Abstract: An apparatus for providing power to a gas discharge lamp comprises a storage capacitor and an ignition switch coupled through a primarily parasitic first inductor to a parallel combination of a diode assembly and a second inductor in series with a gas discharge lamp. The second inductor is selected to optimize the energy transfer from the capacitor to the gas discharge lamp. During a first interval determined by the time constant of the series combination of a storage capacitor, a first inductor, and a second inductor, the diode assembly is not conducting and a forward sense current builds in the first and second inductors.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for producing a control signal (Us) for the purpose of dimming at least one lamp, including a device (10) for modifying the phase gating angle corresponding to a dimming input value (8), it being possible for the device (10) for modifying the phase gating angle to be fed, at its input, an input signal (Ue), whose phase gating angle is to be modified, and for an output signal (U1) having a modified phase gating angle to be provided at its output; and an output at which the control signal (Us) can be provided; it also includes a device (14) for comparing the output signal (U1) with a predeterminable signal (Uc) for the purpose of producing the control signal (Us), the amplitude of the predeterminable signal (Uc) depending on the amplitude of the input signal (Ue).

Abstract: Driver (150) for a gas discharge lamp (9) comprises: an arrangement of two MOSFET switches (61, 62) connected in series between two input terminals (51a, 52b); an inductor (73) connected in series with said lamp (9), this series arrangement being coupled to a node (P) between said two switches; a control unit (180) providing control signals (S1, S2) to said two switches. During a first commutation interval (41), a lamp circuit current (ILC) has only a first direction while during a second commutation interval (42) said lamp circuit current has only an opposite direction. In each commutation interval (41, 42), during a first operational phase (43) said lamp circuit current has a continuously increasing level while during a second operational phase (44) said lamp circuit current has a continuously decreasing level. The control unit (180) is designed to generate its control signals (S1, S2) such that said two switches are always, switched substantially simultaneously in counter-phase.

Abstract: A radiating antenna element intended for small-sized radio devices and a method for manufacturing the same. The element (300) is manufactured of a plate comprising a dielectric substrate coated with conductive material on one side. The radiating conductor branches corresponding to the operating bands of the antenna are formed on the plate by removing the conductive coating by laser narrowly from the border line of the area (330) between the designed conductor branches. The conductor area confined by the created border groove can be used as a parasitic additional radiator. If needed, the conductor area confined by the border groove (331) can also be split into a number of small conductor areas (CA1, CA2), in order to make sure that the conductor area does not radiate or have any substantial effect on the coupling between the radiating conductor branches.

Abstract: In a battery-operated apparatus comprising a load, a battery and a switch in circuit for selectively energizing the load: a comparator compares a potential produced by the battery and a reference potential for de-energizing the load when the battery potential is below a predetermined potential.

Abstract: Controlled avalanche driver circuits and apparatuses for gas lasers. One embodiment typically delivers short, rapid, high voltage ionizing pulses in combination with an electric field whose magnitude is too low to sustain a normal glow discharge. The plasma is typically impedance matched with the pulse-forming network. Pre-ionization pulses may be generated. The circuits enable very high power, stable lasers.

Abstract: A power driver circuit for a display panel. The power driver circuit includes a power controller, and a resident power system, which is coupled to an alternating power source and provides resident power for the power controller. When receiving an external on/off signal, the power controller will output driving signals to initiate or close the low-voltage power converter system and the high-voltage power converter system to determine whether a low-voltage power and a high-voltage power are output to drive the display panel. Thereby, when the display panel is in an off state, only the resident power system works. Thus, the power-saving demand of environmental protection is satisfied.

Abstract: A very inexpensive and on-site tunable design for a vertically polarized panel antenna system, suitable for the FCC digital broadcast 700 MHz range is provided. Bowtie-like shaped antennas having machine-stampable planar elements with an adjustable separation are configured with a stripline feed. The stipline feed enables easy feeding of doublet systems to allow the configuration of an array of vertically polarized antennas. The various components of the antenna system can be easily tuned, enabling rapid deployment and quick operation.

Abstract: A standard slow wave meander line having sections of alternating impedance relative to a conductor plate is provided with a top shield connected to the conductor plane for the purpose of lowering the resonant frequency of narrow band antennas and lowering the low frequency cutoff limit of wide band antennas due to a higher delay per unit length occasioned by the use of the top shield.

Abstract: A power converter includes a control device (28) for a switching power converter (10), a switching power converter and a method of controlling a switch in a power converter for reducing audible noise. The power converter includes the control device (28) and at least one switch (26) for regulating the power conversion. The control device (28) includes a timer (45) for monitoring a switching frequency of the switch (26) to indicate when the frequency has dropped to a certain level, and a gate driving circuit (32) connected to the timer and arranged to regulate the switching of the switch in dependence of the indication from the timer, so that the frequency rises above the certain level in order to reduce generation of audible noise.

Abstract: An improved structure for an edge of a disk body of an antenna. The antenna includes the disk body and a side portion. The side portion has a supporting ring and a containing slot surrounding the circumference of the disk body. The supporting ring is on a top of the side portion, therefore the supporting ring of a bottom antenna is reserved in the containing slot of a top antenna while stacking a plurality of antennas sequentially in an order.

