WO1997048254A1 - Light-transmitting electroconductive plastic web electrodes and manufacturing thereof - Google Patents

Light-transmitting electroconductive plastic web electrodes and manufacturing thereof Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997048254A1
WO1997048254A1 PCT/US1997/009430 US9709430W WO9748254A1 WO 1997048254 A1 WO1997048254 A1 WO 1997048254A1 US 9709430 W US9709430 W US 9709430W WO 9748254 A1 WO9748254 A1 WO 9748254A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
electroconductive
electrode
layer
plastic film
translucent
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/009430
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kue Byung Choi
Kue Dong Choi
Kueun Choi
Kyu Taik Choi
Original Assignee
Kue Byung Choi
Kue Dong Choi
Kueun Choi
Kyu Taik Choi
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/662,866 external-priority patent/US5672937A/en
Application filed by Kue Byung Choi, Kue Dong Choi, Kueun Choi, Kyu Taik Choi filed Critical Kue Byung Choi
Publication of WO1997048254A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997048254A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B33/00—Electroluminescent light sources
    • H05B33/12—Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces
    • H05B33/26—Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces characterised by the composition or arrangement of the conductive material used as an electrode
    • H05B33/28—Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces characterised by the composition or arrangement of the conductive material used as an electrode of translucent electrodes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01B—CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
    • H01B1/00—Conductors or conductive bodies characterised by the conductive materials; Selection of materials as conductors
    • H01B1/20—Conductive material dispersed in non-conductive organic material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B33/00—Electroluminescent light sources
    • H05B33/10—Apparatus or processes specially adapted to the manufacture of electroluminescent light sources
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B33/00—Electroluminescent light sources
    • H05B33/12—Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the manufacture of electroconductive sheets or webs suitable for a wide variety of uses, such as in electroluminescent and other electrically-photosensitive thin display devices, lamps, or signs which generate and transmit light in response to passage of electrical current therethrough.
  • the composite structure is a laminate containing a cell comprising a front electrode layer or coating, a rear electrode layer or foil and, sandwiched therebetween, an electrically-photosensitive or luminescent layer or coating which generates and emits light in response to the passage of an electric field between the electrode layers.
  • the electro-luminescent layer may be printed in the form of a design or message, and the top electrode layer must be not only electroconductive but also light-transmissive to permit the activated design or message to be viewed therethrough. Electrical leads are applied to the top and bottom electrode layers, and the entire cell laminate is encapsulated between protective top and bottom sheets such as transparent, non-conductive plastic films from which the conductive leads extend for passage of current through the laminate to energize the phosphor layer.
  • top electrode layers which are strong, flexible, self-supporting, electroconductive and highly light- transmissive.
  • Conventional inexpensive plastic films are strong, flexible and light-transmissive but not electroconductive.
  • Electroconductive materials such as indium oxide, tin oxide and similar known materials are known coating materials for forming electroconductive and light-transmissive layers but such layers are not self- supporting or strong, per se, and must be formed as layers coated over a phosphor layer present on a base electrode such as an aluminum foil .
  • the present invention is based upon the discovery that conventional, inexpensive light-transmissive plastic webs can be rendered electroconductive and electro- transmissive, while retaining light-transmissive properties, by forming or providing the web with a plurality of closely-spaced small diameter vias, holes, perforations, or passages, and providing both surfaces of the thin porous web with a thin layer of a light- transmitting, electrically conductive particulate material comprising a conductive metal oxide and preferably an adhesive binder material.
  • the layers on opposite surfaces of the supporting plastic web are in electro-communication since the conductive particulate material fills the perforations or holes or extends through the passages in the body of the plastic web, forming conductive vias therethrough without substantially reducing the light- transmissive properties of the web.
