# US 5,702,171 A · Device for illuminating a set of equipment items which are mounted on a common support > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,702,171 A - Document ID: US5702171A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/571,240 - Filed: 1995-12-12 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1994-12-12 - Assignees: Eurocopter France - Inventors: Serge Claude Lenzi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702171A ## CPC - B60Q 3/18: for varying the light intensity - B60Q 3/14: lighting through the surface to be illuminated - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract Device for illuminating a set (1) of equipment items (3), such as indicators or dials of measurement apparatus (4), which are mounted on an outer face (2E) of a common support (2). According to the invention, this device includes: an electroluminescent plate (5), arranged in such a way that its illuminating face (5I) is opposite said outer face (2E) of said common support (2), spaced away from said outer face, and provided with a plurality of apertures (7); a facing (8) arranged on the non-illuminating face (5E) of said electroluminescent plate (5), and also provided with a plurality of apertures (9); and electrical power supply means (6) for said electroluminescent plate (5). Illumination of instrument panels, particularly for aircraft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for illuminating a set (1) of equipment items (3) which are mounted on an outer face (2E) of a common support (2), which includes: an electroluminescent plate (5) having an illuminating face and having a non-illuminating face, and being positioned so that said illuminating face (5I) of the electroluminescent plate (5) face said outer face (2E) of said common support (2), said electroluminescent plate occupying a fixed position, spaced away from said outer face, and said electroluminescent plate (5) being provided with a plurality of apertures (7), each of said plurality of apertures (7) having a periphery and each of said equipment items (3) being arranged so that it is aligned with one of said plurality of apertures (7) of said electroluminescent plate (5), each of said plurality of apertures (7) being approximately of equal size as the equipment item (3) to which it is aligned, and said electroluminescent plate (5) consisting of at least two electroluminescent panels (5A, 5B), imbricated so that each of said two electroluminescent panels (5A, 5B) can illuminate said equipment items (3) and wherein the periphery of each of said apertures (7) of said electroluminescent plate consists of consecutive portions (7A, 7B) belonging to said at least two electroluminescent panels (5A, 5B); a facing (8), arranged on the non-illuminating face (5E) of said electroluminescent plate (5), opposite of said outer face (2E) of said common support (2), and also provided with a plurality of apertures (9), each of said plurality of apertures (9) of said facing (8) being approximately of equal size as the aperture (7) of said electroluminescent plate (5) to which it is adjacent; and electrical power supply means (6) for said electroluminescent plate (5). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supply means (6) deliver an alternating voltage of at least twenty to at most several hundred volts having a frequency of at least twenty to at most several hundred Hertz. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the periphery (7B) of each of said apertures (7) of said electroluminescent plate belonging to one of said imbricated electroluminescent panels is larger than the peripheral portion (7A) of said aperture (7) belonging to another of said imbricated electroluminescent panels (5A). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one (5B) of said electroluminescent panels (5A, 5B) is used for illumination of said equipment items (3) in normal operation, while another (5A) of said electroluminescent panels is used as backup, when said electroluminescent panel (5B) for normal illumination suffers a breakdown. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electroluminescent panels (5A, 5B) are used simultaneously for illuminating said equipment items (3) in normal operation and wherein each of said electroluminescent panels (5A or 5B) is used as backup, when another of said electroluminescent panels (5B or 5A) suffers a breakdown. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the equipment items are indicators or dials of measurement apparatus (4). ### Claim 7 A set (1) of equipment items (3) which are mounted on an outer face (2E) of a common support (2), which includes: an electroluminescent plate (5) having an illuminating face and having a non-illuminating face, and being positioned so that said illuminating face (51) of the electroluminescent plate (5) face said outer face (2E) of said common support (2), said electroluminescent plate occupying a fixed position, spaced away from said outer face, and said electroluminescent plate (5) being provided with a plurality of apertures (7), each of said plurality of apertures (7) having a periphery and each of said equipment items (3) being arranged so that it is aligned with one of said plurality of apertures (7) of said electroluminescent plate (5), each of said plurality of apertures (7) being approximately of equal size as the equipment item (3) to which it is aligned, said apertures (7) of said electroluminescent plate (5) being obtained by cutting-out edges in the electroluminescent plate (5) and wherein the edges (12) of the apertures (7) cut out in said electroluminescent plate (5) are electrically insulated; and a facing (8), arranged on the non-illuminating face (5E) of said electroluminescent plate (5), opposite of said outer face (2E) of said common support (2), and also provided with a plurality of apertures (9), each of said plurality of apertures (9) of said facing (8) being approximately of equal size as the aperture (7) of said electroluminescent plate (5) to which it is adjacent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The set (1) of equipment items (3) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the outer face (2E) of said common support (2) is situated a few millimeters from said electroluminescent plate (5). ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The set (1) of equipment items (3) as claimed in claim 7, wherein spacers (10) arranged between said common support and said electroluminescent plate fix the distance between the outer face (2E) of said common support (2) and said electroluminescent plate (5). ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The set (1) of equipment items (3) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said spacers (10) are combined with means of fixing said electroluminescent plate (5) and said facing (8) onto said common support (2). ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The set (1) of equipment items (3) as claimed in claim 7, wherein electrical insulation of the edges (12) of the apertures (7) of the electroluminescent (5) is obtained by use of transparent plastic films (20, 21) covering two faces of said electroluminescent plate (5) and welded together (at 22) in said aperture (7), along said edges (12). ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The set (1) of equipment items (3) as claimed in claim 7, wherein each aperture (9) of said facing (8) is smaller than the adjacent aperture (7) of said electroluminescent plate (5), in such a way as to form peripheral shoulders (24) around the edges (22) of said apertures (7), and wherein the electrical insulation of said edges (12) of the apertures (7) of the said electroluminescent plate (5) is obtained by peripheral rings of insulating material (23), resting on said shoulders (24). ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The illumination device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the equipment items are indicators or dials of measurement apparatus (4).