Abstract: A discharge lamp driving device for driving a lamp module (23) including a plurality of lamps includes a switch circuit (21), a transformer and filter circuit (22), and a microcontroller (20). The switch circuit converts a received signal to an alternating current signal. The transformer and filter circuit is connected between the switch circuit and the lamp module, for amplifying and shaping the alternating current signal. The microcontroller connected to the switch circuit for outputting a control signal to control the switch circuit to output the alternating current signal to the lamp module. In the invention, correlative parameters and specifications of the circuit are predetermined via the microcontroller. Therefore, the structure of the whole circuit is simple.

Abstract: Disclosed are a brightness control apparatus and method for a video display appliance that can lengthen the lifetime of a lamp and reduce the power consumption of the lamp by automatically entering into a lamp power saving mode if a display brightness is manually adjusted below a predetermined brightness value. The brightness control apparatus includes a memory for storing various kinds of menus for controlling an operation of the appliance, a display unit for displaying the menus stored in the memory and a video signal, a control unit for operating to automatically switch a present mode over to a lamp power saving mode according to a result of comparing a display brightness value being adjusted by a user with a reference brightness value pre-stored in the memory if the user selects a menu for adjusting the brightness from the menus being displayed on the display unit, and a lamp driving unit for driving a lamp according to a control signal output from the control unit.

Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device can reduce a variation in luminous flux at the time when the polarity of a voltage to be applied to the discharge lamp is inverted, prevent an excessively large amount of current from flowing through the discharge lamp at the time of starting, prevent the fade-out of discharge when the discharge mode returns from an arc discharge mode to a glow discharge mode, and reduce the ripple of a lamp current in a normal lighting mode. A coil is provided in an output current path of a power supply circuit comprising, for example, a step-down chopper, and a smoothing capacitor is provided in the next stage of the coil so that it selectively is turned on or off by a switching element. An inverter comprising, for example, a full bridge is provided in the next stage of the smoothing capacitor.

Abstract: An inverter circuit includes an inverter transformer to supply AC high voltages of opposite phases, and a plurality of balance transformers. The inverter transformer supplies AC high voltages of same phases to every n number of CCFLs, and the CCFLs are connected in series to primary windings of the balance transformers at every two CCFLs. Also, secondary windings of the balance transformers are connected in series to form a closed loop. Thus, an inverter circuit may realized for a large-sized backlight without increasing a number of the balance transformers.

Abstract: A power supply and methods are provided. In one implementation, the power supply includes a switching circuit and a converter. The switching circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor, and the converter includes a capacitor and an inductor. The switching circuit alternately switches an input voltage to the converter. The power supply further includes a controller operable to adjust a switching frequency of the first transistor and the second transistor to substantially match a resonant frequency of the capacitor and the inductor.

Abstract: An energy recovery circuit for a plasma display panel charges a panel capacitor using energy within an inductor and recovers the energy from the panel capacitor. The energy recovery circuit supplies the panel capacitor with a clamping voltage enabling a potential of the panel capacitor to be constantly maintained. A controller controls the energy recovery circuit to supply the clamping voltage to the panel capacitor within a period taken to discharge a current of the inductor from a maximum value to a current level greater than zero. The charging timing point of the panel capacitor occurs prior to the current IL of the inductor L being discharged to zero and/or prior to the panel capacitor Cp being charged up to the sustain potential Vs.

Abstract: A lamp driving apparatus includes a lamp driving power system providing a driving power to a lamp, a sensor detecting whether the lamp is turned on, and a controller controlling the lamp driving power system to provide an initial driving power to the lamp to turn on the lamp, and to provide an excess driving power to the lamp if the sensor detects that the lamp is not turned on, the excess driving power having a higher voltage level than the initial driving power. A liquid crystal display includes the lamp driving apparatus and a driving method thereof includes a lamp that is stably driven at an initial stage of operation.

Abstract: A display includes a backlight comprising light sources. The light sources are divided into sections. The display also includes a transmissive display panel positioned adjacent to the backlight, a diffuser positioned between the backlight and the transmissive display panel, and a control circuit coupled to the backlight and the transmissive display panel. The control circuit synchronizes light output by the backlight with a transmittance of the transmissive display panel.

Abstract: A switching regulator includes a power stage, an output capacitor, a first reference voltage generator, a comparator, a constant-time trigger, a frequency-to-voltage converter, and an error amplifier. The power stage includes a first switch, a second switch coupled to the first switch, and an output inductor. The comparator is coupled to the output capacitor, and output inductor, and the first reference voltage generator. The constant-time trigger is coupled to the comparator and the power stage. The error amplifier includes a first input end coupled to the frequency-to-voltage converter, a second input end, and an output end coupled to the constant-time trigger.

