Electrical contact assembly for wirelessly powered electroluminescent display

CROSS-RELATION TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

[0001] None

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an electrical contact assembly to supply electrical power to an electroluminescent display wirelessly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Electroluminescent displays (EL) have been known for many decades and have been studied in depth over the years. EL displays have shown great promise as two dimensional sources of light since they can be deposited as layers on effectively any surface using printing methods such as screen printing, flexo, gravure, inkjet etc. Foreshadowing these advantages has been the technical issue of powering these displays since they can only be activated using AC (Alternating current) sources with voltages higher than at least 50 Volts peak-to-peak. Normally this voltage is supplied using DC to AC inverter circuits that are powered in turn using regular DC batteries. This has created bottle necks in the design and miniaturization of such lighting sources. The major issue being that no matter how miniaturized the EL inverter circuit may be one cannot fix batteries onto many commercial products owing to safety regulations or the simple aesthetics of the product. Affixing a battery on a commercial product can be a difficult and a time consuming process, not to mention the added issue of increasing the weight of the product. The above-mentioned points of contention in a non-limiting example can pertain to consumer goods and their associated packages. In order to make the electroluminescent display a common commercial technology, a simple electrical contact assembly is needed that can power the electroluminescent display without the need for onboard batteries. Herein lies the advantage of implementing an inductively powered wireless energy transfer system that can power an EL display placed on a package (in such a non-limiting example) safely and from a distance. Such a scheme needs to be easy to implement and easy to use. The function should be as simple as lighting an EL display as soon as the display comes in range of the wireless electrical contact assembly which supplies the required power to the inverter driving the display. The overall assembly should be capable of working safely owing to the contact points of the display were relatively high AC voltages will be delivered to the display. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to an electrical contact assembly to inductively power an electroluminescent display. The electrical contact assembly comprises a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate is comprising a first part and a second part. At least two first conducting terminals are provided on the first part to supply electrical power to the electroluminescent display. At least two second conducting terminals are provided on the second part. A plurality of conducting traces are provided on the flexible substrate to electrically connect the at least two first conducting terminals to the at least two second conducting terminals. A printed circuit board is provided on the second part of the substrate. The printed circuit board is comprising a bottom surface and a top surface. At least two electrical contact pads are provided on the bottom surface and an AC-AC converter is provided on the top surface. The at least two electrical contacts pads are connected to the at least two second conducting terminals through at least two conducting adhesive layers. An inductive coil is provided either on the substrate or on the printed circuit board. The coil is electrically connected to the AC-AC converter. The coil receives inductive power to switch on the electroluminescent display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1A an electrical contact assembly and a box, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[0006] FIG. IB an electrical contact assembly and a box, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 1C an electrical contact assembly and a box, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 2A a front view of an electrical contact assembly and a bottle, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 2B a side view of an electrical contact assembly and a bottle, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. [00010] FIG. 3 A a front view of a bottle with a display, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[00011] FIG. 3B a side view of a bottle with a display, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[00012] FIG. 3C a side view of an electrical contact assembly and a bottle, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[00013] FIG. 4A a front view of a bottle with a display, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[00014] FIG. 4B a side view of a bottle with a display, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[00015] FIG. 4C a side view of an electrical contact assembly and a bottle, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[00016] FIG. 5 A a cross sectional view of a part of an electrical contact assembly, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[00017] FIG. 5B a cross sectional view of a part of an electrical contact assembly, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.

[00018] FIG. 5C a cross sectional view of a part of an electrical contact assembly, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[00019] The invention will now be described in detail. Drawings and examples are provided for better illustration of the invention. It will be understood that the embodiments and aspects of the invention described herein are only examples and do not limit the protector's scope of the claims in any way. The invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. It will be understood that features of one aspect or embodiment of the invention can be combined with the feature of a different aspect or aspects and/or embodiments of the invention.

