Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating high-pressure gas discharge lamps (6) with a current of higher frequency comprising a switching mains section including a switching transistor (4) and a control device (9), in which an upper and a lower reference current level (O,U) are produced. The switching transistor is switched to the non-conducting state when the lamp current exceeds the upper level (O) and is switched to the conducting state when this current falls below the lower level (U). The interval between the reference current levels (O,U) is more than 10% of the average lamp current and a further intermediate reference current level (M) is provided at which the switching transistor is switched each time at a predetermined number of passages of the lamp current through the intermediate reference current level.

Abstract: A low cost multimegavolt high current switch that can effectively switch tages in the megavolts range and currents in the order of 200 thousand amperes. Switching is accomplished by the movement of a conductive member from a first electrically isolated position to a second electrically isolated position. During movement along a guided path the conductive member passes through an arc gap, initiating an arc or plasma in the gap to accomplish the switching action. Movement of the conductive member from one position to the other may be accomplished by gravity, pressure, electromotive drive, or other propelling means.

Abstract: This invention is an electronic lamp control circuit for connection between a lamp bulb and a wall receptacle controlled by a wall switch. The lamp control circuit includes switching circuitry which permits complete control of the lamp from either the wall switch or a switch included in the lamp control circuit. The lamp control circuit permits a user to turn off the lamp by actuating the wall switch and to later turn on the lamp by actuating the lamp control switch and to turn off the lamp with the lamp control switch and later turn on the lamp using only the wall switch.

Abstract: A relatively light-weight auxiliary power track is adapted to be plugged into and supported by a regular power track in an otherwise ordinary 120 Volt/60 Hz track lighting system. A compact frequency converter is operative to provide 120 Volt/30 kHz high-frequency voltage on the auxiliary track, and light-weight low-voltage Halogen lighting units are provided for plug-in use therein. Each of these lighting units comprises a high-frequency light-weight voltage step-down transformer.

Abstract: A lamp control circuit particularly suited for scale illumination in cathode-ray tube display devices provides stabilized lamp control impervious to temperature fluctuations for either constant or pulsed operating modes.

Abstract: An energization arrangement for a discharge lamp includes a DC/AC converter to which a discharge lamp (81) is connected. The lamp is shunted by a relay contact (90) to obtain an electric circuit through which two electrodes (83, 84) of the lamp can be preheated. It is advantageous to insure that the relay contact is closed before a voltage occurs between the electrodes of the lamp. This prevents the lamp from exhibiting a transient flash at too cold electrodes. A timing circuit (40-47) ensures that the relay contact remains closed for about 1 second, after which the lamp ignites with warm electrodes. No electrical losses occur in the relay winding (30) during operation of the lamp.

Abstract: To provide a reliable start for cadmium and zinc lamps and reduce baseline noise in an absorbance monitor, voltage pulses are applied to the primary of a transformer followed by shutoff of the primary current which discharges the energy stored in the magnetizing inductance of the transformer as three thousand volt peaks in its secondary in a series of timed steps. At the end of the timed period, the system shuts down unless it has approached operating frequency. The frequency is controlled by the amount of current passing through a gas discharge lamp in circuit with the transformer secondary and the frequency controls the amplitude of the voltage spikes. After warm-up, blanking pulses prevent optical noise from electrical-path-change oscillations within the tube. In one embodiment, a constant current source controls the current and in another, an operating current and frequency are established by the transformer leakage inductance and lamp characteristics in the circuit.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp in which discharge between a pair of main electrodes in an arc tube of the discharge lamp is sustained by a D.C. or high frequency current. The circuit comprises discharge mode controller for controlling the discharge such that mainly a low-frequency discharge is produced between the main electrodes at least within a predetermined time from initiation of the discharge within the arc tube, and subsequently transferred to the D.C. or high-frequency discharge.

Abstract: An emitter-dispenser housing for a controlled porosity dispenser cathode manufactured of a single material as a unitary piece by a chemical vapor deposition process in which a configured mandrel is coated with a layer of material such as tungsten, for example, so that when the mandrel is removed from the coating of material a hollow housing is formed having a side wall and an end wall which define a reservoir. In addition, intersecting strips of this same material as the coating, which had been placed in the mandrel, extend transversely across the reservoir with the edges thereof atomically bonded to the coating during the chemical vapor deposition to form a unitary piece. Thereafter an array of apertures is formed in the end wall of the housing by laser drilling to create an emitter-dispenser.

Abstract: A lag ballast for a high intensity discharge lamp includes a transformer providing voltage at either of two levels. Triacs tied to the transformer supply current at the desired voltage level through either of two inductances. The triacs are controlled by a comparison circuit so that a low voltage and high current are supplied to the lamp during startup and a lower current and higher voltage are supplied as the lamp approaches its normal operating temperature.

Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp includes a pair of spaced electrodes within an envelope having a fill gas and a phosphor-covered inner wall surface with a circuit breaker having a glass bulb with a wall thickness in the range of about 0.016 to 0.018 inch positioned within the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A plasma electron source has an apertured cathode, and a housing for defining a cavity behind the aperture. A trigger electrode, in communication with the cavity, is responsive to a short-duration trigger pulse for establishing plasma in the cavity. The plasma is sustained in the cavity subsequent to the termination of the trigger pulse by a bias circuit, which biases the cavity at a relatively low voltage with respect to the cathode for a period of time much longer than the duration of the trigger pulse.

Abstract: An electrical adapter assembly for enabling use of a fluorescent lamp in connection with an incandescent lighting fixture comprises a hollow and cylindrical housing, an Edison-type base extending from one end of the housing and a cover enclosing the end of the housing opposing the base. A toroidal ballast is located within the housing and is capable of receiving portions of the fluorescent lamp within hollow central portions of the ballast to enhance spacial efficiency. The base is either affixed to the housing, or alternatively, is rotatingly associated with the housing to provide a security feature.

Abstract: A dimming system for fluorescent tubes wherein counter electromotive forces generated during switch off of the tubes are used to maintain filaments of the fluorescent tubes heated during switch off periods of the tube, the dimming system having source terminals for connection to a source of power, the power having zero phases, load terminals for connection to the fluorescent tubes, a switch connected to the source terminals and to the load terminals for controlling the supply of power to the load terminals, a zero phase firing circuit connected to the switch for energizing the switch to supply power to the load terminals at the zero phases, a phase turn off circuit connected to the switch for deenergizing the switch to switch off power to the load terminals at phases of the power other than the zero phases, and a switch off filament heating control circuit connected to the switch for converting counter electromotive forces generated at switch off of the tube into power for supply to the filaments during switc

Abstract: A lamp control control circuit has triacs for controlling a current from an AC power supply and supplying a controlled current to lamps; a phase angle control unit for generating phase angle control pulses for a soft start; switching controllers for triggering the triacs in response to phase angle control pulses, respectively; and switches for selecting the lamp which is to be energized. The control circuit has additional switches for detecting the lamp selecting operation of the switches. The phase angle control unit is started in response to a signal from those switches.

Abstract: A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp including an arc tube having at least a main electrode at each end thereof, a fill sealed in the arc tube, including mercury, metal halide and starting gases selected from the group consisting of Ar, Kr and Xe, a radioactive source material, impregnated with a radioactive substance having a half-life less than 1.times.10.sup.4 years, sealed in the arc tube and a circuit including a conventional low voltage mercury lamp ballast and a glow starter for starting the arc tube.

Abstract: A wide-band distributed coupler for coupling rf energy from an input waveguide into a tapered interaction waveguide in a traveling-wave amplifier comprising a plurality of channel filters connecting between the input and interaction waveguides, with each filter coupled to the interaction waveguide at the appropriate cross-sectional position along its tapered length where the interaction waveguide cutoff frequency approximately matches the wave frequency propagated by the filter. Each filter comprises, in one embodiment, a main coaxial cavity tuned to a distinct center frequency, a first simple isolation cavity for coupling rf energy between the input waveguide and the main cavity, and at least one second simple isolation cavity for coupling energy between the main cavity and the tapered interaction waveguide. This coupler is compatible both in bandwidth and geometry with the tapered interaction waveguide.

Abstract: An electrical energy storage and transforming device and associated pulse-forming systems suitable for receiving, storing, and transforming an electrical charge to produce electrical output pulses, for example, ignition pulses for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, includes a current sheet inductor network defined by at least two conductive current sheet inductors separated by and insulated from one another by a dielectric material to provide coupled current sheet inductors having resistive, capacitive, and inductive characteristics. When electrical energy is applied to the current sheet inductor network, and electrical charge is stored and retained as an electrostatic field between the conductive current sheets until an output pulse is desired, at which time the conductive strips of the inductively coupled current sheet inductors are substantially shunted to rapidly discharge the previously charged energy.

Abstract: A lighting system having a high pressure gas discharge light source and an incandescent light source within a common sealed and evacuated bulb. A ballast unit fitted externally to the neck of the bulb includes in series with the incandescent light source an interrupter element and control circuitry therefor, and a choke coil in series with the gas discharge light source.The control circuitry represents an equivalence logic with two variables, wherein the output terminal of an equivalence circuit is connected to the control input of the interrupter element while its input terminal is connected to a voltage divider system connected across the gas discharge light source. The output terminal is energized only if either both or neither of the input terminals of the equivalence circuit are energized. The interrupter element is closed when the output terminal of the equivalence circuit is energized.

Abstract: A d.c.-a.c. inverter circuit allows a standard type fluorescent lamp to be operated from a low-voltage source of d.c. power with a high degree of efficiency attributable in part to use of lamp current as base drive current for a power transistor controlling the energization of a transformer primary winding having two mutually connected secondary windings which apply voltages across the lamp through the power transistor. Additional efficiency is achieved by use of a second transistor under time delay control for supplying preheat current to the lamp and turn-on current to the power transistor only during the starting phase of lamp operation.