Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for integrating the LED lead frame into the LED circuit fabrication process. The LED packages within the lead frame may be spaced according to the final spacing of the LED packages on the finished circuit board, such that multiple LED packages may be attached to a circuit board at a time by applying the lead frame to circuit board and then removing portions of the lead frame, leaving the LED packages attached to the board. The LED packages may be attached using solder or conductive epoxy, in some embodiments. Alternatively, part of the lead frame may include conductive wires forming one or more strings of LED packages. An entire string of LED packages may then be removed from the lead frame in a single motion and placement may be performed for a string of LED packages all at once rather than for individual LED packages.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for making a flexible laminated circuit board using a metal conductor onto which a SMD may be attached. Conductive metal strips may be laminated to form a flexible substrate and the metal strips may then be perforated for the placement of LED package leads. The LED packages may be attached to the conductive strips using solder or a conductive epoxy and the upper laminate layer may include perforations exposing portions of the metal strips for the attachment of the LED packages. Alternatively, strings of LED packages may be fabricated by attaching LED packages to conductive strips and these strings may be laminated between flexible sheets to form a laminated LED circuit. Plastic housings may aid in attaching the LED packages to the conductive strips. The plastic housings and/or the laminate sheets may be made of a reflective material.

Abstract: A flexible circuit board is described that includes a flexible substrate, at least one ridge defining a flexion zone and a component mounting area. The flexion zone acting to dissipate at least a portion of a force applied to the substrate, so as to insulate the component mounting area from the force. Light sources using such flexible circuit boards and methods for making such circuit boards are also described.

Abstract: A mount (30) for a fluorescent lamp (32) has a glass flare (34) with a first portion (36) penetrating the fluorescent lamp (32) and a second portion (38) the fluorescent lamp (32). Two spaced-apart lead-in wires (40, 42) are sealed in the glass flare (34): and an electron emitter (12) is fixed between the spaced-apart lead-in wires (40, 42) and mated thereto by an electrical connection (46). The electron emitter (12) comprises a substrate (10) of a first material having an electron emitting material (11) thereon and two ends (20,22) and an element (23) mechanically and electrically fixed to each of the ends (20, 22), the element (23) comprising a second material different from the first material and is used to make the electrical connection (46) between the ends (20, 22) and the lead-in wires (40, 42).

Abstract: A mount (30) for a fluorescent lamp (32) has a glass flare (34) with a first portion (36) penetrating the fluorescent lamp (32) and a second portion (38) the fluorescent lamp (32). Two spaced-apart lead-in wires (40, 42) are sealed in the glass flare (34): and an electron emitter (12) is fixed between the spaced-apart lead-in wires (40, 42) and mated thereto by an electrical connection (46). The electron emitter (12) comprises a substrate (10) of a first material having an electron emitting material (11) thereon and two ends (20,22) and an element (23) mechanically and electrically fixed to each of the ends (20, 22), the element (23) comprising a second material different from the first material and is used to make the electrical connection (46) between the ends (20, 22) and the lead-in wires (40, 42).

Abstract: A lamp includes a linearly extending heat sink, blue-light-emitting LEDs mounted on the heat sink, and a light emitting cover mounted on the heat sink in line with the LEDs, a first portion of the cover opposite the LEDs including a phosphor that is excited by the LEDs to emit white light. The cover may be a tube with the LEDs outside the tube, a portion of the tube nearest the LEDs being transparent and receiving light from the LEDs. The tube may include reflectors that are attached to an exterior surface of the tube to hold the tube on the heat sink. Alternatively, the cover may enclose the LEDs on the heat sink, where a portion of the cover has an interior surface that reflects light from the LEDs to the first portion. The lamp may include electrical connections that allow for multiple lamps to be connected in series.

Abstract: A low-profile cable is provided and includes a body having upper and lower portions that extend a length of the body and also having opposite sidewalls joining the upper and lower portions to one another. The cable also includes passages that are located between the sidewalls. The passages extend the length of the body and are configured to receive at least one twisted pair of conductors. Also, the cable includes a load-bearing structural section that spans between the upper and lower portions. The structural section includes opposing wall supports separated by a pocket channel therebetween. The structural section is configured to support the upper and lower portions and substantially resist deformation of the passages when external forces are induced onto at least one of the upper and lower portions.

Abstract: Method for introducing a limited amount of mercury into a fluorescent lamp during manufacture thereof includes the steps of forming the lamp with an exhaust tubulation therein open at an end thereof, exhausting the interior of the lamp through the exhaust tubulation, placing a body of metal material not reactive with mercury in the exhaust tubulation open end, the body having a coating of metal which amalgams with mercury, over a selected surface area of the body, and having mercury on the coated area of the body, such that a limited amount of the mercury is retained by the metal coating, and sealing the open end of the exhaust tubulation, whereby the amount of mercury retained on the body and introduced into the lamp is limited by the surface area of the metal coating on the body.

