Patent ID: 6617757
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: H01L,H05B,Y02B

Abstract:
A circuit for lighting an electro-luminescent device, comprising:a voltage source; an electro-luminescent device having a high voltage connection and a grounded low voltage connection; a switching converter comprising; a first inductor having first and second ends, said first end of said first inductor being connected to said voltage source; a second inductor having first and second ends, said first end of said second inductor being connected to said voltage source and to said first end of said first inductor; a first switching device having a first end and a grounded second end, said first end of said first switching device being connected to said second end of said first inductor at a first junction; a second switching device having a first end and a grounded second end, said first end of said second switching device being connected to said second end of said second inductor at a second junction; an oscillating switch driver electrically connected to said first and second switching devices such that said first switching device is closed when said second switching device is open, and such that said first switching device is open when said second switching device is closed; and a transformer device comprising; a first input electroactive disk having first and second opposing electroded major faces and polarized in a thickness direction normal to said first and second opposing electroded major faces such that upon application of voltage across said first and second opposing electroded major faces, said first and second opposing electroded major faces deform radially; said first electroded major face being electrically connected to said first junction; said second electroded major face being electrically connected to said second junction; a first output electroactive disk having first and second opposing electroded major faces and polarized in a thickness direction normal to said first and second opposing electroded major faces such that upon application of voltage across said first and second opposing electroded major faces, said first and second opposing electroded major faces deform radially; said first electroded major face being electrically connected to said high voltage connection of said electro-luminescent device; a constraint layer mechanically bonded between said first electroded major face of said first input electroactive disk and said first electroded major face of said first output electroactive disk such that said constraint layer at least partially constrains said radial deformation of said first electroded major face of said first input electroactive disk; wherein said constraint of said radial deformation of said first electroded major face of said first input electroactive disk prevents said first electroded major face of said first input electroactive disk from radially deforming as much as said second electroded major face of said first input electroactive disk radially deforms such that there exists a difference between the amounts of radial deformation of said first and second opposing electroded major faces of said first input electroactive disk.