Electroluminescent display apparatus

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending, commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/685,238, filed on Jul. 23, 1996, U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,690 entitled “Panels with Animation and Sound” which is incorporated herein by reference. This application references PCT patent application, Ser. No. PCT/US97/12814 filed on Jul. 23, 1997, entitled “Electroluminescent Display Apparatus” which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains generally to the field of electronic displays. Specifically, the present invention pertains to a compact and light weight electroluminescent display apparatus ideally suited for educational and entertainment presentations and advertising displays.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electroluminescent (EL) devices are commonly used to provide illumination in a variety of products including display panels, board games, watch faces, and keyboards. EL devices typically include a layer of phosphor disposed between two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being light-transmissive. Because a dielectric is usually disposed between the electrodes, the EL device functions essentially as a capacitor. When a voltage of alternating current is applied across the electrodes, the phosphor material is activated and emits light.

EL devices may be manufactured as discrete cells or as large panels or rolls, and may be formed on rigid or flexible substrates. Each component of the device may be formed as a separate layer, such as a foil sheet serving as an electrode, and a planar dielectric sheet, with the layers being laminated together via a heat and pressure process. Alternatively, the layers may be combined into overlapping coatings printed on a substrate, as is the case for a layer of light-transmissive conductive ink serving as a top electrode followed by a layer of phosphor ink in a dielectric matrix and then another conductive ink coating serving as a back electrode. EL devices have found widespread uses, e.g. in signs, watch faces, and as back lighting for keyboards.

Membrane switches are generally constructed of two spaced-apart electrically conductive surfaces on separate substrates. At least one substrate is flexible. For example, each conductive surface may be a pattern of electrically conductive ink. A spacer layer with an aperture is positioned between the two facing conductive surfaces. When a user depresses the flexible substrate containing one of the conductive surfaces, the two conductive surfaces come into contact thereby causing activation of the switch and closing a circuit. Membrane switches have also been used in a variety of devices, such as on keyboards and control panels for appliances. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,360 to Maser for a membrane switch combined with an EL lamp panel.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,360 to Maser discloses a combined electroluminescent panel activated by a flexible membrane switch. The flexible membrane switch is generally constructed of two spaced-apart electrically conductive surfaces on separate substrates. At least one substrate is flexible. For example, each conductive surface may be a pattern of electrically conductive ink. A spacer layer with an aperture is positioned between the two facing conductive surfaces. When a user depresses the flexible substrate containing one of the conductive surfaces, the two conductive surfaces come into contact, thereby causing activation of the switch and closing a circuit.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,395 to Zukowski discloses a combination flexible membrane switch panel disposed adjacent to flexible EL material. The flexible membrane switch includes two spaced-apart electrically conductive surfaces on separate substrates with a spacer layer, having an aperture positioned therebetween. One of the conductive surface is flexible, with another flexible layer, having translucent indicia, positioned adjacent to and spaced apart therefrom. Disposed between the translucent indicia and the flexible membrane is a flexible layer of EL material. In this manner, both the indicia layer and the EL material may be depressed to allow operation of the flexible membrane switch.

Many interactive games and learning devices include flexible membrane switches to allow a user to control some elements of the stimuli these devices produce. In this fashion, the games and learning devices are more likely to hold the attention of a user for a longer period of time when compared to passive devices.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,043 to Billings et al. discloses an interactive audio-visual puzzle that includes, in pertinent part, a rigid puzzle form defining a predetermined number of form cutouts, an upper graphic disposed on the form upper surface and a plurality of respective removable puzzle pieces. Each of the puzzle pieces includes a peripheral configuration conforming to that of an associated form cutout and bears a piece graphic. A flexible membrane bears on the underside thereof, along with a plurality of conductors in a predetermined relative disposition. A plurality of respective lower graphics overlie the flexible membrane and underlie the form cutouts. A sound generator produces respective predetermined associated sounds in response to the input signals applied thereto. The flexible membrane conductors, space and ground plane cooperate to form a touch-pad which corresponds to each of the lower graphics electrically connected to the sound generator. In this manner, the sound generator is selectively actuated to produce sounds in response to input signals. A drawback with Billings et al. is that no animation is provided which would provide the puzzle with more appeal to a user.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,573 to Montgomery et al. discloses a visual audible activated work that includes, in pertinent part, at least two pages pivotally attached to each other so that the pages are pivotal from a juxtaposed closed position to an adjacent opened position. A liquid crystal display (LCD) is affixed to one of the pages. A sound generator is attached to the LCD, and a power supply is coupled to automatically provide power to both the sound generator and the LCD when the pages are paced in the opened position. A drawback with Montgomery et al. is that the LCD display limits the number and variety of interactive devices that may be present on any given page.

