Abstract: In a brazed joint between a coiled tungsten filament and a molybdenum lead, the lead continues integrally into a braze section which extends longitudinally within the coiled filament. The braze section may be formed by suddenly melting the portion of the lead used in the joint by a pulse discharge in an inert or reducing gas. The liquid molybdenum wets the tungsten and is drawn by capillarity into the turns of the coiling where it is rapidly chilled and solidifies in a time interval too short for appreciable crystal growth and embrittlement to occur in the tungsten.

Abstract: To provide for reliable ignition of low-pressure discharge lamps, particularly compact fluorescent lamps, operated at high frequency, for example in the order of about 45 kHz, an ignition circuit is connected in parallel to the lamp and serially with the electrodes (16, 17) thereof, which comprises a limiting capacitor (19) and the parallel circuit of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor (20) and a starting capacitor (18). The two capacitors (18, 19), together with an inductance (13, 14) in the operating circuit of the lamp, and a further capacity formed by a blocking capacitor (15), after preheating of the lamp electrodes by current flowing through the initially cold PTC resistor, will cause voltage rise across the resonance capacitors (18, 19) which will cause ignition of the lamp.

Abstract: A ballast circuit for starting and operating a preheat type circular fluorescent lamp, which replaces a multiple wattage incandescent lamp in a three-way incandescent lamp socket, so that the fluorescent lamp can be ignited to function at three different operating wattages. A lamination stacked core structure mounts first and second coils. A passive circuit element, such as positive temperature coefficient resistor also known as a thermistor, is connected in the circuit, which includes a three-way incandescent lamp screw base, for current switching functions to achieve the desired ignition and operating currents for the fluorescent lamp at its different operating wattages.

Abstract: A high frequency fluorescent lamp circuit for operating two or more fluorescent lamps connected in electrical series. A capacitor is connected between one end of the series-connected lamps and electrical ground and/or an electrically conductive fixture for holding the lamps. This causes the lamps to start more reliably and at a lower starting voltage.

Abstract: A liquid metal field ionization source is used in conjunction with a three element asymmetric lens system to provide an ion gun having greater magnitude beam currents focused on a smaller spot size than has been previously possible for intermediate energy beams. An ultra-clean emitter surface is achieved by means of an argon sputtering and/or plasma etching process applied to the emitter surface before liquid metal is applied to the emitter surface to ensure uniform and sufficient flow of liquid metal to the apex of the emitter. The three element asymmetric lens system has a very low chromatic aberration coefficient, enabling precise focusing of beams with large energy spreads. For beam accelerating ratios in the range from 0.2 to 6, the ion gun produces very high current densities in beams focused on very small spot areas, despite the relatively large energy spread of beams produced by liquid metal ionization sources.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus which is inserted in an electrical circuit, such as, for example, between an incandescent lamp and the socket therefor, to provide automatic disconnection or opening of the circuit after a predetermined time period and which includes an acoustically activated abort means to interrupt the disconnect cycles and means to reset the cycle for another predetermined time period. The apparatus may be installed, as mentioned, between an incandescent lamp and the socket therefor, installed in a common wall switch, incorporated into a common appliance receptacle or plugged into a common electrical outlet between the outlet and an electrical appliance or a lighting system.

Abstract: An electronic ballast for energizing one or more gaseous-discharge lamps and for regulating the power consumed thereby, the ballast including a power supply for providing a source of DC power between a pair of outputs, a pair of transistors connected as switches in series between the power-supply outputs, the transistors for selectively coupling to the juncture thereof positive and negative potentials, a voltage-conditioning and current-limiting network for energizing the lamp from the potential developed between the transistor juncture and a power-supply common, and a pulse generator for developing pulses for driving each of the transistors in turn whereby a potential is developed at the transistor juncture which alternates as positive-going and negative-going pulses each separated by a dead time, the pulse generator for monitoring the power consumption level of the lamp and responsive thereto operative to vary the frequency and/or the width of the transistor driving pulses whereby the lamp consumption is re

Abstract: An electronic switch having an input and an output. Between the input and output a semiconductor junction is included which is switched by a transistor whose emitter electrode is connected to a terminal of the semiconductor junction which faces the input and whose base electrode is connected to a switching input. To reduce switching delays caused by stray capacitances on the inputs, a resistor is included between the connecting point of the emitter of the transistor and the semiconductor junction and the input, and the input is connected to a current source which is switched in synchronism with the transistor to provide a current such that the voltage swing produced across said resistor by said switched current source compensates for the voltage swing appearing on the emitter of the transistor during switching.

Abstract: A power supply including a high frequency inverter circuit coupled to an electron discharge lamp load through a special purpose transformer is disclosed. The transformer is wound on a saturable ferromagnetic core structure forming a first magnetic flux path coupling the primary and secondary windings of the transformer and a second shunt magnetic path including an air gap which carries and increasing share of flux as load current increases. The switching of the inverter circuit occurs in response to the partial saturation of the core. Auxilliary windings serially connected with the primary winding of the transformer and wound about the shunt magnetic path enhance the current regulating properties of the supply.

