Abstract: A hot cathode preheating start discharge lamp comprises a lamp tube, a first electrode, a second electrode, a first heating element and a second heating element. The lamp tube has a sealed housing chamber. The first and second electrodes have respectively one end held in the housing chamber and another end connected to a power source. The first and second heating elements are spaced from the first and second electrodes without connecting therewith and have respectively another end connected to a discharge preheating controller or an electronic ballast. Thereby the invention does not need tungsten filaments or electronic powder coated on the tungsten filaments to generate a great amount of electrons like the conventional techniques do. Thus the problems of burnout and fracture of the tungsten filaments or exhaustion of electronic powder can be eliminated, and the lifespan of the lamp tube can be enhanced.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for a high-pressure discharge lamp, having a main combustion chamber with first and second main electrodes and an auxiliary combustion chamber including: an inverter having first and second electronic switches and first and second output terminals; a drive circuit for the electronic switches; and an auxiliary starting circuit. The auxiliary starting circuit has input terminals coupled to the output terminals of the inverter; a first output terminal for the first main electrode; a second output terminal for the second main electrode; and an auxiliary electrode arranged on the side of the first output terminal for inducing an auxiliary starting voltage in the auxiliary combustion chamber. The auxiliary starting circuit includes a cascade circuit formed by the auxiliary electrode and the second output terminal of the auxiliary starting circuit, which provides a voltage for starting the high-pressure discharge lamp.

Abstract: Ignition of a gas discharge lamp 10, which has a gas containing main space and two inner electrodes, of a lighting unit 4 of a lighting system is achieved by the use of a high frequency resonance circuit. The resonance circuit is connected to the inner electrodes and to a supply device 2, which supplies an alternating supply voltage. An outer electrode 22 is arranged near one the inner electrodes and to a node of the resonance circuit. Upon supplying the supply voltage a high voltage alternating burst will be generated at the outer electrode. This will result into a discharge of the gas in the main space. In turn, this will induce a discharge of the remaining gas. Then the frequency of the supply voltage will increase and a small reactive current only will remain to flow through the resonance circuit.

Abstract: The invention is a device for operating a high-pressure gas discharge lamp, which is provided with a starting auxiliary electrode, with a current of alternating polarity. The device has a series resonance circuit with a resonance inductive resistor, through which flows the lamp current when the lamp is in operation, and a starting device for subjecting the starting auxiliary electrode to the starting voltage required for starting the gas discharge in the high-pressure gas discharge lamp. There is also a capacitive component, which is connected in series to the resonance inductive resistor and is dimensioned in such a manner that the capacitive component effects, after the gas discharge in the high-pressure gas discharge lamp has been started, at least a partial compensation for the inductance of the resonance inductive resistor, through which the lamp current flows.

Abstract: Methods of forming a component of a thin film magnetic head and improving the plating of a component of a thin film magnetic head are provided. The methods include the use of a high activation energy chemically amplified photoresist (CARS) that is contacted with a low pH high saturation magnetic moment plating solution to form a magnetic head component that is essentially free of plating defects. The methods find utility in hard disk drive applications, such as in the manufacture of magnetic poles for the write head of a hard disk drive.

Abstract: An arc tube for a high intensity discharge lamp comprising a translucent body defining a discharge space and including spaced-apart electrodes; an arc generating and sustaining medium within the discharge space; and a starting aid contained within the discharge space, the starting aid comprising an electrically conductive stripe formed from a mixture of an electrically conductive material and the high temperature material.

Abstract: In order to improve the starting of a dielectric barrier discharge lamp it is proposed to provide elements for igniting an auxiliary discharge inside the exhaust tube (5) of the lamp.

Abstract: Light source device which includes a discharge lamp which contains at least 0.15 mg mercury per cubic millimeter of the volume of the discharge space, a pair of electrodes opposite one another to create the main discharge and spaced a distance from one another of less than or equal to 2.5 mm, and an auxiliary electrode arranged such that it does not come into contact with the discharge space for the main discharge. The light source device further including a feed circuit to feed the discharge current to the electrodes for the main discharge, and a starter which produces a high voltage between one of the electrodes of the two electrodes for the main discharge and the auxiliary discharge, such that the starter produces a voltage two to five times as high as the voltage necessary for starting the main discharge in the lamp at the room temperature state.