A variety of billboard and signboard systems are available for indoor and outdoor advertising. U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,192 to Hsieh discloses a display system that includes a liquid crystal display plate. The display plate is typically positioned indoors between a product to be advertised and a store-front window. The display pate is visible from the outside, and is adapted to alternatingly become transparent and translucent. In this fashion, the display plate periodically forms images which may associated with the product and allows viewing of the product through the windows, without any images being present.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,567 to Cardin discloses a display system for a store-front window that includes a retractable projection screen, a slide projector and a mirror. The projection screen is disposed proximate to the window, with the mirror disposed opposite to the window. The slide projector is positioned to direct an image away from the window onto the mirror. The mirror is orientated to project the optical image information onto the screen. A timer is employed to allow the screen to be periodically retracted. Typically, the timer means retracts the screen during the daylight hours so that the store-front window may be used as a simple display window. During the evening hours, the projector screen is lowered so that images may be viewed thereon. A second timer means is employed to sequence the slide projector through the queue of slides contained therein. A drawback with the two aforementioned systems is that they are relatively complicated, requiring precise orientation of the various components of the system, thereby precluding portability.

Many portable viewing screens are available in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,658 to Brown and U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,003 to Zinn each discloses a portable projection screen that includes a flexible viewing surface. The flexible viewing surface is typically stored in a portable housing and may be extended therefrom to facilitate viewing optical information generated from, for example, movie or slide projectors. A drawback with these devices is that the operation of the screens depends upon the availability of a projection system. In addition, as discussed above in regard to U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,658, there is difficulty in comprehending the optical information viewed, outdoors, on a projection screen during daylight hours.

Another type of EL device includes a layer of phosphor disposed between two electrodes, at least one of which is light-transmissive. U.S. Pat. No. to Veltri et al. disclose such a display which includes an EL strip adapted to function as a belt to form to the body of a wearer. The low power requirements of the belt allow the EL material to be powered by a battery. The EL material allows the wearer to be seen at night and during low-light conditions, for example, during dusk. While highly portable, the belt does not afford a sufficient amount of surface area to function effectively as a display for advertisements.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a compact and light weight EL display apparatus. More specifically, it an important object of the present invention to provide an EL display apparatus including illumination layers forming a plurality of EL illumination assemblies, and circuit layers including electronic components providing for selective illumination of the illumination assemblies, wherein the illumination layers and circuit layers are contained in a flat envelope.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interactive page or panel device for generating audio visual stimuli wherein the visual stimuli provides an illusion of movement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an increased number of interactive devices per unit area than interactive devices of the prior art.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an audio visual system which is easily adaptable to existing interactive devices.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable display device that has sufficient surface area to capture the attention of listeners and viewers and have them perceive a message contained thereon in various lighting conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above objects have been achieved with an interactive book including a series of individual display pages. Each page includes a character-bearing, printable layer overlying a spatially-arranged display pattern of electroluminescent (EL) lamps with at least one EL lamp positioned directly underneath each character that has been selected for illumination. Each page also includes a membrane switch having an imprinted activation region which, when depressed by the user, closes the circuit for at least one EL lamp on the page and thereby causes activation of the lamp and illumination of the overlying character. By printing with various inks and on various surfaces, the EL lamps can be used to make characters appear and disappear, as well as change color.

A sequencing circuit is operably connected to the electrical circuitry of at least some of the EL lamps on a page. The sequencing circuit is triggered by the touch of a membrane switch, as with the circuitry for the simple illumination of lamps. The sequencer is set for a specific pulse rate and order, causing timed and ordered activation of the EL lamp series. Precise timing and ordering of the sequenced series in combination with careful placement of printed characters on the display page provides motion effects, such as animation, of the characters.

In a second embodiment, a substrate including a tier of EL material forms a pattern which corresponds to a series of images that provide an illusion of movement when illuminated in accord with a predetermined sequence. A sound generator is used to produce predetermined audible tones or words linked in meaning to the images. A flexible membrane switch is coupled to simultaneously activate both the EL material and the sound generator when depressed by a user. A layer includes a plurality of icons, with each of the plurality of icons being associated with one of a first and second set of illustrations. The first set of illustrations is adapted to be viewable with an unaided eye on a continuous basis, and the second set of illustrations comprises the pattern of the EL material and are selectively viewable with the unaided eye, when the EL material illuminates. The sound produced by the generator may or may not be a succession of audible responses corresponding to the predetermined sequence. Each audible response of the succession may or may not be uniquely associated with one of the illustrations of the second set.

