Light emitting panel assemblies include in one form of the invention a light
emitting panel member made of a transparent resiliently deformable elastomeric
material that absorbs impact without breakage for use in automotive lighting applications
of various types. In another form of the invention, a rigid light emitting panel
member may be used with dome switches for switch area lighting or to backlight
control buttons/key pads. Also, a rigid light emitting panel member may be used
as a structural member, and two or more such light emitting panel members may be
stacked together and used to light an instrument panel or the like.
