Abstract: A power supply for a metal halide discharge lamp includes a circuit for applying a high voltage starting pulse to the arc tube of the lamp to initiate the discharge, a glow transition current to provide power transitioning the arc tube from its glow to its run mode, and a run power supply circuit to provide continuous controlled d-c current to the arc tube.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for precision winding of coils on bobbins. Ideal positions for all portions of wire on the bobbin are predetermined on the basis of a planned winding profile taking into account number of turns, wire size and bobbin dimensions. Then incremental control of traverse, simultaneously with spin of a fly head winder, relative to the bobbin is utilized to put the wire down on the bobbin at the ideal positions independently of the lay of prelaid turns. The control is preferably done through a computer whose memory contains essential data on the winding profile. The computer is programmed to read feedback signals on instantaneous traverse and spin and provide control signals to cause the winder to duplicate the coil winding profile.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for disposing a light source comprising an inner envelope within an outer envelope with both envelopes comprising a general service tungsten-halogen incandescent lamp is disclosed. The mounting arrangement has parameters which are selected in accordance with the ratio between the natural frequency characteristics of the filament of the light source and the mounting arrangement itself. The selected ratios of the natural frequencies of the filament and the mounting arrangement reduce the typically experienced shock vibrations of the general service lamp that are transmitted to the filament and thereby improves the overall life expectancy of the general service incandescent lamp.

Abstract: Coil bobbins are disclosed having flanged coil support portions provided with outboard terminal housings projecting beyond the flange rim and defining inwardly extending terminal-receiving cavities. The end walls of the housings are slotted to allow a wire to pass through the cavity in a circumferential direction relative to the winding axis in similar fashion to a turn of coiling. Bifurcated terminals pressed into the cavities in straddling relationship to the wire provide connections to the coil.A double bobbin has twin flanged coil support portions with bridging sections maintaining their physical separation. Terminal housings are provided on the bridging sections allowing wire to be first wound into a coil on one support portion, guided across the bridging section and passed through the cavity in a terminal housing, and then wound into a coil on the other support portion, all without interruption.

Abstract: A rapid restrike metal halide lamp and method of operating such a lamp are disclosed which are particularly suitable for sports stadium lighting applications. The rapid restrike metal halide lamp has an arc tube containing constituents which require a waveform having a relatively high voltage and at a relatively high current in order to rapidly restrike the arc tube after the lamp has experienced a power interruption so as to initiate a sustaining arc condition of the arc tube. The relatively high waveform in the form of a series of pulse trains is routed to the arc tube by means of a two path arrangement comprising a conductive base at the bottom of the lamp and a insulative cap at the top of the lamp. This two-way path substantially reduces and even eliminates any arcing condition within the confines of the lamp.

Abstract: Coil bobbins are disclosed having flanged coil support portions provided with outboard terminal housings projecting beyond the flange rim and defining inwardly extending terminal-receiving cavities. The end walls of the housings are slotted to allow a wire to pass through the cavity in a circumferential direction relative to the winding axis in similar fashion to a turn of coiling. Bifurcated terminals pressed into the cavities in straddling relationship to the wire provide connections to the coil.A double bobbin has twin flanged coil support portions with bridging sections maintaining their physical separation. Terminal housings are provided on the bridging sections allowing wire to be first wound into a coil on one support portion, guided across the bridging section and passed through the cavity in a terminal housing, and then wound into a coil on the other support portion, all without interruption.

Abstract: An electric luminaire is provided having an interior comprised of weather and corrosion resistant housing of non-metallic material, such as plastic. The housing defines an internal cavity, in which the electrical components of the luminaire reside, entirely sealed against intrusion of corrosive elements present in the atmosphere of the external environment. A rigid unitary metallic support structure, carried by a mounting hub adapted to be attached to an external support, extends from the mounting hub through the cavity and to the optical components at the lower end of the luminaire. The rigid support structure provides both primary and supplemental, or back-up, support for the electrical and optical components of the luminaire.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp operating circuit includes a high frequency electronic ballast circuit for providing a controlled output to a fluorescent lamp load. A control signal is detected from the power line carrier which includes binary data indicative of the illumination level desired. The control signal comprises a multi-bit binary signal which is detected by the control circuit and used to control the frequency of the power supply circuit so that the fluorescent light illumination level may be dimmed over a wide range.

Abstract: A multi-faceted reflector for a headlamp of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The motor vehicle headlamp has the desired optics, in the form of facets, placed entirely on the reflective surfaces of the reflector. The reflective surfaces are comprised of a plurality of discrete reflective surfaces having right (i.e., surfaces of a parabolic shape in the vertical plane and being linear or cylindrical in the horizontal plane) parabolical cylindrical surfaces and discrete simple rotated parabolical surfaces. All of the reflective surfaces are located relative to the light source of the headlamp. The parabolic cylindrical surfaces, serving as spreading facets create a lateral spread of the light developed by the light source of the lamp, whereas, the simple rotated parabolic surfaces, serving as bending facets, create a shifting, relative to the light source, of the projected image of the light source.