In a third embodiment, an integrated EL display device includes: at least one illumination assembly formed by a first set of layers, the illumination assembly including a first electrode, a second electrode, a layer of EL material disposed between the first and second electrodes, and a plurality of conductive leads connected to corresponding ones of the first and second electrodes, the first electrode being translucent; a printed circuit layer having a plurality of conductive segments connected to corresponding ones of the first and second electrodes via the conductive leads; and an electronic component layer including electronic components having electrical contacts connected to corresponding ones of the segments of the printed circuit layer, the electronic components providing for selective illumination of the illumination assembly, the printed circuit layer is disposed in a substantially parallel and contiguous relationship with the first set of layers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1

shows a typical page layout for a character-bearing printable layer, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and also shows an example of the spine of a book having the display pages of the present invention;

FIG. 2

is an exploded view of some of the layers of a typical display page of the present invention, with most of the electrical circuitry removed;

FIG. 3

provides an exploded view of a membrane switch according to the present invention;

FIG. 4

is a cross-section of a typical double-sided display sheet of the present invention;

FIG. 5

is a cross-section of an alternate embodiment of a double-sided display sheet according to the present invention;

FIG. 6

is a cross-section of another alternate embodiment of a double-sided display sheet according to the present invention.;

FIG. 7

is a block diagram of the typical electrical circuitry of the present invention;

FIG. 8

shows a typical layout for an icon bearing layer which is associated with a substrate in accord with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9

is an exploded view of some of the layers of a typical substrate of

FIG. 8

, with most of the electrical circuitry removed;

FIG. 10

is another exploded view of a flexible membrane switch in accord with the present invention;

FIG. 11

is an exploded perspective view of electric circuitry and a housing associated with the embodiment of

FIG. 8

; and

FIG. 12

is an exploded view of an integrated electronic thick film EL display device, the device including EL lamps formed by lamp layers, and circuitry layers forming circuitry for illuminating the EL lamps, the lamp layers and circuitry layers being integrated within a light-weight, space-saving modular unit in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to

FIG. 1

, a typical page layout for the character-bearing, printable layer

10

of a display page contains a graphics portion

12

, a series of membrane switches

14

, and text

16

. Although the graphics, membrane switch, and text portions of the page are shown in separate regions for ease of illustration, they may be interspersed, e.g. with the text containing instructions to depress the membrane switch at the end of the line of text, or a membrane switch incorporated into the illustrated scene. Additionally, text may be illuminated according to the present invention.

Printable layer

10

contains some translucent regions and a layer of EL lamps underlies printable layer

10

with the individual lamps positioned in a pattern corresponding to those portions of the graphics which are to be illuminated. For example, one EL lamp may be positioned under sun

32

. Another lamp may be positioned to illuminate two closely-spaced parts of the illustration, such as clouds

34

a-b

. The characters may be the result of printing a positive silhouette, such as sun

32

, on the outer face of printable layer

10

and a negative silhouette with dark ink directly underneath the positive silhouette. This refinement confines the illumination of the EL lamp below a character to that selected character. The EL lamps and printing can be combined to achieve a variety of effects. For example, a character may be printed on a translucent portion of a material of a single color and then change color when illuminated by an EL lamp of a different color. The characters themselves may be illuminated, such as sun

32

, or may be printed in dark ink and be backlighted when an EL lamp illuminates the background as is the case for the dark airplane in front of cloud

39

. Characters may also be printed on the inner face only of printable layer

10

, such as butterfly

42

, so that illumination via EL lamp makes the character “appear” on the outer surface of printable layer

10

. The graphics portion

12

may also contain non-activatable portions, such as at

38

, which simply complete the illustrated scene.

A unique feature of the present invention is the sequencing of EL lamps to cause motion effects, such as animation. Individual EL lamps may be positioned beneath individual characters, e.g. the dolphin at each of positions

40

a-d

. When the appropriate switch is activated, the EL lamps luminance in a specified order, e.g. first the lamp at position

40

a

, then

40

b

,

40

c

, and finally

40

d

, giving the appearance of a jumping dolphin. When the sequencing circuitry is properly timed and ordered with the coordinating characters, animation effects may be achieved. In another instance, the characters may be printed on the inner surface of printable layer

10

in overlapping form and the EL lamps may be set at a rate designed to provide a smoother appearance of motion.

Activation of the EL lamps is caused by the membrane switches

14

. A membrane switch may cause activation of one EL lamp and illumination of one character, as in sun

32

or butterfly

42

, or activation of a series of EL lamps and a motion sequence within the graphics, as in the jumping dolphins at

40

a-d.

The above-described printable layer

10

is presented as a single example of the top layer of a display page according to the present invention. Another display page having unique graphics, text, and EL lamp patterns may be affixed to the back of the first display page with the EL lamps facing inwardly and the character-bearing layers facing outwardly. The two together form a two-sided interactive EL display panel that serves as a sheet of a book. A plurality of display pages may be bound together in a book format, as with stitching at

28

and a fold line at

36

of FIG.

1

.

The EL lamps of the assembled book preferably receive energy for luminescence from an internally housed source. Therefore, the assembled book preferably houses a power supply and circuitry common to the EL lamp patterns of each display page in a central area such as the spine

18

of the book, as illustrated in FIG.

