Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for starting a discharge lamp are disclosed. In some embodiments, a lamp has an outer envelope connected at one end to a base and enclosing multiple double-ended arc tubes. Each arc tube is electrically connected at one end to an electrical lead positioned proximate the base of the lamp and at the other end to an electrical lead positioned proximate the distal end of the envelope. A voltage pulse is applied to the electrical lead positioned proximate the distal end of the envelope. Random starting of the arc tubes may thus be effected so that each arc tube is about equally likely to start, promoting uniformity of arc tube usage and long lamp life. Multiple arc tubes may be bulbous and staggered in axial displacement for space efficiency, and a diffusing shroud may improve optical characteristics. A heat barrier may facilitate fast restrikes.

Abstract: An electronic ballast circuit includes a filament drive circuit that can adjust the pulse width of a pulsed heating signal in accordance with the lamp current to a gas-discharge lamp. A logic device, such as an SR flip-flop, is used to control a switch that is coupled to the primary winding of a filament drive transformer coupled to the lamp filaments. The logic device opens and closes the switch device to generate the pulses of the pulsed heating signal and thus controls the pulse width of the pulses. A clock signal triggers logic device to start a pulse while the end of the pulse is determined by a signal level across a resistor in series with the primary winding of filament drive transformer. Once this signal level is at or above a threshold level, logic device switches the switch device to end the pulse.

Abstract: A light guide plate includes a plate-shaped transparent body and a plurality of stripe-shaped planar structures. The plate-shaped transparent body is bent to form a top portion, a bottom portion, and a curved portion connected between the top portion and the bottom portion, and the top portion and the bottom portion are substantially parallel to each other and define a gap therebetween. The stripe-shaped planar structures are connected with each other on an outer surface of the curved portion.

Abstract: A bobbin is designed to reduce the voltage stress between the winding layers of the inner winding of an inductive electronic component. A partition transversely extends from the winding surface of the bobbin to divide the winding surface into separated winding surface sections. A partition defines a passage for winding the coil from one winding surface section to the other winding surface section. Passage openings are positioned on each winding surface section relative the winding surface so that a portion of the partition is always between the passage opening and the oppositely disposed winding surface section.

Abstract: A display includes a frame, a liquid crystal panel device, a flat light source device, a bracket structure, and a driving circuit board. The liquid crystal panel device and the flat light source device are disposed on the frame. The flat light source device has an illuminant surface toward the liquid crystal panel device. A first airway is formed between the flat light source and the liquid crystal panel device. The driving circuit board is fixed on the bracket structure and electrically connected with the liquid crystal panel device. A gap is formed between the driving circuit board and the flat light source to be an outlet of the first airway. The surface of the driving circuit board and the illuminant surface form an included angle, and the included angle is greater than or equal to 5 degrees and less than or equal to 135 degrees.

Abstract: A light source control method and a light source control device are used for controlling a light source. The light source control device includes a position detecting sensor and a microcontroller. The light source control method includes steps of generating a first signal according to an object touching a position of the position detecting sensor, and generating a control signal according to a light source adjustable parameter set corresponding to the first signal for controlling an illuminating status of the light source. The light source adjustable parameter set includes a plurality of color value components. The control signal is generated by the microcontroller according to the color value components.

Abstract: An illuminating device includes a tubular light guide, a plurality of light-emitting devices, and a base. The tubular light guide has a light input edge and an inner space. The light-emitting devices are distributed at the light input edge to provide lights into the tubular light guide. The base supports the light-emitting devices and the tubular light guide. The base also has an electronic circuit to provide power to the light-emitting devices. The base has at least one air circulation hole for connecting an outer space with the inner space.

Abstract: A ballast circuit includes a filament cutback circuit to reduce a pre-heat voltage after the lamp filaments have been pre-heated. The filament cutback circuit includes a filament cut-back inductive component magnetically coupled to the resonant inductive component in the inverter to receive a filament cutback control voltage associated with an AC voltage for powering the lamps. During the pre-heating period, the filament cutback control voltage is not high enough to charge a chargeable component to a switch threshold level. However, during lamp ignition, the filament cutback control voltage is increased and charges the chargeable component to the switch threshold level. This causes a switch device to operate in a conductive switch state and the filament cutback circuit suppresses the pre-heat voltage.

Abstract: An illumination system including a master control unit, a device unit, a driving circuit unit, and an illumination unit is provided. The master control unit receives an input signal and outputs a control signal by performing a program operation processing to the input signal. The device unit analyzes the control signal so as to obtain a color temperature setting value and a brightness setting value, and generates two output signals according to the brightness setting value and two color temperature adjusting signals determined by the color temperature setting value. The illumination unit has at least two lamps with different color temperatures. The driving circuit unit receives and converts the two output signals so as to proportionally output two driving signals to respectively drive the two lamps. One of the two output signals is enabled after the other of the two output signals is disabled for a predetermined time.

Abstract: A light guide plate and a side-emitting backlight module having the same are disclosed. The light guide plate includes a transparent substrate, a plurality of prisms and a plurality of condensing lenses. The prisms are arranged side by side on one surface of the transparent substrate. The condensing lenses are disposed between two adjacent prisms, and distributed from sparsely to densely along a direction of a crest line of each of the prisms.

