Abstract: A new and improved method of dispensing, tracking and managing pharmaceutical product samples by communicatively linking prescribers and pharmacies to a central computing station. The method entails utilizing product trial media that is exchanged for actual pharmaceutical product. The media is encoded with information that identifies a particular pharmaceutical trial product, such as by magnetic encoding similar to that used with credit cards. The media is distributed to participating medical doctors or prescribers who then activate the media via the central computing station. The prescriber then transfers the activated media to patients who then present the media to participating pharmacies. Before filling the pharmaceutical trial product identified by the media, the pharmacy validates the media via a link with the central computing station. Then, the pharmacy dispenses the prescribed pharmaceutical trial product.

Abstract: An improved lighting fixture for projecting a high-intensity beam of light that is imaged at a distant location, with reduced manufacturing cost and with reduced weight, but greater efficiency. Various structures are disclosed for eliminating infrared light from the projected beam, whereby the fixture's lens can advantageously be formed of a suitable plastic material and be configured as an aspheric fresnel lens or a stepped aspheric lens.

Abstract: An improved lighting fixture is disclosed for imaging a high-intensity beam of light at a distant location. A specially-faceted near-elliptical reflector cooperates with a gate aperture and a single aspheric lens to produce a beam that incorporates a very high proportion of emitted visible light, while the reflector has a dichroic coating that reflects only a low proportion of infrared light. The projected beam thereby has a relatively low energy density, such that the front portion of the fixture can be reduced substantially in size and weight. The gate is selectively rotatable relative to the fixture's rear housing.

Abstract: A plug-in dimmer module for providing controlled power to one or more lighting fixtures or groups of fixtures. The dimmer module includes a housing with one or more circuit breakers located at one end, a power device with one or more dimmer circuits located at an opposite end, and one or more toroidal chokes located in a middle section. The power device includes built-in contacts for output power to the lighting fixture(s) and for control and sensor signals, and the dimmer module is adapted to plug directly into a slot in a rack, to engage the contacts. The components of the dimmer module are laid out efficiently within the housing, with minimal wastage of space and without the need for extraneous electrical conductors.

Abstract: An improved lighting fixture is disclosed for imaging a high-intensity beam of light at a distant location. A specially-faceted near-elliptical reflector cooperates with a gate aperture and a single aspheric lens to produce a beam that incorporates a very high proportion of emitted visible light, while the reflector has a dichroic coating that reflects only a low proportion of infrared light. The projected beam thereby has a relatively low energy density, such that the front portion of the fixture can be reduced substantially in size and weight. The gate is selectively rotatable relative to the fixture's rear housing.

Abstract: A dimming control circuit for a plurality of lighting fixtures includes a separate semiconductor power switch, e.g., a silicon-controlled rectifier or SCR, for providing controlled amounts of pulsed, unidirectional electrical current to each lighting fixture. In one embodiment, a pair of SCRs, arranged in parallel, opposed relationship, are controllably pulsed to produce an alternating sequence of positive and negative electrical current pulses, of independently-controlled duration, and oppositely-conducting diodes then connect these SCRs to two separate lighting fixture. One such lighting fixture thus receives the positive current pulses, and the other such lighting fixture thus receives the negative current pulses. In an alternative embodiment, each lighting fixture receives pulsed, unidirectional current directly from a separate, independently-controlled SCR.

Abstract: An improved incandescent lamp is disclosed that is specially adapted for use in combination with a concave reflector in providing a high-intensity beam of light. The lamp includes a plurality of linear, helically-wound filaments arranged with their longitudinal axes parallel with each other and spaced substantially uniformly around the lamp's central longitudinal axis. Orienting such a lamp with its longitudinal axis aligned with the reflector's longitudinal axis, and with the filaments near the reflector's general focal point, ensures that a high proportion of the emitted light is collected by the reflector to project the high-intensity beam.

Abstract: A circuit and a method for controlling the dimming of incandescent lights using a pair of antiparallel connected SCRs which are fired at the same frequency as the frequency of the AC line power to achieve phase control of the power supplied to the light. Only one SCR of the pair is utilized in the 0% to 50% brightness range while both SCRs are utilized in the 51% to 100% brightness range.

Abstract: A dimmer rack for mounting a plurality of modular units called dimmer modules is disclosed. Each of the modules is used to provide dimming control for each lighting circuit in a lighting system. The rack is a vertical enclosure and utilizes a plurality of modular shelving elements attached to the sides of each file to define individual receptacles for each module. Tabs in the shelving register with grovoes on the external housing of the dimmer modules, whereby precise tongue and groove mounting of each dimmer module is obtained. The rack provides vertical input power and control signal busses which are mounted side by side at the rear of the rack which register with and are engaged by first mating connectors on the rear of each of the dimmer modules at one end therof.

Abstract: A dimmer module including a dimmer circuit for use in controlling lighting used in theatrical and architectural operations. The module features a low cost, compact, thermally efficient design incorporating circuit breakers, a power device including solid state switches, and toroidal chokes, all components being interconnected using with prefabricated tooled interconnections eliminating conventional wiring in a housing adapted to make all external connections on a plug in basis. The housing structure incorporates a built-in handle and a plurality of parallel air flow paths to maximize cooling efficiency.

Abstract: A self-contained portable unit for use with theater and television dimming systems and, in particular, with one control console of a microprocessor-based lighting control system having a data display device such as a CRT. The unit includes a digitizer tablet, a stylus and an overlay to be placed on the tablet. The keyboard of the console is reproduced in the overlay in the form of keys replicating indicia printed or silk-screened on the overlay. An area is also provided on the overlay for placement of the designer's lighting pattern layout. Lighting pattern information and lighting levels are entered into the system by the unit by touching the stylus to specific points in the layout and to specific key indicia selected by the user. Initially, each symbol on the lighting pattern layout is defined by using the unit or the console to enter the channel, the light level in each channel, cueing instructions, or other information which the symbol represents into the system.