Abstract: To provide a low-cost self-excited inverter driving circuit exhibiting an excellent operational efficiency. A main inverter section is so constructed that a part of output signals is fed back by a resonance loop circuit to cause a self-excited oscillation to occur in the vicinity of a resonance frequency decided by leakage inductors and capacitors on the secondary side of a high voltage transformer, thereby performing an inverter operation. It is further arranged that a halt interval setting signal, which is generated by a triangular wave forming circuit and a control section, is applied to the main inverter section, thereby halting the inverter operation in accordance with the halt interval setting signal.

Abstract: A lighting system comprising an electric lamp (1), especially a fluorescent lamp, which is provided with a first (11) and at least one second lamp coil (12). The lighting system further comprises an electronic ballast (2) that is electrically connected to the lamp coils (11, 12) and at least two additional light sources (31a to 31c; 32a to 32c) which are interconnected in parallel. The parallel connection (3) of the two additional light sources (31a to 31c; 32a to 32c) are serially connected between the first (11) and the second lamp coil (12).

Abstract: A method of generating a driving current supplied to a high pressure discharge lamp, including outputting a DC current, converting the DC current to an AC current having a predetermined frequency, generating a reference pulse which is asynchronous with the AC current, and superposing the first pulse and the second pulse to the AC current for producing the driving current.

Abstract: A plasma lamp and a method of generating light are provided. The plasma lamp may include a lamp body having a dielectric constant greater than about 2 and a power source. The power source is coupled to the lamp body by a feed to provide power to the lamp body. A bulb containing a fill having a first portion and a second portion is provided. The bulb is positioned so that the first portion of the fill is located within the lamp body and the second portion of the fill is located outside of the lamp body. In use, the fill receives at least a portion of the power from the lamp body to form a light-emitting plasma. The volume of the bulb is less than the volume of the lamp body.

Abstract: There is provided a driving circuit for powering a plurality of light sources. The driving circuit includes a power converter, a plurality of switching regulators and a plurality of switching balance controllers. The power converter is operable for receiving an input voltage and for providing a regulated voltage to the light sources. The switching regulators are operable for adjusting forward voltages of the light sources respectively. The switching balance controllers are operable for generating pulse modulation signals to control the switching regulators respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for driving and adjusting light is provided, applicable to the LED lighting environment. Without the necessity to change the existing wiring and lighting devices, the driving and light adjusting apparatus of the present invention can cooperate with LED driver, by counting the number of switch ON/OFF times, to enable the LED driver to adjust light so that the LED lighting device is capable of light adjustment in addition to lighting.

Abstract: Provided is a display apparatus including: a display panel; a light source which includes a plurality of light source modules and supplies light to the display panel; a light source driver which drives the light source modules; a power source which supplies power to the light source driver; a current detector which detects a current of the power supplied from the power source to the light source driver; and a controller which controls the light source driver to sequentially drive the plurality of light source modules and compares the detected current with a range to detect errors from the respective light source modules.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled electronic ballast for lighting equipment is described wherein light level control is performed by varying the power provided to the light. Lighting power is adjusted by driving the lamp through a resonant circuit with a variable frequency power signal. The programmable microprocessor controls overall operation including preheating, ignition, and shutdown.

Abstract: A device used with a direct current power source for energizing a lamp. The device includes a plurality of input channels selectively connected to the power source for providing current to the lamp. For each input channel, the device includes a corresponding current sensing component connected to the input channel, and a corresponding bypass switch connected in parallel with the current sensing component. Each current sensing component produces a measurable signal as a function of current that is provided by the corresponding input channel. The device includes a controller connected to the current sensing components and the bypass switches. The controller identifies the input channel that is providing current to the lamp as a function of the measurable signals and controls the bypass switches based on the identified input channel.

Abstract: A dimmer switch has a user adjustable high-end trim. The dimmer switch includes a bidirectional semiconductor switch, such as a triac, for controlling the amount of power delivered from a source of alternating current power to a lighting load, such as an electric lamp. A user-adjustable timing circuit controls the conduction time of the triac from a minimum time to a maximum time. The maximum possible conduction time of the triac is the high-end trim. The minimum possible conduction time of the triac is the low-end trim. The timing circuit includes a user-accessible switch that allows a user to reduce the high-end trim from a first nominal level to a second reduced level, lower than the first level, without substantially affecting the low-end trim. The switch allows a user to switch a transient voltage suppressor into and out of parallel connection with a resistor that is part of an RC timing circuit for the triac.

