Abstract: A pulse-excited mercury-free lamp system, and method of sustaining the emission of light emission from such a lamp, is provided. The system includes a light-transmissive envelope having an inner surface and a phosphor layer coated thereon. A discharge-sustaining gaseous mixture of a noble gas, at a low pressure, and a metal halide, is retained inside the light-transmissive envelope. An electrical system provides a plurality of pulses to the discharge-sustaining gaseous mixture, resulting in a discharge, which causes the lamp system to emit light. The emission of light is maintained by turning the discharge on during a pulse width of each pulse in the plurality of pulses and by turning the discharge off during a remainder of each period in the plurality of pulses. Particularly in systems where the metal halide is indium-based, this maintains an efficient emission of light without the use of mercury.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a pyroelectric sensor, a shutter and a lighting control unit. The lighting control unit is configured, when the lighting load is turned off, to turn the lighting load on if the pyroelectric sensor detects a change in infrared radiation. The lighting control unit is also configured, when the lighting load is turned on, to turn the lighting load off if a repetition count or time of a lighting retention time reaches a specified count or time, respectively, with no change in infrared radiation detected through the pyroelectric sensor within each lighting retention time per the passage of lighting retention time.

Abstract: A pyroelectric-type IR receiving element comprises a pyroelectric substrate which is fixed to a supporting body at its support ends and at least one rectangular patch formed in the substrate. The patch is formed on its opposite surfaces with first and second electrodes which are overlapped to each other. The substrate has a U-shaped slit composed of a pair of side slits and a base slit connecting the side slits. The U-shaped slit surrounds continuously three sides of the patch, so that the patch is supported by the substrate in a cantilever fashion at a cantilever end which is opposed to one of the support ends of the substrate. Since a thermal stress applied to the substrate when the substrate is exposed to a temperature change is absorbed by the U-shaped slit, a stress concentration to be considered is not developed in the patch. As a result, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of popcorn noise, while maintaining good IR sensitivity.

Abstract: An improved infrared detector element and an improved method for manufactng same is provided. A commercially available rough art wafer of ferroelectric material is ion milled under conditions which provide an extremely thin element with a near flawless detection surface.