Abstract: A Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting device capable of correcting changes in a wavelength of light output from an LED element caused by changes in temperature, and a method for controlling the same are provided. The lighting device includes a temperature-current converter which generates a current command value to correct change in a wavelength of output light based on temperature information indicating temperature of the light source, and a light source driver which receives the current command value, adjusts amplitude of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, and controls a driving electric current of the light source according to the adjusted PWM signal.

Abstract: Power distribution systems that have a limited peak power capability or a high source impedance, such as site supply generators, are often susceptible to abnormal operation in response to the current drawn at power up from the loads connected to the power distribution system. The present invention provides a load control module for a lighting control system operable to start up a plurality of the lighting loads in sequence to reduce stress on the power distribution system. The lighting loads are each turned on as part of a startup sequence at predetermined times after an output voltage of the power distribution system has stabilized. The lighting control module is operable to wait for a predetermined amount of time for the startup sequence to begin before turning on the lighting loads.

Abstract: A driving device is provided, which includes: a switching unit directly connected to a first voltage from a source external to the driving device; a transforming unit indirectly connected to the switching unit for transforming the first voltage into a second voltage and applying the second voltage to a light source; a signal transmitting unit indirectly connected to the switching unit and transmitting a driving voltage for driving the switching unit based on a control signal; and an inverter controller outputting the control signal to the signal transmitting unit.

Abstract: An RF driver circuit and an orthogonal antenna assembly/configuration, are disclosed as part of a method and system for generating high density plasma. The antenna assembly is an orthogonal antenna system that may be driven by any RF generator/circuitry with suitable impedance matching to present a low impedance. The disclosed RF driver circuit uses switching type amplifier elements and presents a low output impedance. The disclosed low-output impedance RF driver circuits eliminate the need for a matching circuit for interfacing with the inherent impedance variations associated with plasmas. Also disclosed is the choice for capacitance or an inductance value to provide tuning for the RF plasma source. There is also provided a method for rapidly switching the plasma between two or more power levels at a frequencies of about tens of Hz to as high as hundreds of KHz.

Abstract: Reducing the manufacturing cost of an EL display device and an electronic device furnished with the EL display device is taken as an objective. A textured structure in which projecting portions are formed on the surface of a cathode is used. External stray light is diffusely (irregularly) reflected by the action of the projecting portions when reflected by the surface of the cathode, and therefore a defect in which the face of an observer or the surrounding scenery is reflected in the surface of the cathode can be prevented. This can be completed without using a conventionally necessary high price circular polarizing film, and therefore it is possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing the EL display device.

Abstract: A secondary headlight system for detecting and compensating for failure of an automotive vehicle's low beam headlight, includes: (a) at least one photoresistor; (b) fiberoptics connected to the photoresistor; (c) at least one potentiometer; (d) at least one NPN transistor operably connected to the photoresistor and the potentiometer; (e) at least one switching relay operably connected to the potentiometer and the NPN transistor; (f) at least one power resistor operably connected to the switching relay; and (g) an automatic reset subsystem comprising at least one capacitor and at least one light emitting diode, the light emitting diode being operably connected to the capacitor and the transistor; wherein the secondary headlight system is connected to a power supply of the vehicle, and a low beam headlight of the vehicle, the failure of which is to be detected and compensated for; and wherein when the low beam headlight of the vehicle fails, the secondary headlight system is automatically activated, resultin

Abstract: In a drive method of a light-emitting display panel capable of emitting light in low luminance, the parasitic capacitances of the light-emitting elements disposed in the light-emitting display panel are precharged making use of a reverse bias voltage before they are lit. In this case, a reverse bias voltage created by a reverse bias voltage creation circuit or a peak current being precharged is controlled by selectively grounding control terminals based on dimmer control. In particular, when the light-emitting elements are emitted in low luminance, the reverse bias voltage is output in a low level, thereby the light-emitting elements are prevented from being precharged with an excessive voltage. The above arrangement can realize light emission control in low luminance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for receiving and/or emitting signals comprising at least two means for receiving and/or emitting electromagnetic waves of the slot antenna type and means for connecting the said receiving and/or emitting means to means for exploiting the signals, the means for receiving and/or emitting electromagnetic waves being symmetric with respect to a point, and the connection means consisting of supply lines coupled electromagnetically to the slots of the slot antennas, which are connected on one side to a common supply line which is in a plane passing through the point of symmetry, and on the other to an electronic component enabling a short circuit or an open circuit to be simulated at the end of one of the lines and an open circuit or a short circuit to be simulated at the end of the other line.

Abstract: A method tests a plasma processing system having a chamber, an RF power source, and a matching network. An RF power signal is generated from the RF power source to the chamber without igniting any plasma within the chamber. The voltage of the RF power signal, the current of the RF power signal, and the phase of the RF power signal, received by the chamber is measured while holding other parameters affecting the chamber constant. A value representative of an impedance of the chamber is computed based on the voltage, the current, and the phase. The value is then compared with a reference value to determine any defects in the plasma processing system. The reference value is representative of the impedance of a defect-free chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for a networked lighting system that may be controlled either remotely or locally by a power line communication (PLC) link. The components of the system, addressable lamp ballasts and addressable wall switches, replace their conventional counterparts. The resulting networked lighting system implemented with these components is controlled remotely from a centralized building control center. A particular room may be controlled by the building control center or locally by a wall switch. The invention requires no rewiring of the building's wiring plant, because the addressable components are direct electrical replacements, and installation of the system, therefore, takes a minimum amount of time.

