Abstract: An antimicrobial vulcanized rubber article that includes at least one rubber component; and an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of zinc pyrithione, zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate, and chlorhexidine base.

Abstract: A photovoltaic relay which includes a unique pull down circuit for rapidly turning off the relays field effect transistor(s). The pull down circuit discharges the gate-to-source capacitance of the relay's field effect transistors by turning on a thyristor by turning off a light-activated switch connected between the gate and the cathode terminals of the thyristor. In one integrated circuit embodiment, the light-activated switch is energized by the same light source which activates the photodiode stack which drives the relay. The presence of the pull down circuit does not effect the turn on time of the relay.