Editing Electroluminescence (section)

=== Light-emitting capacitor (LEC) ===
[[File:NightLight.jpg|right|thumbnail|An electroluminescent [[nightlight]] in operation (uses 0.08&nbsp;W at 230&nbsp;V, and dates from 1960; lit diameter is 59&nbsp;mm)]]
''Light-emitting capacitor'', or '''LEC''', is a term used since at least 1961<ref>''Proceedings of the National Electronics Conference, Volume 17'', National Engineering Conference, Inc., 1961;  page 328</ref> to describe electroluminescent panels. [[General Electric]] has patents dating to 1938 on flat electroluminescent panels that are still made as [[night light]]s and backlights for [[Control panel (engineering)|instrument panel]] displays. Electroluminescent panels are a [[capacitor]] where the [[dielectric]] between the outside plates is a [[phosphor]] that gives off [[photon]]s when the capacitor is charged.  By making one of the contacts transparent, the large area exposed emits light.<ref>Raymond Kane, Heinz Sell, ''Revolution in lamps: a chronicle of 50 years of progress, 2nd ed.'', The Fairmont Press, Inc., 2001 {{ISBN|0881733784}},  pages 122–124</ref>

Electroluminescent automotive instrument panel backlighting, with each gauge pointer also an individual light source, entered production on 1960 Chrysler and Imperial passenger cars, and was continued successfully on several Chrysler vehicles through 1967 and marketed as "Panelescent Lighting".