Electroluminescent display device

An electroluminescent display device, comprising:

• a substrate having first, second and third regions;
• an anode layer layered above the substrate to cover the second region and the third region only;
• a cathode layer layered above the substrate to cover the first region and the third region only;
• an electroluminescent material layered between the anode layer and the cathode layer that covers the third region and one of the first and second regions;
• and
• a patterned insulator layered between the anode layer and cathode layer, the patterned insulator possessing substantial breaks and continuities within the display region to thereby form a pattern that selectively inhibits electrical flow at predetermined areas of the display region, thereby causing the electroluminescent material to luminesce only at portions of the display region not electrically inhibited by the patterned insulator.

A method of making an electroluminescent display, comprising:

• depositing each of a cathode layer and an anode layer;
• depositing an electroluminescent material between the cathode layer and the anode layer, the electroluminescent material emitting radiation when current flows through the electroluminescent material between the cathode layer and the anode layer;
• and
• forming a patterned insulator layer to thereby create varied electrical insulation between the cathode layer and the anode layer at different regions of said display by depositing a photosensitive material and patterning it by
• exposing the photosensitive material using an illumination device and an image, and
• developing the photosensitive material to form a patterned insulator layer, by removing exposed regions of photosensitive material if the photosensitive material is a positive photoresist, and by removing unexposed regions of photosensitive material if the photosensitive material is a negative photoresist;
• wherein
• conductive regions of said display are thereby formed which have relatively high electrical conductivity, and thereby emit relatively greater radiation when current flows between the cathode layer and the anode layer, and
• impeded regions of said display are thereby also formed, which have relatively low electrical conductivity, and thereby emit relatively less radiation when current flows between the cathode layer and the anode layer.

A method of making an electroluminescent display, comprising:

• creating a prefabricated assembly that includes a substrate, one of a cathode layer and the anode layer over the substrate, and a patterned insulator layer over the one of the cathode layer and the anode layer;
• and
• depositing in a single vacuum an electroluminescent material layer over the patterned insulator layer, and the other of the cathode layer and the anode layer over the electroluminescent material;
• wherein
• conductive regions of said display are formed (via patterning in the patterned insulator layer) which have relatively high electrical conductivity, and thereby emit relatively greater radiation when current flows between the cathode layer and the anode layer, and
• impeded regions of said display are also formed (via insulation provided by the patterned insulator layer) which have relatively low electrical conductivity, and thereby emit relatively less radiation when current flows between the cathode layer and the anode layer.