US20030231486A1

US20030231486A1 - Weather proof treatment for electro-luminescent

Info

Publication number: US20030231486A1
Application number: US10/286,820
Authority: US
Inventors: Tseng-Lu Chien
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-06-14
Filing date: 2002-11-04
Publication date: 2003-12-18
Also published as: US20030231487A1; US6976762B2; US20030231485A1; US7364315B2

Abstract

The improvement for waterproof quality of electro-luminescent Elements by make a special treatment to make the standard pitch Metal terminal's common electrodes isolated with other phospher Electrodes by glue, ditch, tape, shrink tube, sealed to make a big Improvmenet to make all itched Electro-luminescent panel bees really Waterproof.

Description

This is CIP filing under U.S. Ser. No. 10/170,584 Jun. 14, 2002. This is CIP filing copending filing “Tublar EL light device” filed on Nov. xx, 2002. [0001]
The Current invention also offer a Twisted EL panel(s) Arrangenmetn for consumer application such as Shoe, Slide, Slipper, Sandle, Automobile, Boat, Bus, Aircraft, Garden, Traffic equipment, Bag, Purse, House, Building, Christmas, Seasonal, Bicycle, Tricycle, Toy, Moving device, Skating, Jogging, watch, Garment, Clothing, Jeans, Box, Tool Box, Working Lamp, Furniture, Giftwear, Headgear, Jewelery, Hair Accessories, Partywear, Sign, Indoor lighting, Outdoor lighting, Street lamp, Guider lamp, Bridge lamp, Traffic cone, New Jersey Deck, Fence, Mail Box, House Number light, Window Sign, Wall Sign, Poster, Passway, Stair, Curb, Line divider for peoples, Evacuation light, Fishing Marker, Decoration device for Safety, Decorating, Advertisement, Promotion, Point-Of-Purchase, Warning light, Accent light, illumiation light, Floor light, Delinator guider light, Evacuation light which can be found from market place with other light means such as L.E.D./Incandescent light bulb/Flouresecent Tube, Neon Tube etc. The current invention with sufficient light brightness with very low power consumption as current inventors variety US issued patent including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,746,500, 5,980,060, 5,722,760, 5,504,397, 5,475,574, 5,479,325, 5,570,946, 5,469,342, 5,570,945, 5,704,705, 5,611,621, 5,860,727, 5,865,523, 5,879,069, 5,572,817, 5,752,337, 5,794,366, 5,833,508, 5,688,038, 5,871,269, 5,720,651, 5,806,960, 5,947,980, 5,775,016, 5,566,384, 5,876,108, 5,836,611, 5,601,358, 5,754,064, 5,921,653, 5,667,394, 6,082,867, 6,170,958, 6,183,101, 6,171,117, 5,926,440, 6,158,868, 6,182,282, 6,179,431, 5,599,088, 5,213,616, 6,179,431, 6,280,053, 6,170,958, 6,168,282, 5,926,440, 5,683,164, 6,183,101, 6,123,616, 6,280,053, 5,926,440, 5,1754,064, 5,879,069 and other issued patent which owned by current inventor, Tge advabtage if ysubg ekectri-luminescent lighting elements In a variety of contexs are explained in serveral co pending US patent application include Ser. Nos. 08/305,294, 08/434,404; 08/343,915; 08/383,404; 08/383,405; 08/409,925; 08/421,647; 08/432,707; 08/438,373; 08/444,064; 08/436,007; 08/444,064; 08/489,160; 08/498,258; 08/510,701; 08/522,940; 08/561,973; 08/611,049; 08/614,001; 08/522,940; 08/712,484; 08/734,872 which cover more utilities for Electro-Luminescnet element All listed invention can attached on the any single radius surface without any problem. The current invention is using the “Wider Tube sapece to install the narrow EL panel(s) too offer the ectra space to allow panel(s) can bend, twist with ugly shape but can not be seen from viewer”. It also have serveral arrangements to make the tube look like Neon Tube or the pretty good cosmetic light arrangement The other features are incorporated with tube with panel(s) can fit for Sphere-Surface which have more than one radius curvatur and can fit pretty good without ugly shape and destroy the value of the light. Also, Teach the methord to use limited length for EL panel(s) into unlimited length for desired requirement.[0002]

BACKGROUND

The current inventor owned US issued patents rights . . . . However, There have a big loose for the water damage the EL panel for the past years.

