Abstract: A method for driving the backlight unit of the liquid crystal display includes: comparing the strength of a soft start signal with a predetermined signal through a comparator circuit, and generating a first comparison signal or a second comparison signal according to the comparison result; outputting a first frequency from a frequency modulation circuit according to the first comparison signal; and increasing the rising rate of the output voltage of a boost converter according to the first frequency. Therefore, the rising rate of the output voltage is increased, thereby solving the screen-flickering problem.

Abstract: A lighting assembly that is modular and highly configurable is disclosed. The assembly consists of one or more light fixtures that are fitted into a mounting rail. A flat, flexible cable lies within the rail and makes contact with the light fixtures through spring-loaded connectors. A power conditioning unit supplies power to the lighting assembly. The lighting assembly may be assembled and maintained with a minimum of tools, and is adaptable to a wide variety of environments and lighting design options.

Abstract: A spark gap system is disclosed that includes an enclosure which contains a gas medium; two rail electrodes which extend into the enclosure and which are separated from each other by the gas medium, a trigger blade which ionizes the gas medium to cause it to be a conductor between the two electrodes through a series of electrical arc channels in the gas medium, and an acoustic driver which generates a standing acoustic wave in the gas medium. The standing acoustic wave generates a pressure density profile that distributes the electrical arc channels along the wave nodes of the standing acoustic wave. This has the result of evenly distributing the electrical arc channels along the first and second rail electrodes when the gas medium is ionized, and improving the spark gap system performance.

Abstract: A starter circuit for use with a fluorescent lamp includes an inductor coupled in series with the lamp electrodes and a semiconductor bilateral trigger, such as a Sidac, connected between the lamp electrodes. The semiconductor bilateral switch is selected to conduct electricity at a value below the instantaneous peak voltage applied and to cease conduction at a level above the operating voltage of the lamp. When the voltage reaches the predetermined level at which the semiconductor switch turns on, current is conducted through the electrode and the bilateral trigger. When the bilateral switch turns off, a large voltage pulse is generated in the inductor which voltage pulse appears at one of the lamp electrodes. A voltage potential is therefore set up across the electrodes to the lamp fixture which is grounded ionizing ionizable material, for example, mercury, within the lamp.