1

. The power to run the EL lamps may be supplied, e.g., by batteries

20

housed in a hollow tube

22

of spine

18

in conjunction with an inverter

26

, also located within spine

18

. Inverter

26

converts the DC voltage of the batteries into the AC voltage required to activate the EL lamps. Tube

22

is shown with a removable cap

21

at one end for replacement of the batteries

20

. A battery input voltage in the range of 1½V to 12V may be used, with 6V preferred. Typically, the inverter output is at a voltage in the range of 80 to 160V and a frequency in the range of 400 to 2000 Hz, with 100V and 1200 Hz preferred. Sequencing circuit

24

is also shown located in spine

18

of

FIG. 1

because in the illustrated example, a single sequencing circuit having a set pattern is used for the motion-sequenced graphics of each display page. Alternatively, different timing and ordering patterns may be used for each display page.

FIG. 1

also shows electrical leads

30

and wiring

44

connecting to the circuitry for the EL lamp patterns of each display page. The sheets of the book are aligned and preferably conductive epoxy, not shown, is then used to interconnect the circuitry of the display pages, the power supply, and the sequencing circuit. Alternatively, metal eyelet-type rivets may be used to interconnect the circuitry.

Referring to

FIG. 2

, character-bearing, printable layer

10

is shown with a printed positive silhouette

102

on its outer surface. A negative silhouette of the same character is printed on the backside, or inner surface, of printable layer

10

, as indicated by

104

. The characters may be printed with ink on the outer surface, inner surface, or both depending on the desired effect, as discussed above.

Below the printable layer

10

lies the EL lamp layer. The EL lamps of the present invention are preferably discrete cells which are situated close to printable layer

10

for maximum brightness of the overlying characters. For ease of illustration, the EL lamp layer has been separated into its components, but the connecting circuitry is not shown. The EL lamp layer shown is a typical EL polymer thick film with a top electrically conductive and light-transmissive ink pattern

86

serving as a top electrode and a bottom electrically conductive ink pattern

90

serving as a bottom electrode. Top electrode

86

is preferably disposed on the underside, or inner surface, of layer

100

. Bottom electrode

90

is preferably disposed on the top, or outer surface, of layer

106

. “Inner” and “outer” surfaces, as used here, refer to positions relative to a core or base, such as base substrate

98

, of a typical display page or display sheet. Between the two electrodes lies the EL phosphor

88

, which may also be in the form of an ink, and a dielectric

92

. The electrodes

86

and

90

are aligned with the EL phosphor

88

and dielectric material

92

to form the EL lamp. Top electrode

86

is made light-transmissive to emit the luminescence of EL phosphor

88

. A pattern of EL lamps is shown in

FIG. 2

corresponding to selected characters of printable layer

10

.

Although the various components of the EL lamps are shown as being incorporated in different segments of film, such as

100

,

92

and

106

, the present invention may be manufactured with the EL lamps being “printed” directly on the inner surface of printable layer

10

. The components are thus laid down as successive coatings of first conductive ink, phosphor, dielectric matrix material, and second conductive ink. A combination of the coating and separate layer methods may be used to effectively combine layers

10

and

100

or

106

and

98

, so that the conductive ink patterns are printed directly on layers

10

or

98

and only a separate dielectric and phosphor layer is between them. See FIG.

5

. This combination of layers is also applicable to the conductive ink traces for the membrane switches, described below. Other types of EL lamps, such as those utilizing foil electrodes or phosphor-impregnated resins may also be used.

Also below printable layer

10

are the inner components of membrane switches

14

.

FIGS. 2 and 3

illustrate the design of membrane switch

14

, without connecting circuitry. The membrane switch includes a top pair of parallel spiral conductive ink traces

52

on a first surface, such as the underside of layer

100

or the inner surface of printable layer

10

, and a bottom pair of parallel spiral conductive ink traces

54

on a second surface, such as the top surface of layer

106

, as in

FIG. 2

, or base substrate

98

, as in FIG.

3

. The two sets of spirals are positioned to face each other, but are spaced apart with a spacer layer of predetermined thickness. The spacer layer contains apertures

50

which are aligned with the top and bottom sets of spirals

52

and

54

, respectively. Printable layer

10

is printed with activation regions

46

of the membrane switches

14

indicating where the user should depress the switch. When the activation region

46

of a switch is depressed, top spiral set

52

comes into contact with bottom spiral set

54

through aperture

50

, thus activating the switch and closing a circuit.

Although the spacer layer containing apertures

50

is shown in

FIG. 2

as layer

92

, i.e. the dielectric layer of the EL lamps, this is not a requirement. The spacer layer for membrane switches

14

may be completely separate from the EL lamp components and this is especially true if the EL lamps are formed as ink and resin coatings on the inner surface of printable layer

10

. The layers of membrane switches

14

which contain the top set of spirals

52

and the activation regions

46

are preferably made of flexible material such that depression of activation region

46

causes sufficient deflection of those layers to allow contact of the top and bottom sets of spirals

52

and

54

. A material such as Mylar offering flexibility for light-pressure touch activation and durability for use in children's books is preferred.

