Abstract: An analog circuit for solving optimization algorithms comprises three voltage controlled current sources and three capacitors, operatively coupled in parallel to the three voltage controlled current sources, respectively. The circuit further comprises a first inductor, operatively coupled in series between a first pair of the capacitors and the voltage controller current sources and a second pair of the capacitors and the voltage controller current sources. The circuit further comprises a second inductor, operatively coupled in series between the second pair of the capacitors and the voltage controller current sources and a third pair of the capacitors and the voltage controller current sources.

Abstract: Color temperature in a space may be adjusted by controlling lighting control devices and motorized window treatments. A position of a motorized window treatment may be controlled based on a control mode or user preference. Outside color temperature values may be limited from entering the space by closing the shade fabric of the motorized window treatment when the outside color temperature exceeds a threshold. A color temperature of outside light entering the space may be determined after the shades are adjusted. The color temperature of outside light entering the space may be determined by considering the shade fabric characteristics. The color temperature of light emitted by one or more lighting fixtures may be adjusted based on the color temperature of the light entering the space.

Abstract: An interactive lighting system includes a group of one or more portable lamps designed to respond to user's spatial manipulation of a lamp to control the system. The lamps can be wirelessly linked to operate in unison, and each lamp could also include an ambient light sensor, which helps the system to optimize illumination characteristics and profile.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a light source module including a first LED array and a second LED array includes a power input terminal, a first power output terminal and a second power output terminal. The power input terminal is operable for receiving electric power from a power converter. The first power terminal is coupled to the first LED array, and the second power output terminal is coupled to the second LED array. The controller is operable for delivering the electric power to the first LED array via the first power output terminal in a first sequence of discrete time slots, and for delivering the electric power to the second LED array via the second power output terminal in a second sequence of discrete time slots. The first sequence of discrete time slots and the second sequence of discrete time slots are mutually exclusive.

Abstract: A light emission control device includes a power source circuit for a drive circuit that supplies a power for a drive circuit based on an input power, a power source circuit for a control circuit that supplies a power for a control circuit based on the input power, a control circuit, a drive circuit, and a start control circuit. The control circuit outputs a control signal for controlling turning on/off of a switching element. The drive circuit outputs a drive signal for driving the switching element based on the control signal. The start control circuit outputs a start control signal for delaying a timing at which the output of the drive signal is started after the input power is turned on.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling illumination of a monitored area, by detecting sound (202) originating from an area to be monitored, and analysing the sound to recognise one or more target sounds (222) corresponding to unwanted behaviours such as offensive shouting, chanting or singing. The location of target sounds is determined (224) based on the received sound, and the determined location is exposed to adverse lighting (212), such as over or under exposure, or flickering or flashing effects, which are irritating or uncomfortable.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) driver circuit includes an LED string and a conducting state detection circuit. The conducting state detection circuit detects a conducting state of the LED string, and generates a discharge control signal upon sensing that the LED string is in a non-conducting state. A current source generates a discharge current according to the discharge control signal when the LED string is in the non-conducting state. A passive bleeder provides current compensation by internal regulator operation. An LED spike current suppression circuit suppresses spike current that can occur when the input voltage increases above a threshold. A bias supply circuit has an input capacitor that provides a bias voltage.

Abstract: A method for identifying sensor units (3) at fault in a lighting system (1) performed using three or more sensor units (3), each respective one of the sensor units (3) comprising a respective sensor (116) configured to generate sensor data, the method comprising at an external processing apparatus (20) external to the sensor units (3): receiving from each of the sensor units (3) the sensor data; generating correlation parameters from the sensor data for selected pairs of neighbouring sensor units (3); and monitoring the correlation parameters to determine a sensor unit (3) at fault.

Abstract: A system for determining an operational state of an atmospheric pressure plasma. The system has a transformer for coupling power into the atmospheric pressure plasma, a current sampling circuit configured to sample at least one current pulse flowing through a primary winding of the transformer, and a programmed microprocessor configured to determine, from a waveform of the current pulse, the operational state of the atmospheric pressure plasma. The operational state is one of: a no plasma state, a plasma origination state indicative of an ignited arc expanding into a plasma by gas flow thereinto, and a plasma maintenance state indicative of the plasma being expanded.

Abstract: A lighting device for a grab handle in a vehicle includes the grab handle disposed in a passenger compartment, a lamp embedded in the grab handle, a key sensor capable of detecting an approach of a user having a key into a given range around the vehicle, and a lighting controller configured to control lighting mode of the lamp. The lighting controller controls the lamp [1] to light the lamp in a first lighting mode when user's approach information is input to the lighting controller, [2] to light the lamp in a second lighting mode when lock/unlock information of a door is input to the lighting controller, or [3] to light the lamp in a third lighting mode when open/close information of the door is input to the lighting controller.

