Abstract: A light control system may include a signal coder (e.g., a flasher module), one or more motor vehicle light sources, and a signal decoder. The light control system may be a part of a motor vehicle taillight system. The signal coder may provide a selected signal. The selected signal may be a voltage signal having a modified portion when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch. The selected signal may be a substantially non-modified voltage signal when the signal coder is activated by a brake signal switch. The signal decoder may be coupled to the signal coder. The signal decoder may assess the selected signal from the signal coder to determine a selected lighting output of the motor vehicle light sources. The motor vehicle light sources may be coupled to the signal decoder. The motor vehicle light sources may provide the selected lighting output.

Abstract: An interface chip is disclosed. In one embodiment, an interface chip includes a processor coupled to an internal data bus and an internal address bus. A plurality of interfaces, including at least on serial interface and at least one parallel interface are also coupled to the processor via the internal address bus and the internal data bus. The interface chip also includes data movement circuitry, wherein the data movement circuitry is configured for transmitting data between a first of the plurality of interfaces and a second of the plurality of interfaces using time division multiplexing.

Abstract: A portable RAM drive comprising data stored on a non-volatile memory and transferable to a volatile memory when the portable RAM drive is coupled to a computer system. When the portable RAM drive is plugged into the computer system, the data from the non-volatile memory may be transferred to the volatile memory for faster access by the computer. If the portable RAM drive is unplugged from the computer, an internal power source may power the portable RAM drive long enough to transfer the data from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, the portable RAM drive may use a restraining device or an indicator light to indicate to the user that the portable RAM drive should not be unplugged from the computer because the data has not yet been transferred from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A portable RAM drive comprising data stored on a non-volatile memory and transferable to a volatile memory when the portable RAM drive is coupled to a computer system. When the portable RAM drive is plugged into the computer system, the data from the non-volatile memory may be transferred to the volatile memory for faster access by the computer. If the portable RAM drive is unplugged from the computer, an internal power source may power the portable RAM drive long enough to transfer the data from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, the portable RAM drive may use a restraining device or an indicator light to indicate to the user that the portable RAM drive should not be unplugged from the computer because the data has not yet been transferred from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: An interface chip is disclosed. In one embodiment, an interface chip includes a processor coupled to an internal data bus and an internal address bus. A plurality of interfaces, including at least on serial interface and at least one parallel interface are also coupled to the processor via the internal address bus and the internal data bus. The interface chip also includes data movement circuitry, wherein the data movement circuitry is configured for transmitting data between a first of the plurality of interfaces and a second of the plurality of interfaces using time division multiplexing.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a lighting system including a sense transformer with two primaries and a secondary for receiving alternating current (AC) from a power source, a low ohmage resistor placed across the sense transformer secondary winding for preventing saturation of the core of the sense transformer, an analog comparator for detecting when ground-fault signals in the sense transformer secondary winding exceed a threshold voltage and digital counters for testing whether or not a ground-fault condition persists longer than three consecutive half-cycles of the received alternating current from the power source.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a lighting system comprising a full-wave bridge, a filter capacitor, a control logic that drives a pair of output transistors and an output network that includes an output transformer that powers a pair of fluorescent lamps. The output transformer has a natural resonant frequency that will produce maximum power transfer to the lamps if the transistors are switched by the control logic at a rate near the natural resonant frequency. Precise frequency control within the control logic maintain consistent levels of output current through the lamps by phase lock loop (PLL) synchronizing its output switching frequency to the sixty Hz commercial line frequency, as sampled through a resistor and a digital integrator that prevents false triggering.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp system utilizes boost power factor correction. The fluorescent lamp system includes a power source, a reference voltage and a fluorescent lamp. A resonant circuit supplies power to the fluorescent lamp. A first capacitor is connected between a first end of the resonant circuit and the reference voltage. A second capacitor is connected between the first end of the resonant circuit and the power source. A first switch is connected between a second end of the resonant circuit and the reference voltage. A second switch is connected between the second end of the resonant circuit and the power source. A control module operates the first switch and the second switch so that the resonant circuit operates at near resonant frequency. The control module is integrated on a single integrated circuit. The first switch and the second switch may be also integrated on the single integrated circuit.

Abstract: In a ballast circuit for producing a DC signal with a high voltage amplitude, a capacitor is connected to a circuit output. The capacitor stores a charge which provides the high voltage amplitude of the DC signal. Current from an inductor is used to charge the capacitor. A current gate, when it is turned on, drains current from the inductor. A control circuit turns the current gate on and off so that the amplitude of the current drawn from the incoming AC voltage signal is in phase with the amplitude of the voltage of the incoming AC voltage signal. The control circuit includes a ramp generator which generates a pulse modulation reference signal with a varying voltage amplitude and a comparator which compares the pulse modulation reference signal with the incoming AC voltage signal after the incoming AC voltage signal has been rectified and the voltage divided by a voltage divider. The comparator produces a first modulated signal.

Abstract: Power is provided to a fluorescent lamp through a single integrated circuit (IC) chip. The IC chip contains control logic and power switches. The control logic operates the switches at a frequency which is optimum for the fluorescent lamp. The control logic includes circuits for thermal shut down, load status detection and voltage compensation.