Abstract: A protection circuit of a backlight driver circuit includes a backlight driver circuit. The backlight driver circuit includes a backlight driver integrated circuit (IC), and the backlight driver IC includes a protection pin that controls the backlight driver IC to enter a protection mode. The backlight driver circuit further includes a protection circuit, and the protection circuit includes a monitoring unit that monitors a temperature of the backlight driver circuit. When the temperature of the backlight driver circuit exceeds a preset temperature, the monitoring unit sends the protection signal to the protection pin to control the backlight driver IC to enter the protection mode.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for regulating an amount of electrical power provided to at least one electrical load, the device comprising a control circuit disposed in the housing and including at least one switch device movable between a first switch state and a second switch state. The control circuit further includes a power control element that has a power control actuator configured to adjust the amount of power provided to the at least one electrical load. A variable control actuator is accessible to the user via the control aperture and coupled to the power control actuator via a linkage structure. The linkage structure further includes a pin and channel arrangement configured to convert a user control action into a power control actuator adjustment by translating rotational motion into linear motion or linear motion into rotational motion.

Abstract: A discharge switch device is provided that includes a comparator portion, a temperature compensation diode, and a trigger portion. The comparator portion is configured to compare an input voltage value to a reference voltage value. The temperature compensation diode is configured to reduce variation of the reference voltage value. The trigger portion is configured to discharge stored energy when the input voltage value exceeds the reference voltage value.

Abstract: The discharge lamp lighting device in accordance with the present invention includes a controller configured to perform an abnormality judgment process of judging whether or not abnormality has occurred based on a measured value of a driving voltage defined as an AC voltage applied to a discharge lamp. The controller is configured to, in the abnormality judgment process, judge whether or not an asymmetric state in which the driving voltage lacks symmetry has occurred over a predetermined period. The controller is configured to, upon concluding that the asymmetric state has occurred over the predetermined period, conclude that the abnormality has occurred.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the controller senses a leading edge, phase cut AC input voltage value to a switching power converter during a cycle of the AC input voltage. The controller senses the voltage value at a time prior to a zero crossing of the AC input voltage and utilizes the voltage value to determine the approximate zero crossing. In at least one embodiment, by determining an approximate zero crossing of the AC input voltage, the controller is unaffected by any disturbances of the dimmer that could otherwise make detecting the zero crossing problematic. In at least one embodiment, the controller approximates the AC input voltage using a function that estimates a waveform of the AC input voltage and determines the approximate zero crossing of the AC input voltage from the approximation of the AC input voltage.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for operating a high-pressure discharge lamp below its nominal power is provided, wherein the high-pressure discharge lamp is operated at nominal power with an alternating current having a predetermined operating frequency, and the lamp voltage is measured during a half-cycle at least at the start of a half-cycle and at the end of a half-cycle. The method may include: reducing the present operating frequency below an upper limit; and changing the current shape of the alternating current to a monopitch roof-shaped current shape, which is dependent on the difference in the lamp voltages at the end and at the start of the half-cycle.

Abstract: A method for driving and dimming an HID lamp (2), the method comprising the steps of: providing a controllable HBCF current source stage (20); using the HBCF current source stage (20) to generate commutating DC lamp current (I) having alternating current direction; supplying the HBCF current source stage (20) with an intermediate voltage (Vo). In normal mode, the commutating DC lamp current (I) is generated with a predetermined nominal current magnitude (IN) while the intermediate voltage (Vo) has a predetermined nominal level (VN). In a dim mode, the commutating DC lamp current (I) is generated with a current magnitude lower than said nominal current magnitude (IN) while the intermediate voltage (Vo) has a level (VH) higher than said nominal level (VN).

Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device includes a lamp current control portion that generates, in synchronization with an input video signal, a control signal for controlling polarity reversal of an AC current with a steady-state lighting frequency and an AC current with a low frequency, and a lamp driving portion that drives the discharge lamp based on the control signal that is output by the lamp current control portion. The lamp current control portion generates a control signal for a brightness reduction waveform with timing corresponding to polarity reversal of the AC current with the steady-state lighting frequency, and the lamp driving portion inserts a current reduction waveform into the AC current with the low frequency by decreasing a voltage applied to the discharge lamp based on the control signal for the brightness reduction waveform.

