Encapsulated neon lamps

Abstract

A light module comprises several neon lamps and resistors encapsulated in a translucent plastic material. Terminals accessible for impressing a voltage across the lamps are also provided. Preferably the lamps are provided on one side of a printed circuit board and the resistors on the other. Neon lamps do not generate as much heat as incandescent lamps and can thus be more closely confined without burning out than incandescent lamps. The use of several neon lamps introduces a redundancy feature which permits the device to operate satisfactorily even if one lamp burns out. The encapsulation protects the lamps, resistors and connections generally in handling. In a particular application, the encapsulated module operates as the light source in a push button elevator call switch, the module being movable and transmitting a manually applied force to the movable contacts.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.