Abstract: An LED module for use in sign letter channel lights comprises a substrate, a reflector mounted on the substrate, an LED mounted within the reflector on the substrate and a Zener diode shunt element connected in parallel across the LED, a printed circuit board on the substrate, wherein the LED is mounted on the printed circuit board, and an insulating cover. The module may be entirely encapsulated. An LED driving protection circuit provides ground fault protection for a plurality of series connected LED modules.

Abstract: A system to provide power to a load from a renewable power source and an energy storage device, comprises input and isolation circuits for receiving power from renewable energy sources and to isolate each renewable energy source from one other, a battery charger circuit to charge a battery by receiving power from the renewable energy sources, a DC-to-AC power inverter having an input connected to the battery and an AC output to match an AC backup power source, and a switching circuit which connects the AC inverter input to a load, and switches to connect the AC backup power to the load when the battery voltage drops below a certain level.

Abstract: An LED module for use in sign letter channel lights comprises a substrate, a reflector mounted on the substrate, an LED mounted within the reflector on the substrate and a Zener diode shunt element connected in parallel across the LED, a printed circuit board on the substrate, wherein the LED is mounted on the printed circuit board, and an insulating cover. The module may be entirely encapsulated. An LED driving protection circuit provides ground fault protection for a plurality of series connected LED modules.

Abstract: An LED module for use in sign letter channel lights comprises a substrate, a reflector mounted on the substrate, an LED mounted within the reflector on the substrate and a Zener diode shunt element connected in parallel across the LED, a printed circuit board on the substrate, wherein the LED is mounted on the printed circuit board, and an insulating cover. The module may be entirely encapsulated. An LED driving protection circuit provides ground fault protection for a plurality of series connected LED modules.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power supply circuit for providing power for a plurality of external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs) connected in parallel, comprising a controllable voltage regulator for receiving an input power signal and for providing a regulated voltage signal, an output inverter and a resonant circuit connected to receive the regulated voltage signal and for providing a resonant frequency signal, a voltage transformation stage for receiving the resonant frequency signal for transforming the resonant frequency signal to a power voltage signal capable of driving a plurality of EEFLs connected in parallel, wherein the controllable voltage regulator is connected to receive the resonant frequency signal and is responsive thereto to keep the resonant frequency signal within an acceptable operating voltage range to power the EEFLs independently of the number of EEFLs connected to receive the power voltage signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power supply circuit for providing power for a plurality of external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs) connected in parallel, comprising a controllable voltage regulator for receiving an input power signal and for providing a regulated voltage signal, an output inverter and a resonant circuit connected to receive the regulated voltage signal and for providing a resonant frequency signal, a voltage transformation stage for receiving the resonant frequency signal for transforming the resonant frequency signal to a power voltage signal capable of driving a plurality of EEFLs connected in parallel, wherein the controllable voltage regulator is connected to receive the resonant frequency signal and is responsive thereto to keep the resonant frequency signal within an acceptable operating voltage range to power the EEFLs independently of the number of EEFLs connected to receive the power voltage signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power supply suitable for a neon light, which power supply has a continuous output and a high power factor in excess of 0.9. The present invention does not require a front-end boost converter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power supply suitable for a neon light, which power supply has a continuous output and a high power factor in excess of 0.9. The present invention does not require a front-end boost converter.

Abstract: An adapter for retrofitting a conventional gooseneck faucet to allow for touch-free activation. The sensor unit of the adapter is attached by simply passing it over the spout of the gooseneck faucet and towards the base of the faucet where it is locked in place by a clamp. Once in place, the sensor unit uses infrared light to sense the proximity of hands under the faucet. When hands are sensed, the control unit mounted under the sink will activate the faucet for as long as hands remain under the faucet.