Abstract: An automotive lighting assembly receiving light from a power source and for producing light. The automotive lighting assembly includes a first lighting circuit which is operatively connected to the power source for emitting light as a function of electric current. A second lighting circuit is operatively connected to the power source independently from the first lighting circuit. The second lighting circuit emits light as a function of the electric current. The automotive lighting assembly also includes a controller which is electrically connected between the power source and the first and second lighting circuits for independently operating the first and second lighting sources to emit a chosen amount of light in a chosen direction.

Abstract: Exemplary apparatus, method and system embodiments provide for separately and independently sourcing current to a series of light emitting diodes of a plurality of series of light-emitting diodes. An exemplary apparatus comprises a power converter which generates a current, a first multiplexer, and a controller. The controller provides for sequential and separate switching of the current through the first multiplexer to each of the series of light-emitting diodes for a corresponding period of time. An average current provided by the power converter is determined as substantially equal to a sum of the corresponding currents through the plurality of series of light-emitting diodes. A total period for switching current to all of the series of light-emitting diodes is also determined.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for modifying an object with electrons are provided, by which the object can be uniformly and efficiently modified with the electrons under a pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure even when having a relatively wide surface area to be treated. This method uses a cold-cathode electron emitter having the capability of emitting electrons from a planar electron emitting portion according to tunnel effect, and preferably comprising a pair of electrodes, and a strong field drift layer including nanocrystalline silicon disposed between the electrodes. The object is exposed to electrons emitted from the planar electron emitting portion by applying a voltage between the electrodes.

Abstract: A functional sheet is brought into intimate contact with a front surface of a plasma display panel, and the functional sheet has a structure in which heat diffusion is superior to heat insulation between the plasma display panel and outside air. In addition, a display device includes a controller for controlling a drive voltage pulse train so that power consumption in a unit area in a light emission region within the screen is limited under a set value when one image is displayed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lighting apparatus using one or more fluorescent lamps. The lighting apparatus according to the present invention includes one or more sockets, a board, a ballast, and a Direct Current (DC) power supply. The sockets accommodate the fluorescent lamps. The board supports Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for emitting green light in a wavelength range of 498 to 530 nm, LEDs for emitting red light in a wavelength range of 620 to 700 nm, and LEDs for emitting bluish green at 495 nm. The ballast provides a ballast function to the fluorescent lamps. The DC power supply supplies DC power to the LEDs.

Abstract: A strongly-ionized plasma generator includes a chamber for confining a feed gas. An anode is positioned inside the chamber. A cathode assembly is positioned adjacent to the anode inside the chamber. An output of a pulsed power supply is electrically connected between the anode and the cathode assembly. The pulsed power supply comprising solid state switches that are controlled by micropulses generated by drivers. At least one of a pulse width and a duty cycle of the micropulses is varied so that the power supply generates a multi-step voltage waveform at the output having a low-power stage including a peak voltage and a rise time that is sufficient to generate a plasma from the feed gas and a transient stage including a peak voltage and a rise time that is sufficient to generate a more strongly-ionized plasma.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-color backlight control circuit, comprising: a plurality of pins for electrically connecting with a plurality of LED strings of different LED colors; and a voltage supply circuit for receiving an input voltage and supplying a single output voltage to the plurality of LED strings of different LED colors. The present invention also discloses a multi-color backlight control method, comprising: supplying a single output voltage to a plurality of LED strings of different LED colors.

Abstract: A universal line voltage dimming method and system, with a control circuit for an electronic ballast including an on-time converter (50) generating an on-time signal (54) in response to a sensed phase-controlled power signal (52), and a micro-processor (56) responsive to the on-time signal (54) and generating a dimming control signal (58). A lamp control method for an electronic ballast includes sensing phase-controlled power, determining on-time for the sensed phase-controlled power, and controlling lamp dimming in response to the on-time.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating at least one electric lamp having an inverter has at least one first and one second bridge transistor arranged in series with one another, a first drive circuit for the first bridge transistor; a second drive circuit for the second bridge transistor; the and second drive circuits being designed to drive the first and second bridge transistors to switch alternately completely on and off during normal lamp operation; and at least one protective apparatus; the at least one protective apparatus being designed, in the case of a value for a reference voltage, which is correlated with the voltage across the bridge transistor which has just been switched off, above a predeterminable limit value, to drive the bridge transistor, which has just been completely switched on, such that it is no longer completely switched on. A related method is also described.

Abstract: An electric discharge lamp device has a lighting start voltage storage circuit for storing a lamp voltage immediately after the start of lighting of a lamp, and a change detection circuit for detecting a change in the lamp voltage by subtracting the lamp voltage immediately after the start of lighting of the lamp from the lamp voltage detected currently. The electric power supplied to the lamp is controlled based upon the change in the lamp voltage.