Abstract: A device for operating a dielectric barrier discharge lamp in which not only the efficiency is maintained, but in which a reduction of the irradiance over the course of use is advantageously prevented. The device includes a dielectric barrier discharge lamp and a feed device for applying a high voltage to this dielectric barrier discharge lamp, wherein the feed device via a set-up transformer applies a high voltage with an essentially periodic waveform to the barrier discharge lamp. Moreover, the applied high voltage first produces a steep rising waveform and then ringing, wherein the ratio of the difference between a second extreme value point and a third extreme value point to the difference between a first extreme value point and the second extreme value point of the ringing is less than or equal to 30%. It is a further object of an embodiment of the present invention to reduce or eliminate the ringing.

Abstract: A light source device for a dielectric barrier discharge lamp including a dielectric barrier discharge lamp having a discharge space, the discharge space being filled with a discharge gas which produces excimers by a dielectric barrier discharge; first and second electrodes, a dielectric positioned between at least one of the first and second electrodes for inducing a discharge in the discharge gas, and a feed device for applying an essentially periodic AC high voltage to the first and second electrodes of the dielectric barrier discharge lamp. The feed device includes a setting mechanism for adjusting both the control frequency of the essentially periodic AC high voltage and the amplitude of the essentially periodic AC high voltage in accordance with a set control frequency.

Abstract: An image reader of the stepping image reading type, by time division using a fluorescent lamp using a dielectric barrier discharge, in which for each divided image uniform lamp emission is always enabled and which can react advantageously especially when the image read rate increases is achieved by providing an image reader having a lighting part with a fluorescent lamp which use a dielectric barrier discharge and produces pulse emission and an inverter circuit which feeds this fluorescent lamp; a CCD line sensor which continuously receives the reflection light reflected by a manuscript and emitted by this fluorescent lamp, time-divided; and a controller which resets a divided image which is recognized by this CCD line sensor and which controls the timing of the start of recognition of the next divided image and which sends this timing signal to the inverter circuit as well, where the controller, within a given time in which the CCD line sensor recognizes a divided image of the manuscript, sends a flashing si

Abstract: A control lever device suited for use as a hand brake or the like in a driving game machine and capable of achieving a realistic game machine. In the control lever device, a lever is mounted at one end of a shaft so that it turns together with the shaft, and a gear support plate is mounted at the center of the shaft. The gear support plate is provided with a transmitting gear which meshes with a transmitted gear mounted on a rotary shaft of a variable resistor. The turning motion of the lever is transmitted to the rotary shaft of the variable resistor, and the resistance of the variable resistor is changed in accordance with the amount of turn of the lever. Mounted at the other end of the shaft is an urging force applying member having an urging force generating characteristic wherein the generation rate of the urging force relative to the amount of turn of the lever increases with increase in amount of turn of the lever.

Abstract: A multidirectional switch is provided with a lever, a lever support assembly for supporting the lever in such a way that it can be slanted in directions of first and second axes intersecting each other, an automatic lever reset mechanism for causing the lever to automatically return from its slant position to neutral position, a retainer for retaining the lever in a position slanted in the second axis direction against restoration force exerted by the automatic lever reset mechanism, and a sensor of which sensing elements are arranged at positions corresponding to individual slant positions of the lever. The multidirectional switch provides different types of information depending on directions in which the lever is slanted.