Electroluminescent Lamp Introduction

Flexible, Durable Electroluminescent Lamps

PadTech can design and build the EL Lamp to fit your application, and supply the mating electronics to properly illuminate the lamp to maximum efficiences.

• Backlighting
  • Membrane Switches
  • Elastomer Keypads (Rubber)
  • LCD Displays
  • Graphic Overlays
  • Point of Purchase Displays
  • Animated
  • Multi-colored
• Electronic Drivers
• DC-AC Inverters
• Programmed EPROMS for Animated Lighting Displays
• IC Drivers

Electroluminescent Lamp (EL Lamp) Introduction

PadTech EL Lamps are used in many backlighting applications. EL lamps are thin, flexible and draw very little power so they can easily be inserted into products where there may be space and/or power limitations. Even those applications where space and power is not an issue EL lamps are very competitive in price when compared to other types of light sources. Our screen printed manufacturing process allows the luxury of depositing EL phosphor in only those areas that require illumination. The back electrode is also placed in only the lit areas which saves us (and our customers) any unnecessary silver conductor costs.

We are one of the few membrane switch companies that manufactures EL lamps entirely in our facility. Other companies will subcontract the EL lamp and insert it into the membrane switch. Since we manufacture the EL lamps in tandem with other switch layers it allows us the flexibility to build the lamp onto an existing switch layer thus reducing the number of layers. This will reduce your cost as well, not to mention improving the tactile feel in a membrane switch application.

We can also provide the electronics to drive the EL lamps. You tell us what the application is and what you are trying to achieve. We can program the EL to change intensity, flash at different intervals, color and light sequences or any combination of those mentioned.

Prototypes

It is very important to prototype EL lamps before jumping into a large quantity production runs. Prototypes can be manufactured very quickly using temporary tooling. Then, after testing and evaluating the prototypes, changes can be confidently incorporated into the permanent tooling. Discuss your application with our technical staff as early in the design stage as possible. This will help to specify an EL lamp that will best satisfy your requirements while at the same time "designing for manufacturing" to help keep the unit cost as low as possible.

Factors contributing to a successful prototype run:

• Identify mechanical, electrical and environmental conditions.
• Try to avoid locking-in the design too early - get technical help from PadTech
• Use the following variables and define the best construction that fits the application - see EL lamp design guide for more detailed information.
• Total Size of lamp
• Areas of the lamp that need to illuminate
• Illuminated color(s) required and where they are located
• Length of flex tail
• Location of flex tail (i.e. what side of the lamp should it exit)
• Type of connector required on the flex tail
• Voltage available to drive the lamp. (If AC available what is the frequency)
• Room available for driver electronics (If applicable)
• What is the lamp lighting? (graphics, rubber keypad, display sign, etc)
• Desired mounting method (adhesive required on one or both sides)
• Filter(s) colors (if applicable)
• Leave a minimum of .100" from the edge of lamp to the edge of any key or edge of part (.25" is better)
• Allow as much time for prototype manufacturing to avoid rush and expediting costs.

Go to: Electroluminescent Lamp Quote Request/Checklist
Go to: Design Guide