Abstract: The present application relates to a liquid-evaporate delivery device which relies on the efficient use of air currents to deliver liquid evaporate to airspace around the device. Efficient air currents may be provided by rotating the air currents around the wick, by providing a helical channel for the air to flow around the wick, and/or by aligning a fan with the longitudinal axis of the wick.

Abstract: The present application relates to a liquid-evaporate delivery device which relies on the efficient use of air currents to deliver liquid evaporate to airspace around the device. Efficient air currents may be provided by rotating the air currents around the wick, by providing a helical channel for the air to flow around the wick, and/or by aligning a fan with the longitudinal axis of the wick.

Abstract: A curing lamp apparatus is used for providing electronic voice information to report a number of operating conditions associated with the curing lamp. The apparatus includes a light sensor for sensing output power, voltage and current sensors for sensing input power, a microcontroller for providing a digital number in response to receiving signals from one or more sensors, a programmed voice circuit for retrieving a voice message signal from a memory, address associated with the digital number, and a transducer for receiving and audibly reproducing the voice message signal.

Abstract: A light for a curing instrument includes a plurality of light sources, each producing an incident light beam. The incident light beams are combined to produce a single output beam, which exhibits a broader spectral width than any of the incident light beams. In one embodiment of the invention, the output beam exhibits an intensity over a spectral range defined by a first characteristic wavelength of a first of the plurality of light sources and a second characteristic wavelength of a second of the plurality of lights sources such that the intensity varies by no more than 25 percent over the range. In another embodiment of the invention including a one or more blue LED light sources among the plurality of light sources, at least one white LED is included in the plurality of light sources in order to generate an output light beam having a component portion that is characterized as green.

Abstract: A micro-controller adjustably provides a scanning frequency for operating a driver for an ultrasonic device. The frequency is adjusted within a defined range until an acknowledgement signal is provided to the micro-controller to lock a currently selected frequency as the operating frequency. An indicator indicates when a frequency has been selected outside of the defined range. The device is preferably implemented as a complex programmable logic device (CPLD).

Abstract: A light for a curing instrument includes a plurality of light sources, each producing an incident light beam. The incident light beams are combined to produce a single output beam, which exhibits a broader spectral width than any of the incident light beams. In one embodiment of the invention, the output beam exhibits an intensity over a spectral range defined by a first characteristic wavelength of a first of the plurality of light sources and a second characteristic wavelength of a second of the plurality of lights sources such that the intensity varies by no more than 25 percent over the range. In another embodiment of the invention including a one or more blue LED light sources among the plurality of light sources, at least one white LED is included in the plurality of light sources in order to generate an output light beam having a component portion that is characterized as green.

Abstract: A light source for a curing lamp includes a bundle of fiber optic strands, each mated at a receiving end to a receptacle for receiving an individual light emitting diode (LED) or laser diode (LD). Each receptacle is arranged to collect substantially all light energy produced by its associated LED or LD light source. The transmitting ends of the fiber optic strands are tightly packed to define a transmitting surface, and the transmitting surface thereby transmits a concentrated light beam including substantially all of the collected light energy.

Abstract: A micro-controller adjustably provides a scanning frequency for operating a driver for an ultrasonic device. The frequency is adjusted within a defined range until an acknowledgement signal is provided to the micro-controller to lock a currently selected frequency as the operating frequency. An indicator indicates when a frequency has been selected outside of the defined range. The device is preferably implemented as a complex programmable logic device (CPLD).

Abstract: An ultrasonic driver determines an optimal operating frequency for an ultrasonic transducer, and drives the transducer at its optimal frequency. A microcontroller controlling a MOSFET driver selectively alters the operating frequency of the transducer until a maximum operating current is detected by a transducer performance detector. The transducer performance detector provides an acknowledgment signal to the microcontroller upon detecting the maximum operating current, causing the microcontroller to lock the operating frequency at the current, optimal value.

Abstract: A curing lamp apparatus is used for providing electronic voice information to report a number of operating conditions associated with the curing lamp. The apparatus includes a light sensor for sensing output power, voltage and current sensors for sensing input power, a microcontroller for providing a digital number in response to receiving signals from one or more sensors, a programmed voice circuit for retrieving a voice message signal from a memory, address associated with the digital number, and a transducer for receiving and audibly reproducing the voice message signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for curing dental material with radiation from a halogen lamp provides for a shifting of a spectrum of the radiation to a shorter wavelength for increased rate of curing by adjusting current flow within a heating element of the lamp. The current is applied over an interval of time for accomplishing the curing. Feedback and feedforward circuitry, operative with a control signal of a regulated power source to reduce voltage applied by the power source to the heating element during an initial portion of the interval of time, prior to obtaining an operating temperature of the heating element, to maintain an upper bound on the magnitude of the current applied to the heating element, thereby to the vivid unnecessary and operations of the heating element for increased operating lifetime of the lamp.

Abstract: In a switching voltage power supply, a series regulator circuit interconnects an input voltage section with an output voltage section of the switching power supply. The regulator circuit has an n-channel MOSFET transistor serving as a regulator element. A gating circuit applies a gating voltage to the gate terminal relative to the drain terminal for establishing states of current conduction and current cut-off in the transistor. A biasing circuit interconnects the gating circuit with the drain terminal for establishing an offset potential of the gate terminal relative to the drain terminal during the state of current conduction, the offset potential counteracting a gate-to-source threshold voltage for reduction of a voltage drop between the drain terminal and the source terminal with a corresponding reduction in power dissipation of the regulator element.

Abstract: An automatic drive circuit for an ultrasonic probe, such as a dental scaler insert, is operative with a probe which includes a magnetostrictive unit and a vibratory element to be set into vibration by the magnetostrictive unit upon energization of the magnetostrictive unit with an alternating magnetic field. An energizing coil is enclosed within a handle having a compartment for receiving the probe. The coil is located within the handle adjacent to the probe-receiving compartment for applying the alternating magnetic field to the magnetostrictive unit upon insertion of the probe into the handle and upon energizing the coil by the drive circuit. An oscillator of the drive circuit is coupled to the coil for applying an oscillatory current to the coil. The drive circuit includes a frequency sensor for sensing a frequency of the oscillatory current, the sensor outputting a signal designating a magnitude of the frequency.