Abstract: Semiconductor light emitting circuits include semiconductor light emitting diodes that are serially connected between a pair of input terminals. Four layer semiconductor devices, such as Shockley diodes and/or thyristors are also provided, a respective one of which is connected across a respective one of the semiconductor light emitting diodes. The four layer semiconductor devices can allow a string of light emitting diodes to continue to be lit if one light emitting diode fails.

Abstract: An intellectual lamp unit able to be installed on a conventional lamp socket controlled by a wall switch includes a bypass connected in parallel with a wall switch and provided with a resistance or a diode for producing potential difference or power phase difference when the wall switch is turned off. An intellectual lamp to be installed on a conventional lamp socket consists of a lamp main body disposed therein with a power processing circuit, a detecting switch, a charging circuit, a charging battery, a driving circuit, a microprocessor and a lamplight source. When the wall switch is turned on or off under the condition of normal power supply, the lamplight source can be controlled to produce or extinguish lighting, and during blackout, the lamplight source can be started to produce emergency lighting immediately, supplied with power by the charging battery.

Abstract: A repair device for fixing a malfunctioning shunt across a failed filament in a light bulb in a group of series-connected miniature decorative bulbs includes a high-voltage pulse generator producing one or more pulses of a magnitude greater than the standard AC power line voltage. A connector receives the pulses from the pulse generator and supplies them to the group of series-connected miniature decorative bulbs. The pulse generator may be a piezoelectric pulse generator, a battery-powered electronic pulse generator, and/or an AC-powered electrical pulse generator.

Abstract: A shunt member includes an insulation sheath, a first lead wire having a shunt wire engaging section located in the insulation sheath, a second lead wire having a shunt wire engaging section located in the insulation sheath and adjacent to the shunt wire engaging section of the first lead wire. A shunt wire is connected between the shunt wire engaging sections of the first lead wire and the second lead wire for forming a shunt circuit of the bulb. When the shunt member is received in the lamp holder, the shunt member and the filament of the lamp are connected in parallel. An insulation bead member is further fixedly mounted between the shunt wire engaging sections of the first lead wire and the second lead wire for keeping a fixed distance therebetween.

Abstract: A repair device for fixing a malfunctioning shunt across a failed filament in a light bulb in a group of series-connected miniature decorative bulbs includes a piezoelectric pulse generator producing one or more pulses of a magnitude greater than the standard AC power line voltage. A connector receives the pulses from the pulse generator and supplies them to the group of series-connected miniature decorative bulbs.

Abstract: A preheat-type fluorescent lamp, such as a negative glow discharge lamp, includes a cathode contained within an evelope and supported by a pair of lead-in wires. A thermal switch is located within the evelope shunting the cathode and electrically coupled to the supporting lead-in wires. Closure of the thermal switch during lamp operation produces a double hot spot on the shunted cathode. As a result, the cathode temperature is lowered sufficiently causing an improvement in the lumen maintenance and life of the lamp.

Abstract: The electric lamp for series arrangement comprises at least one current-supply wire of nickel wire, copper wire or copper cladded wire. A shortcircuit switch is provided, which consists of a vitreous mass, in which copper powder is dispersed and which is fused with the current-supply wires, and of an oxide skin, which is present on the said current-supply wire at the sealing-in area in the mass. The vitreous mass is electrically conducting. An electrical connection between the current-supply wires is not obtained, however, until the filament burns through and the oxide skin breaks down due to the overvoltage then occurring.

Abstract: A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp comprises a light-emitting tube in which a pair of electrodes is enclosed, a starting element including a normally closed-type thermal switch and a resistive member, the starting element generating a pulse by closing and opening switch operations, a connecting element for electrically connecting the starting element to the electrodes, the pulse being applied to the electrodes through the connecting element, and a member including an insulating body provided in vicinity of the thermal switch for causing a conductive portion to be formed on the body, the conductive portion being sufficient to bypass a current supplied to the starting element by repetitions of the switch operations, thereby lowering the pulse voltage.

Abstract: A metal vapor discharge lamp has a burner for sealing xenon gas, mercury and a light-emitting additive in a translucent ceramic tube, a starting device of a thermal switch type which has a series circuit of a thermal switch and a coil filament and which is connected in parallel with the burner, and an outer envelope for sealing the burner and the starting device therein. In the lamp, the following inequalities must be satisfied:13.3.ltoreq.P.multidot.(B/A).ltoreq.6650.05.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.0.122,200.ltoreq.T.ltoreq.2,800where A is the volume (cm.sup.3) of the outer envelope, B is the volume (cm.sup.3) of the burner, P is a gas pressure (Pa) at room temperature of xenon sealed in the burner, d is a diameter (mm) of the coil filament, and T is a temperature (K) of the coil filament during operation.

Abstract: A circular fluorescent lamp assembly having the entire ballasting circuit, along with a thermal protector, contained within the assembly's lamp holder. The thermal protector serves the dual function of preventing permanent damage to the assembly's ballast means and for extending lamp starting switch means operating life under normal end of lamp life cycling conditions. The thermal protector is responsive to the coil temperature of the ballast means and is electrically coupled in series with the ballast means, starting switch, capacitor and the lamp. One example of the thermal protector is a bimetal bottle switch.