Abstract: An improved ballast for a discharge lamp includes a DC—DC converter which receives an input DC voltage from a voltage source to provide a pre-starting voltage to make the lamp ready for being ignited or started. The DC—DC converter has a switching element which is driven to turn on and off for generating the pre-starting voltage. A start-accelerating means in included in the ballast in order to vary at least one of the switching frequency and the on-period of the switching element based upon the monitored input DC voltage in a direction of accelerating the increase of the output DC voltage to the pre-starting voltage until the output DC voltage reaches the pre-starting voltage.

Abstract: An energy-saving lighting control system for controlling a series of banks of lights in an area. The system activates less than all of the series of banks of lights upon entry into the area, regardless of the last light-activating setting selected by a user.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for inductively coupling electrical power to a plasma in a semiconductor process chamber. In a first aspect, an array of wedge-shaped induction coils are distributed around a circle. The sides of adjacent coils are parallel, thereby enhancing the radial uniformity of the magnetic field produced by the array. In a second aspect, electrostatic coupling between the induction coils and the plasma is minimized by connecting each induction coil to the power supply so that the turn of wire of the coil which is nearest to the plasma is near electrical ground potential. In one embodiment, the hot end of one coil is connected to the unbalanced output of an RF power supply, and the hot end of the other coil is connected to electrical ground through a capacitor which resonates with the latter coil at the frequency of the RF power supply.

Abstract: Reducing the manufacturing cost of an EL display device and an electronic device furnished with the EL display device is taken as an objective. A textured structure in which projecting portions are formed on the surface of a cathode is used. External stray light is diffusely (irregularly) reflected by the action of the projecting portions when reflected by the surface of the cathode, and therefore a defect in which the face of an observer or the surrounding scenery is reflected in the surface of the cathode can be prevented. This can be completed without using a conventionally necessary high price circular polarizing film, and therefore it is possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing the EL display device.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a unique starter assembly for a gas discharge lamp. The starter assembly comprises a main current path with a first leg connected to one electrode of a gas discharge lamp, and a second leg connected to a second electrode of the gas discharge lamp. A starting current path is provided between the first and second electrode, and comprises an magnetic switch. The magnetic switch is actuated by an electromagnet controlled by a control circuit. The control unit may be programmed with the start time required for a particular lamp design. In an alternative embodiment, the starter assembly further comprises a radio frequency identification system. The radio frequency identification system includes a gas discharge lamp transponder. The lamp transponder is used to communicate specific lamp information to the control circuit. The control circuit may then modify the start time for that lamp based on this information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasma generator that generates a plasma with a multi-step ionization process. The plasma generator includes an excited atom source that generates excited atoms from ground state atoms supplied by a feed gas source. A plasma chamber confines a volume of excited atoms generated by the excited atom source. An energy source is coupled to the volume of excited atoms confined by the plasma chamber. The energy source raises an energy of excited atoms in the volume of excited atoms so that at least a portion of the excited atoms in the volume of excited atoms is ionized, thereby generating a plasma with a multi-step ionization process.

Abstract: Two switching half-bridges are operated to achieve constant power delivered to a resonant load while achieving a high power factor. A half-bridge connected to a circuit input draws a sinusoidal current that is in phase with the input voltage to achieve the high power factor. The two half-bridges are composed of two switches each, which are operated to obtain constant load power in satisfaction of calculated conduction angles. Alternatively, the switches are operated on complementary 50% duty cycles to regulate output voltage and shape the input current waveform. Output regulation is achieved by frequency control while input current wave shaping is realized by phase shifts between the two half-bridges.

Abstract: A communications system that includes one or more free space electron switches. The free space electron switch employs an array of electron emitters, where each emitter is responsive to an RF or optical input signal on an input channel. Each emitter includes a cathode that emits electrons in response to the input signal. Each emitter further includes a focussing/accelerating electrode for collecting and accelerating the emitted electrons into an electron beam. Each emitter further includes an aiming anode that directs the beam of electrons to a desired detector within an array of detectors that converts the beam of electrons to a representative RF or optical signal on an output channel. Each emitter may include a modulating electrode that generates an electric field to modulate data onto the beam of electrons. The communications systems employing the switch can be an ISDN, DSLAM networks, packet routing systems, ADSL networks, PBX systems, local exchange systems, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrically connecting semi-conductor devices is disclosed. The apparatus and method employs a vacuum chamber and first and second semi-conductor components. The first and second semi-conductor components are coupled to a vacuum chamber and free space electron transmitters and receivers. The transmitters are configured to transmit a signals between the semi-conductor components.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling electron densities in a plasma processing system. By applying a dither voltage and a correction voltage to a voltage-controlled oscillator, electron (plasma) density of a plasma processing system (acting as an open resonator) may be measured and controlled as part of a plasma-based process.