Abstract: A compact portable transparency illuminator in the form of a thin light board includes a wafer-thin electroluminescent panel as the illuminating element, with the panel being no more than 1/32nd of an inch in thickness in one embodiment. In one embodiment, the panel is driven by an inverter or controller which converts battery power to 1,000-2,000 Hertz 120 volt AC. In general, the frequency at which the panel is driven is more than twice that normally utilized to drive electroluminescent panels in XY matrix displays to bring the color temperature of the light emitted to the 5,000-6,000 degree Kelvin range for true color viewing of the transparencies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying individual conductors in a multi-conductor cable, which will also identify a short or open circuit condition. One end of the multi-conductor cable is connected to a battery powered transmitter unit which sequentially generates a unique pulse on each conductor. That is, the transmitter generates a pulse on a first conductor having a unique pulse width and after a small delay follows the pulse on the first conductor with a pulse on a second conductor having a unique pulse width, preferably twice the pulse width. The transmitter sequentially steps through each conductor in a cable to generate the unique pulses. The battery powered receiver unit is connected to the other end of the multi-conductor cable with a test probe and a reference probe connected to any two conductors.