The display pages of the present invention are preferably constructed using non-porous, flexible polymer substrate materials such as Mylar. Paper or fabric may also be used. It may be desirable to use core substrates and spacer layers that are semi-rigid, however, for durability. The printable layers are preferably 0.003 to 0.020″ thick. The base substrate

98

of

FIG. 2

is preferably 0.010 to 0.035″ thick. Layers

100

and

106

of

FIG. 2

are preferably 0.010 to 0.020″ thick. The dielectric layer

92

varies depending on the voltage used, but a thickness of 0.010 to 0.030″ is typical.

The printable layer

10

and underlying EL lamp and internal membrane switch layers

100

,

92

, and

106

, are repeated in reverse form on the flip side of base or core substrate

98

. Thus,

FIG. 4

shows a cross-section of a complete double-sided, typical display sheet of the present invention. Layers

10

,

100

,

92

,

106

and

98

are followed in order by a layer

106

′, similar to

106

, a layer

92

′, similar to

92

, a layer

100

′, similar to

100

, and another character-bearing, printable layer

10

′, having a different scene in its graphics region and different text than printable layer

10

. Preferably, the membrane switches on a first display page, or one side, shown e.g. as printable layer

10

, of a double-sided display sheet, are not located directly opposite the membrane switches on the attached display page, or second side, shown e.g. as printable layer

10

′, of a double-sided display sheet. This placement avoids undesired activation which would waste battery power. Layers

92

and

92

′ are shown containing EL phosphors

88

and

88

′, respectively, and apertures

50

and

50

′, respectively. Conductive patterns and traces

86

and

52

are indicated on layer

100

, as are

86

′ and

52

′ on

100

′. Similarly, conductive patterns and traces

90

and

54

are indicated on layer

106

, as are

90

′ and

54

′ on

106

′. Membrane switch activation regions

46

and

46

′ are also shown on the printable layers.

FIG. 4

shows positions A-D as possible locations for characters which are backlighted by the EL lamps. Additionally, the assembled double-sided display sheet may contain laminated coverings for durability.

One alternative structure, described above and illustrated in

FIG. 5

, has a portion, i.e. the light-transmissive top electrodes

86

and

86

′, of each pattern of EL lamps printed on the back of the printable layer

10

or

10

′, eliminating layers

100

and

100

′. The EL phosphor material

88

or

88

′ may also be included in the portion of EL lamp that is printed on the inner faces of printable layers

10

and

10

′.

FIG. 5

also shows layers

106

and

106

′ removed, as compared with FIG.

4

. The bottom electrodes

90

and

90

′ are printed, then, on either the inner faces of dielectric layers

92

and

92

′ or on the surfaces of base substrate

98

.

A further alternative structure for the display sheet of the present invention has a single EL film layer forming a core that may be used to illuminate both display pages of a double-sided display sheet, as illustrated in FIG.

6

. This requires the EL film layer to be light-transmissive in directions towards both display pages, however.

FIG. 6

shows a single EL film layer, i.e., the EL phosphor dielectric material, and top and bottom electrodes, serving to illuminate characters on both of the printable layers

10

and

10

′. One EL lamp causes illumination at position A on layer

10

because its light-transmissive portion,

86

and

88

, is directed toward layer

10

. The other EL lamp has its light-transmissive portion,

86

′ and

88

′, directed toward layer

10

′ and thus causes illumination at position D. EL lamps that luminesce in both directions simultaneously may also be used. Note that in

FIG. 6

, the internal portions of the membrane switches are shown in adjacent positions of a single layer, but each has an activation region

46

or

46

′ in printable layer

10

or

10

′, as appropriate.

FIG. 7

contains an example of the electrical circuitry for a first page

60

and a succeeding page

62

. Each page shown contains three simple EL lamps:

65

,

67

, and

69

on page 1 and 75, 77, and 79 on page n. The pages also each contain a sequenced series of EL lamps:

71

a-f

on page 1 and

81

a-f

on page n. All of the EL lamps are activatable by membrane switches whose activation regions are printed on the character-bearing printable layers overlying the lamps. For simplicity, the two pages contain identical EL lamp patterns. Different patterns may be used on the pages, however.

The membrane switches

14

of the present invention are preferably of a double pole design, meaning that two poles of the switch are closed simultaneously.

FIG. 7

shows the two poles of a single membrane switch as

64

a-b

. Activation of the membrane switch operably connected to EL lamp

65

closes the circuit at poles

64

a

at

60

and

64

b

at

60

′ and allows the AC voltage provided by DC voltage

84

and inverter

26

to cause luminescence of EL lamp

65

. Simple EL lamp page circuitry

72

similarly allows luminescence of lamps

67

upon activation of switch

66

a-b

and lamp

69

upon activation of switch

68

a-b

. In the same manner, simple circuitry

82

for page n allows luminescence of lamps

75

,

77

, and

79

upon activation of switches

74

a-b

,

76

a-b

, and

78

a-b

respectively, with poles located at

62

and

62

′.