[00020] The present invention is about an electrical contact assembly for wirelessly powering at least one electroluminescent display. Fig. 1A shows a box 100, comprising an electrical contact assembly 110 to power an electroluminescent display 125. In a non-limiting aspect, the box 100 is made of a substrate 120. The substrate 120 is paper, plastic, metal or a laminate of different materials. The electroluminescent display 125 is provided on an outer surface or on an inner surface of the box 100. In a non-limiting example, the electroluminescent display 125 is provided on a first part 121 of the substrate 120. In a non-limiting aspect, the electroluminescent display 125 is based on an oxide based light emitting phosphor. The electroluminescent display 125 emits light when an alternating voltage is applied across it. At least two first conducting terminals 131 are provided on the first part 121 to supply electrical power to the electroluminescent display 125. At least two second conducting terminals 132 are provided on a second part 122 of the substrate 120. In a non-limiting example, the first part 121 and the second part 122 are connected to each other as shown in Fig. 1A. A plurality of conducting traces 133 are provided on the substrate 120 to electrically connect the at least two first conducting terminals 131 to the at least two second conducting terminals 132. The first conducting terminals 131, the second conducting terminals 132 and the conducting traces 133 are produced by printing a conducting ink on one or both the surfaces of the substrate 120. The printing can be done in a single or multiple steps. A printed circuit board 140 is provided on the substrate 120. The printed circuit board 140 comprises a bottom surface 141 and a top surface 142. At least two electrical contact pads 143 are provided on the bottom surface 141 of the printed circuit board 140 and an AC- AC converter 144 is provided on the top surface 142 of the printed circuit board 140. The at least two electrical contacts pads 143 are connected to the at least two second conducting terminals 132 through at least two conducting adhesive layers 160. A receiving antenna coil 150 is provided on the substrate 120. The coil 150 is electrically connected to the AC- AC converter 144. The purpose of the AC- AC converter 144 is to convert the wirelessly received electrical power into a suitable voltage and current to efficiently switch on the electroluminescent display 125. In a non-limiting example, the AC- AC converter 144 comprises a plurality of surface mountable devices placed on the top surface 142 of the printed circuit board 140. [00021] Fig. IB shows another embodiment of a box 100, comprising an electrical contact assembly 110 to power an electroluminescent display 125. The electroluminescent display 125 is provided on an outer surface or on an inner surface of the box 100. In a non-limiting example, the electroluminescent display 125 is provided on a first part 121 of the substrate 120. At least two first conducting terminals 131 are provided on the first part 121 to supply electrical power to the electroluminescent display 125. At least two second conducting terminals 132 are provided on a second part 122 of the substrate 120. In a non-limiting example, the first part 121 and the second part 122 are connected to each other through a third part 123, as shown in Fig. IB. A plurality of conducting traces 133 are provided on the substrate 120 to electrically connect the at least two first conducting terminals 131 to the at least two second conducting terminals 132. The first conducting terminals 131, the second conducting terminals 132 and the conducting traces 133 are produced by printing a conducting ink on one or both the surfaces of the substrate 120. A printed circuit board 140 is provided on the second part 122 of the substrate 120. The printed circuit board 140 comprises a bottom surface 141 and a top surface 142. At least two electrical contact pads 143 are provided on the bottom surface 141 (not visible in Fig. IB) and an AC- AC converter 144 is provided on the top surface 142. The at least two electrical contacts pads 143 are connected to the at least two second conducting terminals 132 through at least two conducting adhesive layers 160 (not visible in Fig. IB). A receiving antenna coil 150 is provided on the substrate 120. The coil 150 is electrically connected to the AC-AC converter 144.