Abstract: Packaged food portions, such as food slices, consisting of two or more food items, such as peanut butter and jelly, and processes for making them. The food portion is provided with sufficient viscosity and textural properties to enable its formation into a cohesive mass which can be extruded while maintaining the individual identity and organoleptic attributes of each food item within the food portion. The food portion may be shaped into a slice or other configuration prior to or during its encasing within a flexible packaging material. Product formulations which provide for minimal moisture migration between the different food items within the food portion and for optimum product stability, as well as processes and methods for providing and processing these formulations, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dispenser apparatus for controlling the type and brand of a product dispensed therefrom, so that only authorized products are dispensed from the apparatus. A container inserted into a housing case stores the product, the container having an exit port. A chute directs the flow of the discharged product. A drive assembly causes the product to move from the container through the chute to be dispensed therefrom. A magnetic sensor is attached to a support surface of the housing case, and a wafer is attached to the container. The wafer has a magnet embedded therein, and the container is inserted into the housing case so that the wafer is received by and mates with the housing case to align the magnet with the magnetic sensor. A location of the magnet embedded in the wafer of the container is detected by the magnetic sensor of the housing case so that the container is identified. The drive means is only activated when the container is identified as an authorized container based on the location of the magnet.

Abstract: A handwash monitoring system and method for providing an alert when a person must wash their hands. A badge worn by a person is activated to register at least one of a visual, audible or tactile alarm by a beacon placed where contamination may occur when the badge enters the range of the beacon. The person must wash their hands according to visual and audible prompts issued by a base unit in a wash area to clear the badge alarm.

Abstract: A cover latch is used to secure a cover of a dispenser apparatus by engaging catches in the dispenser apparatus while being held in place by attached springs. The cover latch consists of a handle connected to a latch assembly through a rod. Pulling on the handle compresses the springs connected to the latch assembly and frees the latch assembly from catches in the dispenser apparatus. An O-ring on the rod seals the dispenser apparatus from contaminants.

Abstract: A dispenser apparatus and dispensing method for dispensing a product stored in a container by pressing a dispensing tube connected to the container. A motor rotates a cam that extends a press plate to press the dispensing tube against a back plate. A check valve permits unidirectional dispensing of the product from the container. A pinch-off unit pinches the dispensing tube or a second check valve is used to prevent the product from returning to the container while the press plate presses against the dispensing tube.

Abstract: A power supply for a gas discharge lamp that provides a constant current to the lamp even when there are variations in a DC input voltage includes an inverter having a drive transformer that is controlled without negative feedback to operate close to its resonance condition, which permits a substantially constant load current even for large variations of the DC input voltage to the power supply.

Abstract: A switching power supply system is disclosed for powering electrical equipment while minimizing disturbance to an AC power line source. The system includes first and second AC switches which are operated at alternate intervals with respect to each other to permit current to flow between the AC power line source and the load over intervals of the AC voltage cycle. An energy storage element is included in an output filter and stores energy during intervals of the AC voltage cycle and releases the stored energy during the alternate intervals of the AC voltage cycle. By the disclosed switching power supply, the voltage applied to the load and the current flow between the source and the load are sinusoidal, have minimal energy in frequencies other than the fundamental AC power line frequency, have minimal harmonic distortion, result in a power factor close to unity, and are steady and non fluctuating.

Abstract: A power supply for a gas-discharge lamp includes a voltage source and drive circuit that produces an asymmetric output, a step-up transformer for stepping up the voltage to an appropriate level for driving the lamp, a blocking capacitor connected in series with the transformer and the lamp for preventing DC current from flowing through the transformer and the lamp to avoid core saturation of the transformer. A DC voltage is established across the lamp that prevents the formation of "bubbles" or "beads" in the gas discharge. An inverter is used to periodically reverse the polarity of the DC voltage to prevent mercury migration in mercury-containing lamps.

Abstract: A power supply for powering a neon sign assembly includes a ground fault detection circuit having a current sensing circuit that produces a voltage that is proportional to the current that flows from a center tap of an output transformer, a phase-sensitive rectifier that receives output from the current sensing circuit and a reference voltage from the transformer and produces an output voltage that depends on the magnitude of the output from the current sensing circuit and the phase angle between the output from the current sensing circuit and the reference voltage, and an amplitude comparator that produces an output to a latch circuit only when an output voltage from the phase-sensitive rectifier is equal to or greater than a pre-set ground fault current limit.