  • Fig. 1 is perspective view of a light-transmissive electroconductive plastic film electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is cross-section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-section of an electroluminescent light or display sign according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a light-transmissive, electroconductive plastic web woven from light- transmissive, electroconductive flexible fibers or filaments of plastic composition which are pre-coated with a thin, translucent, electroconductive salt such as an indium-tin oxide layer, and
  • Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a light-transmissive electroconductive plastic web woven from light- transmissive flexible fibers or filaments of plastic composition, the woven web being coated on both sides with a thin, translucent electroconductive salt, such as indium-tin oxide layers, to render the web electroconductive.
  • a thin, translucent electroconductive salt such as indium-tin oxide layers
  • a sheet or web of thin flexible, clear plastic film 11 such as polyethylene terephthalate (Mylar) , polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, cellophane or other similar strong film having a thickness of from 0.25 to about 50 mil (0.00025 inch to 0.05 inch) is provided with a plurality of closely-spaced perforations or holes 12, preferably accomplished by automatic laser burning, mechanical punching or perforation means while the film is in continuous web form.
  • the perforated film is provided on both surfaces with a continuous thin layer or coating of a conventional electroconductive, translucent metal oxide such as an indium-tin oxide (ITO) layer deposited by reactive sputtering of an indium-tin target in the presence of oxygen.
  • ITO indium-tin oxide
  • This procedure forms continuous translucent electroconductive deposits on both surfaces of the film and in the holes 12 through the film to form conductive vias 15.
  • This provides strong, flexible, translucent, self- supporting electroconductive plastic films 10 or electrode films which are manufactured in bulk, independently of any other components with which they might be used, such as a second electrode layer or a phosphor layer or electrical contacts or leads.
  • the present strong, flexible, translucent, self- supporting electroconductive plastic web or electrode web may consist of a web or fabric of woven plastic fibers or filaments.
  • the woven web 30 comprises a loosely-woven plurality of warp and weft fibers 31 which are extruded from a fiber-forming plastic composition, such as nylon, Dacron polyester, Rayon regenerated cellulose, or similar composition, thereafter coated with a thin layer of translucent electroconductive composition, such as indium-tin oxide, and then woven to form the web 30.
  • the translucent electroconductive fibers 31 undulate from one surface of the web 130 to the other and conduct current around their peripheries as well as along their length.
  • the warp and weft fibers 36 are extruded from a fiber-forming plastic composition of the aforementioned types and then loosely woven to form a translucent fabric web. Thereafter the web is coated on both surfaces with thin layers 37 and 38 of translucent electroconductive composition which penetrates into the passages or spaces between the fibers to produce electro ⁇ conductive connections or vias 39 between the surface layers 37 and 38 whereby the web 35 is electroconductive between the surface layers 37 and 38.
  • an electroluminescent light or display sign comprising spaced designs 20 or letters, each consisting of a laminate of a top electrode layer 10, as in Figs. 1 and 2, a middle luminescent layer 22, such as a zinc sulfide phosphor layer, and a base electrode layer 21, such as aluminum foil, attached to a non-conductive support surface 25, such as glass or plastic.
  • Layer 10 can be replaced with web 30 of Fig. 4 or web 35 of Fig. 5.
  • the spaced designs may be ornamental figures or numbers or letters cut or punched from a laminate sheet or web.
  • a sheet or web of thin aluminum foil can be coated with a conventional electroluminescent composition comprising conventional phosphor material, such as zinc sulfide containing a small amount of a transition metal, such as manganese, in conventional manner, and then laminated to a sheet or web of the top electrode conductive film or web.
  • the phosphor layer may be coated onto the top electrode conductive film or web and then laminated to the bottom electrode foil to form the assembly.
  • one embodiment of the present invention relates to the treatment of flexible, strong, translucent, sheet material which is not electroconductive, such as plastic film, to render it electroconductive without destroying its normal properties of translucency, flexibility and strength.