Double-pole membrane switches are also utilized for activation of the sequenced series of EL lamps. Page 1 shows EL lamps series

71

a-f

activated by switch

70

a-b

. When the circuit is closed, sequencing circuit

24

through circuitry

58

causes luminescence of EL lamps

71

a-f

according to a set timing and ordering pattern. The sequencing circuit

24

is also operably connected to page n via sequencing circuitry

58

. Thus, activation of switch

80

a-b

causes sequenced luminescence of EL lamp series

81

a-f.

Each display page of the present invention is similarly connected to preferably both the sequencing circuitry

58

and the circuitry for simple luminescence, depending on the illumination requirements of the page. The placement and number of EL lamps for the EL lamp pattern of each page may vary. Additional electrical sequencing patterns may be set in the sequencing circuit, so that the timing and order of illumination on the various pages having sequenced lamp series need not be identical. Also, more than one sequenced lamp series may be present on a single page. The multiple sequenced lamp series on a page may contain different electrical sequencing patterns.

The double-pole membrane switch design allows the single electronic sequencing circuit

24

shown in

FIG. 7

to control the sequenced series of EL lamps on all pages of the book individually. The first pole

70

a

, e.g., controls the sequencing circuit

24

and the second pole

70

b

connects the specific page, here

60

′, to the return side of the inverter

26

.

The present invention provides a unique usage for EL lamps and membrane switches that will easily find application for educational and entertainment purposes.

With reference to

FIGS. 8 and 9

, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown including a typical page layout for an icon bearing, printable layer

110

of a substrate that contains a graphics portion

112

and a text portion

114

. The substrate may be a greeting card, a page of a book, a panel or other sheet material. For purposes of description, the substrate will be an interactive board game. Graphics portion

112

and text portion

114

are shown in separate regions for ease of illustration and may be interspersed, e.g., with the text positioned proximate to a particular graphic providing detailed information about the same. Additionally, text may be illuminated according to the present invention.

Layer

110

typically includes two sets of icons. A first set of icons

116

, shown with solid lines, are formed to be viewable with the unaided eye on an essentially continuous basis. In this manner, icons

116

reflect light which is incident thereon. A second set of icons

118

, shown in dashed lines, are formed to be selectively viewable with the unaided eye. Typically, icons

118

are translucent regions, which are printed on the inner face only of layer

110

. A layer of EL material

120

underlies layer

110

and is formed to luminesce in areas adjacent to the translucent regions, which correspond to icons

118

. For example, an EL area may be positioned under sun

122

, as well as areas

122

a-c

. Another EL area may be positioned to illuminate two closely-spaced parts of the illustration, such as clouds

124

a-b

. The icons may be the result of printing a positive silhouette, such as sun

122

, on the outer face of printable layer

110

and a negative silhouette with dark ink directly underneath layer

110

adjacent to the positive silhouette and proximate to the areas

122

a-c

. This refinement confines the illumination of the EL material to a region of layer

110

associated with icons of either the first

116

or second

118

set. In this manner, illumination of icons

118

via EL material allows icons to seem as though they “appear out-of nowhere” on the outer surface of printable layer

110

. EL material

120

and printing can be combined to achieve a variety of effects. For example, a graphic may be printed on a translucent portion of a material of a single color and then change color when illuminated by an EL device of a different color. The icons themselves of the first set

116

may be illuminated, such as sun

122

, or may be printed in dark ink and be backlighted when an EL device illuminates the background as is the case for the dark airplane in front of cloud

126

. The graphics portion

112

may also contain non-activatable portions which simply complete the illustrated scene.

The shapes of the translucent regions are logically associated with one or more of the icons of the first set

116

. For example, water

130

may be one of the icons of first set

116

and may have, associated therewith, dolphins

130

a-d

, which may be four of the icons of the second set

118

. Dolphins

130

a-d

would not be viewable until EL material

120

is activated. To activate EL material

120

, a plurality of switches/buttons

132

may be employed, or a microphone may be connected to allow voice activation of the EL material. Although switches are shown positioned in a region separate from graphics portion

112

, it is preferred that switches

132

be positioned so as to lie underneath dolphins

130

a-d

. With this design, it is necessary to use flexible membrane switches, which are well known in the art. To operate the switches

132

, it is understood that both EL material

120

and layer

110

must also be formed from a flexible material.

By properly sequencing the illumination of EL material

120

, an illusion of motion may be achieved with respect to icons

118

. In another instance, the icons may be printed on the inner surface of layer

110

in overlapping form, and the EL material may be set at a rate designed to provide a smoother appearance of motion. Overlapping EL areas could include sun

122

b

and cloud

117

. Sun

122

b

and cloud

117

may be disposed so that they are not viewable until the EL area positioned underneath the same illuminates, as discussed above with respect to icons

118

. In this fashion, at the initiation of the illumination sequence of

122

c

,

122

b

and sun

122

a

, the EL material associated with cloud

117

would be illuminated. Upon illumination of cloud

122

b

, EL material corresponding to letter

149

extinguishes, momentarily leaving only cloud

122

b

illuminated. By carefully overlapping a succession of similar images in this manner, a relatively smooth appearance of motion may be achieved.