[00022] Fig. 1C shows another embodiment of a box 100, comprising an electrical contact assembly 110 to power an electroluminescent display 125. The electroluminescent display 125 is provided on an outer surface or on an inner surface of the box 100. In a non-limiting example, the electroluminescent display 125 is provided on a first part 121 of the substrate 120. At least two first conducting terminals 131 are provided on the first part 121 to supply electrical power to the electroluminescent display 125. At least two second conducting terminals 132 are provided on a second part 122 of the substrate 120. In a non-limiting example, the first part 121 and the second part 122 are connected to each other, as shown in Fig. 1C and are coplanar. A plurality of conducting traces 133 are provided on the substrate 120 to electrically connect the at least two first conducting terminals 131 to the at least two second conducting terminals 132. The first conducting terminals 131, the second conducting terminals 132 and the conducting traces 133 are produced by printing a conducting ink on one or both the surfaces of the substrate 120. A printed circuit board 140 is provided on the substrate 120. The printed circuit board 140 comprises a bottom surface 141 and a top surface 142. At least two electrical contact pads 143 are provided on the bottom surface 141 (not visible in Fig. 1C) and an AC- AC converter 144 is provided on the top surface 142. The at least two electrical contacts pads 143 are connected to the at least two second conducting terminals 132 through at least two conducting adhesive layers 160 (not visible in Fig 1C). A receiving antenna coil 150 is provided on the substrate 120. The coil 150 is electrically connected to the AC-AC converter 144.

[00023] Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B show a bottle 200, comprising an electrical contact assembly 210 to power an electroluminescent display 225. Fig. 2A is a front view and Fig. 2B is a side view. A substrate 220 is provided on at least one outer surface of the bottle 200, as shown in Fig. 2B. The substrate 220 is paper, metal, plastic or a laminate. The electroluminescent display 225 is provided on the substrate 220. In a non-limiting example, the electroluminescent display 225 is provided on a first part 221 of the substrate 220. At least two first conducting terminals 231 are provided on the first part 221 to supply electrical power to the electroluminescent display 225. At least two second conducting terminals 243 are provided on a second part 222 of the substrate 220. In a non-limiting example, the first part 221 and the second part 222 are connected to each other as shown in Fig. 2B. A plurality of conducting traces 233 are provided on the substrate 220 to electrically connect the at least two first conducting terminals 231 to the at least two second conducting terminals 243. The first conducting terminals 231, the second conducting terminals 243 and the conducting traces 233 are produced by printing a conducting ink on one or both the surfaces of the substrate 220. The printing can be done in a single or multiple steps. A printed circuit board 240 is provided on the second part 222 of the substrate 220. The printed circuit board 240 comprises a bottom surface 241 and a top surface 242. At least two electrical contact pads 232 are provided on the bottom surface 241 and an AC- AC converter 244 is provided on the top surface 242. At least two electrical contacts pads 232, provided on the bottom surface 241 of the printed circuit board 240, are connected to the at least two second conducting terminals 243 through at least two conducting adhesive layers 260. A receiving antenna coil 250 is provided on the second part 222 of the substrate 210. The coil position is discussed in Fig. 5. The coil 250 is electrically connected to the AC- AC converter 244.

[00024] Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B show another embodiment of a bottle 300 with an electroluminescent display 325 provided on an outer surface of the bottle 300. In a non-limiting aspect, the electroluminescent display 325 is provided by printing multiple inks on the surface of the bottle 300. Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B show the bottle front view and side view, respectively without an electrical contact assembly. Fig. 3C shows the side view of the bottle 300 with an electrical contact assembly 310. The electroluminescent display 325 comprises at least two third conducting terminals 326. The electrical contact assembly 310 comprises a substrate 320. At least two first conducting terminals 331 are provided on a first part 321 of the substrate 320. The at least two first conducting terminals 331 are in electrical contact with the at least two third conducting terminals 326 to supply electrical power to the electroluminescent display 325. At least two second conducting terminals 332 are provided on a second part 322 of the substrate 320. In a non-limiting example, the first part 321 and the second part 322 are connected to each other as shown in Fig. 3C. A plurality of conducting traces 333 are provided on the substrate 320 to electrically connect the at least two first conducting terminals 331 to the at least two second conducting terminals 332. The first conducting terminals 331, the second conducting terminals 332 and the conducting traces 333 are produced by printing a conducting ink on one or both the surfaces of the substrate 320. A printed circuit board 340 is provided on the second part 322 of the substrate 320. The printed circuit board 340 comprises a bottom surface 341 and a top surface 342. At least two electrical contact pads 343 are provided on the bottom surface

