Abstract: The light-emitting electronic jewelry of the invention includes a base item of jewelry having a light emitter and at least one light sensor mounted thereon and connected in an electrical circuit with other circuit elements which coact to intermittently interrupt the emission of light from the light emitter in response to changes in ambient light intensity sensed by the light sensor. Preferably a pair of light sensors are connected in series with the output to the light producing circuit taken between them.

Abstract: A baseless incandescent lamp having various embodiments all with a single glass unit forming an outer envelope, complementary threads for mating with an electrical socket and an insulative stem is disclosed. The baseless incandescent lamp further comprises a filament rigidly disposed by the insulated stem within the outer envelope and connected between a pair of inner leads. The inner leads are connected to respective outer leads wherein one of the outer leads is connected to at least a portion of the complementary threads by a layer of electrically conductive metal. In one embodiment the other outer lead extends through a central opening of a plastic stem occupying a hollow portion of the outer envelope and is externally and electrically connected to the plastic stem by a layer of the electrically conductive metal.

Abstract: In a retrofit dimming installation for a fluorescent lighting system with a conventional ballast, filament power is maintained, even when the lamps are dimmed, by providing a high frequency component to the ballast voltage. The selected high frequency component allows heating of the filaments without adding to the light output of the lamps, thereby practically eliminating the shortened lamp life usually resulting from operating the lamp in a dimmed condition.

Abstract: A "3-lite" incandescent lamp structure is disclosed which is capable of being mounted in either a "base down" orientation or a "base up" orientation without damage to the internal glass button support assembly. A shield is provided adjacent to the glass button support assembly to minimize damage to the support assembly from the gaseous deposition products generated by the lamp filaments.

Abstract: The placement of one or a pair of suitably biased thin semiconductor epital layers on the secondary emission surface of a multipactor device provides an improvement of devices which operate in accordance with the principle of multipactoring. A multipactor device is disclosed having a multipactor region comprised of at least one surface formed of one or more thin epitaxial semiconductor layers, the outer layer being of n-type semiconductor material consisting of, for example, gallium phosphide covered with cesium which provides an abundance of free electrons at the surface when biased in the forward direction. In one disclosed configuration the multipactor region is located in a section of waveguide while in another arrangement the region is located on the top of a post in a multipactor input cavity.

Abstract: In a thin film integrated device wherein thin film elements, such as thin film condensers, thin film field effect type transistors and thin film electroluminescent elements, which include insulating films (3, 7, 13, 15, 16) as one of their constitution elements, are formed on an insulating substrate; the insulating films are made of sputtered composite oxide films with at least tantalum and aluminum as major constituents. Since this sputtered composite oxide film has characteristics with a large dielectric constant and a breakdown field intensity and a small leakage current, if it is applied in the thin film elements, their operation characteristics can be increased and their reliability can be remarkably improved.

Abstract: A jacket with programmable lights in which apertures are provided in the garment through which tri-color light emitting diodes LED's protrude. The LED's are connected to a flexible printed circuit board which adheres to the inner surface of the garment by means of hook and loop pile type fastener material. The lights are fully programmable as to both their color and their activation. LED's may be provided in a fixed format or in a matrix form which permits alpha-numeric displays or graphic displays. The invention may be used for advertising purposes or entertainment purposes with either a stationary or moving display.

Abstract: A high-pressure sodium lamp is connected to a d.c. power supply through a ballast, to operate it with a current containing a d.c. component. The relation between the ratio l/d of the inter-electrode distance l (mm) to the inner diameter d (mm) of the arc tube of the high-pressure sodium lamp and the sodium vapor pressure P.sub.Na (kPa) in the arc tube is maintained at P.sub.Na .gtoreq.6.0 (l/d-5.8), thus making it possible to operate the high-pressure sodium lamp with a current containing a d.c. component without causing a significant color separation which otherwise might be the result of cataphoresis.

Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp has a thermally-sensitive circuit breaker disposed thereon for disconnecting the electrodes of the lamp from an energizing source at a given range of bulb temperatures and for connecting the electrode to the energizing source at bulb temperatures above and below the given range of bulb temperatures whereby the electrodes are energized during lamp manufacture and until conductivity of the lamp is established.

Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp includes a pair of spaced electrodes within an envelope with one electrical lead connected to an electrode and the other lead coupled to the electrode by a thermally-sensitive bi-metal strip whereby one end of the bi-metal and one end of a conductor are formed to provide a straight member within a U-shaped member such that the straight U-shaped members are in electrical contact at temperatures above and below a given range of temperatures and electrically disconnected at the given range of temperatures.