Abstract: A plasma discharge display device comprises a generally columnar chamber with a pair of electrodes tangentially located at opposite ends of the chamber for ionizing gas in the chamber. The columnar chamber comprises a cylindrical portion interconnected with a generally spherical portion. The configuration of the chamber generates an active (but not hyperactive) plasma discharge that is continuous, has a full motion and with minimal noise without the need of additional adulterants for instability.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a discharge lamp, which has at least one dielectrically impeded electrode (2, 3), on a flyback converter, which applies periodically recurring voltage pulses to the discharge lamp (La1). If the discharge lamp (La1) has a starting aid (10), the voltage amplitude (US) of the voltage pulses is successively raised until a dielectrically impeded discharge is formed in the discharge lamp, and until the voltage amplitude (US) has reached the nominal operating voltage. If the discharge lamp (La1) has no starting aid, a first discharge which causes a partial ionization of the discharge medium is firstly ignited in the discharge lamp (La1). Immediately after the first discharge has been brought back to extinction, a dielectrically impeded discharge is ignited anew, and the voltage amplitude (US) of the voltage pulses is increased until the nominal operating voltage of the discharge lamp (La1) is reached.

Abstract: Glow discharge apparatus comprises a light-transmissive body (101) defining a cavity (102) containing neon or xenon gas. The glow discharge is powered by one or more electrodes (103) external to the cavity. The apparatus also comprises a secondary light source (104) for illuminating the neon gas to provide electrons in the cavity, thereby assisting discharge initiation in intermittent use, for example when controlled by a pulse time modulation drive circuit (107).

Abstract: A switch for switching large currents and large charges includes an anode separated from a cathode with a cylindrical trigger electrode located around the anode and the gap. The cathode is of a metal such as zinc, cadmium, tin or magnesium. During operation, a suitable potential applied to the trigger electrode causes a main discharge to occur between the anode and the cathode.

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 fluorescent discharge lamp has two glow mode electrodes wound around it in a helical fashion. One circuit drives the main electrodes at opposite ends of the lamp at high levels of brightness. Another circuit drives the glow mode electrodes at low levels of brightness, at about 10MHz. At intermediate levels of brightness, both the main electrodes and the glow mode electrodes are driven, the two sets of electrodes being driven for alternate on and off periods with the glow mode electrodes being on when the main electrodes are off and the glow mode electrodes being off when the main electrodes are on.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling the luminous output of a fluorescent lamp over a wide dimming range. The luminous output is controlled by controlling the lamp current, while the lamp is immersed in a lateral electrostatic field. The lamp and external electrostatic ionization electrodes are driven by a true analog voltage-to-current converter that has a dynamic range inherently wider than conventional PWM circuits. A modified, transformer coupled, push-pull converter with an analog-current-driven primary circuit is used in one embodiment of the apparatus. The lamp driver must be capable of providing a high compliance voltage consistent with the I-V profile of the lamp. A subordinate primary winding on the transformer may be used to reduce magnetization current and to supply sufficient energy for supporting the lateral electrostatic field that is generated by the ionization electrodes which may be printed on a PWB mounted behind the lamp.

Abstract: An improved gas discharge trigger for a pseudogap cold cathode thyratron. Electrical trigger pulses are capacitively coupled through the vacuum envelope wall (16) causing a gas discharge adjacent to the rear of the hollow cathode (26). Coupling apertures (12) between the trigger discharge region and the hollow cathode allow ionization to propagate into the rear of the hollow cathode and trigger the pseudogap from a non conducting to conducting state.

Abstract: A device for operating a gas discharge lamp is disclosed which includes a voltage transformer preferably an inverse transformer, to whose output a bridge circuit is connected, with the lamp being disposed in the diagonal of the bridge. A component disposed in the vicinity of lamp and able to carry an electrical potential is arranged in such a manner that an electrical field is able to develop between the lamp and the component. The component is connected with that terminal at the output of the voltage transformer at which the potential is positive relative to that at the other terminal.

Abstract: A cold cathode tube in which an auxiliary electrode formed of an electric conductive material is provided on an outer surface of a cylindrical tube element so as to extend over substantially a half of the tube element from one end thereof to a location in the neighborhood of a center of the tube element along a longitudinal direction, and a longer one of a pair of lead wires from a power source section is connected to one of a pair of electrodes on the side where the auxiliary electrode is provided.