341 of the printed circuit board 340 and an AC- AC converter 344 is provided on the top surface

342 of the printed circuit board 340. The at least two electrical contacts pads 343 are connected to the at least two second conducting terminals 332 through a conducting adhesive layer 360, respectively. A receiving antenna coil 350 is provided on the second part 322 of the substrate 320. The coil position is discussed in Fig. 5. The coil 350 is electrically connected to the AC- AC converter 344.

[00025] Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B show another embodiment of a bottle 400 with an electroluminescent display 425 provided on an outer surface of the bottle 400. In a non-limiting aspect, the electroluminescent display 425 is provided by printing multiple inks on the surface of the bottle 400. Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B show the bottle front view and side view, respectively, without an electrical contact assembly. Fig. 4C shows the side view of the bottle 400 with an electrical contact assembly 410. The electroluminescent display 425 comprises at least two third conducting terminals 426, provided at the bottom surface of the bottle 400. The electrical contact assembly 410 comprises a substrate 420. At least two first conducting terminals 431 are provided on a first part 421 of the substrate 420. The at least two first conducting terminals 431 are in electrical contact with the at least two third conducting terminals 426 to supply electrical power to the electroluminescent display 425. At least two second conducting terminals 432 are provided on a second part 422 of the substrate 420. In a non-limiting example, the first part 421 and the second part 422 are connected to each other as shown in Fig. 4C. A plurality of conducting traces 433 are provided on the substrate 420 to electrically connect the at least two first conducting terminals 431 to the at least two second conducting terminals 432. The first conducting terminals 431, the second conducting terminals 432 and the conducting traces 433 (which may pass through or around the edge of the substrate 420) are produced by printing a conducting ink on one or both the surfaces of the substrate 420. A printed circuit board 440 is provided on the second part 422 of the substrate 420. The printed circuit board 440 comprises a bottom surface 441 and a top surface 442. At least two electrical contact pads 443 are provided on the bottom surface 441 and an AC- AC converter 444 is provided on the top surface 442. The at least two electrical contacts pads 443 are connected to the at least two second conducting terminals 432 through at least two conducting adhesive layers 460. A receiving antenna coil 450 is provided on the second part 422 of the substrate 420. The coil 450 is electrically connected to the AC- AC converter 444.

[00026] Fig. 5A, Fig. 5B and Fig. 5C show how the coil 550 is electrically connected to an AC-AC converter 544. The AC-AC converter 544 comprises a plurality of surface mountable devices. The AC- AC converter 544 is placed on a top surface 542 of a printed circuit board 540. On a bottom surface 541 of the printed circuit board 540 are provided at least two electrical contact pads 543. The at least two electrical contact pads 543 are electrically connected to at least two second conducting terminals 532 through at least two conducting adhesive layers 560. The least two second conducting terminals 532 are provided on the substrate 520 and are electrically connected to conducting traces 533. In Fig. 5A, the coil 550 is a wire fixed on the substrate and electrically connected to the printed circuit board 540. In Fig. 5B, the coil 550 is a spiral conducting layer, printed on the substrate 520. Here, the printed circuit board 540 further comprises of at least two more electrical contact pads 546, which are electrically connected to at least two conducting terminals 534 through conducting adhesive layers 561. The at least two conducting terminals 534 are provided on the substrate 520 and electrically connected to the coil 550. In Fig. 5C the coil 550 is integrated into the printed circuit board 540.