  • This is accomplished by laser- burning, punching, piercing or otherwise perforating the sheet with holes small enough to be filed with a deposit of a translucent electroconductive salt, such as indium- tin oxide, when the opposed surfaces of the perforated sheet are coated with continuous layers of the electroconductive salt in conventional manner, such as by reactive sputtering, vapor deposition or other techniques for applying thin, continuous, translucent layers.
  • a translucent electroconductive salt such as indium- tin oxide
  • the present plastic films preferably are perforated by means of conventional mechanical punching or perforating devices or by laser devices to form a plurality of random or uniform closely spaced holes having small diameters, such as between about 0.002 inch and 0.06 inch in diameter and spaced by between about 0.004 inch up to about 0.5 inches.
  • U.S. Patents 3,226,527; 4,218,606 and 4,743,123 for their disclosure of laser devices for perforating plastic sheet materials, which may be used according to the present invention.
  • the present translucent electrode sheets, films or woven fabrics are suitable for a variety of different uses in which the ability to see through an upper electrode or the ability to transmit light through an upper electrode are essential, the present electrode sheets are particularly useful in planar, thin electroluminescent lights or signs in association with a flexible rear electrode and an electroluminescent phosphor layer which is sandwiched therebetween for activation and light- emission when an electric field is passed between the front and rear electrode sheets.
  • the phosphor layer may be coated onto either the front surface of the rear electrode sheet or the rear surface of the front, translucent electrode sheet.
  • the rear electrode sheet need not be translucent, such as thin aluminum foil, but can be the same as the novel translucent film used as the front electrode sheet, in which case the illuminated sign, such as a design, can be viewed from both sides if the sign is affixed to a transparent support such as a glass window.
  • novel translucent electrode films and fabric webs of the present invention and of laminates thereof with electro-luminescent layers and rear electrode sheets, such as aluminum foils, is that they can be produced in the form of large sheets or webs and subsequently cut into individual designs, letters or numbers which are self-supporting and can be assembled as spaced elements of a sign prior to attachment of electrode leads to the upper and lower electrodes, and between the electrode layers of one design, letter or number and the next, as illustrated by the conductive wires 23 and 24 m Fig. 3. This is not possible with prior known devices in which two layers thereof are encased within protective top and bottom films after attachment of the electrical leads.

Abstract

Flexible translucent electroconductive plastic film electrodes (10) are used for electroluminescent lights, signs, and like displays. To produce electrodes (10), layers (14, 15 or 37, 38) of conductive oxide are coated onto the surfaces of a perforated plastic film (11) or a plastic fabric (35). The conductive oxide layers, e.g., indium tin oxide (ITO), communicate through the perforations (15) or weave spaces (39) to form an integral electrical communication between the opposing sides of the electrode. An alternative method is to form a conductive web electrode (30) of translucent plastic strands (31) which are precoated with the conductive oxide.

Description

LIGHT-TRANSMITTING EI^CTROCONDUCTTVE PLASTIC WEB ELECTRODES AND MANU¬ FACTURING THEREOF
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION;
The present invention relates to the manufacture of electroconductive sheets or webs suitable for a wide variety of uses, such as in electroluminescent and other electrically-photosensitive thin display devices, lamps, or signs which generate and transmit light in response to passage of electrical current therethrough.
STATE OF THE ART:
A wide variety of composite electroluminescent or electrically-photosensitive thin light-generating, light- transmitting devices are known, and reference is made to Jaffe et al. U.S.Patent 3,315,111; Amans U.S. Patent 3,295,002 and Kawashinma et al. U.S. patent 5,411,759 for their disclosure of such devices. In all known devices, the composite structure is a laminate containing a cell comprising a front electrode layer or coating, a rear electrode layer or foil and, sandwiched therebetween, an electrically-photosensitive or luminescent layer or coating which generates and emits light in response to the passage of an electric field between the electrode layers.
