Abstract: An electric discharge lamp has an arc tube within an outer gas filled glass envelope, and a thermal switching means is located within the outer envelope. The thermal switching means has a bimetal strip and a spring-like member each affixed to at least one of the electrical conductors, and upon application of heat the bimetal strip and spring-like member are flexed to short-circuit the electrical conductors and remove any DC potential between the main electrode and the starting electrode minimizing electrolysis.

Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp includes a circuit breaker therein having a sealed glass bottle, a thermally sensitive bimetal switch within the glass bottle, a pair of electrical conductors sealed into and passing through the sealed bottle with one electrical conductor attached to the bimetal and the other electrical conductor contacting the bimetal with each of the pair of electrical conductors formed of Dumet wire plated with an electrically conductive metal whereby formation of insulative oxides on the electrical conductors is inhibited.

Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp includes a circuit breaker having a sealed glass bottle, a pair of electrical conductors sealed therein and passing therethrough and a thermally sensitive bimetal switch within the glass bottle with the bimetal switch having a pair of leg portions of unequal length.

Abstract: A low wattage metal vapor discharge lamp starting and operating apparatus includes an inductive ballast connected to one of a pair of terminals connectable to a low voltage source, a metal vapor discharge lamp coupled to the ballast and to the other one of the pair of lamp terminals and a non-linear dielectric element shunting the discharge lamp with the ballast and non-linear dielectric element providing a potential within about 600 usec of current reversal of the source voltage in an amount sufficient to initiate operation of the discharge lamp.

Abstract: A low wattage single-ended metal halide arc discharge lamp has an isothermal arc chamber with an outer diameter (t) substantially equal to the product of a first constant and the lamp wattage plus a second constant; a fill gas and a pair of electrical conductors sealed into and passing through one end of the arc chamber to provide a pair of electrodes therein having a spacing therebetween of a distance to provide a substantially uniform current for lamps in the range of about 35 to 150 watts.

Abstract: A single-ended low wattage high intensity discharge lamp and manufacturing process wherein a sleeve of electrical insulating material having the same coefficient of expansion as quartz is telescoped over an electrical lead a fuzed to the "pinch" seal portion of a quartz envelope.

Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp has a tubular envelope with a phosphor-coated inner wall surface, a pair of spaced electrodes and a pair of electrical leads sealed into each end of the envelope with one electrical lead connected directly to the electrode and the other electrical lead having an integral circuit breaker connected to the electrode and formed to disconnect the electrode from an energy source during lamp operation. Also, the rapid-start fluorescent lamp is fabricated by preparing a phosphor coated envelope, forming a pair of end members having a pair of leads and an integral circuit breaker with one lead connected directly to the electrode and the circuit breaker connecting the other lead to the electrode, sealing the end members into the envelope, heating and exhaust tubes the envelope, heating the electrodes via the circuit breaker, dispensing a fill gas and mercury into the envelope and pinching off the exhausting of the envelope.

Abstract: A low wattage metal halide discharge lamp includes an evacuated envelope wherein is disposed a heat reducing member having an arc tube therein. The heat reducing member and the arc tube have a metal band and outer strap member adjacent one another and adjacent an electrode with the metal band, strap member and electrode all electrically connected to an electrical lead of one polarity whereby sodium losses from the arc tube are reduced.

Abstract: A low wattage metal halide discharge lamp includes an evacuated envelope wherein is disposed a heat reducing member having an arc tube therein. The heat reducing member and the arc tube have a metal band an outer strap member adjacent one another and adjacent an electrode with the metal band, strap member and electrode all electrically connected to an electrical lead of one polarity whereby sodium losses from the arc tube are reduced. Importantly, the evacuated envelope includes a getter and the heat reducing member is in the form of a domed sleeve having an open end directed away from the getters.

Abstract: A low wattage single-ended metal halide arc discharge lamp has an isothermal arc chamber with an outer diameter (t) substantially equal to the product of a first constant and the lamp wattage plus a second constant; a fill gas and a pair of electrical conductors sealed into and passing through one end of the arc chamber to provide a pair of electrodes therein having a spacing therebetween of about a distance to provide a substantially uniform current for lamps in the range of about 35 to 150 watts.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp includes a hermetically sealed outer envelope having an arc tube therein containing a fill gas which includes sodium and having a wall member with a portion of increased thickness wherein the portion of increased thickness of the wall member of the arc tube is positioned adjacent to a metal conductor disposed within the outer envelope whereby loss of sodium from the arc tube is inhibited.

