Abstract: Smoke detectors and smoke alarms are provided which have one or more light shields configured to block or minimize the transmission of ambient light to their light receivers. Light shield configurations for facilitating such functionality are provided as well. The shield/s include a material which attenuates a majority amount of light within a particular range of light that a light source of the smoke detector may be configured to only emit and/or the range of light the light receiver may configured to only convert to photocurrent. In some cases, the shield/s surrounds the light source and/or the light receiver arranged external to an interior chamber of the smoke detector. In some cases, the shield/s may at least partially span a connection side of an external housing of the smoke detector. Alternatively, the shield may be arranged in a space between the interior chamber and the connection side of the housing.

Abstract: Smoke detector shields for blocking or minimizing the transmission of light therethrough and methods for use are provided. According to one embodiment, a method for shielding a smoked detector includes shielding at least a portion of a smoke detector operationally arranged within a room, and subsequently activating a light emission device arranged within the room, while shielding the smoke detector. In order to exclude light emission devices, which are commonly used within a room for lighting and/or communication purposes, the light emission device set forth in the method is configured for generating infrared light at a radiant intensity greater than approximately 1 W/sr, and/or ultraviolet light at a radiant intensity greater than approximately 1 W/sr, and/or visible light at a luminous flux greater than approximately 3000 lumens. Embodiments of smoke detector shields that prevent such light from penetrating the housing of a shielded smoke detector are provided herein.

Abstract: Disinfection methods and apparatuses are provided which generate pulses of germicidal light at a frequency greater than 20 Hz and project the pulses of light to surfaces at least 1.0 meter from the disinfection apparatus. The pulses of light comprise a pulse duration and an energy flux sufficient to generate a power flux between approximately 200 W/m2 and approximately 5000 W/m2 of ultraviolet light in the wavelength range between 200 nm and 320 nm at the surfaces. Other disinfection methods and apparatuses are provided which generate pulses of light comprising germicidal light and visible light from a germicidal light source and generate pulses of light from a visible light source that is distinct from the germicidal light source. The projections of visible light from the light sources produce a continuous stream of visible light or a collective stream of visible light pulsed at a frequency greater than 60 Hz.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided which project germicidal light from a lamp toward an individual donned in outerwear to disinfect the outerwear. In specific embodiments, germicidal light is projected toward an individual situated greater than approximately 1 foot from the light source. Some systems include sensor/s for detecting presence of an individual within a target area a set distance from the disinfection apparatus comprising the light source and program instructions for commencing operation of the disinfection apparatus based on information from the sensor/s. In addition or alternatively, some systems include reflective panel/s exhibiting greater than approximately 85% reflectance.

Abstract: Disinfection methods and apparatuses are provided which generate pulses of germicidal light at a frequency greater than 20 Hz and project the pulses of light to surfaces at least 1.0 meter from the disinfection apparatus. The pulses of light comprise a pulse duration and an energy flux sufficient to generate a power flux between approximately 200 W/m2 and approximately 5000 W/m2 of ultraviolet light in the wavelength range between 200 nm and 320 nm at the surfaces. Other disinfection methods and apparatuses are provided which generate pulses of light comprising germicidal light and visible light from a germicidal light source and generate pulses of light from a visible light source that is distinct from the germicidal light source. The projections of visible light from the light sources produce a continuous stream of visible light or a collective stream of visible light pulsed at a frequency greater than 60 Hz.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a circuit and method for arbitrating voltage requests in a computer system are disclosed. In a first embodiment, one or more devices in a computer system assert a plurality of voltage requests. These voltage requests are received by an arbiter which outputs a single voltage request. The outputted voltage request is received by one or more power supplies configured to supply a voltage to the devices. In this way, the devices all receive the same voltage even if they originally requested different voltages. In some embodiments, the arbiter may output a voltage request that is selected from the voltage requests asserted by the devices.

Abstract: A clamping circuit and method for use in a computer system are provided. In the computer system, a voltage regulator supplies a voltage rail to various components in the system. This voltage rail may be susceptible to voltage spikes or other over-voltage conditions, such as when the voltage rail provides the input voltage to a switching regulator. The clamping circuit comprises a detecting stage and a clamping stage. The detecting stage detects when the voltage rail increases beyond a first voltage level. If this increase is detected, the detecting stage activates the clamping stage, which begins reducing the voltage rail. Once the voltage rail decreases beneath the first voltage level, the detecting stage stops activating the clamping stage. In this way, the clamping circuit protects the computer system from voltage spikes on the voltage rail.

Abstract: A voltage-dependent impedance selector compensates for non-linearities that arise when the operating voltage of an electronic circuit changes. The voltage-dependent impedance selector includes a selection stage that selects a impedance based on the operating voltage of the electronic circuit. The selected impedance is connected to an output stage having a resistive value so that the selected impedance and the output stage form a voltage divider. The voltage-dependent impedance selector may, in some embodiments, be used in reference voltage generation or in impedance matching.

Abstract: A cooling device detection circuit and method for detecting a cooling device in a computer system. In one embodiment, a cooling device detection circuit includes a detection stage and a power management stage. The detection stage is configured to sense an indication that the cooling device is functioning and to assert a signal if the cooling device is detected. The power management stage is configured to turn off a component cooled by the cooling device if the cooling device is not detected.