Abstract: An electrode-less discharge lamp lighting apparatus which is electrically connected to a dimming unit (2) is provided with: an electrode-less fluorescent lamp (3); and a lighting circuit (4) operable to apply a high-frequency voltage to the electrode-less fluorescent lamp (3), wherein the lighting circuit (4) includes: an AC/DC converting unit (5) operable to convert a phase-controlled AC voltage outputted from the dimming unit (2) into a DC voltage; a DC/AC converting unit (6) operable to convert the DC voltage into a high-frequency voltage; and a dimming controlling unit (7) that includes a resistor (29), a switching element (28), and a timer circuit (27) so as to detect a timing of a turn-on of the phase-controlled AC voltage and to, based on the detected timing, allow a current whose value is at least a threshold to flow across output terminals of the AC/DC converting unit (5) for at least a duration of a time lag between the turn-on of the phase-controlled AC voltage and the generation of the high-freque

Abstract: External skin preparations containing one or more members selected from among a fermentation product, which is obtained by treating a bean extract with a microorganism, vitamin A and its derivatives. By potentiating skin cells and accelerating the production of hyaluronic acid, these preparations exert effects of preventing and relieving skin roughness, improving keratin, moistening, and preventing and relieving skin tension failure and wrinkles, thereby efficaciously retarding skin aging.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a composition for retarding skin aging which contains an edible herb medicine or medicines round in Taiwan, in particular a plant extract or extracts having melanine formation-unhibiting, elastase-inhibiting, hyaluronidase-inhibiting, active oxygen-eliminating and/or radical-capturing type antioxidant activities, and a medicinally acceptable base and/or additives for external dermal application. The composition is useful in promoting skin whitening effects, maintaining the tension and elasticity of the skin, facilitating skin moistening and providing the skin with anti-inflammatory and/or anti-allergic properties.

Abstract: An electrodeless discharge lamp includes: a bulb filled with discharge gas; an induction coil; a power supply circuit including a plurality of electric components; a case for accommodating the plurality of electric components; a stick-shaped heat conducting member; a first planar heat conducting member thermally connected to the stick-shaped heat conducting member; a second heat conducting member thermally connected to the first heat conducting member; and a third heat conducting member for thermally connecting at least two of the plurality of electric components, wherein the second heat conducting member is thermally connected to the case, and the thermal conductivity of the first heat conducting member is lower than the thermal conductivity of the stick-shaped heat conducting member and the thermal conductivity of the second heat conducting member.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrodeless discharge lamp whose discharge vessel will not fall off for long until the last stage of the lifespan of the lamp, and is capable of obtaining a uniform luminous performance throughout its luminous area by assuring a positioning accuracy of the discharge vessel and the induction coil thereof.

Abstract: A self-ballasted fluorescent lamp 50 includes a fluorescent lamp 1 and a ballast circuit 2 for operating the fluorescent lamp. The ballast circuit 2 includes: a printed circuit board 6; a heat generating component 7 disposed on a first face 6a of the printed circuit board, which generates heat when the fluorescent lamp 1 is operated; and a semiconductor component 17 disposed on a second face 6b opposite to the first face 6a of the printed circuit board 6, and wherein the semiconductor component 17 is disposed in an area other than an area on the second face 6b corresponding to an area of the first face 6a where the heat generating component 7 is disposed.

Abstract: An electrodeless discharge lamp includes: a bulb filled with discharge gas; an induction coil; a power supply circuit including a plurality of electric components; a case for accommodating the plurality of electric components; a stick-shaped heat conducting member; a first planar heat conducting member thermally connected to the stick-shaped heat conducting member; a second heat conducting member thermally connected to the first heat conducting member; and a third heat conducting member for thermally connecting at least two of the plurality of electric components, wherein the second heat conducting member is thermally connected to the case, and the thermal conductivity of the first heat conducting member is lower than the thermal conductivity of the stick-shaped heat conducting member and the thermal conductivity of the second heat conducting member.

Abstract: A discharge lamp operating apparatus includes a DC power circuit portion for outputting a DC voltage; an inverter circuit including a switching element provided with a control terminal for converting an output from the DC power circuit portion to an AC voltage; a control terminal driving circuit for controlling the switching element provided with a control terminal to be on or off; and a resonant load circuit including a discharge lamp, a first inductor and a first capacitor. The control terminal driving circuit includes a drive winding mutually coupled to the first inductor; a series circuit of a voltage clamp element and an impedance element, the series circuit being connected to at least one end of the drive winding, and the control terminal driving circuit is configured to control the switching element provided with a control terminal to be on or off by a voltage generated at the drive winding.

Abstract: Containers made from wood chips 11 are made by forming a wall by pressing together wood chips 11 mixed with a water-insoluble adhesive 4. The wall permits infiltration of a liquid from at least one surface thereof and holds the liquid inside. The containers are suited for use as food bowls having a heat-insulating quality and as flower pots providing an automatic continuous feed of water. The wood chips used as the material are obtained by crushing particles of wood resulting from lumbering into smaller pieces.