A sound generator, shown more clearly in

FIG. 4

, is coupled to a speaker

134

to produce an audible response which may be associated with icons of the first

116

second

118

sets. When the sequencing circuitry is properly timed and ordered with the icons and audible responses, visual animation may be achieved with corresponding audio accompaniment. For example, upon illumination of dolphin

130

a

, sound generator may produce the sound of breaking water to imitate the sound of a dolphin emerging from water

130

. During the illumination of dolphins

130

b-c

, sound generator may produce the sounds of the dolphin clatter, or speech. In this fashion, the sound generator may produce a sequence of audible responses associated with the sequence of illumination of icons of the first

116

and second

118

sets. Further, each audible response in a sequence may be uniquely associated with the illumination of a particular icon of either the first

116

or second

118

sets.

If an amusing scenario is to be produced, the sound generator may imitate the sound of a jet air-liner, missile or Apollo-NASA Communications sequence during the illumination of dolphins

130

b-c

, exaggerating the flight of the same across water

130

. Finally, upon illumination of dolphin

130

d

, sound generator may produce the sound of a large splash, emphasizing the return of the dolphin to water

130

. The combined audio visual stimuli provides the full effects of a motion picture.

Layer

110

is shown with a printed positive silhouette

122

on its outer surface. A negative silhouette

122

of the same icon is printed on the backside, or inner surface, of layer

110

, as also indicated by

122

a-c

. The icons may be printed with ink on the outer surface, inner surface, or both depending on the desired effect, as discussed above. Below layer

110

lies the EL material

120

. EL material

120

of the present invention includes a plurality of electroluminescent regions each of which comprises of EL phosphor

138

disposed between a top conductor

140

and a bottom conductor

142

. Preferably, each electroluminescent region is situated proximate to layer

110

for maximum brightness of the overlying icons of second set

118

. For ease of illustration, EL material

120

has been separated into its components, but the connecting circuitry is not shown. Top conductor

140

is typically formed on EL polymer thick-film as an electrically conductive ink. Preferably, top conductor

140

is disposed on the underside, or inner surface, of layer

144

proximate to graphics of first set

118

and is light-transmissive to allow light from EL phosphor

138

to pass therethrough. Bottom electrode

142

is preferably disposed on the top, or outer surface, of layer

146

. “Inner” and “outer” surfaces, as used here, refer to positions relative to a core or base, such as base substrate

148

, of a typical display page or display sheet. EL phosphor

138

is typically in the form of a conductive ink disposed on a dielectric

150

. Electroluminescent regions, shown in

FIG. 9

, correspond to selected icons of layer

110

.

Although the various components of EL material

120

are shown as being incorporated in different segments of film, such as

144

,

146

and

150

, the present invention may be manufactured with all components of EL material

120

being “printed” directly on the inner surface of layer

110

. The components are thus laid down as successive coatings of first conductive ink, phosphor, dielectric matrix material, and second conductive ink. A combination of the coating and separate layer methods may be used to effectively combine layers

110

and

144

or

146

and

148

, so that the conductive ink patterns are printed directly on layers

110

or

148

and only a separate dielectric and phosphor layer is between them. This combination of layers is also applicable to the conductive ink traces for the membrane switches, described below. Other types of EL material, such as those utilizing foil electrodes or phosphor-impregnated resins may also be used.

Referring also to

FIG. 10

, below selected icons are the inner components of flexible membrane switches

132

. Switches

132

are shown without connecting circuitry for ease of discussion. Each membrane switch

132

includes a top pair of parallel spiral conductive ink traces

152

on a first surface, such as the underside of layer

154

and a bottom pair of parallel spiral conductive ink traces

156

on a second surface, such as the top surface of layer

158

. The two sets of spirals are positioned to face each other, but are spaced apart with a spacer layer

160

of predetermined thickness. Spacer layer

160

contains apertures

162

which are aligned with the top and bottom sets of spirals

152

and

156

, respectively. As discussed above, in the preferred embodiment, membrane switches

132

may be disposed underneath one of the electroluminescent regions of EL layer

120

which switch

132

will cause to illuminate. Upon depressing the selected icon on layer

110

, the top spiral set

152

comes into contact with bottom spiral set

154

through aperture

150

, thus activating switch

132

, closing a circuit and illuminating electroluminescent regions of EL layer

120

. To this end, switch

132

is typically positioned proximate to layer

148

, with layer

110

and all of the intervening layers between switch

132

and layer

110

being flexible. Upon depressing the appropriate switch

132

, an icon of the first set

116

may be provided motion by icons of the second set

118

. For example, the sound generator may prompt a user with an audible response as follows: “Watch the sun rise”. After hearing the aforementioned audible response, a user would press on icon

122

. This would cause switch

132

, shown on layer

148

, to cause phosphor A to irradiate light. Timing circuitry, discussed later with respect to

FIG. 11

, would sequentially illuminate and unilluminate phosphor B, C, and D. This in turn would cause icons

122

c

,

122

b

and

122

a

to appear and disappear, leaving only icon

122

illuminated. After the illumination sequence of

122

c

,

122

b

and

122

a

has ended, an appropriate audible response could be generated.