Abstract: A starting aid for high pressure sodium vapor lamps eliminates the need to mechanically connect an ignition wire to the lamp frame. The starting aid employs an ignition wire which is slidably clipped directly to the arc tube at one end and which is connected to a bi-metallic switch at the other end. The bi-metallic switch is mechanically and electrically connected to one power lead of the arc tube.

Abstract: A charging method within a glass tube using a direct current of low voltage is provided in order to obtain a small fluorescent lamp with a light emission of high luminance. Two distinct discharges are achieved through use of one negative electrode. The filament-like negative electrode is arranged at a short spaced relation to a positive electrode at one end of the glass tube and upon application of the direct current voltage becomes the preliminary discharge. A second positive electrode is positioned at the opposite end of the glass tube and has a greater-spaced relation to the negative electrode resulting in the second discharge.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for triggering certain high voltage electronic, gas discharge switches that are a novel type of high power thyratron. In this invention, triggering of switches of the so-called "pseudospark thyratron" type (a type of cold cathode thyratron) is enhanced by the inclusion of a very small, hot thermiionic trigger switch or cathode, separate and isolated from the main switch electrodes, to initiate the triggering discharge. The trigger cathode is protected from destruction by the main discharge current through the switch by mechanically and electrically isolating it from further participation in the discharge once the triggering process has been initiated.

Abstract: An orientation independent ignitron (OII) has an anode, a cathode with a plurality of spaced grooves facing the anode, and a cooling mechanism which causes liquid metal vapor to condense as a film which is retained on the grooved cathode surface by surface tension and forms reservoirs within the grooves. The cathode and anode are preferably cylindrical and coaxial, with the inner surface of the cathode having parallel annular grooves facing the outer anode surface. Igniters are preferably introduced into convex areas between adjacent grooves along radial lines, with individual igniters providing ignition for a pair of adjacent grooves. The igniters can be operated simultaneously or in sequence, depending upon the desired repetition rate and current capacity. A liquid metal film is initially formed by placing the OII on its side, introducing liquid metal into the lower ends of the grooves, and causing arcing between the anode and liquid metal to flow the liquid metal and wet the adjacent groove surface.

Abstract: A deuterium lamp starting circuit utilizing the arc-defining aperture cage of the lamp as the arc-starting electrode to enable the application of a positive, low starting voltage simultaneously with the application of the filament voltage. This positive, low starting voltage is applied to the cage which operates as a starting electrode. After the anode to cathode arc strikes and the anode voltage decreases below the cutoff level, current between the cage and the cathode is reduced and the current flows between the cathode and the anode of the tube.

Abstract: A high-intensity discharge (HID) metal vapor lamp and starting apparatus includes a metal vapor lamp having an outer envelope containing a gas filled arc tube, the fill gas including xenon, the arc tube having a pair of spaced electrodes with a starting aid surrounding the arc tube intermediate the electrodes, a non-linear dielectric element shunting the spaced electrodes and a ballast means and an electrical conductor coupling the spaced electrodes to a base member connected to a low voltage source whereby starting of the metal vapor lamp from a low voltage source is effected.

Abstract: A discharge lamp is provided with a starting aid in the form of a loop of conductive wire arranged around the discharge lamp arc tube and a novel spark gap. A conductive element is electrically connected between the loop and an insulating sleeve adapted to form a spark gap by means of the conductive element wrapped around an opening in the insulating sleeve. The opening can be in the form of a drilled hole or slot and the arrangement is particularly useful in the restricted confines of a sealed beam reflector lamp.

Abstract: The low pressure gas-filled thyratron is scalable in the long dimension. Internally the tube is formed as a tetrode, with an auxiliary grid placed between the cathode and the control grid. A DC or pulsed power source drives the auxiliary grid both to insure uniform cathode emission and to provide a grid-cathode plasma prior to commutation. The high voltage holdoff structure consists of the anode, the control grid and its electrostatic shielding baffles, and a main quartz insulator. A small gas flow supply and exhaust system is used that eliminates the need for a hydrogen reservoir and permits other gases, such as helium, to be used. The thyratron provides a low inductance, high current, long lifetime switch configuration; useful for switch-on applications involving large scale lasers and other similar loads that are distributed in a linear geometry.

