Abstract: Spindle motor that has high rotational precision and is manufacturable at low cost, and that can be applied even in miniature, low-profile recording-disk drives. The spindle motor includes a shaft having a cone portion, a conic-shaped cavity into which the cone portion is inserted, and only a single dynamic-pressure bearing, formed on the lateral face of the cone portion. The working fluid is oil, and the oil fills without interruption a clearance between the shaft's cone portion and the conical cavity.

Abstract: A spindle motor (10) including a stator component (16), a rotor component (18), including a hub (14) for supporting one or more discs, and a bearing assembly between tHe components, formed of a journal bearing (54) and a thrust bearing (52), wherein the journal bearing (54) is an aerodynamic bearing and the thrust bearing is adapted to function in a bi-directional manner and includes an annular member (30) projecting radially from one of the components into an associated recess (76) formed in the other of the components. Preferably, the annular member has two opposed bearing faces (68,70) arranged adjacent corresponding bearing surfaces of the recess, and a hydrodynamic bearing is formed between the respective bearing faces and surfaces.

Abstract: A compact flat type vibrator motor is provided in which movement of the center is secured in the commutator itself, an additional eccentric member does not need to be provided, and the number of parts are reduced, so that mass production thereof is possible. The commutator pieces are formed in a commutator base member including a printed wiring board to which a high density resin of a specific gravity of 3 or more is added. Simultaneously, a shaft receiving portion is formed at the central portion of the commutator base member. At least a high density resin portion is made eccentric so that an eccentric rotor is formed.

Abstract: In a stator of a vehicle rotary electric machine, a stator winding includes U-shaped conductor segments having a pair of straight portions disposed in a pair of slots spaced apart at a fixed pitch in layers. Each U-shaped conductor segment has a generally rectangular cross section and a width to fit the slot. The U-shaped conductor segments are formed of large size U-shaped conductor segments and small size U-shaped conductor segments, and each of the large size U-shaped conductor segments has a pair of straight portions disposed at radially opposite ends of the layers and have corners whose radius is larger than corners of the small size U-shaped conductor segments. Therefore, it is easy to form rounded corners at portions of the stator winding thereby to provide uniform insulation coating at surfaces of the stator winding exposed to foreign particles.

Abstract: A magnet-positioning device for a rotor in accordance with the present invention mainly comprises a rotor hub, a metal casing, and an annular magnet. The rotor hub includes an annular wall and an engaging portion formed thereon. The engaging portion is adapted to engage with the metal casing, which is integrally adhered with the annular magnet. The metal casing includes a first end edge and a second end edge, and an outer diameter formed by the second end edge is slightly greater than an inner diameter formed by the engaging portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating a rotor for an electric traction motor including forming cavities in the rotor, injecting magnetic material in a portion of the cavities, configuring an electrical winding in a portion of the cavities, and post-magnetizing the magnetic material.

Abstract: A superconducting rotor assembly includes an axial shaft and a winding support structure. A torque tube is connected to this winding support structure. An interconnection assembly mechanically couples the torque tube to the axial shaft. This interconnection assembly is configured to convert a torsional torque load experienced by the torque tube to a tangential torque load which is provided to the axial shaft.

Abstract: In an electronically commutated electrical machine, in particular motor, having a stator (30) that has primary teeth (34) partitioned off by slots (33), and having a stator winding (37), produced of insulated winding wire (38), that has k winding phases (41-44), each with l parallel branches (45) each of m series-connected coils (40), placed in the slots (33) and wound around the primary teeth (34), as well as contact hooks (39) connected to the l parallel branches (45) of each winding phase (41-44), which contact hooks form phase terminals (B1, B2, A2, A1) and star points (SB, SA) of each winding phase (41-44), where k, l and m are integers greater than 1, in order to optimize the laying of winding wire around the winding holder, some of the l parallel branches (45), belonging to one winding phase (41-44), are contacted to the star point (SB, SA) of another winding phase (44-41).

Abstract: A magnetic device having a stator assembly having a magnetic flux return path comprising at least a pair of pole plates located a fixed distance apart from each other and at least one flux return strip pressed between each pair of spaced apart pole plates, and a rotor assembly having permanent magnetic material and being disposed for rotation relative to the stator assembly. Use of the flux return strip eliminates the need for a housing of ferrous material to complete the flux return path and facilitates flexible design of light-weight non-metallic housings and mounting systems or integral mounting to mating components.