Abstract: A self-heating thermal protector operates to disconnect a load control device for a lighting load from an AC power source when insulation is present around the insulation detector independent of the magnitude of an AC mains line voltage of the AC power source. The insulation detector comprises a temperature-sensitive switch and a constant power circuit that are located in a thermally-conductive enclosure. The temperature-sensitive switch is coupled between the AC power source and the load control device and is rendered conductive and non-conductive in response to a temperature inside the enclosure. The constant power circuit is coupled in parallel with the AC power source and dissipates a constant amount of power independent of the magnitude of the AC mains line voltage when the temperature-sensitive switch is conductive. Restricted airflow over the thermal protector causes the temperature inside the enclosure to increase, such that the temperature-sensitive switch is rendered non-conductive.

Abstract: A light source turn-on/off controller includes an input section of a turn-on/off timing signal, a PWM signal generating section for generating a pulse signal responding to a rise or a fall of the timing signal, a duty cycle of the pulse signal changing so as to simulate a rise or a fall of emission in turn-on or turn-off of a filament, an emission control section for controlling an emitting section responding to the pulse signal from the PWM signal generating section, and a storage section for storing a control data table for duty cycle control by the PWM signal generating section. The control data table includes a rise table to be referred to in the rise of emission and a fall table to be referred to in the fall of emission, and each of the rise table and the fall table indicates association between elapsed time from the rise or the fall of the timing signal and the duty cycle of the pulse signal, and a relationship between the tables indicates that they cannot be superposed on each other.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus for a high-pressure discharge lamp that has an electric discharge container made of quartz glass, and containing a pair of counter electrodes and a power supply unit that supplies AC current to the high-pressure discharge lamp. The power supply unit has a stationary power lighting mode and a modulated power lighting mode that supplies current having power less than power in the stationary power lighting mode. The modulated power lighting mode supplies a rectangular AC current having a first term and a second term. A mean high-frequency current value supplied to a first electrode is greater than a mean current value supplied to a second electrode in the first term. A current is supplied to the second electrode for a term longer than the half-cycle period in the second term, the current being lower than the mean high-frequency current value supplied to the first electrode.

Abstract: A higher power package is provided in a smaller package by providing at least first and second magnetics in parallel in first and second transformers. To limit degrading performance associated with circulating current between the two transformers, the transformers are electrically decoupled. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit includes parallel primary and secondary windings of the transformer that are decoupled electrically on an output side. Particularly, diodes are provided in a preheat portion of the circuit so that once the preheat phase is terminated, the diodes prevent current flow in one direction through the preheat portion of the circuit.

Abstract: In a method of detecting arc discharge in a glow-discharge apparatus GD that has a high-frequency power source PS, a cutting pulse is output for time T1 to the high-frequency power source PS to stop a supply of power to the glow-discharge apparatus GD, when dVr/dt-dVf/dt increases over a first level, where Vf and Vr are a traveling-wave voltage and a reflected-wave voltage applied to the glow-discharge apparatus GD, respectively.

Abstract: A driving circuit includes a signal generator, a resonant circuit, a control circuit and an adjusting circuit. The signal generator is utilized for generating an alternating current (AC) signal having a fixed frequency. The resonant circuit is coupled to the signal generator, and is utilized for generating an oscillation signal to drive a backlight source according to the alternating current signal. The control circuit is utilized for providing a control signal. The adjusting circuit is coupled to the control circuit, the resonant circuit and the backlight source, and is utilized for providing an impedance according to the control signal to thereby adjust a current value of the backlight source.

Abstract: An electronic dimming ballast comprises a filament turn-off circuit for controlling the magnitudes of filament voltages supplied to the filaments of a gas discharge lamp. Each of a plurality of filament windings is directly coupled to one of the filaments and is operable to supply a small AC filament voltage to the filaments. The plurality of filament windings and a control winding are loosely magnetically coupled to a resonant inductor of an output circuit of the ballast. A controllably conductive device is coupled across the control winding. When the controllably conductive device is conductive, the voltage across the control winding and the filament windings falls to zero volts. The controllably conductive device is driven with a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal so as to control the magnitudes of the filament voltages. The filament voltages are provided to the filaments before striking the lamp, and when dimming the lamp near low end.

