US 5,871,088 AGranted

EL sheet diaphragm and a switch using the same

AssigneeMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

InventorKouji Tanabe

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An EL sheet diaphragm including a diffusion type EL sheet having a diaphragm portion exhibiting a dome shape and a flange supporting portion disposed about the outer circumference of the diffusion type EL sheet. The diffusion type EL sheet including a transparent film having an upper surface and a lower surface, a transparent electrode layer formed on the lower surface of the transparent film, a light emitting layer formed on the transparent electrode, a dielectric layer formed on the light emitting layer, a rear electrode layer formed on the dielectric layer, and an insulating layer formed on the rear electrode layer. The diffusion type EL sheet emits light from the diaphragm portion of the upper surface of the transparent film. The diffusion type EL sheet bows outwardly in an at-rest state such that the upper surface of the transparent film exhibits a convex shape, and bows inwardly when depressed for operation such that the upper surface of the transparent film exhibits a concave shape.

Claims40

Dependent claims

An EL sheet diaphragm comprising a diffusion type EL sheet having a diaphragm portion exhibiting a dome shape and a flange supporting portion disposed about the outer circumference of said diffusion type EL sheet, said diffusion type EL sheet comprising:

a transparent film having an upper surface and a lower surface,
a transparent electrode layer formed on said lower surface of said transparent film,
a light emitting layer formed on said transparent electrode layer,
a dielectric layer formed on said light emitting layer,
a rear electrode layer formed on said dielectric layer, and
an insulating layer formed on said rear electrode layer,
said diffusion type EL sheet emitting light from at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the entire area of said EL sheet, (ii) the diaphragm portion only, and (iii) the entire area of said diaphragm portion and an area surrounding said diaphragm portion of said upper surface of said transparent film, said diffusion type EL sheet bowing outwardly in an at-rest state such that said upper surface of said transparent film exhibits a convex shape, said diffusion type EL sheet bowing inwardly when depressed for operation such that said upper surface of said transparent film exhibits a concave shape.

4 more elements

A switch comprising an EL sheet diaphragm including a diffusion type EL sheet having a diaphragm portion exhibiting a dome shape and a flange supporting portion disposed about the outer circumference of said diffusion type EL sheet, said diffusion type EL sheet comprising:

a transparent film having an upper surface and a lower surface,
a transparent electrode layer formed on said lower surface of said transparent film,
a light emitting layer formed on said transparent electrode layer,
a dielectric layer formed on said light emitting layer,
a rear electrode layer formed on said dielectric layer, and
an insulating layer formed on said rear electrode layer,
said diffusion type EL sheet emitting light from at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the entire area of said EL sheet, (ii) the diaphragm portion only, and (iii) the entire area of said diaphragm portion and an area surrounding said diaphragm portion of said upper surface of said transparent film, said diffusion type EL sheet bowing outwardly in an at-rest state such that said upper surface of said transparent film exhibits a convex shape, said diffusion type EL sheet bowing inwardly when depressed for operation such that said upper surface of said transparent film exhibits a concave shape,
said switch further comprising a membrane switch disposed below said EL sheet diaphragm, said membrane switch being contacted by said EL sheet diaphragm when said EL sheet diaphragm is depressed.

5 more elements

a transparent film having an upper surface and a lower surface,
a transparent electrode layer formed on said lower surface of said transparent film,
a light emitting layer formed on said transparent electrode layer,
a dielectric layer formed on said light emitting layer,
a rear electrode layer formed on said dielectric layer,
an insulating layer formed on said rear electrode layer, and
an upper electrode formed on said insulating layer,
said diffusion type EL sheet emitting light from at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the entire area of said EL sheet, (ii) the diaphragm portion only, and (iii) the entire area of said diaphragm portion and an area surrounding said diaphragm portion of said upper surface of said transparent film, said diffusion type EL sheet bowing outwardly in an at-rest state such that said upper surface of said transparent film exhibits a convex shape, said diffusion type EL sheet bowing inwardly when depressed for operation such that said upper surface of said transparent film exhibits a concave shape,
said switch further comprising an insulating base film disposed below said EL sheet diaphragm, said insulating base film having a base electrode disposed thereon, said upper electrode and said base electrode contacting one another when said EL sheet diaphragm is depressed.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/913,821Filed 16 Jan 1998
Priority: JP 7-07338430 Mar 1995
Granted: 16 Feb 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

H01H 13/785
Characterised by the contacts or the contact sites: characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
H01H 13/702
Having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard: with contacts carried by or formed from layers…
H01J 1/142
Characterised by the material: with alkaline-earth metal oxides, or such oxides used in conjunction with reducing agents, as an emissive material
H01J 9/042
Of thermionic cathodes: manufacture, activation of the emissive part