Abstract: A control for a motor vehicle headlamp system includes a silicon photovoltaic diode in a short circuit connection across the inputs of an operational amplifier. The diode is disposed behind a lens and baffle to respond only to the light from oncoming vehicles and not to that reflected from roadside objects. The output of the operational amplifier is applied either directly or through an operator adjustable voltage divider to one input of a comparator having a predetermined reference voltage at its other input. The output of the comparator controls the selection of upper or lower beam generators and also switch means to switch in or out the voltage divider so as to provide hysteresis in system operation with the lower-to-upper beam switching level independent of the operator controlled upper-to-lower beam switching level.

Abstract: In order to prolong the life of incandescent electric light bulbs, an arrangement is provided which consists of two bulbs, one of which constitutes a resistance for the second one.The lamp holder which accommodates the two bulbs comprises two sockets into each of which the base of one bulb is inserted, the two sockets being interconnected in series.

Abstract: A cold-cathode, plasma discharge modulator switch is disclosed. A crossed-field discharge plasma supplied charge carriers for the switch. A dc magnetic field is employed to provide a highly localized cusp magnetic field near the cathode, so that gas ionization occurs primarily in the cathode-source grid gap. The region between the cathode and anode is filled with a relatively low pressure gas. A highly transparent control grid with small apertures is closely spaced from the anode. The switch is closed through application of positive potential (relative to the plasma) to the control grid, and opened through application of negative potential relative to the plasma to the control grid. The application of negative potential to the control grid creates an ion sheath around the control grid which permits plasma cut-off to the anode region provided the sheath size is larger than the control grid aperture radius.

Abstract: An indoor lamp and electronic circuit unit that may function in either an automatic mode or operate as any other normal lamp with manual control. When operated in the automatic mode the said lamp unit will turn on in response to a predetermined local ambient light level. The light level is detected and processed via a photo-transistor and electronic circuitry. Once the said lamp units light turns on the light will then remain on regardless of the light level detected by the said photo-transistor for a specified period of time. After this time has ellapsed the lamp unit will turn off. The process may begin over if the local ambient light level is again below the predetermined level. When operated in a normal or manual control mode the said lamp unit will turn on or off only in response to manually operating the lamp units switch.

Abstract: A graphic fluorescent display device is disclosed which is capable of effectively eliminating a streak pattern occurring right below cathodes. The fluorescent display device is constructed in such a manner that an electric field controlling electrode is disposed on the surface of a cover plate opposite to a substrate having anodes formed thereon, and potential positive with respect to the cathodes is applied to the electric field controlling electrode so that electrons emitted from the cathodes may be diffused by the positive electric field of the electric field controlling electrode.

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 series controlled electronic flash of automatic emission control type includes a switching element connected in series with a commutating switching element for selectively charging a commutation capacitor. A trigger signal is repeatedly applied to a main switching element, the commutating switching element and the charging switching element in a given sequence to enable a continued emission at substantially constant brightness level to be obtained from a flash discharge tube. A trigger capacitor may be connected with pair of switching elements for charging and discharging the trigger capacitor. A trigger signal may be repeatedly applied to the pair of switching elements for charging and discharging the trigger capacitor, to the main switching element, to the commutating switching element and the commutation capacitor charging switching element in a given sequence, thereby allowing a multiple emission to be obtained intermittently and at a high rate from the flash discharge tube.

Abstract: An automatic braking control system is capable of automatically maintaining a braking force once a vehicle has been stopped by the driver. The braking force is maintained until the clutch of the vehicle is engaged, at which time the force is automatically released so that the vehicle can be restarted. This system is especially useful for restarting a vehicle which has been stopped on an upward slope. In such a situation, the vehicle is prevented from rolling backwards, as commonly occurs when attempting to resume motion up the slope. The system is also capable of automatically turning off head lights of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped in order to conserve battery power.

Abstract: A light supply apparatus for an endoscope comprises a discharge lamp for supplying light to an endoscope, and a microprocessor for controlling various devices such as a display unit for displaying data. The discharge lamp is ignited by an ignition signal. The microprocessor is reset by the ignition signal. The display unit is held in the same state as before the ignition of the lamp even when the microprocessor is reset.

Abstract: To provide for reliable starting of compact-type fluorescent lamps, or ot discharge lamps difficult to start, a voltage divider which is formed only by serially connected capacitors (C1, C2) is connected across the lamp (L), the junction point (5) of the voltage divider being connected to a charging circuit formed by a resistor (R1) and a capacitor (C3). The junction (4) between the charging resistor and capacitor (R1, C3) is connected through a diac (D) to the trigger or gate electrode (3) of a triac (T) connected across the lamp. Preferably, the capacity relationship of each one of the capacitors (C1, C2) of the voltage divider to the trigger capacitor (C3) is between about 1:1 and 1:5, desirably about 1:3. The time constant formed by the charge circuit (R1, C3), preferably, is between about 4 to 6 milliseconds, so that the charge time of the trigger capacitor (C3) is sufficiently long to provide multiple starting pulses to the triac (T) at peak values. A circuit to provide for polarity independence (FIG.