Abstract: A cold cathode gas discharge lamp unit and control circuit for controlling the light emission of the cold cathode gas discharge lamp. A lamp unit includes a dc power source and a control circuit for converting into a high frequency drive signal across the lamp wherein each cycle of the drive signal includes an ignition period with a signal level sufficient to initiate gas conduction, a sustaining period with a signal level sufficient to sustain gas conduction, and an off period with a signal level below the sustaining level.

Abstract: A cold cathode gas discharge lamp unit and control circuit for controlling the light emission of the cold cathode gas discharge lamp. A lamp unit includes a dc power source and a control circuit for converting into a high frequency drive signal across the lamp wherein each cycle of the drive signal includes an ignition period with a signal level sufficient to initiate gas conduction, a sustaining period with a signal level sufficient to sustain gas conduction, and an off period with a signal level below the sustaining level.

Abstract: A novelty device comprising an energizing circuit, including an dielectric base material, having a circuit and a conductive member attached to a first surface of the dielectric base material. The novelty device further includes a transparent display, containing an inert gas, such as neon or argon, being illuminated when the transparent display is brought into sufficiently close proximity to the surface opposite the surface carrying the conductive member and the energizing circuit, when power is supplied to the circuit. The invention also relates to a method for illuminating the transparent display, containing an inert gas, such as neon or argon, by the use of the energizing circuit.

Abstract: An amusement device comprising a gas-filled plasma discharge tube; an electrode adjacent an end of the tube for coupling high-frequency, high-voltage energy into the gas in the plasma discharge tube; an ionization energy supply operably connectable to a source of electrcity for producing an adjustable high-frequency, high-voltage energy at an output thereof having an upper limit sufficient to ionize the gas in the plasma discharge tube without a ground return by utilizing the electrical capacity of the surroundings to provide a reactive impedance for plasma tube current to flow into, the electrode being operable connected to the output; and, a control circuit operably connected to the ionization energy supply for adjusting the level of the high-frequency, high-voltage energy at the output between levels causing ionization of the gas in the plasma discharge tube to occur in differing amounts as a function of a changing stimulus connected to an input thereof.

Abstract: A new method and apparatus for driving a neon display tube or the like. The tube, containing an ionizable gas, has only a single cathode element at one end in contact with the gas. A power source connected to ionize the gas and cause illumination thereof wherein the power source is connected to the single cathode element and produces alternating voltage referenced to ground potential and of sufficient frequency to cause the gas to ionize through the natural surrounding capacitance between the ionized gas and ground potential. In the preferred embodiment, the power source produces an increasing voltage ramp output whereby the ionization of the gas in the tube moves as a localized ionization along the tube in a direction away from the single cathode element.