Abstract: A method and a system for fabricating articles made from thermoset resins using an ionic mold release agent. The invention uses a mold having a metal oxide surface with enhanced mold release characteristics. The release agent is applied internally in the resin composition or externally on the metal oxide surface. The method includes providing a mold, forming a metal oxide surface on the mold, providing an ionic release agent, providing the acid or base conjugate of the release agent at the metal oxide surface, providing a thermoset resin in the mold, and curing the resin in the mold. A method of using float glass having a SnO2 enriched surface, wherein the method includes the steps of providing an ionic release agent externally to the tin oxide surface, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a system for fabricating articles made from thermoset resins using an ionic mold release agent. The invention uses a mold having a metal oxide surface with enhanced mold release characteristics. The release agent is applied internally in the resin composition or externally on the metal oxide surface. The method includes providing a mold, forming a metal oxide surface on the mold, providing an ionic release agent, providing the acid or base conjugate of the release agent at the metal oxide surface, providing a thermoset resin in the mold, and curing the resin in the mold. A method of using float glass having a SnO2 enriched surface, wherein the method includes the steps of providing an ionic release agent externally to the tin oxide surface, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ultrasonic assisted deposition of a release agent onto a workpiece is disclosed. The release agent can be any fluorinated or non-fluorinated phosphorous-containing organic acid. The workpiece can be any workpiece desired to be coated with the release agent, such as a surface needing an anti-stick coating required in a plastic casting or injection mold. Metal oxide workpiece surfaces strongly bond to fluorinated phosphorus-containing organic acids.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp (10) includes a tube (12) and a fluorescent gas mixture sealed in the tube. A phosphor layer (20) is deposited on the interior surface of the tube. A pair of internal electrodes (14), connected by a first circuit (16) to a first power supply (18), are located in the tube at opposite ends thereof. The first power supply (18) causes a high-intensity arc discharge between the pair of internal electrodes (14) and, in turn, produces fluorescent light. An opposing pair of conductive traces (22, 24) connected by a second circuit (26) to a second power supply (28), are silk-screened onto the exterior surface of the lamp tube (12) along the length thereof. The second power supply (28) causes the opposing pair of conductive traces (22, 24) to produce a transverse electric field that creates a low-intensity transverse discharge. The low-intensity transverse discharge is used to lower the luminance range of the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: An improved night vision goggle (NVG) compatible backlight for a liquid crystal display (LCD) and active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) and other types of backlit displays is disclosed. The backlight includes a ridged prismatic TIR with an embedded diffuser layer doped with an infrared (IR) absorbing dye (57), a ridged prismatic TIR without diffuser layer (59) an infrared rejecting filter layer (63), and either a holographic diffuser layer or a lenticular lens array layer (65), or a fresnel wedge layer (67).

Abstract: A contactless switch (20) for actuating a system between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position is disclosed. The switch includes a housing (22) and a linear actuator (34) disposed within the housing. The switch also includes a linear-to-rotary motion assembly (30) disposed within the housing. The linear-to-rotary motion assembly is coupled to the linear actuator for producing a rotary motion of the linear-to-rotary motion assembly in response to a linear displacement of the linear-to-rotary motion assembly by the linear actuator. The switch also includes a plurality of Hall effect sensors (106) and magnets (80). The sensors are disposed within the housing and the magnets are disposed on the linear-to-rotary motion assembly.

Abstract: A push-button switch (20) having a housing (26) is disclosed. The push-button switch includes a cap assembly (22) reciprocably mounted within the housing. The push-button switch also includes at least a first subminiature switch (64) that is actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by a plunger (72) operatively connected thereto. The subminiature switch is disposed within the housing such that actuation of the plunger is substantially normal to the motion of the cap assembly. The push-button switch also includes an actuator (44) disposed within the housing and extending between the cap assembly and the plunger. The actuator sequentially pivots about first and second pivot points in response to a linear force to actuate the subminiature switch between the open and closed circuit position.

Abstract: An incandescent bulb luminance matching LED circuit for causing the luminance of an LED to match the luminance of an incandescent bulb is disclosed. The incandescent bulb luminance matching LED circuit includes an input port (26, 56 or 82), an output port (28, 58 or 98), one or more light emitting diodes (22, 24, . . . or 88, 90 . . .), and a voltage (20 or 89) and/or current (50 or 86) compensation block. The compensation block(s) is connected in circuit with the light emitting diode(s) between the input port and the output port and compensates for voltage and/or current changes in the power applied to the input port such that the luminance of the LED is approximately the same as that of an incandescent bulb. In one embodiment, the compensation block comprises a zener diode (30) connected in series with the light emitting diode(s) (22, 24, . . .) between the input port (26) and the output port (28). In an alternate embodiment, the compensation block comprises one or more current diode(s) (60, 62, . . .

Abstract: A luminosity control system (10) for a fluorescent lamp (12) that has a glass enclosure (18) and a pair of lead wires (14) at each end of the glass enclosure is provided. A filament (16) is electrically coupled to each pair of lead wires. An amalgam (22) is located adjacent each filament. The amalgam releases mercury into the glass enclosure upon activation of the fluorescent lamp. A wrapped wire heater (24) is in thermal contact with a first portion of the exterior surface of the glass enclosure. The heater and a thermoelectric cooler (36) raise the temperature of the fluorescent lamp to a level above the temperature at which the fluorescent lamp produces maximum visible light as determined by mercury pressure within the glass enclosure while the amalgam releases mercury into the fluorescent lamp. Thereafter, the thermoelectric cooler (36) maintains a portion of the glass enclosure at this temperature.