Abstract: An ignition element for use in igniting a high-frequency plasma torch is ungrounded and displaceable. When a tip end of the ignition element is positioned in a location in a gas to be formed into a plasma, which flows under normal pressure, and a high-frequency energy is applied to the above location in the gas flow, the gas is ignited into a high-temperature plasma in a small period of time shorter than 1 second. After the gas has been ignited, the ignition element is immediately retracted out of the location. The ignition element may be in the form of an ignition rod of metal or an ignition tube of quartz or the like. Where the ignition rod is used, it instantaneously contacts the high-temperature plasma upon ignition so that the high-temperature plasma is of high purity consisting only of the component of the gas. The ignition tube may be used for producing a high-temperature plasma of higher purity on and after ignition. The ignition tube is employed while a pressure therein is reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical driving and recovery system for a high frequency environment. The recovery system can be applied to drive present day direct-current or alternating-current loads for better efficiency. It has a low-voltage source coupled to a vibrator, a transformer and a bridge-type rectifier to provide a high voltage pulsating signal to a first capacitor. Where a high-voltage source is otherwise available, it may be coupled directly to a bridge-type rectifier, causing a pulsating signal to the first capacitor. The first capacitor in turn is coupled to a high voltage anode of an electrical conversion switching element tube. The switching element tube also includes a low voltage anode which is connected to a voltage source by a commutator and a switching element tube. Mounted around the high voltage anode is a charge receiving plate which is coupled to an inductive load to transmit a high voltage discharge from the switching element tube to the load.

Abstract: A triggered spark gap discharger having a small auxiliary gap in the trigger pulse path. The auxiliary gap provides ultraviolet radiation to liberate electrons at the trigger probe and allow prompt firing of the trigger gap and primary gap, particularly in aged discharger units.

Abstract: A medical imaging device employs a plurality of triggered plasma cathode flash X-ray sources, each of which has an axially extending round anode rod, a cathode, and a trigger electrode. The application of a trigger pulse between the electrode and the cathode produces a burst of plasma near the cathode, the plasma containing electrons that are accelerated toward and impact the anode in a region termed the "focal spot" for producing X-rays when a voltage source applies a predetermined voltage between the cathode and anode. According to the invention, a non-conducting surface interconnects the electrode with a cathode or a conductor held at the same potential as the cathode, the application of a trigger pulse to the electrode causing flashover across said surface for producing the burst of plasma.

Abstract: Device for the manual start-up of a plasmotron. The device has a spring biased plunger which constitutes an electrode which selectively bridges the anode and cathode of the plasmotron and creates an arc between the anode and cathode when it is released so as to be retracted by the spring. The device is provided with an automatic lock which secures the plunger in its outer, retracted position and must be released manually to prevent unintended operation of the start-up device.

Abstract: Typically, a bottom of a cup-shaped electrode opposes to that of a similar electrode through a predetermined gap and in a mixture of helium and hydrogen. A step-up transformer connected across an AC source through a resistor applies a voltage in excess of a discharge breakdown voltage for the gap across the electrodes to cause a pilot glow discharge between them before the source voltage reaches a glow hold minimum voltage for the electrodes. A rectified voltage resulting from a transformer connected across the resistor turns a bidirectional triode thyristor on to apply the source voltage across the electrodes through the conducting thyristor. This smoothly transits the pilot glow discharge to a glow discharge between the electrodes. The latter discharge heats a liquid forcedly flowing along inner surfaces of the electrodes. Also an auxiliary electrode can be operatively coupled to the electrodes to cause similarly a pilot glow discharge between it and either one of the electrodes.

Abstract: Series and shunt flashlamp triggering arrangements are disclosed wherein an electrically conductive patch is intimately bonded to a portion of the outer lateral surface of the flashlamp housing extending over a portion of the high voltage electrode and terminating at a longitudinal location along the housing substantially aligned with the inner end of the high voltage electrode. An electrically conductive wire connected to the patch extends along the outer lateral surface of the housing from the patch to at least the vicinity of the other electrode. The high voltage electrode defines a sharp-edged annular rim projecting outwardly from its lateral surface adjacent its inner end.

Abstract: High energy switching device utilizing a gas discharge tube with input and output electrodes connected electrically in series with a source and a load. A control element is connected to the input electrode, and a trigger signal is applied to the control element to initiate firing of the tube to pass energy from the source to the load. An electrostatic shield is disposed about the output electrode to prevent the tube from self firing in the absence of a trigger signal when the potential between the electrodes is below a predetermined level.