Abstract: A switched meander line structure is substituted for a lumped element antenna tuner for an order of magnitude increase in gain due to the use of the switched meander line architecture. The use of the meander line with relatively wide and thick folded legs markedly decreases I2R losses over wire inductors whose wire diameters at one-tenth of an inch contribute significantly to I2R losses. Additionally, placing solid state switches to short out various sections of a multi-leg meander line at high impedance nodes reduces I2R losses across the switching elements in the tuner.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement includes aground conductor (302) incorporating two slots (304a,304b) having an electrically small separation and connections (308a,308b) for coupling a transceiver to each slot to enable the ground conductor to function as two substantially independent antennas. Such a device enables efficient diversity performance to be obtained from small volume. The ground conductor, slots and transceiver are integrated in a module (206) adapted for connection to a further ground conductor which provides the majority of the antenna area. The further conductor would typically be a printed circuit board ground plane or mobile phone handset. Matching and broadbanding circuitry may conveniently be incorporated in the module. By varying the area of the connections between the module and the further ground conductor, the resonant frequencies of the slots can be modified.

Abstract: A ballast (10) for powering at least one gas discharge lamp (20) having lamp filaments (22,24) comprises an inverter (200), an output circuit (300), a filament heating control circuit (400), and a dimming control circuit (500). Filament heating control circuit (400) is coupled to the dimming control circuit and at least one of the inverter and the output circuit. During operation, filament heating control circuit (400) controls the inverter and output circuit such that heating of the lamp filaments is provided during a preheat mode that occurs prior to ignition of the lamp, and during a dimming mode that optionally occurs after ignition of the lamp and that includes operating the lamp at a current level that is substantially less than a rated normal operating current of the lamp.

Abstract: In order to have an antenna apparatus small in size and capable of switching its directivity pattern without degrading its antenna efficiency, the present invention provides an antenna apparatus having a driven element formed at an approximately center position of a planar printed circuit board and parasitic elements not performing feeding formed before and behind the first antenna element, respectively, so that the driven element is caused to function as a radiator and either one of the parasitic elements is made to have a length as long as an electrical length of a radiator or slightly shorter than that to function as a director and the other one of the parasitic elements is left to have an electrical length longer than that of the radiator to function as a reflector.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a current-controlled light emitting diode emitting light with brightness corresponding to a current flowing therethrough; a wiring structure electrically connected to the current-controlled light emitting diode; and a potential controller controlling a potential of the wiring structure. The image display apparatus also includes a potential change assisting unit controlling electric conductivity between the potential controller and the wiring structure, to change a potential of the wiring structure after a light emitting phase.

Abstract: A charged particle source utilizes a novel plasma processing chamber, RF coil and ion optics, to achieve high uniformity. The plasma processing chamber has a re-entrant vessel which is movable, and which includes extensions of adjustable shape or position, to make more uniform the plasma contained within the chamber. One or more magnets, which may be static or moving, may be included within the re-entrant vessel. The ion optics include a grid with a number of apertures, and tuning features each surrounding an aperture. These tuning features either reduce the diameter of the associated aperture, or increase the length of that aperture, to create more uniform beamlets emerging from the grid. The RF coil includes a flux concentrator positioned adjacent to the winding in at least one angular region thereof to tune the magnetic field produced thereby.

Abstract: A broadband internal antenna includes a first radiator having a radiation part with one or more coils having different pitch intervals connected in series to each other, and a second radiator having at least one conductive strip line arranged parallel to a longitudinal direction of the first radiator. The antenna further includes a connection part to which an end of the at least one conductive strip line is connected, to which a first end of the first radiator is attached and in which a part for supplying current to the antenna and a part for grounding the antenna are formed, and an attachment pad to which a second end of the first radiator is attached and from which current is drawn. Current flowing through the first radiator and current flowing through the strip lines form current paths in different directions to set a certain broadband using mutual Electromagnetic (EM) coupling.

Abstract: An organic light emitting display includes a plurality of pixels, at least one of the pixels having: an organic light emitting diode; a driving transistor adapted to supply a driving current to the organic light emitting diode; a first switching transistor adapted to selectively supply a data signal to the driving transistor; a second switching transistor adapted to selectively supply an initialization signal; a third switching transistor adapted to selectively allow the driving transistor to be connected as a diode and to selectively supply the initialization sought; a storage capacitor adapted to store a first voltage corresponding to the initialization signal received from the third switching transistor and then to store a second voltage corresponding to the data signal applied at a gate electrode of the driving transistor; and an interrupter adapted to selectively supply a pixel power to the driving transistor and to selectively allow the driving current to flow into the organic light emitting diode.

Abstract: An antenna system designed to enhance power efficiency of a patch antenna for wireless transmission is provided. The system includes a patch antenna, a reflective plate, a transmission line, and a printed circuit board assembly. The reflective plate is arranged at the position of ¼? away from the patch antenna, to reflect the electro-magnetic waves, radiated behind the patch antenna. Because the antenna and the reflective plate are away from ¼?, the reflective signals returned to the patch antenna constructively interfere with the signal radiated from the antenna. Therefore, the provided system may strengthen the gain of the antenna. Further, the electromagnetic interference is decreased at the position close to the printed circuit board assembly behind the reflective plate.