Abstract: A circuit serving as a power source for light-emitting diode (LED) lighting applications, the circuit comprising a boost converter comprising a pair of boost field-effect transistors (FETs) and a boost inductor coupled to the pair of boost FETs, wherein an input voltage feeding the boost converter has a sinusoidal waveform, and wherein a half cycle of the input voltage is represented by a plurality of time slices, and a controller coupled to the boost converter and configured to determine a current time slice in the plurality of time slices, generate one or more output signals based at least in part on the current time slice and without a need to compute any multiplier function involving the input voltage, and control states of the boost FETs using the one or more output signals.

Abstract: A circuit serving as a light source, the circuit comprising a first group of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a second group of LEDs connected in anti-parallel with the first group of LEDs, wherein each of the first group of LEDs and the second group of LEDs comprises at least one LED, and a capacitor connected in parallel with the first group of LEDs and the second group of LEDs.

Abstract: A lamp having a light emitting diode, a Peltier device, a heat sink, a translucent, thermally conductive window, and an optical fluid. The Peltier device is in thermal communication with the light emitting diode and converts a waste thermal energy discharged by the light emitting diode into an electrical energy. Conductors transfer the electrical energy from the Peltier device to a boost circuit which converts a level of a voltage associated with the electrical energy output from the Peltier device to a higher, more useful value. The heat sink transfers a second thermal energy from the Peltier device. The optical fluid is located between the translucent, thermally conductive window and the light emitting diode. The optical fluid has an angle of diffraction having an intermediate value relative to an angle of diffraction associated with the light emitting diode and an angle of diffraction associated with the translucent, thermally conductive window.

Abstract: A circuit serving as a power source for light-emitting diode (LED) lighting applications, the circuit comprising a boost converter comprising a pair of boost field-effect transistors (FETs) and a boost inductor coupled to the pair of boost FETs, wherein an input voltage feeding the boost converter has a sinusoidal waveform, and wherein a half cycle of the input voltage is represented by a plurality of time slices, and a controller coupled to the boost converter and configured to determine a current time slice in the plurality of time slices, generate one or more output signals based at least in part on the current time slice and without a need to compute any multiplier function involving the input voltage, and control states of the boost FETs using the one or more output signals.

Abstract: The operation of gas discharge devices involves stabilizing drive stage with a highly dynamic load exhibiting both negative resistance and non-linear behavior. Stabilization is typically accomplished by inserting impedance in series with the plasma load so the combination impedance has a voltage division that is characterized by the intersection of the linear series impedance and the instantaneous voltage-current. This is stable as long as there is an ample excess of voltage driving the plasma/series impedance complex. However providing series impedance that insures stable operation over varying power levels, lamp types/chemistries and changes resulting from aging can lead to inefficient operation as a result of either high voltage/power drops in the series impedance or a high source voltage driving smaller impedance.

Abstract: A lamp having a light emitting diode, a Peltier device, a heat sink, a translucent thermally conductive window, and an optical fluid. The Peltier device is in thermal communication with the light emitting diode and converts a waste thermal energy discharged by the light emitting diode into an electrical energy. Conductors transfer the electrical energy from the Peltier device to a boost circuit which converts a level of a voltage associated with the electrical energy output from the Peltier device to a higher, more useful value. The heat sink transfers a second thermal energy from the Peltier device. The optical fluid is located between the translucent, thermally conductive window and the light emitting diode. The optical fluid has an angle of diffraction having an intermediate value relative to an angle of diffraction associated with the light emitting diode and an angle of diffraction associated with the translucent, thermally conductive window.

Abstract: A method of passively dissipating heat from a source of heat is described. A plurality of successive layers of thermally conductive materials is formed where each layer has a thermal conductivity less than a thermal conductivity of a preceding layer. The plurality of successive layers has a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer in stacked relationship. Thermal impedances of the plurality of successive layers from one layer to an adjacent layer in the plurality of successive layers are matched by controlling a volume of one layer relative to an adjacent layer in the plurality of successive layers.