Abstract: A system for controlling the current in a solid state, high frequency ballast energizing a gaseous discharge lamp for providing light dimming therein is disclosed. The ballast includes a thyristor/capacitor inverter bridge for generating the lamp current which is regulated by a commutation circuit synchronized with zero crossings of the thyristor current. Lamp current and voltage level signals are fed back to the commutation circuit for proper lamp current regulation. A dimming signal is added to either the lamp current feedback or voltage feedback signal and this composite signal is provided to the lamp current regulator in varying the bias thereof for selectively controlling light intensity. Dimming may be accomplished either manually by means of a rotatable switch having an output which varies linearly with shaft rotation or automatically by means of an ambient light level sensor to provide a predetermined output light level which may be manually adjusted.

Abstract: An electron bombardment ion source of the Freeman type incorporates an electrode having multiple segments which are electrically connected in parallel to provide increased surface area for constant cross section.

Abstract: A circular fluorescent lamp unit comprises a circular tubular fluorescent mp; a housing secured inside the space formed by the circular fluorescent lamp, the housing containing the ballast and starting device; and a base for connection to a supply voltage, the base being connected to the housing concentrically with the circular fluorescent lamp. The improvement resides in that the housing is an elongate hollow body which extends diametrically across the space defined by the circular fluorescent lamp; the housing having one end for enclosing the ends of the circular fluorescent lamp and another end for taking support against the wall of the circular fluorescent lamp which is diametrically opposite to the ends of the circular fluorescent lamp. In a preferred embodiment, the housing comprises two interconnected form locking housing cup-shaped members.

Abstract: Apparatus for interrupting power to a plurality of parallel loads such as lighting circuits and selectively reapplying power to the loads includes a first switch serially interconnecting the loads to a power line. Second switch circuits are serially connected with each load whereby interruption of power to a load for a predetermined period of time opens the switch circuits. The switch circuits include bidirectional conduction devices such as triacs which require a gating signal before becoming conductive. A resistor-capacitor circuit provides a gating signal to the triac to maintain conduction thereof for the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: Apparatus for interrupting power to a plurality of parallel loads such as lighting circuits and selectively reapplying power to the loads includes a first switch serially interconnecting the loads to a power line. Second switch circuits are serially connected with each load whereby interruption of power to a load for a predetermined period of time opens the switch circuits. The switch circuits include bidirectional conduction devices such as triacs which require a gating signal before becoming conductive. A resistor-capacitor circuit provides a gating signal to the triac to maintain conduction thereof for the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A device for lighting a discharge lamp such as a xenon short-arc lamp is provided. The device includes a starter comprising a starter energizing capacitor connected to the boost voltage charging capacitor, a thyristor, a high voltage pulse transformer, a discharge gap, a starting capacitor, a diode and a Tesla coil. The starter is actuated with the energy charged in the boost voltage charging capacitor without any special power source therefor. The ignition voltage of the thyristor is higher than the output voltage of the power circuit of the ballast.

Abstract: A solid-state electronic ballast circuit for supplying direct-current power to an electric discharge vapor lamp is disclosed. The source-drain channel of a Vertical Metal Oxide Semiconductor (VMOS) Field Effect Transistor (FET) is connected in series with the lamp across a DC source. A resistance network controls the conductivity of a bipolar transistors, which in turn controls the conductivity of the VMOS channel, in response to variations in channel voltage, lamp voltage and lamp current.

Abstract: In some types of electric incandescent lamps a cylindrical contact cap is connected to the part of the current supply conductor projecting beyond the pinch seal of the lamp envelope, which cap is mounted in an insulator sleeve. In known lamps the ceramic insulator sleeve 9 is secured on the pinch seal by means of cement.In lamps according to the invention, the insulator sleeve is coupled to the contact cap by means of a metal spring.

Abstract: Cathode structures for cathode ray tubes are multi-layer structures wherein the bond between the emissive coating and the substrate is improved by forming the coating from a laminate of at least two self-supporting layers of differing compositions, the bottom layer optimized for bonding to the substrate and the top layer optimized for emissive properties.

Abstract: A high voltage electrode for a spark discharge device used in cooperation with an opposing roller electrode to roughen plastic sheets. The electrode is formed of a multiplicity of plates, or platelets, aligned edge to edge to form together a knife edge. Individual platelets are removable from an active position, within a holder, to an active position, on a selectable basis. Thereby, the portion of the plastic sheet to be roughened can readily be controlled.

Abstract: A motor vehicle interior light control system wherein actuation of outside door handle does not cause the interior light to illuminate, but the interior light is illuminated for a predetermined period such as 10-50 seconds only after full return of the door handle from its once actuated position to its normal position, said operation control being accomplished by a CR-timer and a multi-stage transistor amplifier in combination.