Abstract: A protection system for protecting the secondary windings of current transformers against overvoltages. The protection system consists of a device shunting the secondary winding and having a triggering device operative when the winding is subjected to a voltage higher than the voltage appearing across the terminals of the secondary winding, under normal operating conditions and during a fault on the HV power network. The shunting device comprises a latching relay incorporating a coil which is energized by the triggering device to short-circuit the current secondary transformer through the relay contact, and, also, a voltage regulator connected in parallel with the relay coil. This protection system is simple, compact, lightweight and consumes no energy when the current transformer operates under normal conditions.

Abstract: High voltage transients are effectively clamped by means of a spark gap, in parallel connection with a load to be protected, and having a capacitor in series with the parallelled load-spark gap combination. The series capacitor limits follow-through current through the spark gap to a level permitting survival of the spark gap. Where the load is an incandescent lamp, the spark gap is formed by shaping the lamp internal lead structure, such that an additional external spark gap component is not required.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge device includes a reactive element which will oxidize and grow dimensionally to open the lamp circuitry in the event oxygen leaks into the outer envelope of the lamp.

Abstract: A metal vapor discharge lamp comprises main electrodes and an auxiliary electrode in an arc tube to initiate the discharge between the main electrode and the auxiliary electrode at the initiation of the operation and then to result the discharge between the main electrodes by disconnection of the auxiliary electrode by a bimetallic switch means. A second bimetallic switch means which delays the operation from that of the first bimetal, is connected in series to the first bimetallic switch means so as to discharge in a circuit formed in an outer bulb to break a part of the circuit and to prevent a ballast from overheating.

Abstract: An improved operation shunt for series connected incandescent-type lamps is disclosed utilizing a novel shunt material composition comprising an admixture of conductive metal particulates, an inorganic binder, and conductive non-metallic particulates and which is adhesively bonded to an insulative bead member interconnecting the spaced apart lamp inleads.

Abstract: A high-intensity discharge lamp which has a lamp current-interrupting device in series circuit with the arc tube which is sensitive to any breach occurring in the protective outer envelope. The current-interrupting constituent of the device initially incorporated into the lamp comprises vanadium sesquioxide. The device has predetermined dimensions and an initial predetermined operating resistance. During normal operation of the lamp the device operates at a predetermined temperature sufficiently low so that said device is stable in the presence of the non-reactive atmosphere enclosed by the outer envelope. The predetermined temperature also being sufficiently high so that upon a breach occurring in the outer envelope permitting oxygen to enter, the vanadium sesquioxide rapidly converts to vanadium pentoxide to interrupt the continuity of the power circuit to the arc tube and prevent the operation of the lamp.

Abstract: An improved shunt for series connected lamps is disclosed in which two strips of anodized aluminum foil are fastened together around the inner lead wires of the lamp.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp having an inner tube in which a discharge takes place to produce visible light and ultraviolet radiation and an outer envelope which blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation. An oxidizable element of a refractory metal is provided in the voltage supply to the arc tube internally of the outer envelope which element oxidizes when the outer envelope is broken and burns through to remove the voltage from the arc tube and to extinguish the arc.

Abstract: A high-intensity discharge lamp having an arc tube which is enclosed by and supported within a light-transmitting outer envelope which is spaced from the arc tube. The outer envelope enclosing a hard vacuum. Electrical lead-in means are sealed through the arc tube connected to the electrodes. Electrical adapter means are affixed to the outer surface of the protective envelope to facilitate electrical connection for the lamp to a source of electrical power. A pair of electrical conductors electrically connect the electrical adapter means to the electrical lead-in means. Fuse means is provided. The fuse means has a fusible element extending from one of the electrical conductors and separated from and encircling an insulating sleeve means carried about the other of the electrical conductors, so that the spacing therebetween constitutes the shortest gap within the envelope between opposite current-carrying components. The hard vacuum enclosed by the outer envelope is obtained by flashing barium getter means.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp having an inner tube in which a discharge takes place to produce visible light and ultraviolet radiation and an outer envelope which blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation. An element is provided to extinguish the discharge when the outer envelope is broken.

Abstract: Safety devices for high intensity discharge lamps, having an outer envelope and an inner arc tube in which the arc discharge is produced, for extinguishing the arc in a relatively short period of time. A switching element is placed in series with the current supply to the arc tube and the element opens when the outer envelope is broken. In one embodiment, the switching element is a normally closed thermostatic switch in series with a second filament which is connected in parallel with a first filament. During starting the switching element is closed and both of the filaments are in series with the arc tube and both receive a part of the high starting lamp current. The thermostatic switch opens when the lamp reaches operating temperature so that all of the current passes through the first filament if the envelope breaks causing the first filament to burn out. The switch then closes so that all of the current passes through the second filament causing it to burn out.

Abstract: An electroluminescent display device includes at least two elongated, conductive contacts substantially adjacent to and spaced from each other with at least two substantially coextensive ends. A light-emitting element is electrically coupled between the coextensive ends. An elongated insulating base is formed about and between the contacts with their elongated outer edges extending beyond the elongated sides of the base. The base extends substantially the entire length of the outer edges of the contacts and is substantially integral between such contacts.The device is fabricated in a lead frame environment, wherein the light-emitting element is bonded to a lead frame. A lens is formed over the light-emitting element. The contacts for the device, which may be slidably engageable, are formed from the lead frame. The base is formed contiguous to the lens and over the lead frame to embed the contacts within the base with edges of the contacts extending laterally beyond the surface of the base.