Abstract: A lighting circuit for a vehicular discharge lamp comprises a DC-to-AC converter, a lamp voltage detector, a lamp current detector, a voltage-current controller, and a power change reducing means. The DC-to-AC converter converts a DC voltage into an AC voltage and supplies it to the discharge lamp. The lamp voltage detector acquires a detection signal concerning a lamp voltage of the discharge lamp. The lamp current detector acquires a detection signal concerning a lamp current of the discharge lamp. The voltage-current controller produces a lamp current controller instruction signal generated with respect to the lamp voltage upon reception of the detection signal from the lamp voltage detector, and supplies a control signal to the DC-to-AC converter so as to minimize differences between the instruction signal and the detection signal from the lamp current detector, thereby controlling the output voltage of the DC-to-AC converter.

Abstract: A lighting circuit for a metallic halide lamp for vehicular headlight applications is disclosed. Included are a pair of input terminals between which a battery is connected for feeding the lamp via a normally open relay switch which is closed upon energization of an associated relay coil. The relay coil is connected in series with an operator actuated lamp switch and a protection switch, so that both lamp switch and protection switch must be closed to energize the relay coil and hence to close the relay switch. The protection switch is automatically opened to deenergize the relay coil when the battery develops overvoltage or when the lamp will not glow upon closure of the lamp switch. In an alternate embodiment, the protection switch is also opened in response to the development of overcurrent or overvoltage by a d.c. voltage booster circuit included in the lighting circuit.

Abstract: A color liquid crystal display unit having improved resolution with good color mixing and little directivity. The display unit includes upper and lower light-transmissible substrates disposed in opposition to one another, scanning and signal electrodes formed on opposed surfaces of the substrates, color filters formed at a predetermined repetition interval on the signal electrodes, and a liquid crystal enclosed between the upper and lower substrates. At least one of the signal electrodes is divided into plural portions, and at least a portion of another signal electrode is interleaved therewith.

Abstract: In a process for producing L-tryptophan which comprises cultivating an L-tryptophan-producing mutant of Bacillus subtilis under aerobic conditions in a nutrient culture medium containing anthranilic acid, a carbon source, a nitrogen source and a mineral source, and recovering the resultant L-tryptophan from the culture broth, the improvement wherein the mutant is a strain resistant to 5-fluorotryptophan and 8-azaguanine; and a pure culture of a microorganism strain used in said process.