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US006747402B2
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,747,402 B2
Hato et al. (45) Date of Patent: Jun. 8,2004
(54) EL ELEMENT LIGHTING UNIT
EMPLOYING THE SAME EL ELEMENT
(75) Inventors: Minoru Hato, Osaka (JP); Yoshiharu Abe, Osaka (JP)
(73) Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka (JP)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 113 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 10/114,530
(22) Filed: Apr. 1, 2002
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2002/0163299 Al Nov. 7, 2002 (30) Foreign Application Priority Data
Apr. 3, 2001 (IP) 2001-104110
(51) Int. C I. 1101.1 1 20
(52) U.S. CI 313/305; 313/506; 313/509
313/504; 313/511; 313/512; 200/5 A; 200/316 200/317; 200/315; 200/314; 200/313; 200/312 200/311; 200/310; 200/309; 200/308; 250/227.22 250/229; 362/23; 362/84; 362/30; 341/22
345/170
(58) Field of Search 313/506, 509,
313/511, 512, 504, 305; 200/317, 5 A, 308-316; 362/23, 84, 30; 341/22; 345/170;
250/227.22, 229
(56) References Cited
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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
TW 364275 7/1999
WO WO 97/34447 9/1997
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Taiwanese Official Action for corresponding Taiwanese Patent Application 91106596, dated Jun. 9, 2003.
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Nimeshkumar D. Patel
Assistant Examiner—Holly Harper
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—RatnerPrestia
(57) ABSTRACT
An EL element includes plural light transmitting frontelectrodes forming plural lines by wiring and plural backelectrodes forming plural lines by further wiring. The frontelectrodes are angled relative to the back-electrodes and a light-emitting layer is disposed between the front-electrodes and the back-electrodes. The EL element combined with a controller works as a lighting unit, which controls light emission at any place, so that a variety of lighting is realized by the lighting unit.
23 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
