An electroluminescent (EL) device having an LED formed on a substrate with
at least two electrodes formed over the substrate, and an EL unit formed
between the electrodes. At least one of the electrodes is transparent. At
least one of the electrodes is patterned to define independently
controllable light-emitting areas. A cover is formed over the LED. The
cover or substrate is transparent. A light-scattering layer is formed
between the cover and substrate for scattering light. A low-index
element, having an optical index lower than other optical indices, is
formed between the scattering layer and the transparent cover or
substrate. Additionally, a contrast-enhancement layer includes
alternating light-absorbing portions and light-transmissive portions
formed in the layer located between the light-scattering layer and the
transparent substrate or cover through which light is emitted, wherein
the light-absorbing portions and light-transmissive portions are located
in each light-emitting area.