Abstract: The laser-triggered high voltage rail gap switch includes two parallel electrodes in a high pressure environment of SF.sub.6 and Ar. A pulsed UV laser directs a coherent beam parallel to the electrodes to initiate multichannel breakdown in the gap between the electrodes. This breakdown occurs at a fixed time delay after the laser pulse. This breakdown is enhanced by including an organic additive such as fluorobenzene or tri-n-propylamine in the gas mixture.

Abstract: Electric lamp inlead wires are provided with bends to shape them into desired configurations for holding a filament or arc tube. The bends are shaped to provide a small reverse bend section. This prevents an inherent springback tendency at the bends, and improves the permanency of the bent shapes.

Abstract: An impregnated cathode having a complex porous body of one-body construction which is mounted in a metal sleeve and in which a partition layer made of a porous material having a porosity less than 17% is arranged in close contact with an impregnated layer made of a porous material containing an electron emissive material. The aforementioned porous partition layer takes the place of the conventional partition plate of refractory metal. The impregnated cathode according to the present invention can not only have its size reduced without any difficulty but also enjoy a high emission current density with a remarkably small dispersion.

Abstract: Cathode structures for cathode ray tubes are multilayer structures wherein the multilayer structures are formed from a laminate of at least two self-supporting layers of particles of emissive material dispersed in a fugitive organic binder matrix.

Abstract: An electric arc lamp in combination with an electronically controlled incandescent filament to provide auxiliary illumination during warm-up and hot restart of the arc lamp, the filament control circuit being responsive to the arc lamp voltage and current and operative in three modes, full off, full on, and switching on and off the latter so as to allow capacitive and inductive coupling of energy into the arc lamp for the purpose of starting it and bringing it into the arc mode of operation.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp in which the restriking voltage and time are significantly decreased. A pair of electrodes are sealably disposed in a tube containing an appropriate amount of mercury. Means is provided for heating at least one of the electrodes for starting the lamp if it has been recently turned off and the mercury vapor pressure inside the tube is high. The heating means is preferably a filament made of a thermally stable material. One terminal of the filament may be connected to one of the electrodes.

Abstract: Method for heating and igniting as well as controlling or regulating the light flux of low-pressure gas-discharge lamps, including a ballast having an inverter for generating an ac voltage at inverter output terminals from a dc voltage generated from an ac supply network by rectifiers, the ac voltage having a frequency higher than line frequency, the ballast including an L-C circuit having a capacitor and a first choke connected between one of the inverter output terminals and a lamp, the lamp being in turn connected to another of the inverter output terminals, a second choke shunted across the lamp, the charge of the capacitor being constantly reversed by the inverter with controllable frequency, which comprises changing the inverter frequency in accordance with the desired light flux with constant ac voltage amplitude at the outputs of the inverter, tuning the frequency, voltage, capacitor, first choke and second choke to each other, circulating substantially the required heating current through heating coi

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp control circuit which provides power at high frequency, or example in the order of 35 kHz, includes a push-pull oscillator circuit having two transistors (T1, T2), an inductance element (L1, L1'), and a capacitor (C1, C1') to supply the lamps (3, 3'). To prevent dangerous high voltages upon removal of the lamp load, connected to the oscillatory circuit and to the series resonance circuit, upon removal of failure of a lamp, a protective circuit is provided formed by a thyristor (TH) connected to short-circuit at least one of the transistors (T1) of the oscillatory circuit.

Abstract: An improved fuse means for use within an electric incandescent lamp (e.g., tungsten halogen). The fuse is located within a ceramic base to which the press-sealed end of the envelope is affixed (e.g., cemented). The improved fuse means comprises a first conductive (e.g., nickel) wire segment of rectangular cross-sectional configuration and a second conductive (e.g., nickel) sleeve member crimped about an end portion of the first wire segment and including a flat region which in turn is fixedly secured (e.g., welded) to one of the lead-in wires projecting from the lamp's press-sealed end portion. In an alternative embodiment, a second sleeve member and conductive wire segment is utilized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting unit having low and high light levels and employing an efficient arc lamp as the source of light during the high level setting. The unit employs a filamentary light source for the production of light during low light level operation, the filament acting as a resistive ballast for the arc lamp during high level operation. Practical embodiments operate in a conventional three-way light socket with the sequences being off, low, high and low, and off, low, high, and high.

Abstract: A thermionic fault current limiter utilizes either a vacuum or plasma environment for a plurality of spaced conduction electrodes. The electrode can be supported by insulative spacers with the electrode providing shadow shields for the supporting spacers. Electrode spacing, power density, temperature gradients, and control grids can be utilized for optimum operation and in establishing self-absorption of energy for a desired operating environment. Cesium desorption from the electrode surfaces can be utilized to enhance current termination.

