Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly (10) comprises includes a mounting bracket (12) having a first end (14) formed for affixation to a vehicle and a second end (16) formed for affixation to the lamp assembly (10). A housing (18) for the lamp assembly (10) includes a central axis (20) and a light source (22) mounted with respect to the central axis (20), the housing (18) having a forward portion (24). A lens cover (26) is provided for the lamp assembly (10), and the lens cover (26) has an external, circumferential rim (28) formed to engage the forward portion (24) of the housing (18) and an adjusting tab (30) extending from the rim (28) formed to cooperate with the second end (16) of said mounting bracket (12). The lens cover (26) is freely rotatable about the central axis (20) to allow for variable positioning.

Abstract: A circuit for operating a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp includes an H-bridge connected between a common terminal and a power line, and a control circuit connected to the H-bridge. A boost circuit is connected in parallel with the H-bridge between the power line and the common terminal, where the boost circuit includes a resistor, a Zener diode and a capacitor connected in series.

Abstract: A lamp includes a lamp voltage conversion circuit which converts a line voltage to an RMS load voltage by clipping or modulating a load voltage. The voltage conversion circuit includes a time-based signal source that triggers conduction in the voltage conversion circuit independently of line voltage magnitude. A transistor switch whose gate receives signals from the time-based signal source triggers the voltage conversion circuit. A microcontroller increases one of a rate and a duration of the signals from the time-based signal source sent to the gate of the transistor switch when starting the lamp.

Abstract: A lamp includes a voltage conversion circuit that converts a line voltage to a desired RMS load voltage. The voltage conversion circuit is entirely within a lamp base and uses pulse width modulation to define the RMS load voltage. The voltage conversion circuit includes a bridge that supplies the RMS load voltage to a light emitting element, a switching transistor that pulse width modulates a current supplied to the bridge, a timer connected to a gate of the switching transistor to turn the switching transistor on and off at a rate that defines the RMS load voltage, an analog-to-digital converter that converts the RMS load voltage to a digital signal, a comparator that compares an output from the converter to a preset reference value, and a circuit that adjusts the timer in response to an output from the comparator.

Abstract: A method of operating a power controller that converts a line voltage to an RMS load voltage includes a soft start in which a conduction angle or duty cycle is gradually increased to a steady state value that defines the RMS load voltage. The controller has a circuit with a time-based signal source that triggers conduction independently of line voltage magnitude and a transistor switch whose gate receives signals from the time-based signal source to trigger the circuit. When starting the power controller, a microcontroller increases a rate and/or duration of the signals from the time-based signal source in successive cycles of the load voltage to provide the soft start. The power controller may be in a voltage conversion circuit that converts a line voltage at a lamp terminal to the RMS load voltage usable by a light emitting element of the lamp.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a circuit for starting or operating discharge lamps which are designed for dielectrically impeded discharges. In this case, it is established in advance, with the aid of an overvoltage protection circuit and test power pulses, whether the discharge lamp is connected.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic ballast for a dielectrically impeded discharge lamp (L), which ballast has an inductor (W1, W2, W3) with a winding (W2) that can be short-circuited.

Abstract: A resonant inverter with a self-oscillating driver IC for powering AC loads, such as gas discharge lamps or regulated DC/DC converters, includes a timing circuit that generates control strobe pulses that are injected into the timing circuit. The timing circuit is coupled to an inverter resonant tank through a feed back circuit providing phase lock for the resonant inverter. The feed back circuit connects the resonant tank circuit to a zero signal detector. The feed back circuit includes a phase compensator and a controller that has a source of a bias current connected to the zero signal detector.

Abstract: A first vehicle lamp driver circuit for a light emitting diode (LED) array, the LED array having a first string of four LEDs in series and a second string of four LEDs in series. A first LED driver drives the first LED string and a second LED driver drives the second LED string. In a STOP mode of operation, the current to both LED strings is controlled by the LED driver in series with the LED string. In a TAIL mode of operation, the current is provided to only one LED string via a series connected diode and resistor. When there is reduced input voltage, operation of the LED strings is provided by switching circuits that short-out one LED in each LED string. A second vehicle lamp driver circuit comprises a first LED string and a second LED string in series with a control switch having a feedback circuit for maintaining constant current regulation to control the sum of the current in each LED string and reduce switching noise.

Abstract: A phase-control power controller that converts a line voltage to an RMS load voltage includes an analog load voltage sensor that includes a light emitter that provides an optical output related to an RMS load voltage, and a phase-control circuit that has a comparison circuit that varies a resistance in the phase-control circuit responsive to the optical output. The comparison circuit includes an optically coupled transistor that senses the optical output from the light emitter, a load sensitive resistor that emits an amount of thermal energy corresponding to an amount of optical energy sensed by the optically coupled transistor, and two thermally dependent resistors connected in series, where one of the two resistors has a resistance that corresponds to the amount of thermal energy emitted by the load sensitive resistor and that varies the resistance in the phase-controlled dimming circuit.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a glass envelope having a sealed end portion, a base shell member of a cup-shape configuration adapted to engage the envelope end portion, and a collar of shrink wrap material disposed around the envelope end portion and sides of the base shell member, the shrink wrap material being shrunken and compressing against the envelope end portion and the base shell member, to fix the base shell member on the envelope end portion.

