Abstract: An aircraft external lighting system and method is applicable to aircraft position, navigation and strobe lights. The lighting system includes a light source, a cylindrical lens adjacent the light source, and a lenticular lens between the light source and the cylindrical lens.

Abstract: A rotating beacon including a plurality of light emitting diodes and a plurality of reflectors is disclosed. The light emitting diodes are attached to one or more printed circuit boards mounted on a base. The reflectors gather light from the light emitting diodes into a plurality of beams which are directed away from the base. A motor and shaft assembly rotates a mirror element. The mirror element is arranged to reflect the beams into a horizontal plane of the rotating beacon.

Abstract: A backlight assembly for a liquid crystal display that may include multiple light guides, reflector materials, and light sources of multiple wavelengths, and that may blend light colors to create a balanced illuminating instrument light of uniform brightness.

Abstract: In one aspect, a cathode emitter device comprises an infrared receptor having an n-type doped semiconductive region overlying a p-type doped semiconductive region. The n-type and p-type doped regions of the receptor join at a junction diode. The cathode emitter device further comprises an array of cathode emitter tips in electrical connection with the n-type region of the infrared receptor. In other aspects, the invention encompasses field emission display devices, such as, for example, devices comprising the above-described cathode emitter device. In yet other aspects, the invention encompasses methods of utilizing cathode emitter devices, such as, for example, methods of utilizing the above-described cathode emitter device.

Abstract: A backing plate for a transparent substrate constructed of two polarizer sheets. The axes of polarization of the polarizer sheets are substantially orthogonal to each other. The backing plate thus absorbs more than 98% of incident light and prevents substantial reflection. The backing plate is especially adapted for use with a transparent substrate undergoing any photolithographic process.

Abstract: A driver circuit for driving the emitters of a flat panel display such as a field emission display. The driver circuit includes a capacitor and a charge circuit. The capacitor is connected between the emitter and an extraction grid held at a constant potential. The charge circuit has two inputs respectively connected to a row line and a column line. The charge circuit also has a charge terminal connected to the capacitor. In operation, the charge circuit applies at the charge terminal a selected voltage level which is below the grid voltage. The selected voltage level represents the intensity of the pixel associated with the emitter. In response to the selected voltage level at the charge terminal, the extraction grid charges the capacitor to a potential which is the difference between the grid voltage and the selected voltage level. When charged, the capacitor is isolated from the driver circuit. The charge stored in the isolated capacitor discharges through the emitter.