Abstract: A magnetic armature wedge is provided for replacing conventional dovetail wedges in high-powered large-size turbine generators. The magnetic armature wedges that are used for supporting the armature bars are made by molding resin, e.g., epoxy with ferromagnetic particles, wires, laminates and the like embedded therewithin. The magnetic particles, wires, laminates and the like increase the magnetic permeability of the wedges causing higher slot flux leakage and high generator subtransient reactants.

Abstract: When molding reinforced fiber layers of a creepage block which is in contact with a field winding in a rotor of a rotary electric machine, a layer containing organic fibers made from polybenzoimidazole, polyparaphenylenebenzobisoxazole, aromatic polyamide, polyarylate, and aromatic polyester is integrally molded on that side of the creepage block which is for contact with a field winding. The rotor thus formed stabilizes a slippage between the field winding and the creepage block caused by thermal expansion of the field winding in the rotor during the operation and thereby minimizes the amount of bending of a rotor shaft.

Abstract: Plural slots are formed in a cylindrical stator or rotor core of a rotary electric machine. An insulation sleeve having a substantially rectangular cross-section is inserted into each slot, and conductors are inserted into an inner space of the insulation sleeve disposed in the slot. The inner space of the insulation sleeve is enlarged by inserting the conductors, thereby strongly pressing the corner portions of the insulation sleeve against the corners of the slot. Thus, the insulation sleeve is firmly kept in the slot, avoiding its sliding movement in the slot in the process of inserting the conductors. The insulation sleeve is prevented from being damaged by its sliding movement in the slot.

Abstract: A sulfidation-resistant current-carrying member, such as a commutator, suitable for a direct-current motor in a fuel pump is provided. The current-carrying member for a direct-current motor in a fuel pump includes a commutator composed of a carbon layer having carbon as a principal component and forming a sliding surface at one end, and a metal carbon layer fixedly bound with the carbon layer at the other end and comprising 55 to 90 wt % of metal having brass as a principal component and a remaining portion having carbon as a principal component. By using brass as a primary metal component in the metal carbon layer, it is possible to achieve a commutator with superior resistance to sulfidation.

Abstract: An electric motor for hand power tools has a rotor shaft, a rotor provided with a metal plate pack which is rotatably supported and non rotatably connected with the rotor shaft, the metal plate pack having a plurality of grooves which are spaced from one another in a peripheral direction and provided with a coating of insulating material, a rotor winding received in the grooves provided with the groove coating, the metal plate pack having an end plate composed of insulating material and arranged at each end side of the metal plate pack, the groove coatings and the end plates together with the rotor shaft as shaft ends axially projecting from the end plates being formed as synthetic plastic parts produced by an injection molding.

Abstract: An electric axial flow machine includes an ironless disk-shaped rotor arranged on a machine shaft and having permanent magnets embedded in a fiber- or fabric-reinforced plastic, and, on both sides, next to the rotor, a stator, wherein the permanent magnets are each joined to the surrounding fiber- or fabric-reinforced plastic so that the permanent magnets and the machine shaft form a dimensionally stable unit.

Abstract: There is disclosed an acoustic wave apparatus, constructed in such a manner that a surface rotated in the range of 34° to 41° from a crystal Y axis around the crystal X axis of lithium tantalate is set as the surface of a substrate, a standardized electrode thickness (h/&lgr;) obtained by standardizing a thickness h of an electrode finger constituting at least a part of an interdigital transducer by a wavelength &lgr; of a surface acoustic wave is set to the range of 0.01 to 0.05, and a duty ratio (w/p) of the electrode finger decided based on a width w and an arraying cycle p of the electrode finger is set to the value ranging from 0.6 to just below 1.0.