Abstract: In a method of detecting arc discharge in a glow-discharge apparatus GD that has a high-frequency power source PS, a cutting pulse is output for time T1 to the high-frequency power source PS to stop a supply of power to the glow-discharge apparatus GD, when dVr/dt?dVf/dt increases over a first level, where Vf and Vr are a traveling-wave voltage and a reflected-wave voltage applied to the glow-discharge apparatus GD, respectively. Arc discharge is determined to have developed in the glow-discharge apparatus, when Vr/Vf increases to a second level or a higher level within a preset time To after the supply of power to the glow-discharge apparatus is stopped.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for fluorescent tube armatures, the device being intended to replace a previously occurring fluorescent tube. The device has a light emitting diode unit (4) comprising at least one electrical drive unit (4.1), which is connected to at least one phase wire, as well as is connected to at least one neutral wire via at least one wire (4.2) comprising at least one light-emitting diode (4.3).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of programming a preset intensity of a dimmer switch from a radio-frequency (RF) remote control. A user is able to adjust the intensity of the lighting load to a new intensity and subsequently press and hold a preset button on the remote control to program the new intensity as the preset intensity. The remote control transmits a wireless transmission to the dimmer switch, which immediately responds to the actuation of the preset button by controlling the intensity of the lighting load to an initial preset intensity. The dimmer switch then blinks a light-emitting diode representative of the new intensity to provide feedback that the dimmer switch is in the process of programming the preset intensity to the new intensity. Eventually, the dimmer switch stores the new intensity as the preset intensity and stops blinking the light-emitting diode.

Abstract: A system and method are described for controlling voltage on discharge capacitors which control light energy from flash lamps, wherein the method includes measuring over time an operational behavior of a flash lamp for performing photothermolysis, wherein a discharge capacitor transfers energy to the flash lamp, empirically deriving a behavior of the flash lamp as a function of operation over time, and using the empirically derived behavior of the flash lamp to control a voltage of the discharge capacitor and thus energy transferred to the flash lamp.

Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting circuit includes a power supplying portion having a series resonant circuit including transistors and a bridge driver, a starting portion for applying a high voltage pulse to a discharge lamp to promote a lighting operation, a lighting confirming portion for generating a lighting confirmation signal Sf indicating that a lighting operation for the discharge lamp fails or is successful by the high voltage pulse, and a control portion for generating a control signal Sc to control a driving frequency of the bridge driver. The lighting confirming portion generates a lighting confirmation signal Sf based on a relationship of the magnitude between a lamp voltage equivalent signal VS and a predetermined voltage V4 at a time that a predetermined time ?t passes since the application of the high voltage pulse to the discharge lamp.

Abstract: The invention improves an operating method, already described in the prior application 198 39 329.6, for a silent discharge lamp L, in which, using the forward transformer principle, a voltage pulse effecting a forward ignition is impressed from a primary circuit P via a transformer T into a secondary circuit S containing the silent discharge lamp L, and the secondary circuit S thereafter executes a half wave which, as a consequence of the polarization, leads to a back ignition in the discharge lamp L. The improvement consists essentially in that an inductance of the transformer T which governs a transformer current is temporally varied.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing emission of incoherent radiation and uses therefor are disclosed. A system for providing emission of high peak power (in watts) incoherent radiation, comprises an electrically impeded discharge lamp linked to an electrical energy supply.

Abstract: A description is given of an operating method for a discharge lamp with dielectrically impeded discharges and also a corresponding ballast and illumination system. The invention is directed at withdrawing the external lamp voltage across the discharge lamp in order to produce a back ignition in the lamp by virtue of an internal counterpolarization. The back ignition improves the efficiency of the lamp operation and makes it possible to construct a very small, lightweight ballast.