Abstract: A phase-control power controller that converts a line voltage to an RMS load voltage includes a phase-control circuit connected to the line and load terminals and having an RC network that clips the load voltage. A load sensing circuit is connected across the load terminals that senses the load voltage and provides a DC signal that is related to an RMS load voltage. A comparison circuit is connected to the phase-control circuit and the load sensing circuit and compares the DC signal to a reference and adjusts a resistance of the RC network in response to the comparison of the DC signal to the reference to control the RMS load voltage.

Abstract: An arc discharge lamp containing a quantity of elemental mercury at least partially convertible to soluble mercury, provides for including within the lamp a quantity of a non-metallic copper-containing compound and an ingredient X, said ingredient X including a noble metal or a noble metal compound selected from the group consisting of silver and compounds of silver, gold and platinum, and a lamp containing same.

Abstract: A display device, which can be a plasma display panel or a highly loaded fluorescent lamp, comprises a hollow, translucent glass body containing a medium capable of generating at least several wavelengths of UV radiation. A plurality of phosphors is disposed on the inside surface of the glass body and emits visible radiation upon exposure to the UV radiation. The blue BAM phosphor is most subject to degradation upon long-term exposure to at least one UV wavelength that may be available. The blue BAM along with the red YOE and green CAT phosphors are installed adjacent the inside surface of the glass body to form a first layer; and, the red YOE phosphor is disposed on the first layer to form a second layer, the second layer not being subject to long-term UV degradation. In some embodiments, a layer of alumina may be deposited under the first phosphor layer.

Abstract: A phase-control power controller that converts a line voltage to an RMS load voltage includes a phase-control circuit with a potentiometer and a capacitor whose resistance and capacitance determine clipping of a load voltage, a load sensing circuit that senses the load voltage and provides a DC signal that is different from but related to the RMS load voltage, and a comparator circuit that compares the DC signal to a reference and adjusts the resistance of the potentiometer to control the RMS load voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a self-oscillating inverter circuit, preferably having bipolar transistors in a half-bridge circuit, having a transformer as the feedback means. In contrast to the prior art, the secondary windings of the transformer are not connected in parallel with the base-emitter path but in series with the collector-emitter path. As a result, no saturation transformers are required for feedback.

Abstract: A low-pressure discharge lamp is described having a base housing (10), a discharge vessel (2), whose end sections are fixed to an end section of the base housing, and a contact-making system for making electrical contact with the lamp, which is located on the end section of the base housing (10) which is remote from the discharge vessel, a conductive section (5) being provided, which is electrically connected to the contact-making system and is arranged adjacent to the discharge vessel (2) in the base housing (10) in such a way that an electrical short circuit is formed around the discharge vessel (2). This makes it possible to reduce the starting voltage of the lamp. As an alternative, or in addition, to this, the cross section of the web attachments is increased, which also increases the rate of the luminous-flux run-up.

Abstract: A resonant inverter with a self-oscillating driver IC for powering AC loads, such as gas discharge lamps or regulated DC/DC converters, includes a timing circuit that generates control strobe pulses that are injected into the timing circuit. The timing circuit is coupled to an inverter resonant tank through a feed back circuit providing phase lock for the resonant inverter. The feed back circuit includes a source of variable bias current connected to an input terminal of a zero signal detector to shift an angle at which polarity changes to control a frequency for the resonant inverter.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement has a first input terminal for a first voltage potential; a second input terminal for a second voltage potential; a third input terminal for feeding a starting voltage; a first electrical connection, which provides at its first end a first output terminal for a high-pressure discharge lamp, and which is coupled at its second end to the first input terminal for the first voltage potential; a second electrical connection, which provides at its first end a second output terminal for a high-pressure discharge lamp, and which is coupled at its second end to the second input terminal for the second voltage potential; a first inductor arranged in the second electrical connection; and a starting device coupled on the input side at least to the third input terminal for feeding a starting voltage, and on the output side to one of the output terminals, and a second inductor together with a first inductor.

Abstract: A combined assembly of a center high mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) assembly and a cargo lamp assembly for a vehicle including a housing having compartments including at least one compartment for housing a CHMSL component and having a stop lens. The housing further includes left and right compartments, respectively on opposite sides of the CHMSL compartment, each having a cargo light lens and a white LED for directing a beam of light to the respective cargo light lens. Each of the cargo lamp assemblies includes one of the cargo lenses and one of the LEDs, the LEDs each having an aperture for emitting the light beam in an arc of about 120° in horizontal and vertical planes, and each of the cargo lenses being adapted to reduce the light beam in a horizontal plane to about 60° and reducing the light beam in a vertical plane to about 60°.