Abstract: An electronic ballast is provided for powering a discharge lamp without visible flash at startup. The ballast includes an integrated circuit having at least one inverter drive output and a voltage controlled oscillator input. A first capacitor is coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator input. An oscillating half-bridge inverter is arranged to receive control signals from the drive output and further coupled to the lamp. The integrated circuit is programmed to start up the lamp by: in a first startup time period, maintaining predetermined lamp preheat values; in a second period, charging the first capacitor to a lamp breakdown voltage; in a third period, continuing to charge the first capacitor to a maximum voltage controlled oscillator input voltage; and in a fourth period, discharging the first capacitor to a predetermined lamp steady state value.

Abstract: A backlight module including a light guide panel (LGP), a light source, and a reflective sheet is provided. The LGP has a light entering surface, a light reflecting surface, and a light exiting surface. The LGP includes a plurality of first light guide micro-structures and a plurality of protruding micro-structures. The first light guide micro-structures are disposed on the LGP and distributed at the light reflecting surface. The protruding micro-structures are disposed on the LGP and distributed at the light reflecting surface. The protruding micro-structures and the first light guide micro-structures are distributed alternatively. The light source is disposed beside the light entering surface. The reflective sheet is disposed at a side of the light reflecting surface and is in contact with the protruding micro-structures. Moreover, a liquid crystal display with the above backlight module is also provided.

Abstract: A LED driving circuit includes a transformer, a rectifying filtering circuit, a PWM IC, a constant current circuit, and a feedback circuit. The transformer has a primary side and a secondary side. The rectifying filtering circuit is coupled to the secondary side and has a first output terminal. The PWM IC is coupled to the primary side. The constant current circuit has a second output terminal. A LED load is adapted to couple between the first output terminal and the second output terminal. The feedback circuit has a first input terminal coupled to the first output terminal to receive a first voltage and a second input terminal coupled to the constant current circuit to receive a second voltage. The second voltage varies with a conduction status of the LED load. The feedback circuit is adapted to control the PWM IC according to the received first and second voltages.

Abstract: A magnetic device surface mounting assembly includes a specially designed printed circuit board and magnetic device. The circuit board has first and second sets of channels, the first channels having a first end of a first size, a second end of a second size, and first and second sides at least one of which taper inward between the two ends to define an opening smaller than either size. The magnetic device includes a plurality of pins extending transversely with respect to the circuit board, and a plurality of legs extending parallel with the pins and sized to pass transversely through the first end of the first set of channels and to slide laterally through and resiliently engage the opening, but to prevent transverse movement with respect to the second end of the first set of channels.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and system to detect zero current conditions in a buck inductor by monitoring the voltage across the buck inductor. Once zero current and voltage conditions are present, an inverter circuit changes the operational state, i.e. conducting or non-conducting, of the switching transistors driving the lamps to reduce power loss associated with changing the operational state of switching transistors when under a load.

Abstract: A system for locating corresponding ends of a communications or data patch cable used to conduct a signal between computing or telecommunications devices. The invention provides a physical indication of the location of an opposite end of a given patch cable when a switching means on the first end of the same cable is activated. The invention utilizes an existing pair of wires in category-type cables to send a DC voltage when activated to illuminate a light emitting diode in the opposite end of a patch cable thereby providing an immediate indication of the location of the termination of the opposite end of a patch cable making it possible to visually identify a cable without removing the cable from service or from connection of the modular plugs on either end of the cable.

Abstract: A software controlled electronic dimming ballast for preheating, striking, and varying the dimming level of a lamp. In one embodiment, the ballast includes an EMI filter circuit, an AC/DC converter circuit, a PFC circuit, an inverter circuit, and a software controlled microcontroller circuit. The microcontroller circuit includes a microcontroller and software for generating inverter control signals that cause the inverter circuit to preheat, strike, and varying the dimming level of the lamp. The inverter control signals are generated based on dimming control and lamp dimming level feedback signals. The ballast also includes a lamp dimming level feedback signal conditioning circuit for generating the lamp dimming level feedback signals. Alternative embodiments of the ballast are also described.

Abstract: A magnetic component has a bobbin structure for winding a conductive material. The bobbin structure includes a bobbin body having a first winding embedded in the bobbin body. The first winding is made of a conductive material. The first winding includes a winding body and two terminal ends. The terminal ends protrude from the bobbin body for connection to a circuit. The winding body of the first winding is embedded inside the bobbin body. Alternatively, the first conductive winding is embedded in a bobbin flange included on the bobbin body. The bobbin structure generally includes a hollow interior cavity shaped for inserting a ferrite core.

Abstract: A magnetic device is provided for placement on the top surface of a printed circuit board with surface mount connection on the bottom surface. The circuit board includes first and second sets of slots bisecting each other. The device includes a bobbin with a plurality of support members each having a face shaped to engage the top surface of the printed circuit board and a plurality of pins attached to the support members. The pins have a first portion shaped to pass through the first set of slots, and a second portion shaped to pass through the second set of slots. The second portion of the pins is shaped to engage the bottom surface of the circuit board, locking the magnetic device in place against the top surface of the circuit board and providing a soldering area for surface mounting on the bottom surface.