In addition, some or all of switches

132

may not be disposed underneath EL material

120

. Rather, some flexible membrane switches

164

may be formed in the same layers as EL material

120

. In this manner, switch

164

may be disposed in the graphic portion

112

underneath a graphic associated with the first set

116

, to indicate where a user can locate switch

164

. Switch

164

includes a top pair of parallel spiral conductive ink traces

166

which may be disposed on surface

144

, as well as a bottom pair of parallel spiral conductive ink traces

168

, which may be on the top surface of layer

146

, or base substrate

148

. An aperture

170

may be positioned between top

166

and bottom

168

traces to perform the same functions as aperture

158

, discussed above. Switches not included in the graphic portion

112

typically have, associated therewith, an activation region

172

to indicate where the user should depress switch

164

to activate EL material

120

. When the activation region

172

of a switch is depressed, top spiral set comes into contact with bottom spiral set, as discussed above.

Referring also to

FIG. 11

, an advantage with having the EL material

120

and layer

110

disposed above switch

130

is to make the present invention easily adaptable to existing board games that provide audio stimuli. Such games typically employ sound cards activated by flexible membrane switches. By layering both the EL material

120

and layer

110

over the existing flexible membrane switches, an existing audio board game may be easily upgraded to provide visual stimuli. The existing flexible membrane switches are coupled to both the EL material

120

and the sound generator to simultaneously activate both audio and visual stimuli. The visual stimuli provided may be designed to enhance the existing audio programming of the board game. Alternatively, many of the preexisting board games may be easily reprogrammed to change the sounds generated to enhance the visual stimuli. In this manner, existing board games may be easily and inexpensively altered to keep apace with the rapidly changing trends of children's entertainment.

An additional benefit with the layered design concerns the efficient use of substrate on which the switches and EL material are disposed. Specifically, with the layered design, more switches per unit area may be disposed in the board game, providing more interactive devices for a user. For example, an array or matrix of switches may be included. Top conductive traces

165

may be disposed spaced apart from bottom conductive ink traces

167

, with a plurality of corresponding apertures

169

disposed in an insulative layer therebetween, with corresponding electroluminescent regions being present. The advantage of having more interactive devices is that the game becomes more suitable for children of younger years. By placing the switch

130

underneath the icon which is the subject of attention, a one-to-one correspondence is facilitated between the icon and the visual response expected. This concept is easily demonstrated by considering the sound generator producing the aforementioned audible response of “Watch the sun rise”. Upon hearing this prompt, a user would merely press on icon

122

to elicit the visual response discussed above, thereby providing a one-to-one correspondence between icon

122

and the visual response expected. If the sound generator prompted the user to “see the dolphins jump”, the aforementioned correspondence is not present. The dolphins may not be seen, precluding the user from knowing where a switch is positioned to elicit the usual stimuli expected, i.e., the sequential illumination of dolphins

130

a-d

. Rather, a user would have to embark on an abstract association of water

130

with dolphins

130

a-d

. After making the aforementioned association, a user would understand the need to press on icon

130

to activate icons

130

a-d

. Many users of the present invention would not have developed the cognitive ability to make abstract associations. By placing switch

130

underneath an icon which is the subject of attention, less abstract thought processes need be utilized for a user to enjoy the interactive device. Simply put, the device becomes more suitable for users who have not developed the cognitive abilities necessary to successfully comprehend abstract associations.

The substrate of the present invention is preferably constructed using non-porous, flexible polymer substrate materials such as Mylar. Paper or fabric may also be used. It may be desirable to use core substrates and spacer layers that are semi-rigid, however, for durability. The printable layers are preferably 0.003 to 0.020″ thick. The base substrate

148

is preferably 0.010 to 0.035″ thick. Layers

144

and

146

are preferably 0.010 to 0.020″ thick. The dielectric layer

150

varies depending on the voltage used, but a thickness of 0.010 to 0.030″ is typical. Comparable dimension may be employed for flexible membrane switch layers

154

,

158

and

160

.

Each of the flexible membrane switches

132

is coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB)

174

via traces

176

. A combination sound generator and sequencing circuit is disposed on the PCB

174

and may take the form of an integrated circuit coupled to speaker

134

. A suitable power source, such as batteries

180

, are provided to power the device. A power button

182

is coupled to the power source to selectively actuate the interactive device. A housing is provided which includes upper

184

and lower

186

casings. Upper casing

184

includes a window

188

. Additional openings are provided to mount button

182

and speaker

134

so that they may be operationally coupled to upper casing

184

. Layer

110

is mounted to be adjacent to window

188

, with EL material

120

disposed adjacent thereto. Spaced apart from the EL material