The electro-luminescent layer may be printed in the form of a design or message, and the top electrode layer must be not only electroconductive but also light-transmissive to permit the activated design or message to be viewed therethrough. Electrical leads are applied to the top and bottom electrode layers, and the entire cell laminate is encapsulated between protective top and bottom sheets such as transparent, non-conductive plastic films from which the conductive leads extend for passage of current through the laminate to energize the phosphor layer.
Among the problems with such devices is the need to provide top electrode layers which are strong, flexible, self-supporting, electroconductive and highly light- transmissive. Conventional inexpensive plastic films are strong, flexible and light-transmissive but not electroconductive. Electroconductive materials such as indium oxide, tin oxide and similar known materials are known coating materials for forming electroconductive and light-transmissive layers but such layers are not self- supporting or strong, per se, and must be formed as layers coated over a phosphor layer present on a base electrode such as an aluminum foil .
There is a need for a self-supporting, inexpensive, strong, flexible plastic web which is electroconductive and light-transmissive and which can be pre-formed in bulk form, such as in continuous web form, for a variety of different uses including the manufacture of electroluminescent devices as discussed hereinbefore.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based upon the discovery that conventional, inexpensive light-transmissive plastic webs can be rendered electroconductive and electro- transmissive, while retaining light-transmissive properties, by forming or providing the web with a plurality of closely-spaced small diameter vias, holes, perforations, or passages, and providing both surfaces of the thin porous web with a thin layer of a light- transmitting, electrically conductive particulate material comprising a conductive metal oxide and preferably an adhesive binder material. The layers on opposite surfaces of the supporting plastic web are in electro-communication since the conductive particulate material fills the perforations or holes or extends through the passages in the body of the plastic web, forming conductive vias therethrough without substantially reducing the light- transmissive properties of the web. Thus the application of an electric current to any area of the top surface coating of the web is conducted, through the filled vias, to the bottom surface coating of the web, to provide an electro-transmissive, light-transmissive plastic web which, in the case of a plastic film, retains all of the desirable properties of the plastic film while overcoming its normal insulation properties.
THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is perspective view of a light-transmissive electroconductive plastic film electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is cross-section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-section of an electroluminescent light or display sign according to an embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a light-transmissive, electroconductive plastic web woven from light- transmissive, electroconductive flexible fibers or filaments of plastic composition which are pre-coated with a thin, translucent, electroconductive salt such as an indium-tin oxide layer, and
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a light-transmissive electroconductive plastic web woven from light- transmissive flexible fibers or filaments of plastic composition, the woven web being coated on both sides with a thin, translucent electroconductive salt, such as indium-tin oxide layers, to render the web electroconductive.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawing, Figs. 1 and 2, a sheet or web of thin flexible, clear plastic film 11, such as polyethylene terephthalate (Mylar) , polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, cellophane or other similar strong film having a thickness of from 0.25 to about 50 mil (0.00025 inch to 0.05 inch) is provided with a plurality of closely-spaced perforations or holes 12, preferably accomplished by automatic laser burning, mechanical punching or perforation means while the film is in continuous web form.
Next the perforated film is provided on both surfaces with a continuous thin layer or coating of a conventional electroconductive, translucent metal oxide such as an indium-tin oxide (ITO) layer deposited by reactive sputtering of an indium-tin target in the presence of oxygen. This procedure forms continuous translucent electroconductive deposits on both surfaces of the film and in the holes 12 through the film to form conductive vias 15.
This provides strong, flexible, translucent, self- supporting electroconductive plastic films 10 or electrode films which are manufactured in bulk, independently of any other components with which they might be used, such as a second electrode layer or a phosphor layer or electrical contacts or leads.
Referring to the embodiments of Figs 4 and 5 of the drawing, the present strong, flexible, translucent, self- supporting electroconductive plastic web or electrode web may consist of a web or fabric of woven plastic fibers or filaments. In Fig. 4, the woven web 30 comprises a loosely-woven plurality of warp and weft fibers 31 which are extruded from a fiber-forming plastic composition, such as nylon, Dacron polyester, Rayon regenerated cellulose, or similar composition, thereafter coated with a thin layer of translucent electroconductive composition, such as indium-tin oxide, and then woven to form the web 30.