Abstract: A single power transistor oscillator circuit includes a single transistor oscillator coupled by an inductive means including an inductive coil and transformer to a DC potential development means with a wave-shaping means coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer to provide a substantially symmetrical AC potential centered about a zero level DC voltage and applied to a load circuit.

Abstract: A single-ended metal halide discharge lamp including a fused silica elliptical-shaped envelope which is filled with a metal halide dosed high pressure mercury fill and wherein a pair of electrodes each having a metal rod with a ball on the end thereof are sealed whereby isothermal operation of the elliptical-shaped envelope is effected. A manufacturing process is also provided wherein an elliptical-shaped envelope is formed, a pair of electrodes having metal rods with a ball on the end thereof are sealed into one end of the envelope, and the envelope is filled with a metal halide dosed high pressure mercury fill.

Abstract: A miniaturized multilamp photoflash array including a transparent plastic cover member with the cover member having at least one prismatic barrier divider extending outwardly therefrom between a pair of parallel arrayed flashlamps. The prismatic barrier divider serves as a shield whereby sympathetic flashing of adjacent flashlamps is reduced.

Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp includes a pair of spaced electrodes within an envelope having a fill gas and a phosphor-covered inner wall surface with a circuit breaker having a glass bulb with a wall thickness in the range of about 0.016 to 0.018 inch positioned within the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A transmitter circuit adapted to transmit control signals to receivers which in turn activate fluorescent lamp fixtures. The transmitter comprises a frequency controllable oscillator and means coupled from the oscillator for providing alternating cycle control signals adapted to control the drive of the load. A divider circuit is used responsive to the oscillator frequency for providing a divided frequency signal of lower frequency of that of the oscillator. Feedback means including biphase means is responsive to the divided frequency signal and is coupled to the oscillator for controlling the oscillating frequency thereof. The oscillator output frequency is switchable at the divided frequency signal rate from a first frequency to a second frequency under control from the divider circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically measuring aperture size of apertured material includes a means for supporting and transporting the apertured material and a light source providing a light beam directed for passage through the apertured material to a light detector and is characterized by a comparator mask of alternate light transparent and opaque sectors of a given dimension and means for overlaying the apertured material with the comparator mask to provide a given length of light transparent slot and responsive to signals representing light transmitted through the given length of slot for deriving a signal representing the width of the slots of the slotted material. Also, a process for automatically measuring aperture size includes the steps of overlaying the slotted material with the comparator mask and utilizing a signal from the light detector representing light transmission of the slots of a given length to derive a signal representative of the slot width.

Abstract: A circuit breaker for a rapid-start fluorescent lamp includes a pair of electrical conductors sealed into a glass bottle, a bimetal switch within the bottle having one end affixed and the other end contacting the pair of electrical conductors and a meltable by-pass element shunting the pair of electrical conductors and formed of a material having a relatively high cold resistivity and a low temperature coefficient of resistance.

Abstract: A single-ended metal halide discharge lamp includes a plurality of fill gases selected to provide essentially white light at a plurality of distances from a pair of spaced electrodes and to combine the radiation from the multiple distances to provide white light with minimal color separation from the discharge lamp. Also, a method for providing spectral uniformity from a discharge lamp is provided wherein the emitted color and distance from a longitudinal axis provided by a plurality of fill gases is observed, fill gases are selected to provide white light emission at a plurality of distances from the longitudinal axis and the selected fill gases are combined to provide white light with minimal color separation from the discharge lamp.

Abstract: A process for operating a discharge lamp with an arc drop of not less than about 75% of a given service voltage includes the steps of series connecting a ballast and discharge lamp, coupling the series connected ballast and discharge lamp to a service voltage source and shunting the discharge lamp with a means for developing a pulse potential at or near the beginning of each half-cycle of the service voltage. Also, a series connected inductive ballast and discharge lamp are connected to a service voltage source and a non-linear dielectric element and preheat switching means each shunting the discharge lamp.