Patent ID: 8277073

Claim:
A low profile self-contained lighting apparatus comprising: a. a strip of planar organic light emitting diode material operable by direct current having a length dimension greater than a width dimension, said material having an emissive layer and a conductive layer; b. a battery coupled to the organic light emitting diode material for transmitting direct current thereto; c. a switch operable between an on position and an off position, the switch connected to control power from the battery to the organic light emitting diode material; d. the battery configured to provide a voltage of between 3 and 6 volts, the battery coupled with said organic light emitting diode material to provide sufficient current to permit the organic light emitting diode material to emit light with an efficiency of between 20 lumens per watt and 100 lumens per watt; e. the battery having a width dimension and a length dimension that are less than the width dimension and the length dimension of the strip of organic light emitting diode material; f. a connector for receiving the battery; g. a mechanism for releasably attaching the connector, the switch and the organic lighting emitting diode material to a surface adjacent an area to be illuminated, the connector, the switch and the organic light emitting diode material cooperating to be portable in combination; h. the battery being removable from the connector; i. the battery being removable independent of the connector, the switch and the organic light emitting diode material; and said organic light emitting diode, said switch and said battery having a thickness of less than 10 mm.