Abstract: A capacitively ballasted low voltage lamp comprising a main capacitor connected electrically in series with the lamp, across an alternating current source, and one or more auxiliary capacitors that can be connected electrically across the main capacitor by switching means for one or more source waveform cycles. The minimum lamp current is established by the main capacitor, with additional lamp current flowing through one or more auxiliary capacitors during one or more source waveform cycles.

Abstract: A high efficiency general service incandescent lamp is disclosed. The disclosed improved general service incandescent lamp has an outer and an inner envelope. The inner envelope has a relatively small housing containing a halogen gas and a relatively high pressure efficient fill-gas and in which a low voltage filament is spatially disposed therein.

Abstract: This line-commutated converter, in one form, has a pair of D.C. terminals for connection to a D.C. system and a pair of A.C. terminals for connection to an A.C. system. The converter comprises first, second, third, and fourth branches, each comprising the combination of a thyristor and a diode connected in inverse-parallel and an inductor connected in series with this combination. The first and fourth branches with a first node located therebetween are connected in series across the D.C. terminals; and the second and third branches with a second node located therebetween are also connected in series across the D.C. terminals. The nodes are effectively connected across the A.C. terminals. Controlled gating means simultaneously triggers the first and second branches into conduction at a controlled phase angle with respect to the A.C. system voltage and simultaneously triggers the third and fourth branches into conduction 180 degrees thereafter, repeating this sequence each cycle of the A.C. system voltage.

Abstract: A capacitively ballasted low voltage lamp utilizing a main capacitor connected electrically in series with the lamp, across an alternating current source, and one or more auxiliary capacitors that can be connected electrically across the main capacitor by switching means for one or more source waveform cycles. Each switching means comprises a unidirectional conductive device electrically connected in parallel with an active switching device. The minimum lamp current is established by the main capacitor, with additional lamp current flowing through one or more auxiliary capacitors during a source waveform cycle or integral multiples thereof.

Abstract: A sealed beam headlamp unit having an improved sealed exhaust hole is disclosed. Further disclosed is a method of applying the seal of the exhaust hole.

Abstract: This invention relates to a single strand filament wire arranged into a triple-coil filament for an incandescent lamp. The triple-coil filament has selected dimensions that do not require recrystallization of the tungsten wire of the triple-coil filament prior to arranging the triple-coil filament within the incandescent lamp.

Abstract: An arc lamp having a coating comprised of an inorganic yellow pigment plus white pigments located on the inner surface of its outer glass envelope is disclosed. The coating is a color corrective diffuse type which improves the color rendition of the lamp by altering the portion of visible light radiation of the blue spectrum relative to that of the yellow portion of the light spectrum.

Abstract: An energy efficient lighting unit is described designed for functional similarity to the incandescent light used in the home. The lighting unit utilizes a metal vapor arc lamp as the main source of light supplemented by a standby filamentary light source. The lighting unit includes means for converting 60 hertz ac to dc, and a dc energized operating network containing a three transistor switch. The transistor switch is used to provide dc and low frequency (120 Hz) energization to the filament, and high frequency energization for both filament and arc lamp. The high frequency energization, which starts and transitions the arc lamp, is discontinued after the arc lamp is started. In the final run state, the arc lamp, which is serially connected with the filament across the dc supply, is ballasted by the filament.

Abstract: A reflector lamp having multiple and aimed parabolic reflective sections so as to improve the desired beam pattern is disclosed. The reflector lamp may be of the parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR) or the reflector (R) type lamps having primary, multiple intermediate and rear sections of a parabolic contour which improves the internal light reflective and absorption characteristics of the reflector lamp. The overall effect is to improve the optical efficacy of the reflector lamp.

Abstract: A ballast circuit for developing a predetermined desired D.C. voltage to enhance the operation of a gas discharge tube in a lighting unit of the type which also comprises an incandescent filament is disclosed. The ballast circuit operates from an applied 220 volt, 50 Hz alternating current (A.C.) source. The ballast circuit has an input stage comprised of a resistive capacitive network. The resistive capacitive network has values selected so as to reduce the applied 220 volt, 50 Hz excitation to a desired range for further development by the ballast circuit in providing a desired D.C. operational voltage for the gas discharge tube. Further, the ballast circuit provides means to prevent circuit malfunctions due to sudden changes in the applied A.C. source voltage. Still further, the ballast circuit provides a desired power factor operation of the gas discharge tube.

Abstract: A protective circuit for a plurality of series connected thyristors where each thyristor has in parallel with it a resistance, capacitance type snubber circuit and a metal oxide varistor. The arrangement of the series connected thyristors, snubber circuits and their metal oxide varistors has in parallel with it a main metal oxide varistor. The main varistor is responsive to external transient surges so as to conduct large currents. The outer varistors are selected to have values so as to conduct a much smaller or minimal current relative to the current conducted by the main varistor. In a preferred arrangement, a tuning inductor is in series with the thyristors, snubber circuits and parallel arranged varistors. Also, the main varistor is arranged in parallel with the series connection of thyristor, snubber, varistor combination and inductor, and in series with a bank of capacitors.