Abstract: Portable ultrasound tubular transducer, that generates cavitation in liquids, of the type that comprises at least one electromechanical transducer assembly, characterized in that at least one electromechanical transducer assembly is embedded inside a metallic pipe, and comprises one or more piezoelectric crystals which are power-fed from the exterior, and which are coupled to a first mass embedded at one end of said metallic pipe and to a second mass disposed in the interior of such metallic pipe and linked with said first mass, said portable tubular transducer being provided with a subjection medium.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vibration member comprising: a driving portion; an elastic member including the driving portion; and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element as a driving source in contact with the elastic member. The electro-mechanical energy conversion element is provided with an alternating signal to generate a plurality of vibrations, and the plurality of vibrations are combined to generate a driving vibration in the driving portion. An ununiformity of rigidity of the vibration member caused by a polarization treatment performed on the electro-mechanical energy conversion element is offset by partially changing the rigidity of the vibration member, so that a stable driving vibration of the vibration member can be outputted.

Abstract: A piezoelectric speaker is disclosed, comprising an elastic base, a piezoelectric material bender, and an acoustical linkage mounted to both the elastic base and the bender and serving to interconnect the elastic base and the bender. The acoustical linkage is fabricated from a rigid material and is mounted to the bender at approximately the geometric center of the bender. The bender may also be encapsulated by a case. The elastic base may include a computer keyboard, a bicycle helmet, a pen, a desk, a computer monitor or any other similar structure.

Abstract: An improved, temperature-compensated piezoelectric force motor features greater dynamic range and robustness as compared to previous motor designs. By implementing positive and negative expanding elements, the overall motor length is held constant over temperature. A central stretching member removes the PZT element from the load path of the motor when the motor is relaxed, thereby preventing damage to the element during assembly and deployment. When the piezoelectric element is powered, the central structural member also improves the failure strength of the assembly to further increase the robustness of the motor design. The invention finds applicability in various commercial products including, but not limited to, scientific etalons, nanopositioning systems, custom fiber optic assemblies, and custom CCD detectors.

Abstract: A quartz oscillator is constructed to achieve a better yield when being mass-produced, by providing a margin of strength for each of the substrates thereof while reducing the thickness of the quartz oscillator devices. A box-shaped circuit substrate is provided for mounting thereon circuit components having different heights from one another. The bottom plate of a recess in this circuit substrate has a level difference, and is constituted of a region where the thickness of the bottom plate is relatively larger and a region where the thickness of the bottom plate is relatively smaller. High-profile circuit components are mounted on the region where the thickness of the bottom plate is smaller, while low-profile components are mounted on the region where the thickness of the bottom plate is larger. By thus increasing the thickness of one portion of the bottom plate of the circuit substrate, the bending strength of the circuit substrate is improved.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a piezoelectric transformer having substantially improved performance. The piezoelectric element is composed of a single crystal of a relaxor ferroelectric piezoelectric material. This element is coupled to input and output electrodes. The element vibrates mechanically in response to an input signal, which causes an output signal to be generated at the output electrodes. Improved power transmission is observed despite the reduced mechanical Q of the single crystal material, because the coupling and dielectric strength of the material are improved relative to polycrystals.

Abstract: Mask in a color cathode ray tube, including electron beam pass through holes with bridges connected to non-hole portions between the beam pass through holes in a width direction, wherein a thickness of the bridge of the mask facing an electron gun is formed thinner than other portions of the mask, thereby attenuating howling and enhancing luminance.

Abstract: A color cathode-ray tube (CRT) having an evacuated envelope with an electron gun therein for generating at least one electron beam is disclosed. The envelope further includes a faceplate panel having a luminescent screen with phosphor lines on an interior surface thereof. A tension focus mask, having a plurality of spaced-apart first electrodes, is located adjacent to an effective picture area of the screen. The plurality of spaced-apart first electrodes has a screen-facing side having a predetermined width and a relatively wider electron-gun-facing side. Each side forming sharp corner edges extending along the length of each first electrodes. A substantially continuous insulating material is deposited on the screen-facing side and on the corners of the first electrodes to shield the sharp corner edges of the first electrodes. A plurality of second electrodes are oriented substantially perpendicular to the plurality of first electrodes and are bonded thereto by the insulating material layer.