In the web 30, the translucent electroconductive fibers 31 undulate from one surface of the web 130 to the other and conduct current around their peripheries as well as along their length.
In the web 35 of Fig. 5, the warp and weft fibers 36 are extruded from a fiber-forming plastic composition of the aforementioned types and then loosely woven to form a translucent fabric web. Thereafter the web is coated on both surfaces with thin layers 37 and 38 of translucent electroconductive composition which penetrates into the passages or spaces between the fibers to produce electro¬ conductive connections or vias 39 between the surface layers 37 and 38 whereby the web 35 is electroconductive between the surface layers 37 and 38.
Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, an electroluminescent light or display sign is illustrated comprising spaced designs 20 or letters, each consisting of a laminate of a top electrode layer 10, as in Figs. 1 and 2, a middle luminescent layer 22, such as a zinc sulfide phosphor layer, and a base electrode layer 21, such as aluminum foil, attached to a non-conductive support surface 25, such as glass or plastic. Layer 10 can be replaced with web 30 of Fig. 4 or web 35 of Fig. 5.
The spaced designs may be ornamental figures or numbers or letters cut or punched from a laminate sheet or web. For example a sheet or web of thin aluminum foil can be coated with a conventional electroluminescent composition comprising conventional phosphor material, such as zinc sulfide containing a small amount of a transition metal, such as manganese, in conventional manner, and then laminated to a sheet or web of the top electrode conductive film or web. Alternatively, the phosphor layer may be coated onto the top electrode conductive film or web and then laminated to the bottom electrode foil to form the assembly.
Essentially, one embodiment of the present invention relates to the treatment of flexible, strong, translucent, sheet material which is not electroconductive, such as plastic film, to render it electroconductive without destroying its normal properties of translucency, flexibility and strength. This is accomplished by laser- burning, punching, piercing or otherwise perforating the sheet with holes small enough to be filed with a deposit of a translucent electroconductive salt, such as indium- tin oxide, when the opposed surfaces of the perforated sheet are coated with continuous layers of the electroconductive salt in conventional manner, such as by reactive sputtering, vapor deposition or other techniques for applying thin, continuous, translucent layers. Reference is made, for example, to U.S. Patent 5,489,489.
The present plastic films preferably are perforated by means of conventional mechanical punching or perforating devices or by laser devices to form a plurality of random or uniform closely spaced holes having small diameters, such as between about 0.002 inch and 0.06 inch in diameter and spaced by between about 0.004 inch up to about 0.5 inches. Reference is made to U.S. Patents 3,226,527; 4,218,606 and 4,743,123 for their disclosure of laser devices for perforating plastic sheet materials, which may be used according to the present invention. While the present translucent electrode sheets, films or woven fabrics are suitable for a variety of different uses in which the ability to see through an upper electrode or the ability to transmit light through an upper electrode are essential, the present electrode sheets are particularly useful in planar, thin electroluminescent lights or signs in association with a flexible rear electrode and an electroluminescent phosphor layer which is sandwiched therebetween for activation and light- emission when an electric field is passed between the front and rear electrode sheets.
The phosphor layer may be coated onto either the front surface of the rear electrode sheet or the rear surface of the front, translucent electrode sheet. The rear electrode sheet need not be translucent, such as thin aluminum foil, but can be the same as the novel translucent film used as the front electrode sheet, in which case the illuminated sign, such as a design, can be viewed from both sides if the sign is affixed to a transparent support such as a glass window.
A variety of phosphor coating compositions are known in the art, and reference is made to U.S. Patents 5,294,368 and 5,411,759 for their disclosure of suitable compositions and processes for coating same.