Abstract: At least one high intensity discharge lamp is utilized in the growing of plants within a growth chamber. The lamp is connected to a power supply that provides pulses of alternating polarity to the lamp through a ballast which first provides a relatively high inductance and which after lamp current has reached a certain level provides a matched T-configured impedance network. Initially, a microprocessor, there being one for each lamp ballast (or one for a group of lamps), closes a switch to connect the lamp to the power supply through a step-up transformer, the secondary winding of which during start-up contributes to the high impedance condition during the early stage of lamp operation and which is thereafter part of the T-network. When the lamp is ionized, both the lamp current and the lamp voltage are sensed.

Abstract: A lamp circuit is provided having a constant current-type AC power source and a plurality of isolation transformers coupled in series with the AC power source. The secondary circuit of each isolation transformer is connected to an electric lamp. The output voltage of the constant current-type AC power source is detected to determine the times when the output voltage crosses the zero voltage level. A disconnected lamp in the circuit results in a distortion of the output voltage waveform due to the magnetic-saturation characteristics of the isolation transformer coupled to the disconnected lamp. The output voltage waveform is integrated over time between the time periods when the output voltage signal crosses the zero axis. The result of the integration is compared with a reference value. When the integrated value exceeds the reference value, an alarm signal is generated. The number of disconnected lamps may also be determined and displayed.

Abstract: A time-variable illumination control apparatus for a lamp permits light intensity to be gradually increased starting at a predetermined time. The intensity control includes a clock-timer to initiate time-variable power supply network. The illumination control apparatus is designed for use on mornings when a user would commonly arise before daylight. By setting the illumination control apparatus to gradually increase the light intensity of a lamp prior to awakening, the lamp simulates sunrise so that the eyes gradually adjust to the light while sleeping. Upon awakening, the eyes are fully adjusted to the light and eye discomfiture from a sudden increase in intensity is avoided.

Abstract: An output transformer for an inverter driven by a pulsating voltage obtained through the full wave rectification of a low frequency alternating current voltage is provided with an auxiliary winding, and a high frequency voltage obtained from the auxiliary winding is rectified to obtain a voltage for charging a capacitor. The voltage across the capacitor is used as an auxiliary voltage together with the pulsating voltage for driving the inverter. The circuit for charging the capacitor includes a current limiting inductor having first and second coil sections, through which the charging current flows alternately in opposite directions depending upon the polarity of the high frequency voltage.

Abstract: An enclosed electrical device (42) includes an electrical circuit (50) having elements (48-68) which lie substantially in and along a plane (115). A member (70) is applied to a one side and a member (85) is applied to another side of the circuit (50) for at least partially enclosing the same. Conductors (48) and (49) of circuit (50) are fixedly penetrated, preferably by pins (74) which are fixedly engaged to enclosure members (70) and (85). Such engagement is advantageously provided by making the pins (74) an integral part of member (70), for example by including pins (74) in a premolded member (70). Such engagement is also advantageously provided by making pin-engaging sockets (94) an integral part of member (85), also for example by including the sockets (94) in a premolded member (85). By a preferred friction fit of pins (74) and sockets (94), the enclosure members (70) and (85 ) and circuit elements (48-68) are sufficiently fixed relative to one another to resist forces applied thereto in service.

Abstract: The hot cathode, according to the invention, is constituted by a fritted matrix 1 and a heating filament 4, said matrix being formed from a powder mixture 2 of tungsten and another high work function refractory metal and covered with a high work function refractory metal film 3. FIG. 3.

Abstract: A lighting unit is described utilizing an energy efficient metal vapor arc lamp as the main source of light supplemented by a standby filamentary light source producing light when the arc lamp is being started. The lighting unit is designed as a more efficient replacement for the incandescent lamp. The lighting unit includes means for conversion of 60 hertz ac to dc, and a dc energized operating network, including a ferrite transformer and an intermittently operated switching transistor serially connected with a load consisting of the filament or the arc lamp, or both, to which regulated output power is provided. The operating network produces an output with minimum dissipation adapted to each operating state of the arc lamp, including the provision of a high ignition potential, adequate power for the lamp during the glow to arc transition, warm-up and ballasting. In addition, while the arc lamp is being started, the operating network provides power for lighting the standby filament.

Abstract: A radiation shield 14 for a cathode ray tube 10 neck 16 includes a sleeve 24 of insulating material. Bonded to the inner surface 26 of the sleeve 24 are a plurality of elongated, coaxially oriented spaced conductive elements 30. Similarly, a plurality of elongated, coaxially oriented spaced conductive elements 32 are bonded to the outer surface 28 of the sleeve 24. The inner elements 30 are offset from the outer elements 32. A conductive ring 40 is connected to each of the inner 30 and outer 32 elements along one end of the sleeve 24 and to ground potential by a drain strap 44.

Abstract: A display intensity control apparatus for controlling under dark ambient conditions the display intensity of an automobile display system comprises a plurality of display units (e.g., LED, FLT, Lamp) for providing displays effected by display elements of different types. Under dark ambient conditions, a pulse signal with a predetermined duty ratio is generated at a predetermined frequency and the display intensity of selected one of the display units is decreased in accordance with the duty ratio. Simultaneously, the duty ratio of the pulse signal is changed, and the display intensities of the other display units are decreased in accordance with the changed duty ratio.