Abstract: A filler and an electrical cable including the filler wherein the filler is positioned within an outer jacket of the cable along with a plurality of conductors. The filler features a core being formed of a foamed material and having a dielectric enhancing section extending there through. The core also includes a plurality of voids that are formed for example, either by using a foaming agent or by the injection of a gas during an extrusion process.

Abstract: A cable includes a round core having at least one twisted pair of insulated wires. A jacket surrounds the core, and the jacket includes at least one spline projecting inward from an inner surface of the jacket, wherein at least a portion of the twisted pair is positioned between the spline and a center of the core. The spline extends continuously on the inner surface of the jacket along a longitudinal axis of the core.

Abstract: Method for introducing a limited amount of mercury into a fluorescent lamp during manufacture thereof includes the steps of forming the lamp with an exhaust tubulation therein open at an end thereof, exhausting the interior of the lamp through the exhaust tubulation, placing a body of metal material not reactive with mercury in the exhaust tubulation open end, the body having a coating of metal which amalgams with mercury, over a selected surface area of the body, and having mercury on the coated area of the body, such that a limited amount of the mercury is retained by the metal coating, and sealing the open end of the exhaust tubulation, whereby the amount of mercury retained on the body and introduced into the lamp is limited by the surface area of the metal coating on the body.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing blanket formed of a porous, fire resistant fabric covering surrounding a cellulosic sorbent layer is provided. The fire extinguishing blanket is well suited for extinguishing a grease fire as the fabric covering smothers the fire and the sorbent material absorbs the grease. The covering and any stitching to secure it are formed of fire resistant aramid materials which will not ignite at the temperature of a grease fire. The sorbent is selected to be one which will not melt at the temperature of a grease fire.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an inexpensive and compact apparatus adapted for use with a .sup.196 Hg isotope separation process and the conversion of anhydrous HCl to aqueous HCl without the use of air flow to carry the HCl vapor into the converter system.

Abstract: A method of removing deposited product from a photochemical reactor used in the enrichment of .sup.196 Hg has been developed and shown to be effective for rapid re-cycling of the reactor system. Unlike previous methods relatively low temperatures are used in a gas and vapor phase process of removal. Importantly, the recovery process is understood in a quantitative manner so that scaling design to larger capacity systems can be easily carried out.

Abstract: Straight tubes and randomly oriented pieces of tubing having been employed in a photochemical mercury enrichment reactor and have been found to improve the enrichment factor (E) and utilization (U) compared to a non-packed reactor. One preferred embodiment of this system uses a moving bed (via gravity) for random packing.

Abstract: The effluent from mercury collected during the photochemical separation of the .sup.196 Hg isotope is often contaminated with particulate mercurous chloride, Hg.sub.2 Cl.sub.2. The use of mechanical filtering via thin glass tubes, ultrasonic rinsing with acetone (dimethyl ketone) and a specially designed cold trap have been found effective in removing the particulate (i.e., solid) Hg.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 contaminant. The present invention is particularly directed to such filtering.

Abstract: The effluent from mercury collected during the photochemical separation of the .sup.196 Hg isotope is often contaminated with particulate mercurous chloride, Hg.sub.2 Cl.sub.2. The use of mechanical filtering via thin glass tubes, ultrasonic rinsing with acetone (dimethyl ketone) and a specially designed cold trap have been found effective in removing the particulate (i.e., solid) Hg.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 contaminant. The present invention is particularly directed to such filtering.

Abstract: A method for increasing the mercury flow rate to a photochemical mercury enrichment utilizing an entrainment system comprises the steps of passing a carrier gas over a pool of mercury maintained at a first temperature T1, wherein the carrier gas entrains mercury vapor; passing said mercury vapor entrained carrier gas to a second temperature zone T2 having temperature less than T1 to condense said entrained mercury vapor, thereby producing a saturated Hg condition in the carrier gas; and passing said saturated Hg carrier gas to said photochemical enrichment reactor.

Abstract: A ball projecting device, preferably pneumatically operated, is provided wherein the projected ball has "spin". The device comprises a projection tube including a curved portion, wherein the area of maximum curve radius of the curved portion, preferably is provided with a material having a high coefficient of friction; the ball is caused to roll along this high friction area, thereby imparting spin. The tube is preferably pivotable about two transverse axes, such that the elevation and spin-directing orientation of the tube end can be adjusted. The curved portion of the projection tube has a device for varying the radius of curvature from substantially infinite, i.e., a straight tube, to the desired minimum value.

Abstract: A pneumatically-operated ball projecting device is provided wherein the muzzle velocity of the projected ball is determined by a pneumatically-operated detent in the barrel of the device. The detent holds the ball within the barrel until a predetermined air pressure is built up behind the ball, causing the detent to collapse, permitting the ball to be projected out of the barrel. Varying the pressure required to collapse the detent directly varies the muzzle velocity.