Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removably mounting and electrically connecting electronic equipment through a plug to a permanently mounted powered receptacle that allows removal of power from the equipment, such as a monitor, attached to it without removal of the plug/monitor assembly from the receptacle. Embodiments include a plug portion inside of which is slidably mounted a connector housing carrying an electrical connector half. The plug further comprises a lever for sliding the housing between an engagement position, in which the electrical connector half engages a mating electrical connector half in a receptacle, and a non-engagement position where the connector halves are apart. The plug has retractable nubs on its exterior which are biased to engage grooves in the receptacle to retain the plug in the receptacle by a spring-like backing plate attached to the nub disposed in the interior of the plug near the walls of the slidable housing.

Abstract: In order to extend the life of a light source such as a CCFL or the like being used in backlighting system for an LCD, the present invention includes an optical sensing circuit, an amplification circuit, an averaging circuit, a comparator circuit, a controller, and an inverter dimmer circuit. The initial power applied to the light source is limited to a value which is less than its maximum rate power thus reducing the rate of light source degradation geometrically. The brightness of the light source is monitored using a photosensitive element/sensor, and as the brightness reduces with the passing of time, the power that is supplied to the light source is gradually increased. This both prolongs the life of the life source and obviates any perceivable reduction in display brightness.

Abstract: A light guide used in flat panel liquid crystal display screens is provided. The light guide has triangular prismatic microgrooves cut within it to define a groove density that varies with distance from a light source. The microgrooves also have a groove angle that is based on two times the critical angle of the light guide, plus or minus approximately two degrees. This configuration of groove density and groove angle provides brighter back lighting compared to conventional flat panel displays with increased uniformity over the majority of the display. The maximized luminance and uniformity allows larger displays to be created out of a single light guide or multiple portions of light guides placed next to each other or in a stacked configuration.

Abstract: A first backlight light source is energized either at full or reduced rated power, until such time as the brightness which can be produced has reduced by a predetermined amount (e.g. half of the original level). A second or backup source is then switched on while the first is temporarily switched off. When the backup light source has degraded to the point where the brightness which can be produced by this light source has reduced by a second predetermined amount (which is the same as the first predetermined amount, e.g. 50%) the first light source is switched back on so that both are simultaneously energized. When this measure fails to maintain the required level of brightness, the power with which the light sources are energized is increased.