An important advantage of the novel translucent electrode films and fabric webs of the present invention, and of laminates thereof with electro-luminescent layers and rear electrode sheets, such as aluminum foils, is that they can be produced in the form of large sheets or webs and subsequently cut into individual designs, letters or numbers which are self-supporting and can be assembled as spaced elements of a sign prior to attachment of electrode leads to the upper and lower electrodes, and between the electrode layers of one design, letter or number and the next, as illustrated by the conductive wires 23 and 24 m Fig. 3. This is not possible with prior known devices in which two layers thereof are encased within protective top and bottom films after attachment of the electrical leads.
It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:
1. A strong, flexible, translucent electroconductive plastic web electrode comprising a thin, normally non- electroconductive sheet of strong, flexible, translucent plastic film or fabric which contains a plurality of closely-spaced narrow openings through the thickness thereof and over the entire surface area thereof, said sheet being provided over the front and rear surfaces thereof with a continuous translucent conductive layer of an electroconductive composition which extends through said openings to produce electroconductive continuity between said front and rear surfaces and form said plastic web electrode.
2. An electroconductive plastic web electrode according to claim 1 comprising a plastic film having a thickness between about 0.5 and 50 mils.
3. An electroconductive plastic web electrode according to claim 1 comprising a plastic film selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon and cellophane.
4. An electroconductive plastic web electrode according to claim 1 comprising a translucent fabric woven from filaments of plastic composition coated with translucent electroconductive composition to render the web electroconductive.
5. An electroconductive plastic web electrode according to claim 1 comprising a translucent fabric woven from filaments of plastic composition and thereafter coated on both surfaces with a translucent electroconductive composition which penetrates between the fibers to render the web electroconductive.
6. An electroconductive plastic film according to claim 1 in which said electroconductive composition comprises a metal oxide layer which contains a minor amount of a resinous binder material having affinity for the surfaces of the plastic film.
7. An electroconductive plastic film according to claim 1 in which the said electroconductive composition comprises an indium oxide.
8. An electroconductive plastic film according to claim 7 in which the indium oxide comprises indium-tin oxide.
9. An electroluminescent display device comprising an electroconductive plastic web electrode according to claim 1 which is further coated over the conductive layer of the front or rear surface thereof with a continuous electroluminescent layer of a phosphor compound.
10. An electroluminescent display device according to claim 9 in which said layer of phosphor compound also comprises a minor amount of a resinous binder material having an affinity for said conductive layer.
11. An electroluminescent display device, comprising a plastic web electrode according to claim 1 as a front electrode, a rear flexible electroconductive sheet as a rear electrode, and sandwiched therebetween a continuous electroluminescent layer of a phosphor compound, whereby if an electric current is passed from one electrode sheet, through said layer of phosphor compound and through the other electrode sheet it will cause said electroluminescent layer to emit light which is visible through said front electrode.
12. An electroluminescent display device according to claim 11 in which said plastic web electrode comprises a perforated polyethylene terephthalate film coated with a continuous translucent conductive layer of indium oxide.
13. A method for producing a strong, flexible, translucent electroconductive plastic web electrode comprising the steps of:
(a) forming a strong, flexible, translucent plastic web containing a plurality of closely-spaced narrow openings extending through the thickness thereof, and
(b) coating the front and rear surfaces of said plastic web with a thin, translucent, continuous layer of an electroconductive composition which extends through said openings to produce electroconductive continuity between said front and rear surfaces and form said plastic web electrode.
14. A method according to claim 13 in which said plastic web is a film having a thickness between about 0.5 and 50 mils.
15. A method according to claim 14 in which said plastic film is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon and cellophane.
16. A method according to claim 13 in which said electroconductive composition comprises a metal oxide layer containing a minor amount of a resinous binder material having good affinity for the surfaces of the plastic film.
