Abstract: A touch-responsive socket for receiving an electric light bulb and controlling the power delivered to the bulb in response to the touching of an electrically-conductive member includes a housing with a touch-responsive electrical circuit disposed in it between a light socket shell and a mounting base. The mounting base is assembled from electrically dissimilar base portions. An electrically-nonconductive base portion provides support for power conductors and means for connecting the circuit to the conductors. An electrically-conductive base portion, which fits to the nonconductive base portion, provides electrical conductivity between a touch-control signal input to the touch-control circuit and an electrically-conductive member that is touched to control the illumination of an electric light bulb in the socket shell.

Abstract: A ballast circuit for starting and operating a preheat type circular fluorescent lamp, which replaces a multiple wattage incandescent lamp in a three-way incandescent lamp socket, so that the fluorescent lamp can be ignited to function at three different operating wattages. A lamination stacked core structure mounts first and second coils. A passive circuit element, such as positive temperature coefficient resistor also known as a thermistor, is connected in the circuit, which includes a three-way incandescent lamp screw base, for current switching functions to achieve the desired ignition and operating currents for the fluorescent lamp at its different operating wattages.

Abstract: There is disclosed a high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp which contains in an outer bulb a starting circuit connected in parallel with a light emitting tube having at least one pair of main electrodes. The starting circuit includes a ceramic capacitor surrounded by glass material and exhibiting a non-linear voltage-charge characteristic.

Abstract: High voltages are removed from a safety socket when an HID lamp is unscrewed from it. The socket comprises an actuator which is engaged by the lamp base and operates a switch. When the lamp is unscrewed the switch opens the primary supply to a high voltage pulse generating circuit which is disabled thereby.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting unit having low and high light levels and employing an efficient arc lamp as the source of light during the high level setting. The unit employs a filamentary light source for the production of light during low light level operation, the filament acting as a resistive ballast for the arc lamp during high level operation. Practical embodiments operate in a conventional three-way light socket with the sequences being off, low, high and low, and off, low, high, and high.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light saver device to be used in combination with a bayonet-type lamp and socket, wherein the light saver device comprises a pair of circular plate contacts having a diode mounted therebetween, three plastic insulating sheets being bonded together with the elongated plate contacts positioned between the sheets, an adhesive tape base mounted to the outer side of one of the sheets, and one of the sheets having a pair of tabs for securing the light saver device to a pair of pins extending from the lamp.

Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp unit for use with a three-way incandescent-type lamp fixture. The compact fluorescent lamp unit includes a compact fluorescent discharge device of predetermined configuration, a ballast inductor and two capacitors, and housing and support means for supporting the discharge device and housing the ballast inductor. When the switch of the incandescent-type lamp fixture is switched the compact fluorescent discharge device is switched, successively, from a deenergized state; to a low-light output state; to a medium-light output state; and, finally, to a high-light output state.

Abstract: A glow bottle starter having three lead-in wires and containing two bimetals connected together at one end and a rigid tungsten rod. The bimetals make normally closed contact with the tungsten rod in the quiescent state of the starter, and upon electrical current flow through one or both of the bimetals to cause elevation to a predetermined temperature, the bimetals are operative to separate from the tungsten rod. In a circuit including the glow-bottle starter for starting a discharge lamp, one of the bimetals and the rigid tungsten rod are connected across the output of a ballast circuit, and the tungsten rod and other bimetal are connected across the lamp.

Abstract: A high pressure sodium lamp, which includes a discharge tube enclosing xenon at pressures in excess of 300 torr, is reliably started by the combination of an igniter, a conductor wrapped around the discharge tube, and a switching circuit. The igniter provides periodic pulses of 2500 to 4000 volts with a duration of at least one microsecond. The switching circuit provides a high voltage pulse having an amplitude about equal to the amplitude of the periodic pulses and a duration much greater than the duration of the periodic pulses. The conductor intensifies the electric field within the discharge tube. A conventional lamp ballast provides ac power during starting and normal operation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for starting high intensity discharge lamps utilizing a spiral line pulse generator to generate high voltage, short duration starting pulses. The spiral line pulse generator includes two conductors and two insulators, each in the form of an elongated sheet, in an alternating arrangement which is rolled together in a spiral configuration having a plurality of turns. A high voltage, short duration pulse is provided upon closure of a low inductance switch coupled between the conductors. The pulse is coupled to the discharge lamp by an elongated conductor located in close proximity to the discharge tube. The spiral line pulse generator can be included within the outer jacket of the light source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure sodium lamp which is provided with a discharge tube having an external auxiliary electrode. The auxiliary electrode is switched off by a bimetallic switch in the operating condition of the lamp.According to the invention the lamp also comprises a glow starter which in the operating condition of the lamp is switched off by means of the same bimetallic switch. This apparatus achieves in a simple manner, a large available voltage for igniting the discharge tube with an operating condition of the lamp in which no disturbance is experienced from any of the ignition auxiliary means.

Abstract: A flashing and sound generating lamp that repeats on-off operation and generates a characteristic audible sound when an electric current is supplied to the lamp. The lamp comprises a thermally bendable member connected in series or in parallel with the lamp filament to effect on-off energization of the filament as a result of the bending of the member due to the presence and absence of radiant heat from the filament, and a concavity is prefabricated into the thermally bendable member to cause the member to bend with a snap action thereby to generate a characteristic sound each time the lamp is turned on and off.

Abstract: A method of polarity-independent reduction of feedback from a complex consumer or consumers periodically connected to an A.C. line is of the type involving disconnection of the consumer or consumers from the line during each half wave of the A.C. line voltage. The consumer or consumers are damped and discharged during each half wave of the A.C. line voltage by a power switching device, the power switching device being rendered operative whenever the connection between the consumer or consumers and the line is interrupted. A power switching device includes the collector-emitter leads of a pair of transistors and a set of rectifiers, preferably in the form of a bridge circuit, supplies voltage at the proper polarity for the consumer or consumers to the transistors. The secondary windings of respective transformers are connected to the base-emitter circuit of the respective transistors.

Abstract: A lamp for installation in the flashers or winkers of motor vehicles, with a flasher device integrated into the lamp itself, is provided. The flashing is produced, in the case of the invention, by the utilization of substances which exhibit a sudden change in resistivity at a certain temperature. This is the case with powdered V O.sub.2 when formed into an aglomerate by the use of an organic binder. A block assembled in the bulb of the lamp and in electrical parallel with the filament, does not effect the incandescent state of the latter as long as a temperature of 68.degree. C is not exceeded, but effectively short-circuits the filament beyond this temperature. In this fashion, successive extinctions and relightings take place by a process of relaxation. In the case of a C.sub.36 H.sub.74 wax filled with conductive powder, the phenomena are reversed and the block must be connected in series with the filament.