Abstract: System and method for improving efficiency in driving LEDs. A preferred embodiment comprises a switch current regulator coupled to a current control signal input, the switch current regulator to control an amount of current provided to the LED based upon a magnitude of a voltage on the current control signal input, a switching voltage regulator coupled to the switch current regulator and the LED, the switching voltage regulator to provide current to the LED, and a sensor coupled to the switch current regulator, the LED, and a signal feedback circuit, the sensor to measure status information regarding the switch current regulator and the LED and provides the information to a controller, wherein the status information can be used to adjust the current on the current control signal input.

Abstract: A backlight assembly prevents abnormal discharge of a device using a high voltage to drive a discharge tube such as CCFL. An inverter circuit includes an inverter transformer supplying an AC high voltage to a plurality of discharge tubes, and a plurality of balance transformers. First terminals of primary coils of the balance transformers are connected to the discharge tubes, and second terminals of the primary coils are connected to a ground. Secondary coils of the balance transformers are connected in series to form a loop. A resistor has a first terminal connected to the loop and a second terminal connected to the ground. Accordingly, the backlight assembly may detect a high-voltage abnormal discharge such as a corona discharge, an arc discharge or the like.

Abstract: Apparatus, system, and method are described for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit device having a first metal layer that includes a radiating element and a second metal layer that includes a first conductor coupled to the radiating element. The first conductor and the radiating element are mutually coupled to form an antenna to wirelessly communicate a signal.

Abstract: A system and method for color changing lighting comprising a pre-programmed controller along with driver circuit, a single or combination of LEDs and an OFF/ON switch which is used for making selection of mode of operation as well as switching the system ON/OFF. Brightness is changed using pulse width modulation. The LED's are selectively activated by programmed variable pulse to generate desired color mixing effect. The resulting illumination may be controlled by a computer/micro-controller program to provide pre-designed complex patterns of light in virtually any environment.

Abstract: An LED drive circuit, wherein a circuit that drives light-emitting diode with a common connected cathode has a resistor connected to the anode of the light-emitting diode, an NPN-type transistor connected to the second terminal of the resistor that approximately determines the control current for the emission of light in cooperation with the resistor, an NPN-type transistor positioned in parallel with the resistor and connected to the anode of the light-emitting diode, and a current supply, a level shifter, and a switch for selectively changing the voltage between the base-emitter of the second transistor, which are placed between the base of transistor and resistor.

Abstract: An improved LCD back light panel lamp connecting structure. A high voltage end and a feedback end of the adjacent cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) modules alternate, and the feedback end of the CCFL is coupled to a single return board. The return board is coupled to a pulse width modulation (PWM) control unit so that the return board feeds back the current to the PWM control unit. The high voltage end of the CCFL is coupled to a transformer.

Abstract: An inverter circuit, a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display include first and second electrodes and a balance circuit. The first and second electrodes supply a voltage of opposite polarities, respectively, among an even number of cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) disposed in one direction. The first and second electrodes supply the voltage of opposite polarities to even-numbered CCFLs and odd-numbered CCFLs, respectively. The balance circuit controls currents flowing through the CCFLs. The CCFLs are halved into a first group higher in temperature and a second group lower in temperature than the first group. The balance circuit includes primary coils directly connected between at least one CCFL of the first group and at least one CCFL of the second group and secondary coils corresponding to the primary coils that are connected to each other to form a loop.

Abstract: A system and method for containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology are described in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.

Abstract: A plasma generating apparatus is provided with a plasma generating apparatus for ionizing gas by high frequency discharge within a plasma generating container to thereby generate a plasma and for discharging the plasma to the outside through a plasma discharge hole, an antenna disposed within the plasma generating container for radiating a high frequency wave, an antenna cover made of an insulator and covering a whole of the antenna, a DC voltage measuring device for measuring a DC voltage between the antenna and the plasma generating container, and a comparator for comparing the DC voltage with a reference value, and outputting an alarm signal when an absolute value of the DC voltage value is larger than the absolute value of the reference value.

Abstract: Antennas are provided which are constructed using one or more conductive via stubs as radiating elements formed in a substrate. The antennas can be integrally packaged with IC chips (e.g., IC transceivers, receivers, transmitters, etc.) to build integrated wireless or RF (radio frequency) communications systems.

Abstract: An apparatus of driving a light source for a display device is provided. The apparatus includes a temperature sensor (940) sensing a temperature and generating an output voltage based on the sensed temperature, a buffer (950) generating an output signal having a state depending on the output voltage of the temperature sensor (940), an oscillator (931) generating an oscillating signal having a frequency depending on the state of the output signal of the buffer, and an inverter (920) performing a switching operation in response to the oscillating signal from the oscillator (931). Therefore, the inverter (920) increases the voltage applied to the light source when the temperature near the light source is lower than a predetermined temperature since the frequency of the oscillating signal is increased.