Abstract: A shadow mask for a cathode-ray tube is provided to improve shock resistance and howling characteristics. A color cathode-ray tube including a panel whose outer surface is near flat and whose inner surface has a specific curvature, a funnel set in the rear of the panel, an electron gun set at a neck placed in the rear of the funnel, and a rectangular shadow mask placed at the inner side of the panel, having a predetermined distance from the inner surface of the panel, to select colors of electron beams emitted from the electron gun. When the radius of curvature of the longer axis of the shadow mask is Rx, the radius of curvature of its shorter axis is Ry, and the radius of curvature of its diagonal axis is Rd, these radiuses of curvature are appropriately designed to increase strength of the shadow mask.

Abstract: A color display tube (1) is disclosed having an improved suspension system of the color selection electrode (12). The positional stability of the color selection electrode (12) is of eminent importance for the color purity of the color display tube (1). If the color selection electrode (12) slightly shifts, the electron beams (7,8,9) may impinge on electroluminescent material of the wrong color, leading to discolorations. It is recognized that this positional stability is improved by applying free end portions (22) of a smaller diameter on the supporting elements (17) because this will lower the friction between the free end portions (22) and the suspension means (20). This smaller diameter has the disadvantage that the insertion of the color selection electrode (12) into the display window (3) of the color display tube (1) becomes more difficult. This invention solves this problem by applying free end portions (22), which are provided with a centering tip (44).

Abstract: There is provided an electron gun for a cathode-ray tube, comprising a triode having a control electrode and an accelerating electrode for controlling the amount of electron beams emitted from a plurality of cathodes and accelerating the electron beams, a front focusing lens part configured of a plurality of electrodes focusing and accelerating a predetermined amount of the electron beams, and a main lens part configured of a plurality of electrodes for focusing the electron beams on a screen, in which the diameter of beam passage hole of the accelerating electrode of the triode corresponds to 140-220% of that of the control electrode. The thickness of the control electrode corresponds to 20-30% of the diameter of beam passage hole of the control electrode, and the distance between the control electrode and the accelerating electrode corresponds to 40-80% of the beam passage hole diameter of the control electrode.

Abstract: An inline electron gun for use in a multi-beam electron gun as in a color cathode ray tube (CRT) includes a main focus lens for focusing the electron beams on the CRT's display screen for providing a video image. The main focus lens includes plural charged grids aligned in a spaced manner along the electron gun's longitudinal axis through which plural (typically three) electron beams are directed. One or more of these charged grids includes at least two aligned common apertures for passing the three electron beams. The layered common aperture arrangement allows for increasing the length of the electron gun as well as the effective diameter of the electron gun's main focus lens for improved video image resolution without introducing electron beam astigmatism.

Abstract: An exit window for an electron beam emitter through which electrons pass in an electron beam includes an exit window foil having an interior and an exterior surface with a series of holes formed therethrough. A corrosion resistant layer having high thermal conductivity extends over the exterior surface and the holes of the exit window foil for resisting corrosion and increasing thermal conductivity. The layer extending over the holes of the exit window foil provide thinner window regions which allow easier passage of the electrons through the exit window.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube includes an electron gun directing electrons away from a faceplate having an electrode biased at screen potential. One or more electromagnets located on or near the rear wall of the tube envelope are biased with dc currents so that the electron beam (three beams in a color tube) is deflected by the magnetic field produced thereby to impinge upon the faceplate. The electron beam is magnetically deflected over a relatively small angle as it exits the electron gun to scan across the faceplate to impinge upon phosphors thereon to produce light depicting an image or information. The electromagnet closest the electron gun is typically biased to produce a strong magnetic field to deflect electrons to the faceplate near to the electron gun. The electromagnets more distant the electron gun produce magnetic fields to direct electrons towards the faceplate, with the electromagnet most distant the electron gun deflecting the electrons to tend to increase the landing angle thereof on the faceplate.

Abstract: A panel for a color cathode ray tube includes an opening portion provided with a seal end surface to which a funnel is sealed through a frit glass. The seal end surface of the opening portion is a rough surface comprising a large number of streak-shape ridges and troughs in which minute recesses and protrusions range in a circumference direction of the seal end surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a getter placement and attachment assembly for securing and placement of the getter along the major axis of a CRT. The getter placement and attachment assembly includes a getter spring for removably securing the getter to an internal magnetic shield affixed to the frame of the color selection electrode or mask frame of a CRT. The internal magnetic shield has sidewalls enclosures with a plurality of apertures therethrough along the major axis of the CRT to permit optimum deposition of a getter film within the CRT.