The current invention disclosure a moderate technical to solve this Big problem for all Electro-luminescent (EL) elements including:

a. Apply moderate itch technical to remove all other material on desired location so keep the said areas only have one electrode exist so can prevent from shortage caused by water, humility, conductive means.

b. Appy the Most efficiency mass production terminal process to intall the metal and solerable terminal with all EL related electrodes.

c. Apply the most low cost treatment to make all electrodes shortage problem solved

Basing on these (3) major features, The current invention solve the past 15 years Electro-luminscent waterproof problem.

FIGURE

FIG. 1—Disclosure the priority art of conventional market EL panel [0009]
FIG. 2—Disclosure the current invention's features and theory [0010]
FIG. 3—Disclosure the current invention's application for enlongate EL elements[0011]

DETAIL DISCRIPTION

The weather Resistance Electro-Luminescent element means the current invention have good process to make tranditional EL element With good waterproof again water, humility, conductive means damaged. This is not cover the UV, Sun, Wind or other concern. [0012]
From FIG. 1—A conventional Electro-luminsecent elements have the Desired phospher areas (not shown) with respectively electrodes ([0013] 11+) (12+) (13+) (14+) and one common negative (10−). The each electorode have respectively metal terminal to stamp togetherly so can allow people to soler and delivery electric signals.
The each metal terminal ([0014] 10′) (11′) (12′) (13′(14′) respectively to Common negative (10−), Phospher electrode (11+)(12+) (13+) (14+) As FIG. 1 shown. These terminals are added by standard pitch distance such as 2.54 mm for desired distance. This pitch can be Any pre-designed for easily operation However, Normally, majority People use standard pitch 2.54 mm. The problem happened for Waterproof at the any one of Phospher electrodes have any connection with common negative electrode, the shortage happen at once. Hence, People use shrink tube, glue, hot glue, tape, or any kind Of water sealing material to seal the all the terminals and try to get The best waterproof. This is not successfully for past years.
The key problem at the the water or humility can easily to get into The tiny gap which existing between the PET (EL substate material) And sealing material. Plusing the tiny gap will allow the humility Spred to wide surface so simple to let common negative ([0015] 10−) and Any combination of phospher electrodes (11+) (12+)(13+) (14+) connect with the (10−) to cause EL failed at once. For Examples. From FIG. 1. If water drop located on (13) location. The EL will be failed at once. However, If the water drop at location (11) or (12) will not affected EL quality at all. The Water drop for (11) only will let all Phospher area are connected but not cause the light did not turn on at the time required.
The current invention disclosure a very simple treatment to make The good waterproof quality of Electro-Luminsecent element as FIG. 2. [0016]
From FIG. 2—The EL elements ([0017] 2) have all kinds of EL material including phospher layer, di-dectric layer, electric layer, UV layer, ITO layer as conventional type The Itch Area (3) which already Remove all the other layer only have the Conductive layer preferred Only the silver, copper, conductive means material on this area to build the electric signale delivery. The each phoshper areas of (2) Have the electrode areas on the itch area (3) such as (22+) (23+) (24+) (25+) of this embordiment It also have one common negative electrode (21−) existing on this area (3). However at this area(3), any of (21−) (22+)(23+)(24+)(25+) can be cutted because only have one electrode existing after itching process is done on this areas.
Hence, While we cutted the ditch (B) to make a big separated of The common negative ([0018] 21−) with whole group Phospher positive Electrodes (22+)+(23+)+(24+)+(25+). This means we did make good Isolated for Negative and Positve electrodes away. This sepearation Treatment is not practice for any convetional market because people Do believe the succefully for conventional water sealing material including RAYCHEM Shring Tube, Hot Glue, Epoxy . . . . Can make It work. However, The PET is too difficult to do the adhesive and Glue on properties, Hence, The current invention can reach the Most efficiency waterproof while apply itching process on electrodes And make simple isolate two group electrodes sepearted as FIG. 2.
However, After the Ditch, cutout, cut-line, extra-space been made, There still need to apply the conventional glue, adhensive, tape, chemical to make them separated packed so prevent from water, Humility, conductive means to make these two groups electrodes to Connected togetherly. From FIG. 2, The common electrode ([0019] 21−) are Separated with Phospher electrodes (22+)(23+) (24+) (25+) by the Ditch,cut-out, space already. The common electrode (21−) still need To use conventional adhesive, glue, tape, chemical to seal itself individually. The water, humility may come into beccuae the gap Exist but it do not affect the EL failed because water will only Exist within the Sealed pack (20) which have higher wall than the EL phospher electrodes's low wall ( 26) If the two group electrodes Have shortage, the water, humility, conductive means have to big Enough and cross the two different highth walls without any break Line or discotinously or EL will be safey. This is simple to make The water sealing for EL metal terminals end by current invention
As for the Whole Application waterproof consideration is very Important beucase only the EL elements been treated as good Waterproof but the application is not pay attention means no good. Hence, From FIG. 2 Show the Poewr pack ([0020] 4) have two set of wire Harness (21″) and (22″)(23″)(24″) (25″) which again with different Length to make the Water, Humility, Conductive means need to be Very BIG to make shortage possibility as above discussed. The each Metal terminals have its connection slot to build the electric connection as (21)—(21′)—(21″) for common electrodes The (22)—(22′)—(22″) for one of EL phospher electrodes. The (23)—(23′)—(23″) for one of EL phospher electrodes. The (24)—(24′)—(24″) for one of EL phospher electrodes, The (25)—(25′)—(25″) for one of EL phospher electrodes. This is one of the embodiment. From the Drawing can see The slot case (6) (6′) have distance (D) existing to prevent from Water have continuously form within these distance. Again, The Wire harness (5) (5′) also have same arrangement to get the Best protection.
From FIG. 3. can see the same concept to make the metal terminals Of “1 piece of common” and “N piece of phospher” separated Can have different consideration. For EL strips ([0021] 7), The (33A+) which is on the one Enlongate EL elements end. The (33A−) on the other end.
For the EL Strip ([0022] 8), The (3B4−) common are located on one end. The other 3 phospher electrodes (3B1+) (3B2+)(3B3+) on the other end. This is very safety for waterproof application.
For the EL Strips ([0023] 9) The Common electrodes (3c4−) and phospher Electrode (3C1+) have a big cut-out space existing so can make Individual sealing treatment to make water not affected. This is also Can be work out the water proof requirement.
However, The above listed, Mentioned, Refer to is not cover the whole spirit of the current invention. The spirit should be consider above listed, mentioned, discussed, disclosured and futher for all Equivalent or equal function treatement as the scope of the current Invention. [0024]

