An illuminated vehicular sign is provided including a vehicle and luminescent planar sheet. The luminescent planar sheet is constructed to provide illuminated alpha-numeric characters which are mounted to the horizontal planar surfaces of a vehicle. The alpha-numeric characters are mounted substantially horizontally so as to be seen from the air such as by helicopters or planes. The illuminated vehicle sign includes a switching system electrically connected to the luminescent planar panels for selectively controlling the transfer of power from said power source to the luminescent planar panels. The switching system including one or more adjustable variable resistors electrically connected to the luminescent planar panels for allowing one to selectively adjust the wattage provided to them.

An insulating glass unit (10) is formed from a plurality of transparent layers (16, 18, 20), in which at least one illuminable panel (20) is arranged between at least two mineral glass panels (16, 18). The mineral glass panels (16, 18) are held at a defined distance from one another by at least one spacer element (14). The illuminable panel (20) is held at least on one longitudinal marginal edge (24) by the spacer element (14). The spacer element (14) is formed by at least one hollow profile (15), which preferably comprises a plurality of adjoining hollow chambers (26, 28). The outer mineral glass panels (16, 18) each adjoins at least two lateral surfaces of the hollow profile (15). The illuminable panel (20) rests on or against the intermediate hollow chamber (28). An illumination element (32) is arranged within the intermediate hollow chamber (28).

A vehicle lighting system is provided primarily for use with emergency response vehicles. The vehicle lighting system includes at least one luminescent planar sheet affixed to a vehicle's mounting surface. The luminescent planar sheet includes a non-luminescent printed circuit board in the shape of a letter or number which has a top surface of a color which contrasts with the mounting surface's color. The luminescent planar sheet includes a plurality of light emitting LEDs which are surface mounted upon the printed circuit board so as to be arranged in the shape of the desired letter or number with the LEDs covering no more than 20% of the printed circuit board's top surface. Preferably, the LEDs cover no more than 7% the printed circuit board's top surface.

An insulating glass unit (10) is formed from a plurality of transparent layers (16, 18, 20), in which at least one illuminable panel (20) is arranged between at least two mineral glass panels (16, 18). The mineral glass panels (16, 18) are held at a defined distance from one another by at least one spacer element (14). The illuminable panel (20) is held at least on one longitudinal marginal edge (24) by the spacer element (14). The spacer element (14) is formed by at least one hollow profile (15), which preferably comprises a plurality of adjoining hollow chambers (26, 28). The outer mineral glass panels (16, 18) each adjoins at least two lateral surfaces of the hollow profile (15). The illuminable panel (20) rests on or against the intermediate hollow chamber (28). An illumination element (32) is arranged within the intermediate hollow chamber (28).

A vehicle lighting system is provided primarily for use with emergency response vehicles. The vehicle lighting system includes at least one luminescent planar sheet affixed to a vehicle's mounting surface. The luminescent planar sheet includes a non-luminescent printed circuit board in the shape of a letter or number which has a top surface of a color which contrasts with the mounting surface's color. The luminescent planar sheet includes a plurality of light emitting LEDs which are surface mounted upon the printed circuit board so as to be arranged in the shape of the desired letter or number with the LEDs covering no more than 20% of the printed circuit board's top surface. Preferably, the LEDs cover no more than 7% the printed circuit board's top surface.

An electroluminescent lighting system includes an electroluminescent encapsulated and protected inside a solid wall mounting channel. The mounting channel is typically plastic. The mounting channel may itself be printed on its outside display surface, or it may protect a printed surface inside its channel. The mounting channel is sealed on one end by a sealing cap and on its opposite end by an electrical connector that powers the EL lamp inside the channel. This sealed system offers a durable shield for the EL lamp that is mounted inside the channel.

A vehicle lighting system is provided primarily for use with emergency response vehicles. The vehicle lighting system includes at least one luminescent planar sheet affixed to a vehicle's mounting surface. The luminescent planar sheet includes a non-luminescent printed circuit board in the shape of a letter or number which has a top surface of a color which contrasts with the mounting surface's color. The luminescent planar sheet includes a plurality of light emitting LEDs which are surface mounted upon the printed circuit board so as to be arranged in the shape of the desired letter or number with the LEDs covering no more than 20% of the printed circuit board's top surface. Preferably, the LEDs cover no more than 7% the printed circuit board's top surface.

A vehicle lighting system is provided primarily for use with emergency response vehicles. The lighting system includes luminescent alphanumeric characters affixed upon a planar vehicle mounting plate so as to emit light upwardly so as to be seen from the air. The vehicle lighting system also includes a light bar affixed to the planar plate. The light bar is positioned to illuminate light primarily horizontally so as to be seen by those on the ground. Preferably, the luminescent planar sheets are connected by wiring to the light bar so that luminescent planar sheet obtains power from the light bar. In addition, the light bar includes a light sensor electrically connected between the power source and luminescent planar sheets which automatically disables the luminescent panels when ambient light is above a predetermined threshold.

This disclosure describes an LED sign that has the exterior appearance of a neon sign, but is much easier and less expensive to mass produce, and has none of the environmentally challenging elements of a neon sign. The sign has a frame that mounts to a background element, through which one or more channels are routed or molded. Flexible LED light tubes are laid into the channels and then closed off with heat shrink tubes. Because the LED light tubes are restrained in the channel, the sign takes on the desired shape that has been formed into the background, allowing the sign to be mass-produced economically for even small quantities, as there is no need for an expensive mold. The background can be 1-piece, or made from multiple pieces connected to each other in a removable fashion.

A vehicle lighting system is provided primarily for use with emergency response vehicles. The vehicle lighting system includes at least one luminescent planar sheet affixed to a vehicle's mounting surface. The luminescent planar sheet includes a non-luminescent printed circuit board in the shape of a letter or number which has a top surface of a color which contrasts with the mounting surface's color. The luminescent planar sheet includes a plurality of light emitting LEDs which are surface mounted upon the printed circuit board so as to be arranged in the shape of the desired letter or number with the LEDs covering no more than 20% of the printed circuit board's top surface. Preferably, the LEDs cover no more than 7% the printed circuit board's top surface.