes electroluminescent fabric wall and ceiling coverings and finely woven electroluminescent drapery fabrics.
The fabrication technique of the present invention is compatible with the high volume production machinery of the textile industry, such as automatic fabric and screen looms. As such, the production costs are minimized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the present invention reference should now be had to the following detailed description of the same taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein;
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of woven electroluminescent panel, and
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, 10 generally depicts the electroluminescent fabric panel, which as illustrated, comprises a plurality of parallel insulating fibres or threads 12 of nylon or any other suitable insulating material. Traversing the insulating threads 12 are a plurality of parallel electrode fibres or wires 14, each one of which is woven over and under each of the insulating threads 12 to form therewith the fabric electroluminescent panel. As illustrated, the electrode fibres may be substantially perpendicular to the insulating threads. The electrodes 14 may be any suitable conducting fibre or wire such as copper or aluminum. As illustrated, the insulating threads 12 may define the stationary warp of the woven fabric with the electrodes carried back and forth thereacross defining the weft or woof of the woven fabric. Alternatively, the insulating threads can define the stationary warp with the electrodes defining the weft.
Every other electrode 14 has an end 16 that is joined electrically, as by spot welding or solder to a conducting bus or terminal 18. The electrodes between those that are joined to terminal 18 have an end 20 that is similarly joined to an opposite terminal 22. A source of excitation voltage is placed across the terminals 18 and 22 as shown at 24.
A layer of electroluminescent phosphor P is coated above the insulating threads and the electrodes as by spraying or the like. When an a. c. excitation voltage is applied across terminals 18 and 22 the potential drop across adjacent electrodes 14 will cause the electroluminescent phosphor therebetween to emit radiation in a known manner.
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, changes will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
The present invention relates to a woven electroluminescent display panel.
Prior electroluminescent light producing devices are known which comprise a plurality of flexible wires or filaments that may be utilized as such or that may be woven into a fabric structure. In all of the known structure of this type, each wire or filament is identical to every other wire or filament in the finished product. These wires or filaments are the basic building block for the final structure and usually comprise a pair of electrodes with electroluminescent phosphor embedded therebetween and an outer coating to bond the electrodes and phosphor together. Thus, before any weaving of the wires or filaments can take place, the wires or filaments must first be fabricated by combining the electrodes and the electroluminescent phosphor. This procedure is expensive and time consuming. Additionally, an extremely thin structure is not attainable because the basic light producing filament is of a sandwich construction thereby necessitating a greater thickness than would be required with a substantially planar construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing, as well as other, disadvantages of prior devices are overcome according to the principles of the present invention which provides a planar woven electroluminescent fabric.
According to the teachings of the present invention, the conducting wires or filament electrodes of the electroluminescent display are in fact fibres that are woven through fixed insulating threads. Thus, the electrodes may form the woof and the insulating threads may form the warp of the woven display panel. Electroluminescent phosphor is simply coated over the entire area of woven fabric. Excitation voltage may be applied through conducting buses attached to the electrode wire or filament ends.
The panel and method of fabricating the same according to the present invention finds specific application in area illumination as well as lighting of air-borne, land-borne and sea-going vehicles. Specific area-type illumination applications includes electroluminescent fabric wall and ceiling coverings and finely woven electroluminescent drapery fabrics.
The fabrication technique of the present invention is compatible with the high volume production machinery of the textile industry, such as automatic fabric and screen looms. As such, the production costs are minimized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the present invention reference should now be had to the following detailed description of the same taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein;
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of woven electroluminescent panel, and
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, 10 generally depicts the electroluminescent fabric panel, which as illustrated, comprises a plurality of parallel insulating fibres or threads 12 of nylon or any other suitable insulating material. Traversing the insulating threads 12 are a plurality of parallel electrode fibres or wires 14, each one of which is woven over and under each of the insulating threads 12 to form therewith the fabric electroluminescent panel. As illustrated, the electrode fibres may be substantially perpendicular to the insulating threads. The electrodes 14 may be any suitable conducting fibre or wire such as copper or aluminum. As illustrated, the insulating threads 12 may define the stationary warp of the woven fabric with the electrodes carried back and forth thereacross defining the weft or woof of the woven fabric. Alternatively, the insulating threads can define the stationary warp with the electrodes defining the weft.
Every other electrode 14 has an end 16 that is joined electrically, as by spot welding or solder to a conducting bus or terminal 18. The electrodes between those that are joined to terminal 18 have an end 20 that is similarly joined to an opposite terminal 22. A source of excitation voltage is placed across the terminals 18 and 22 as shown at 24.
A layer of electroluminescent phosphor P is coated above the insulating threads and the electrodes as by spraying or the like. When an a. c. excitation voltage is applied across terminals 18 and 22 the potential drop across adjacent electrodes 14 will cause the electroluminescent phosphor therebetween to emit radiation in a known manner.
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, changes will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.