Abstract: A device and method for dissipating heat from a source of heat is described. A plurality of layers of thermally conductive materials receives a flow of heat from a source of heat. A first layer of the plurality of layers receives the flow of heat from the source of heat and redirects and transfers the flow of heat to a second of the plurality of layers. Each layer has a separate preselected thermal impedance to control a desired temperature change across the plurality of layers and to maintain a desired operating temperature of the source heat.

Abstract: A power supply for a non-linear load such as a light emitting diode load uses a voltage dynamic of a fly-back topology to correct for a rippling of an unfiltered rectified line voltage. Efficiency is optimized by utilizing a magnetic core bi-directionally. A transformer has two primaries 11,12 that are nearly identical. The connection of the primaries is phase add. The two primaries 11,12 are electrically connected in series but isolated by a capacitor C1 (14). This capacitor (14) both isolates and controls the rate of change of current with time and, therefore, the voltage on the secondary, SEC2 (16). For maximum efficiency, the capacitor (14) is select to provide the lowest rise of voltage across the switch during the instant just after being biased off.

Abstract: A device and method for dissipating heat from a source of heat is described. A plurality of layers of thermally conductive materials receives a flow of heat from a source of heat. A first layer of the plurality of layers receives the flow of heat from the source of heat and redirects and transfers the flow of heat to a second of the plurality of layers. Each layer has a separate preselected thermal impedance to control a desired temperature change across the plurality of layers and to maintain a desired operating temperature of the source heat.

Abstract: A method of determining the quality of a sensed signal has capturing, comparing, categorizing, and a decision-making steps. The capturing step is used to capture a plurality of signals. A magnitude of each of the plurality of signals is compared to a predetermined value to determine a relationship between each of the plurality of signals to the predetermined value. A result of each comparison is categorized according to one of a plurality of predetermined criteria. The categorizing step is repeated at least until a predetermined number of results has been reached in at least one of the plurality of predetermined criteria. A decision is made based on which of the plurality of predetermined criteria reaches the predetermined number.

Abstract: The operation of gas discharge devices involves stabilizing drive stage with a highly dynamic load exhibiting both negative resistance and non-linear behavior. Stabilization is typically accomplished by inserting impedance in series with the plasma load so the combination impedance has a voltage division that is characterized by the intersection of the linear series impedance and the instantaneous voltage-current. This is stable as long as there is an ample excess of voltage driving the plasma/series impedance complex. However providing series impedance that insures stable operation over varying power levels, lamp types/chemistries and changes resulting from aging can lead to inefficient operation as a result of either high voltage/power drops in the series impedance or a high source voltage driving smaller impedance.

Abstract: A lamp having a light emitting diode, a pettier device, a heat sink, a translucent thermally conductive window, and an optical fluid. The pettier device is in thermal communication with the light emitting diode and converts a waste thermal energy discharged by the light emitting diode into an electrical energy. Conductors transfer the electrical energy from the pettier device to a boost circuit which converts a level of a voltage associated with the electrical energy output from the pettier device to a higher, more useful value. The heat sink transfers a second thermal energy from the pettier device. The optical fluid is located between the translucent thermally conductive window and the light emitting diode. The optical fluid has an angle of diffraction having an intermediate value relative to an angle of diffraction associated with the light emitting diode and an angle of diffraction associated with the translucent thermally conductive window.

Abstract: Apparatus (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20) for conversion of a rotary drive force such as from a drive motor (22) into a vectored linear force m a known, controlled and predictable manner. The vectored linear force may be used for lifting/moving objects, pushing objects through water or into space. The vectored linear force is generated without the expulsion of mass or reaction with an external material or medium. As a consequence, the force generating apparatus may be embodied within an enclosed system having an energy source for generating the rotary drive force that can sourced from ordinary means such as an electrical generator, or from hydraulic or other mechanical sources.