Abstract: Light-based systems for communicating information associated with service orders and/or the identification of personal objects are disclosed. A personal mobile electronic communication device is used in conjunction with a communication network and a lighting controller to communicate service orders by lighting with one or more individually controllable luminaries in a lighting network. A personal mobile electronic communication device is, alternatively or additionally, used in conjunction with a communication network, a memory, and a lighting controller controlling to indicate by lighting whether there is an association between the personal mobile electronic communication device and a personal item.

Abstract: A driving circuit includes an array of driving elements that selectively supply current from a power supply to an array of driven elements at a rate responsive to the difference between a control voltage and the power supply voltage. The control voltage is furnished to the driving elements through a conductive member that extends parallel to the array of driving elements. The driving circuit includes means for adjusting the control voltage independently at each end of the conductive member, to reduce variations in the current supplied by different driving elements.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus comprises a circuit board, providing an electrolytic condenser and electrical components, and a housing. The housing accommodates the circuit board. The electrical components include resin containing one or more halogen compounds of about 1% by weight or less in terms of bromine (Br).

Abstract: In an electronic ballast equipped with a digital lamp power control loop, the gain is controlled in dependence on the signs of consecutive error signals and the absolute values of these signals. The digital control loop is stable and comparatively fast for a wide range of values of the power consumed by the lamp.

Abstract: A method for driving a plasma display panel capable of obtaining a good display quality. In a pixel data writing step in a sub-field that is weighted small, discharge cells in the plasma display panel are scanned in a unit of plurality of display lines and are set to one of a light emitting state and a non-light emitting state depending upon the pixel data.

Abstract: For providing a propulsion device particularly for a spacecraft, comprising a plasma chamber in which a plasma can be produced in a propellant, and a focussing arrangement for focussing an electromagnetic radiation field into a focussing region in the plasma chamber in order to produce the plasma, the propulsion device being highly efficient and controllable, it is proposed to arrange in the plasma chamber a plasma ignition arrangement whereby a material which lowers the plasma breakdown threshold in the propellant can be brought into the focussing region.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for thrusting plasma, utilizing a Hall thruster with a cylindrical geometry, wherein ions are accelerated in substantially the axial direction. The apparatus is suitable for operation at low power. It employs small size thruster components, including a ceramic channel, with the center pole piece of the conventional annular design thruster eliminated or greatly reduced. Efficient operation is accomplished through magnetic fields with a substantial radial component. The propellant gas is ionized at an optimal location in the thruster. A further improvement is accomplished by segmented electrodes, which produce localized voltage drops within the thruster at optimally prescribed locations. The apparatus differs from a conventional Hall thruster, which has an annular geometry, not well suited to scaling to small size, because the small size for an annular design has a great deal of surface area relative to the volume.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of testing an organic light emitting diode array are disclosed. A current meter and voltage source are serially connected between a common line and power supply line shared by any pixel unit. Specific logic values are sequentially written to the pixel units via signal lines and the current readings corresponding the pixel units are taken by the current meter. Whether the pixel units are defective can be determined according to the current readings. The defective type of a pixel units can be determined according to the current reading corresponding to the defective pixel unit and the current readings corresponding the other perfect pixel units.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energy converter for supplying electric energy from an energy source to a load. The converter comprises a transformer having a primary side and a secondary side, the secondary side being adapted to be connected to the load. At least a first and a second controllable switch are arranged in series with each other for generating an alternating current in the primary side of the transformer. The energy converter also comprises a control device for generating control signals with which the first and the second switch are opened and closed. The control device comprises a detector for generating a detection signal when the energy converter is operative in a capacitive or near-capacitive mode. To generate the detection signal, the detector detects a voltage jump that occurs at a mode between the first and the second switch when the first or the second switch is closed.