17. A method according to claim 13 in which the said electroconductive composition comprises an indium oxide.
18. A method according to claim 17 in which the indium oxide comprises indium-tin oxide.
19. A method according to claim 13 for preparing an electroluminescent display device, comprising coating said plastic web electrode over the conductive layer on one side thereof with a continuous electroluminescent layer of a phosphor compound.
20. A according to claim 19 in which said layer of phosphor compound also comprises a minor amount of a resinous binder material having an affinity for said conductive layer.
21. A method according to claim 13 for producing an electroluminescent display device, comprising assembling a said plastic web electrode as a front electrode, a rear flexible electroconductive sheet as a rear electrode, and sandwiching therebetween a continuous electroluminescent layer of a phosphor compound, and passing an electric field from one electrode sheet, through said layer of phosphor compound and through the other electrode sheet to cause said electroluminescent layer to emit light which is visible through said front electrode.
22. A method according to claim 21 comprising the steps of coating a perforated polyethylene terephthalate film front electrode with indium oxide, and laminating therewith an intermediate electroluminescent phosphor layer, and a conductive rear electrode of aluminum foil to form an electroluminescent assembly.
23. A method for producing a strong, flexible, translucent electroconductive plastic web electrode comprising the steps of:
(a) extruding strong, translucent fibers of plastic composition;
(b) coating said fibers with a translucent electrconductive surface layer and
(c) weaving said fibers to form a translucent electroconductive thin fabric web.
AMENDED CLAIMS
[received by the International Bureau on 13 October 1997 (13.10.97); original claims 4,5 and 23 cancelled; original claims 1-3,9, 11-14, 19 and 21 amended; remaining claims unchanged (4 pages)]
What is claimed is:
1. A strong, flexible, translucent electroconductive plastic film electrode comprising a thin, normally non- electroconductive sheet of strong, flexible, translucent plastic film which contains a plurality of closely-spaced narrow openings through the thickness thereof and over the entire surface area thereof, said sheet being provided over the front and rear surfaces thereof with a continuous translucent conductive layer of an electroconductive composition which extends through said openings to produce electroconductive continuity between said front and rear surfaces and form said plastic web electrode.
2. An electroconductive plastic film electrode according to claim 1 comprising a plastic film having a thickness between about 0.5 and 50 mils.
3. An electroconductive plastic film electrode according to claim 1 comprising a plastic film selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon and cellophane.
6. An electroconductive plastic film according to claim 1 in which said electroconductive composition comprises a metal oxide layer which contains a minor amount of a resinous binder material having affinity for the surfaces of the plastic film.
7. An electroconductive plastic film according to claim 1 in which the said electroconductive composition comprises an indium oxide. 8. An electroconductive plastic film according to claim 7 in which the indium oxide comprises indium-tin oxide.
9. An electroluminescent display device comprising an electroconductive plastic film electrode according to claim 1 which is further coated over the conductive layer of the front or rear surface thereof with a continuous electroluminescent layer of a phosphor compound.
10. An electroluminescent display device according to claim 9 in which said layer of phosphor compound also comprises a minor amount of a resinous binder material having an affinity for said conductive layer.
11. An electroluminescent display device, comprising a plastic film electrode according to claim 1 as a front electrode, a rear flexible electroconductive sheet as a rear electrode, and sandwiched therebetween a continuous electroluminescent layer of a phosphor compound, whereby if an electric current is passed from one electrode sheet, through said layer of phosphor compound and through the other electrode sheet it will cause said electroluminescent layer to emit light which is visible through said front electrode.
12. An electroluminescent display device according to claim 11 in which said plastic film electrode comprises a perforated polyethylene terephthalate film coated with a continuous translucent conductive layer of indium oxide.
13. A method for producing a strong, flexible, translucent electroconductive plastic film electrode comprising the steps of:
(a) forming a strong, flexible, translucent plastic film containing a plurality of closely-spaced narrow openings extending through the thickness thereof, and
(b) coating the front and rear surfaces of said plastic film with a thin, translucent, continuous layer of an electroconductive composition which extends through said openings to produce electroconductive continuity between said front and rear surfaces and form said plastic film electrodeJ
14. A method according to claim 13 in which said plastic film is a film having a thickness between about 0.5 and 50 mils.