Abstract: In a conventional electrodeless discharge lamp, a large amount of magnetic field leaks from at light-transparent envelope, and the efficiency of conversion from electric power to light energy is low. In a electrodeless discharge lamp in which light-emitting gases in a light-transparent envelope are excited with a magnetic field generated from a coil, end portions of a magnetic material included in the coil are substantially axially disposed in the light-transparent envelope. As a result, the magnetic flux which leaks outside the light-transparent envelope is decreased so the density of the magnetic flux in the envelope is increased and the efficiency of the lamp is improved.

Abstract: A metal halide lamp includes an arc tube containing at least mercury and metal halide. A pair of opposed main electrodes extend in the arc tube. A lamp voltage is applied between the main electrodes. The main electrodes have respective distal ends which are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance “d”.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp operating apparatus is used for operating a fluorescent lamp, which includes a glass tube coated with a phosphor and has at least mercury sealed therein, by generating an electric field in a direction from an inner surface of the glass tube toward a center of the glass tube. The operating apparatus, for example, includes: a ballast circuit connected to the fluorescent lamp for starting the fluorescent lamp; a potential application member disposed so as to at least partially surround discharge plasma generated in the fluorescent lamp; and a potential application circuit for applying a potential to the potential application member. In such a case, the potential application circuit applies a potential to the potential application member which is higher than the potential of the discharge plasma.

Abstract: Upon generating arc discharge by inputting electric power which changes at a predetermined frequency to the discharge lamp horizontally disposed so as to operate the discharge lamp, the predetermined frequency is a frequency such that the arc discharge is excited substantially in a linear shape by acoustic resonance; and a value of the electric power to be input to the discharge lamp is set so that an input power value per unit inner volume of an arc tube of the discharge lamp falls within a predetermined range which is determined depending on a shape of the arc tube, thereby suppressing a strip-shaped adhesion of a sealed material of the arc tube to a tube wall in the vicinity of a center portion of the arc tube.

Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device according to the present invention includes: a discharge lamp including an electrode; and a lighting circuit for lighting the discharge lamp, the lighting circuit being connected to the discharge lamp, wherein the discharge lamp includes a conductor at least partially surrounding the electrode, and the lighting circuit provides a potential for the conductor that is higher than an average potential of the electrode.

Abstract: An operating apparatus for a discharge lamp, which includes a pair of electrodes and an arc tube having a material enclosed therein, includes: a selective depositing device for selectively depositing the material on one electrode of the pair of electrodes when the discharge lamp is turned off; and a ballast circuit for starting operation of the discharge lamp and maintaining the operation under rated conditions. The ballast circuit includes a starting pulse generator for applying a starting pulse to the discharge lamp when the discharge lamp starts the operation. The starting pulse generates an electric field acting from the one electrode of the pair of electrodes having the material deposited thereon to the other electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating a high intensity discharge lamp that minimizes discharge arc curvature to form a straight discharge arc and thereby eliminate variations in the discharge arc color caused by cataphoresis is disclosed. The apparatus outputs a synthesize wave having a waveform with a frequency component of the acoustic resonance frequency to excite a mode straightening the discharge arc, and a waveform of a frequency less than the acoustic resonance frequency whereby the polarity of the waveform having a frequency less than the acoustic resonance frequency changes. The acoustic resonance frequency is determined by the speed of sound in the discharge space, and the length of the discharge space intersecting the discharge arc.

Abstract: A discharge lamp apparatus is capable of securely detecting the decrease of emission in the terminal stage of the life of a discharge lamp by connecting a voltage detecting circuit to the discharge lamp, and a discharge lamp apparatus for securely starting, operating and dimming the discharge lamp, and is also capable of protecting the lamp in the event of abnormality; the apparatus includes two timer circuits, a reset circuit, a dimmer circuit, an abnormality detecting circuit, and a stopping circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for driving a discharge lamp, the discharge lamp having first and second electrodes, each of the first and second electrodes having first and second terminals. The apparatus includes a switching circuit coupled to the first terminals of the first and second electrodes of the discharge lamp for supplying a high frequency signal to the discharge lamp for igniting the discharge lamp. A starting circuit is provided connected to the second terminals of the first and second electrodes of the discharge lamp and including an inductor and capacitor connected in parallel across the discharge lamp. Alternately, a thermister is provided between parallel connected conductor and capacitor and one of the second terminals of the first electrode of the discharge lamp. Furthermore, circuitry is provided which is connected between the switching circuit and the thermister for deactivating the switching circuit when the thermister is heated to a specified temperature.

Abstract: A deodorant composition comprising (A) a compound having an acid anhydride group in a molecule and (B) a copper compound, said deodorant composition being useful as a deodorant composite material comprising a substrate (such as a paper, a fabric, a foamed sheet, a pulp, fibers or an inorganic substance) and the deodorant composition included therein, a deodorant resin composition composed of a thermoplastic resin and the deodorant composition, or a shaped article produced by processing the deodorant resin composition.

Abstract: A deodorant comprising a Diels-Alder reaction-type adduct of an alpha,beta-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride and an olefin or a derivative of the adduct as an active ingredient. A composite material, a resin composition, a resin article and a foam each containing the deodorant.