Abstract: A dimmer arrangement for a lamp assembly including a gas discharge lamp and an inductive ballast connected to a domestic AC power supply includes a first controllable switch deployed in series with the lamp assembly so as to selectively close a circuit from the power supply through the lamp assembly and a second controllable switch deployed in parallel with the gas discharge lamp assembly so as to selectively close a circuit including the gas discharge lamp and the inductive ballast. A controller cyclically: (a) closes the first controllable switch and opens the second controllable switch, and (b) closes the second controllable switch and opens the first controllable switch. A non-linear saturating inductance connected serially with the first and second controllable switches controls the current during momentary overlap when both switches are closed.

Abstract: A dimmer arrangement for a lamp assembly including a gas discharge lamp and an inductive ballast connected to a domestic AC power supply includes a first controllable switch deployed in series with the lamp assembly so as to selectively close a circuit from the power supply through the lamp assembly and a second controllable switch deployed in parallel with the gas discharge lamp assembly so as to selectively close a circuit including the gas discharge lamp and the inductive ballast. A controller cyclically: (a) closes the first controllable switch and opens the second controllable switch, and (b) closes the second controllable switch and opens the first controllable switch. A non-linear saturating inductance connected serially with the first and second controllable switches controls the current during momentary overlap when both switches are closed.

Abstract: A method for automatically translating data into different human languages and into different media formats. The method of the present invention uses a template for decomposing the data into at least one data element, predetermined according to a human language subject area. Each such subject area has a limited vocabulary and contains a limited number of concepts. The data is then entered, manipulated and stored according to the template. Since the structure of the data is predetermined according to subject area, the data is relatively easy to translate into different human languages according to such a limited vocabulary. The data is also relatively easy to translate into different media formats, such as facsimile transmission, e-mail and voice messages, for example. Thus, the method of the present invention easily and efficiently translates data into different human languages and into different media formats.