Abstract: An energy efficient lighting unit is described designed for functional similarity to the incandescent light used in the home. The lighting unit utilizes a metal vapor arc lamp as the main source of light supplemented by a standby filamentary light source. The lighting unit includes means for converting 60 hertz ac to dc, and a dc energized operating network containing a three transistor switch. The transistor switch is used to provide dc and low frequency (120 Hz) energization to the filament, and high frequency energization for both filament and arc lamp. The high frequency energization, which starts and transitions the arc lamp, is discontinued after the arc lamp is started. In the final run state, the arc lamp, which is serially connected with the filament across the dc supply, is ballasted by the filament. The transistor switch is controlled in its operation by an integrated circuit.

Abstract: An energy efficient lighting unit is described designed for functional similarity to the incandescent light used in the home. The light unit utilizes a metal vapor arc lamp as the main source of light supplemented by a standby filamentary light source. The lighting unit includes means for converting 60 hertz ac to dc, and a dc energized operating network comprising an inverter operating at above audible frequencies (e.g. 30-40 KHz). The operating network produces a sequence for the arc lamp and the standby filamentary light source appropriate to each operating state of the arc lamp.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a threshold amplifier suited to integrated circuit fabrication of a process employing CMOS technology. The threshold amplifier is designed to sense current producing a first or a second logic level as a function of a current threshold. The amplifier comprises a p-channel device and a n-channel device serially connected across the bias supply. The gate to source voltages of the two devices are respectively controlled by a diode connected p-channel device similarly serially connected across the bias supply with a diode connected n-channel device, the source of the latter being returned to ground via a current carrying resistance also in the second series path. The output level which is taken at the drain inter-connection between the devices in the first series path depends on the relative conductivity of the two devices which is in turn affected by the induced voltage drop in the source connected resistance in the second series path.

Abstract: Disclosed is an overvoltage directional relay that forms a part of a relay system which provides protection for a high voltage three phase transmission line. The overvoltage directional relay provides a high speed blocking function for use with the high speed tripping functions in the protective relay system. In one embodiment the directional relay utilizes the negative-sequence components of the three phase transmission lines. In another embodiment the directional relay utilizes the zero-sequence component of the three phase transmission line.

Abstract: Circuit arrangements are disclosed for receiving an applied analog type voltage signal, and in response to the applied signal generating an output pulse string whose frequency characteristic is proportional to the square of the applied signal. In one embodiment a circuit means for creating a jittering effect is provided so as to smear or smooth abrupt discontinuities in the output pulse string. The smearing of the output pulse string improves the accuracy of its frequency characteristic.

Abstract: A power supply providing power to a low voltage lamp utilizing a main capacitor connected electrically in series with the lamp, across an alternating current source, and an auxiliary capacitor connected electrically across the main capacitor by a switching device during selected portions of the source waveform cycle. The minimum lamp current is established by the main capacitor, with additional lamp current flowing through the auxiliary capacitor during portions of the source waveform cycle when the auxiliary capacitor is electrically connected across the main capacitor. The load current is adjusted over a desired range established by the magnitude of the main and auxiliary capacitors.

Abstract: A reflector lamp comprising a concave reflector having a parabolic rear section, a spherical intermediate section, and a faceted parabolic front section, each section having substantially the same common focal point, and a finite light source located at the substantially common focal point. The reflector sections are dimensioned so that substantially all light rays from the finite light source which are reflected by the spherical intermediate section become re-reflected by the faceted parabolic front section. Additionally the light rays, reflected by the facets, include components thereof which are circumferential about a lamp axis and thereby provide a beam pattern which is substantially circumferentially uniform about the lamp axis.

Abstract: A power supply, operating at line frequencies, for energizing a low-voltage lamp and like loads, utilizes a main capacitor in series with the load across the A.C. line source, and an auxiliary capacitor connected across the main capacitor by a switching device during a selected portion of the source waveform cycle. The minimum load current is established by the main capacitor, with additional load current flowing through the auxiliary capacitor during those portions of the source waveform cycle when connected, whereby the load current may be adjusted over a range established by the magnitude of the main and auxiliary capacitors. An open-loop circuit is disclosed for controlling the portion of the cycle during which the auxiliary capacitor is connected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a characteristic timer for a protective relay which provides protection for a portion of an A.C. transmission line. The characteristic timer has digital logic elements adapted to external circuitry for selecting one or more desired phase angles which determines the activation time of a characteristic timer, which, in turn, determines the operational characteristic of the protective relay. The digital logic of the characteristic timer is further adapted to an external circuitry for selecting an integrating or non-integrating type function for the characteristic timer.