Abstract: An illuminated drinking vessel includes a main body with a side wall having fluorescent pigment. An ultraviolet light-emitting diode illuminates the fluorescent pigment. The drinking vessel includes an electrical power source such as a button cell and an electrical switch for selectively controlling the flow of electrical current between the power source and light-emitting diode. A base member connected to the main body contains the power source, the electrical switch, and the ultraviolet light-emitting diode. The fluorescent pigment of the side wall emits visible light in response to being illuminated by ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A liquid-activated lighted ice cube includes a battery-powered electrical circuit and LED housed in a hollow body that resembles an ice cube. The circuit includes electrodes exposed to the exterior of the hollow body that, when in contact with water or other liquid beverage, cause the circuit to turn on the LED and illuminate the beverage.

Abstract: A completely self-contained, battery-powered flashing coin having a series of three visible-spectrum LEDs flashed in sequence when a flash control IC is triggered by a sufficient force, e.g., the force generated upon impact of the coin on one of its faces or sides from a height of about 50 mm. A cantilever switch contact suspended over a stationary contact on a circuit board closes in response to the sufficient force and triggers the IC. The coin is preferably provided with a decorative design and the LEDs are preferably arranged within or around the design so as to draw attention thereto during flashing action.

Abstract: An advertising article with an automatically activated indicator assembly attached to the article including a piezoelectric sensor, a printed circuit board including a triggerable signal generator, and an LED or speaker. The piezoelectric sensor is attached to the advertising article such that it is responsive to mechanical force experienced by the advertising article during normal use, and, in response to such force, produces an output level sufficient to trigger the signal generator which in turn supplies a signal to activate the LED or speaker which is connected thereto. The signal generator includes device control circuitry for providing a battery-saving sleep state.

Abstract: A shot glass with flashing light source or sound source activated by a low-profile, direction-sensitive inertial switch having a cantilevered coil spring contact. The shot glass has a body and a two-part hollow base, the base having upper and lower walls and a side wall together defining a compartment for an impact-responsive indicator circuit including the inertial switch, an LED or speaker, and a signal generator circuit responsive to the inertial switch, an LED or speaker. The inertial switch is a caseless switch consisting of a stationary contact and a cantilevered coil spring contact both mounted directly to a surface of a printed circuit board. The coil spring is preferably suspended over the stationary contact such that the switch is most sensitive to force applied axially to the bottom of the shot glass, and the longitudinal axis of the coil spring is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shot glass.

Abstract: A display sticker with integral LED flasher circuit and power source adapted to be adhesively affixed to and readily removed from a fabric article. A printed circuit board having an LED, a control circuit and a battery is adhesively affixed to the back surface of a thin flexible sheet having printed indicia on its front surface. A rubber-based, pressure-sensitive adhesive is provided on the back surface of the flexible sheet to adhere the circuit board thereto, and also to adhere the sticker assembly to a fabric article such as an article of clothing.

Abstract: A flashing ball comprising a motion-activated flasher circuit within a hollow translucent or transparent inner ball bearing printed indicia on its outer surface and covered by a translucent or transparent spherical outer ball. The outer surface of the inner ball is roughened in one embodiment to enhance ink retention. The flasher circuit includes means for supplying pulses to a plurality of spaced light sources in alternating pulse bursts, and the ball is adapted to produce a flashing ring of light at its periphery in response to light generated by the light sources.

Abstract: A closure-sensitive signalling device with a cantilever switch responsive to the opening of a folded article such as a business card holder, greeting card, folder, or other article having panels foldable with respect to each other along a fold line. The cantilever switch has a stationary electrical contact and a conductive cantilever arm engageable therewith, and is mounted along with a battery-powered signal generator IC on a low-profile printed circuit board adapted for mounting on one panel of the folded article with the cantilever switch adjacent to the fold line. The cantilever arm's free end is engageable with another panel of the folded article such that the switch is held open when the article is closed and is closed when the article is open. The signalling device generates an audible or visible signal in response to a signal from the signal generator IC.

Abstract: A display sticker with integral LED flasher circuit and power source adapted to be adhesively affixed to and readily removed from a fabric article. A printed circuit board having an LED, a control circuit and a battery is adhesively affixed to the back surface of a thin flexible sheet having printed indicia on its front surface. A rubber-based, pressure-sensitive adhesive is provided on the back surface of the flexible sheet to adhere the circuit board thereto, and also to adhere the sticker assembly to a fabric article such as an article of clothing.

Abstract: A novelty button assembly provides buttons with a variety of indicia on the face of the button and an unlimited location of the blinking light in the face of the button. An electronic circuit is adapted to drive a light emitting diode with a current pulse of very short duration to permit the use of a small battery and to provide long battery life. A capacitor is used in a novel high efficiency oscillator circuit only in the determination of blinking rate and battery current duty cycle, allowing the use of a wide variety of smaller value capacitors that lend themselves to microelectronic packaging desirable in flasher button assemblies. The pin used to fasten the flasher button assembly to the clothing of a wearer also serves as the electrical switch to turn the flashing button assembly on and off.

Abstract: An electropneumatic transducer which operates quickly and accurately over a broad range of pressures to control high pressure, high flow devices at their point of operation. The transducer is lightweight and insensitive to position or vibration, and can be readily mounted to the device to be controlled at its workpoint and operated remotely by a process controller or other electrical device. There is also provided both internal and external feedback whereby the repeated accurate operation of the transducer is assured.