15. A method according to claim 14 in which said plastic film is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon and cellophane.
16. A method according to claim 13 in which said electroconductive composition comprises a metal oxide layer containing a minor amount of a resinous binder material having good affinity for the surfaces of the plastic film.
17. A method according to claim 13 in which the said electroconductive composition comprises an indium oxide.
18. A method according to claim 17 in which the indium oxide comprises indium-tin oxide.
19. A method according to claim 13 for preparing an electroluminescent display device, comprising coating said plastic film electrode over the conductive layer on one side thereof with a continuous electroluminescent layer of a phosphor compound. 20. A according to claim 19 in which said layer of phosphor compound also comprises a minor amount of a resinous binder material having an affinity for said conductive layer.
21. A method according to claim 13 for producing an electroluminescent display device, comprising assembling a said plastic film electrode as a front electrode, a rear flexible electroconductive sheet as a rear electrode, and sandwiching therebetween a continuous electroluminescent layer of a phosphor compound, and passing an electric field from one electrode sheet, through said layer of phosphor compound and through the other electrode sheet to cause said electroluminescent layer to emit light which is visible through said front electrode.
22. A method according to claim 21 comprising the steps of coating a perforated polyethylene terephthalate film front electrode with indium oxide, and laminating therewith an intermediate electroluminescent phosphor layer, and a conductive rear electrode of aluminum foil to form an electroluminescent assembly.
PCT/US1997/009430 1996-06-12 1997-06-03 Light-transmitting electroconductive plastic web electrodes and manufacturing thereof WO1997048254A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/662,866 1996-06-12
US08/662,866 US5672937A (en) 1996-06-12 1996-06-12 Light-transmitting electroconductive plastic film electrodes and method of manufacture
US71827796A 1996-09-20 1996-09-20
US08/718,277 1996-09-20

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WO2003005775A1 (en) * 2001-07-05 2003-01-16 Visson Ip, Llc Cellular flexible display structure
US6836259B2 (en) 2002-03-26 2004-12-28 Visson Ip, Llc Electrooptical display with changeable pictures
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EP2773166A1 (en) * 2013-02-27 2014-09-03 Sefar AG Flat and/or strip-like, electroluminescence device with a transparent and flexible electrode made of a woven fabric
EP2380775B1 (en) * 2010-04-26 2016-11-23 tesa SE Optically permeable, deep drawable electrode and flat element comprising same for el films/lamps

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KR20050063292A (en) * 2003-12-22 2005-06-28 주식회사 지에이코리아테크 Flexible front electrode films and electro-luminescence devices using the same

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US2849339A (en) * 1953-04-08 1958-08-26 Gen Electric Indium basic trifluoracetate and method of coating vitreous bodies therewith
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003005775A1 (en) * 2001-07-05 2003-01-16 Visson Ip, Llc Cellular flexible display structure
US6836259B2 (en) 2002-03-26 2004-12-28 Visson Ip, Llc Electrooptical display with changeable pictures
DE102009017787A1 (en) * 2009-04-20 2010-10-28 Sefar Ag Optoelectronic film arrangement
US8598779B2 (en) 2009-04-20 2013-12-03 Sefar Ag, Thal Optoelectronic film arrangement with a translucent layer
EP2380775B1 (en) * 2010-04-26 2016-11-23 tesa SE Optically permeable, deep drawable electrode and flat element comprising same for el films/lamps
EP2773166A1 (en) * 2013-02-27 2014-09-03 Sefar AG Flat and/or strip-like, electroluminescence device with a transparent and flexible electrode made of a woven fabric

Also Published As

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KR970062069A (en) 1997-09-12

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