Claims

1. A weather resistance Elecaro-Luminescent element consist of: AT least one electro-luminscent element have itch process to make electrodes have single electric-pole on thickness section. At least one pre-designed terminal(s) been fixed on the said elements with pre-designed pitch, distance, space for said terminal.

The improvement including:

Incorporat arrangement to change the Pre-designed pitch, distance, space of the terminals with relative position moved.

Furtherly incorporating individual seal procedure to seal any combination of common electrodes and other electrodes.

2. A weather resistance electro-luminescent element as claim 1, The said Terminals is a metal terminal for soldering work

3. A weather resistance electro-luminsecent element as claim 1, The said individual sealing including any combination of the following conventional process may selected from tape, shrink tube, hot glue, adhesive, primer, chemical, bond, supre glue.

4. A weather resistance electro-luminsecent element as claim 1, The individual sealing procedure indude for the signal ends from power pack.

6. A weather resistance electro-luminsecent element as claim 1 The individual sealing procedure have distance difference for Common electrode v.s. other electrodes.

7. A weather resistance electro-luminsecent element as claim 1 The position change of predesigned pitch means on x,y.z axis With postion deviation.

8. A weather resistance electro-luminsecent element as claim 1 The weather resistance means can overcome the humility, Water, conductive means to make the said element(s) fail to Have desired function.