Abstract: An apparatus includes a light unit and a controller for providing a controlled humanly visible illumination. A solar converter unit and an energy storage device supply an energy output to enable the light unit to provide the controlled illumination. The solar converter unit is configured to charge the energy storage device during a substantial shade charging condition. The controller includes a processor coupled to manage the controlled illumination, a memory accessible to the processor, and a program stored in the memory for execution by the processor to manage the controlled illumination.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a light unit and a controller for providing a controlled humanly visible illumination. A solar converter unit and an energy storage device supply an energy output to enable the light unit to provide the controlled illumination. The solar converter unit is configured to charge the energy storage device during a substantial shade charging condition. The controller includes a processor coupled to manage the controlled illumination, a memory accessible to the processor, and a program stored in the memory for execution by the processor to manage the controlled illumination.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a welding electrode and a holder with a primary electrical connection for carrying a welding current. The electrode and the holder may separate easily due to a weak interference fit of the primary electrical connection. Bare hands may provide sufficient force for separation. The electrode and the holder may be configured for self-alignment. A quick-release mechanism may prevent unintentional dislodgement of the electrode from the holder and include a rotation-resistant device for preventing electrode rotation. A secondary electrical connection may be included to supplement or replace the primary electrical connection. A workpiece clamping force, traditionally intended for clamping the electrode to a workpiece, may also be utilized to enable the secondary electrical connection.

Abstract: A pickup system for a cajón percussion instrument that includes pickups coupled to the cajón that provide pickup signals to a control box that provides a system output signal. Pickups can be located on different or the same panels of the cajón. Pickups can be near one another to produce similar pickup signals. The system can include audio processors for modifying the pickup signals. The audio processors can include filters for changing amplitude verses frequency responses. The control box can include a summing device for combining the pickup signals. The system can include one or more output jacks. The pickup signals can be provided to different output jacks. The pickups can include piezoelectric pickups, microphones, coils and magnets, or other types of pickups. The control box can include tone and volume controls accessible and adjustable by a player to modify the system output signal.

Abstract: A musical instrument pickup with electrostatic interference (ESI) shield that reduces audible ESI noise in an audio output signal sent to an audio amplifier. The pickup includes an electrostatically sensitive surface, a carbon coating shielding the surface, and a ground conductor electrically connected to the carbon coating to carry a reference potential of the amplifier to the carbon coating. The carbon coating can include a conductive metal component. The coated surface can be a pickup cover, base, bobbin, or other component. The audio amplifier can include an input terminal and a ground terminal having the reference potential, and the pickup can include an electrical connection carrying the pickup audio output signal to the amplifier input terminal, and another electrical connection carrying the reference potential from the amplifier ground terminal to the pickup ground conductor.

Abstract: A sustainer for a musical instrument has at least one vibratory element arranged in a longitudinal direction. The sustainer provides a drive signal to a sustainer driver. The driver has a plurality of flux emitters disposed in an end-to-end relation perpendicular to the vibratory element. The driver emits a magnetic field to apply drive forces to the vibratory element in response to the drive signal. At least two of the flux emitters are magnetized by oppositely polarized permanent magnets. The flux emitters are arranged to narrow a magnetic gap between at least two of the flux emitters having oppositely polarized permanent magnets. The flux emitters are arranged such that they overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in order to improve magnetic drive of the vibratory element when the vibratory element is located near the magnetic gap.