Abstract: Remote control of street lights utilizes a programmable computer which generates wavelike control signals at fundamental frequencies in the voice range and having half periods corresponding in time-duration to the pulses used for binary digits in logic circuits. The signals are transmitted by phone line to a shared paging transmitter which broadcasts them over the city. The signals are received by radio receives contained in local controller boxes from which the power lines to luminaires start out. The output of the receiver is driven to a saturating level in order to square off the received signals for a microcomputer programmed to decode the signals when they are legitimate and properly addressed to it. The microcomputer can turn the 230 v 60 Hz AC power line to the luminaires off or on, and can also turn on a local oscillator to inject an RF carrier signal onto the AC power line for energizing a dimming circuit in the luminaires.

Abstract: An improved mounting structure for spatially disposing from its long axial conductive member, a filament within the outer envelope of an incandescent lamp is disclosed. The mounting structure offsets the filament from the centerline of the lamp and from its conductive members so as to substantially reduce the typically experienced arcing condition between the conductive members of the mounting structure and the filament.

Abstract: A high intensity gaseous discharge lamp employs a discharge medium which emits radiation at multiple, narrow line wavelengths which combine to produce white light. Coatings are applied to the arc tube to prevent emission of certain ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths, and a cylindrical barrier blocks certain long wavelength infrared radiation from being emitted by the lamp.

Abstract: A decorative string set used for Christmas lighting is disclosed. The string set comprises various embodiments of clamping means which provide positive retention of incandescent lamps to their respective electrical sockets.

Abstract: The AC power line to a street luminaire carries a 200 KHz carrier signal for operating a switching relay that connects a dimming reactor in series with the discharge lamp. A pick-off transformer has a primary winding connected in series with the ballasting means for the lamp, and a secondary winding connected to a carrier signal detector operating the switching relay. A capacitor connected across the primary has a value resonating the primary magnetizing reactance of the transformer at the carrier frequency. A resistor substantially higher in value than the characteristic impedance of the line but not several orders of magnitude higher, is preferably connected across the primary winding to serve as a terminating impedance.

Abstract: A fixture for a high intensity discharge lamp includes a support mechanism allowing the adjustable positioning of the lamp relative to the reflector within the fixture in order to control the beam spread of the light output of the lamp and fixture combination so that focusing of the illumination can be controlled.

Abstract: A vandalism-resistant antenna for the UHF band comprises a ring-shaped radiator printed on a dielectric board or disc mounted within a shallow enclosure of insulating material having high impact strength. The radiator is approximately 1/4 wavelength long at the operating frequency and is located at a constant spacing above a ground plane. A coaxial RF connector fastens the radiator-board assembly to a mounting surface serving as the ground plane, and couples the antenna to a transmitter or receiver.

Abstract: A lamp is disclosed comprising a light source, an outer glass envelope having at least one dimple, a metallic base having at least one dimple, and a plastics skirt having means for complementary engaging and fastening to each of the dimples of the glass envelope and of the metallic base. The complementary engagement of the plastics skirt to the glass envelope is accomplished by snap-lock ramp-like extensions that fit into and engage an inner portion of the dimples of the glass envelope.

Abstract: A reflector lamp (R) having an improved dome section that increases the useful light output of the lamp is disclosed. The dome section has at least three portions each with a predetermined radius. The overall dimensions of the dome section are decreased relative to that of prior art lamps without suffering a loss to the structural integrity of the lamp itself.

Abstract: A two-part latch comprising hinged bail and crank for latching a globe and ring assembly to a fixed housing requires no screws, rivets or similar discrete fastening means. The crank member is a rectangular link formed from a length of resilient wire having its ends butted together at a split near the middle of one side. It is inserted into a captivating recess in which a pair of side ramps and a cut-off center ramp engage opposite faces of the link and cause the portions on each side of the split to twist and snap back after passing beyond the cut-off, whereby the crank is permanently captivated in a hinged attachment.

Abstract: A luminaire comprising separable means arrangement for hingedly mounting a refractor on the rim of the reflector of the luminaire is disclosed. The separable means is comprised of a hinge clip having two hooked extensions at one side which engage raised slotted sections located at each end of a split clampband. The hooked extensions of the hinge clip are removably retained in the raised slotted sections and cannot be easily backed out. The hinge clip is self retained to the clampband by means of an interaction between a resilient gasket and the clampband. The gasket is positioned inside of the clampband and exerts an outward force on the clampband and provides effective sealing between the clampband and the refractor and between the clampband and the reflector flange. The other side of the hinge clip has means for hingedly mounting the refractor to the reflector.