Abstract: A device for operation of a discharge lamp in which a dielectric barrier discharge lamp can discharge with high efficiency. A discharge lamp of the outside electrode type, a dielectric barrier discharge excimer lamp type, or the like, is operated by applying a lamp voltage of 1 kV to 10 kV with a periodic waveform by an operation circuit. In this lamp, within bulb including a dielectric, at least one type of rare gas is hermetically enclosed in a given amount. A dielectric barrier is located between at least one electrode and the gas, and a discharge is produced in the bulb via this dielectric barrier. The rise time or fall time of a waveform which represents a main energy supply time in the periodic waveform, is fixed at greater than or equal to 0.03 .mu.s and less than or equal to 9 .mu.s. Furthermore, the distance between the waveform which represents the main energy supply and a adjacent waveform which represents an adjacent main energy supply is greater than or equal to 3.4 .mu.s.

Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device according to the present invention includes: a discharge lamp including an electrode; and a lighting circuit for lighting the discharge lamp, the lighting circuit being connected to the discharge lamp, wherein the discharge lamp includes a conductor at least partially surrounding the electrode, and the lighting circuit provides a potential for the conductor that is higher than an average potential of the electrode.

Abstract: A beam mode lamp has two discharge electrodes which alternately function as anode and cathode. One or more modifying electrodes are located between the discharge electrodes. Each modifying electrode is kept equal to or negative with respect to the cathode, raising the operating voltage of the lamp from a normal 20 volts to line voltage.

Abstract: Ballast apparatus operates a HID lamp at high frequency and high power factor. Series-connected current-limiting input inductor and input capacitor connect across apparatus input and are tuned off resonance to pass predetermined lagging current. An additional input capacitor is connected across input terminals to that input power factor approaches unity. Full-wave diode bridge has input connected across series-connected input capacitor and filter capacitor connects across bridge rectifier output. During normal operation, the filter capacitor develops a DC potential which is current limited by series-connected inductor and capacitor. Inverter has input connected across filter capacitor and inverter an output that drives the HID lamp through a high-voltage generating and variable impedance resonant circuit.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp operable from an AC potential source includes an arc discharge tube having a pair of oppositely disposed main electrodes therein and an associated external starting electrode, all disposed within a sealed envelope having an affixed base with a circuit means including a negative potential blocking device coupling the starting electrode to the AC potential source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting unit utilizing an energy efficient arc lamp as the main source of light supplemented by a standby filamentary lamp, the filament serving as a resistive ballast for the arc lamp during normal operation. The lighting unit is designed for functional similarity to an incandescent lamp, the filament providing immediate illumination when the lighting unit is first energized and continuing illumination until the arc lamp itself produces light. In accordance with the invention, if the arc lamp does not start within a predetermined period, the application of starting potentials produced through operation of a solid state switch and a high frequency step-up transformer is discontinued and the lighting unit rendered inactive. Exemplary means includes a positive temperature coefficient thermistor responsive to the temperature rise of the solid state switch.

Abstract: The electron-beam converter comprises at least one of each of the following components: a cathode, an anode and, accelerating and control electrodes. The anode has a surface orthogonal with respect to a diverging electron flow and is arranged with respect to the cathode so that the angle between normals to the surfaces of these electrodes is greater than zero but less than 180.degree.. The accelerating electrode is disposed in the opening of this angle. The control electrodes are arranged near the cathode on either side of the electron flow. A cathode-adjacent focusing electrode is arranged behind the control electrode which is on the cathode side opposite to the accelerating electrode, and an anode-adjacent focusing electrode is inserted between the anode and accelerating electrode. All of said electrodes make up an electron-optical system shaping the electron flow into a beam so as to prevent electrons from impinging upon the accelerating electrode.

Abstract: When connected to an ordinary A.C. power source, the apparatus has a power supply in which a circuit ground oscillates in voltage with respect to the earth ground, no matter with which polarity the apparatus is connected to the power source. A person's capacitative coupling to earth ground is employed to create a circuit in one or the other of two sensing heads (depending upon which the person approaches) to use that pulsating voltage to charge a capacitor in the respective sensing head. From one head the capacitor charge is applied to a memory in the sense to increase a potential stored in the memory while from the other head the charge is applied in the sense of decreasing the potential. The potential in the memory is employed as one component of the total voltage required to initiate the firing of a triac, whereby the phase angle of the firing will be determined by the magnitude of the stored potential.