Light emission of low temperature also known as luminescence, has always existed. Luminescence comes in all kinds of forms, fireflies, or the red tide where the beach sand lights up from enchanting bacterial life form. Imagine having this luminescence to be in a controllable environment for our use. The discovery of such technology, “EL” phosphor was built on the foundation in 1936 by George Destriau who believed that zinc sulphide compound emitted light in an electric field. Years of research in the ’40s and 50’s carried out on various phosphors that would illuminate radar screens lead to modern-day televisions including LCD Displays.
The world of EL Technology is growing at a fast pace, as the utilization is increasing with advancing technology and new products. Today EL manufacturing is done in China, Taiwan, and Singapore on large basis. It is getting more commonly used in the products sold as a current trend, products such as EL Night Lights, animated signs, EL Panels used as backlight in membrane switch keypads etc.
What is an Electroluminescent Lamp?
According to Wikipedia “Electroluminescence is an optical and electrical phenomenon in which a material emits light in response to an electric current passed through it, or to a strong electric field.” Electroluminescence serves as the building block for EL Lamps.
An EL Lamp is a LEC (Light Emitting Capacitor). These LEC lamp’s use phosphor as a key element which emits light when it is energized with an alternating electric field thus serving it’ purpose.
Electroluminescent Lamps are flat, thin along with cold illumination sources that can be refined into complex shapes. This allows them to be able to be placed into various products where space and/or power are limited. These are commonly used with backlighting products. Few examples are LCDs, aircraft instrument panels, capacitive membrane switch, and advertising signage.
Construction and Scope of EL Panels:
Electroluminescent lamps are constructed with high precision printed multiple layers of dielectric and insulated layer structure. Finishing touches are done with part-level removal and followed by connector attachments. This light technology consists of a flat capacitor construction with zinc sulphide phosphor particles between two electrodes, one of which is transparent for light to escape. When AC current is applied to the electrodes generating an electric field within the phosphor layer, causing change in the field and emitting the visible light.
As this technology is a paper-thin laminated panel they are easy to cut and have any shape. It consumes very little power and produces little heat making them ideal for use. Moreover, it doesn’t contain mechanical parts or filaments, making it unsusceptible to vibration, shock, or catastrophic failure of light. These characteristics have increased the use of EL lamps into other products, being efficient and more productive than other alternatives. Other more noticeable characteristics of EL lamps are:
- Paper Thin – Mostly between 0.25mm – 0.5mm.
- Lightweight.
- Flexibility – Can be applied to curved or flat surfaces.
- Strength – Strong as it is almost unbreakable.
- Reliability – It does not catastrophically fail as it has millions of microscopic crystals.
- Low power consumption – Consumes only between 75-90% less electricity than other light sources.
- Efficient – As 80% of the energy is easily converted to light.
- Brightness – Brightness is flexible and can be adjusted to suit customer’s requirements.
- High Visibility – It can be seen from far distances whether in darkness, smoke, and fog.
- Low operating temperature – It is a cold lighting source. It does not create heat due to its electronic luminous emission.
- No Glare – Produces a soft and even light over the entire surface area.
- It is waterproof.
- Environmentally friendly – It does not use hazardous materials.
- Longevity- Approx. 30,000 hours depending upon the usage of brightness.
- Easy to maintain, free of any surplus charge.
Benefits of EL lamps in membrane switches:
Membrane switches are found in microwave ovens, air conditioners, TV remotes, Human Machine Interfaces (HIMS), and more, almost in all the appliances we use today. Membrane keypads use cannot be fulfilled without backlighting. The backlight working is satisfied by illuminating the keys, allowing the operator of the keypad to view it clearly in darkness or in scenarios it is required. Backlighting needs a source of light, with today’s competitive market there are many. Commonly used are fiber optics or LED lights and EL Lamps. EL lamps are most beneficial while using as backlighting function for membrane keypads for its obvious characteristics mentioned above and more.
More being EL panels are cost-effective in comparison to LED or fiber optics. Other than being budget-friendly EL lamps are long-lasting. These can burn up to 16,000 hours or more, which suffices its typical usage. Agreed LED lamps can give up to 100,000 hours, more than EL lamps but being a more cost-effective solution and with another array of benefits it is a more obvious choice for most of our clients at Ranvishwa. Our other products. A noticeable advantage of this particular light tech is that even after reaching upon their half-life, these panels still work. Faded or dimmer light it maybe but they still work and it also acts as an indicator for the replacement or repairing time being near. This indication has been proven to come in handy for many of our users.
Application:
Also known as backlighting and printed light technology, EL lamps are produced in high volumes for medical, automotive, and consumer applications. The basic structure of these lights is a multi-layer printed system that is AC driven. Typical applications include
- Nightlights
- EXIT Signs
- Address signs
- Animated Point of Purchase displays
- LCD Backlights
- Keypad backlights
- Automotive instrument panels
- Digital and Analog Clocks
- Remote Control Keypads
- Automotive gear indicators.
Rangavishwa customizes Electroluminescent Lamps for all kinds of uses and applications. EL is an excellent choice for the backlighting of membrane switches. Also for the passive matrix of a monochrome display with geometrical flexibility and brightness around 30ft-l. We can design EL panels for any size, shape, or form as per your imagination.
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