Abstract: A method for driving a backlight module, a driving device and a display apparatus are provided. The backlight module is divided into a plurality of light-emitting areas, each of the light-emitting areas including a plurality of lines of point sources, and the driving device includes a controller and a driving component, the driving component is connected to the controller and is configured to output a time series of voltage signal to the controller, and the controller is connected to all the plurality of lines of point sources in each of the light-emitting areas and is configured to drive the lines of point sources in the light-emitting area to emit light respectively at different periods based on the time series of voltage signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming torsional magnetic reconnection, and converting stored magnetic energy into charged particle kinetic energy and particle acceleration, is claimed. A torsional magnetic reconnection apparatus generally comprises (1) a vacuum environment housing (2) a plurality of conducting coils to form a magnetic field fan-spine topology and (3) a plasma generation device providing an azimuthal magnetic field perturbation such that current sheets are formed and magnetic reconnection processes can occur. Electric current energization of the plurality of conducting coils generates a potential magnetic fan-spine topology. A simultaneous capacitor bank discharge forms and axially drives a plasma sheath, featuring an azimuthal magnetic field, toward the fan-spine magnetic null that forces the diffusion of magnetic flux through the plasma. This magnetic to plasma kinetic energy conversion process accelerates charged particles far away from the reconnection region along open magnetic field lines.

Abstract: An charged particle beam apparatus includes: a gas introduction chamber to which raw gas is introduced; a plasma generation chamber connected to the gas introduction chamber; a coil wound around an outer circumference of the plasma generation chamber and receiving a high-frequency power; an extraction electrode applying an extraction voltage to plasma discharged from a plasma aperture at an outlet of the plasma generation chamber; an ampere meter measuring a magnitude of a plasma current caused by the plasma moved out of the plasma aperture; an extraction voltage calculator calculating, based on variation in the magnitude of the plasma current measured by the ampere meter with respect to variation in the extraction voltage, an extraction voltage set value; and a controller controlling the extraction voltage based on the extraction voltage set value calculated by the extraction voltage calculator.

Abstract: A method for generating atmospheric pressure cold plasma inside a hand-held unit discharges cold plasma with simultaneously different rf wavelengths and their harmonics. The unit includes an rf tuning network that is powered by a low-voltage power supply connected to a series of high-voltage coils and capacitors. The rf energy signal is transferred to a primary containment chamber and dispersed through an electrode plate network of various sizes and thicknesses to create multiple frequencies. Helium gas is introduced into the first primary containment chamber, where electron separation is initiated. The energized gas flows into a secondary magnetic compression chamber, where a balanced frequency network grid with capacitance creates the final electron separation, which is inverted magnetically and exits through an orifice with a nozzle. The cold plasma thus generated has been shown to be capable of accelerating a healing process in flesh wounds on animal laboratory specimens.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling to an input connection of an electron gun, the input connection having a heater terminal and a cathode terminal, includes: a connector having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the connector is configured to attach to a cable; wherein the second end of the connector is configured to connect to the input connection of the electron gun; and wherein the connector comprises an opening configured to receive the heater terminal of the input connection of the electron gun.

Abstract: Self-identifying solid-state transducer (SST) modules and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In several embodiments, for example, an SST system can include a driver and at least one SST module electrically coupled to the driver. Each SST module can include an SST and a sense resistor. The sense resistors of each SST module can have at least substantially similar resistance values. The SSTs of the SST modules can be coupled in parallel across an SST channel to the driver, and the sense resistors of the SST modules can be coupled in parallel across a sense channel to the driver. The driver can be configured to measure a sense resistance across the sense resistors and deliver a current across the SSTs based on the sense resistance.

Abstract: A method of accelerating charged particles in a plasma and an associated plasma accelerator and electromagnetic radiation source, the method including creating a region of non-uniform electric field within the plasma which propagates through the plasma; using the non-uniform electric field to accelerate a first plurality of charged particles in the direction of propagation of the region of non-uniform electric field; and once the accelerating first plurality of charged particles have propagated part-way through the plasma: adding a second plurality of charged particles to the plasma, such that the second plurality of charged particles propagates through the plasma, the second plurality of charged particles create a local distortion in the non-uniform electric field experienced by the accelerating first plurality of charged particles, and the local distortion in the non-uniform electric field propagates through the plasma with the accelerating first plurality of charged particles; and the method also including

Abstract: A load control device adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load includes a controller, an actuator for turning the electrical load on and off, an occupancy detection circuit, and an ambient light detector. The load control device automatically turns on the electrical load in response to the presence of an occupant only if the detected ambient light is below a predetermined ambient light level threshold. After first detecting the presence of an occupant, the load control device monitors actuations of the actuator to determine whether a user has changed the state of the load. The load control device automatically adjusts the predetermined ambient light level threshold in response to the user actuations that change the state of the load.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a leakage protection circuit, a method and a drive device. The leakage protection circuit is used for being electrically connected with the power supply line of a load, and may be configured to sample the power supply line at intervals, detect the voltage of the sampled electrical signals to determine whether the voltage of the AC input power is divided, and provide leakage protection based on the determined result. The present disclosure can prevent human from electric shock through sampling the electric signals from the power supply line at intervals and performing voltage detection and comparison to determine whether the voltage of the accessed AC input power is divided, when the voltage of the accessed AC input power is determined to be divided, the power supply line will be controlled in non-conductive state.

Abstract: There is proposed an interface circuit for connecting an electronic ballast to a lighting arrangement, in which control of a coupling configuration of the interface circuit is dependent upon a frequency of the electronic ballast. In particular, a coupling configuration of the interface circuit is controlled by a control arrangement based on the ballast frequency.