Abstract: An illumination unit having at least one LED as light source, the LED emitting primary radiation in the range from 300 to 430 nm, this radiation being completely converted into longer-wave radiation by phosphors which are exposed to the primary radiation of the LED, in which unit the conversion takes place at least with the aid of a phosphor which emits green with a peak emission wavelength at 495 to 540 nm and which originates from the class of the Ce-activated sialons, the sialon corresponding to the formula Mp/2Si12−p−qAlp+qOqN16−q:Ce3+, where M=Ca individually or in combination with Sr, with q=0 to 2.5 and p=0.5 to 3.

Abstract: The inventive thin-film DC-driving electroluminescent device (ELD) is characterized by the thin-film current control layer which is inserted between a thin film phosphor layer and metal electrodes. This kind of ELD has the advantages of having a lower operation voltage than that of the conventional thin-film AC ELD and a higher resolution than that of the conventional thin-film/powder hybrid DC ELD. The thin-film current control layer acts as an energy barrier layer which supplies energetic electrons into said phosphor layer by a field-assistant injection of electron, and a current-limiting layer which prevents an electric field breakdown of said electroluminescent device caused by an excess current flow. The current control layer is embodied with a multilayered thin film laminated by an alternate deposition of metal oxides. In another embodiment, the current control layer consists of both an energy barrier layer and a current-limiting layer, separately formed.

Abstract: A photocathode structure having a photoelectric face plate protective layer, in order to prevent a photoelectric effect from being deteriorated sharply due to a high reaction of oxygen with respect to most of existing photoelectric face plate materials when the photoelectric face plate used for generating photoelectrons by a photoelectric effect is exposed to the atmosphere, is provided. For example, a diamond-like carbon thin layer is used as a photocathode protective layer, to thereby perform a function of protection of the photoelectric face plate through isolation of the photoelectric face plate from the atmosphere and enable electrons generated from the photoelectric face plate to pass through a diamond-like carbon thin layer, which is deposited thinly, by the tunneling effect so that the performance of the photocathode is not affected.

Abstract: A display panel is provided that has a multilayer structure made of a colored glass layer having a desired shape and optical characteristics and a non-colored glass layer having high transparency, as well as high productivity. The display panel has a non-colored glass layer and a colored glass layer contacting the non-colored glass layer. A multilayer structure is formed that includes a colored paste layer and a non-colored paste layer. In the colored paste layer, crystallization glass powder that is crystallized at the temperature TA and coloring agent are diffused. In the non-colored paste layer, glass powder whose softening point is the temperature TB that is higher than the temperature TA. The multilayer structure is heated to the temperature TC that is higher than the temperature TB and is lower than the softening point of the crystallization glass powder after the crystallization to be burned, so that the non-colored glass layer and the colored glass layer are formed simultaneously.

Abstract: A plate for a plasma display panel includes a plate member formed of a transparent material, a series of electrodes formed in a predetermined pattern on the plate member, and a dielectric layer formed on the plate member to cover the electrodes, wherein the electrodes are formed of a dielectric first component, and a metallic second component of at least one metal selected from a group consisting of iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), vanadium (V), titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), yttrium (Y), zinc (Zn), zirconium (Zr), tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), copper (Cu), and platinum (Pt).

Abstract: In a plasma display panel, a partition wall 15 surrounds each of discharge cells to define the discharge cells. Each of the discharge cells is divided by a second transverse wall 15B into a display discharge cell C1 which is opposite transparent electrodes Xa, Ya of paired row electrodes X, Y to provide for a sustaining discharge; and an addressing discharge cell C2 which is opposite a bus electrode Yb of the row electrode Y to provide for an addressing discharge caused between the bus electrode Yb and a column electrode D. A clearance r is provided between the discharge cell C1 and the addressing discharge cell C2 for communication between the cells C1 and C2.

Abstract: An auxiliary antenna arranged around the discharge vessel of a gas discharge lamp comprising an outer bulb enclosing this discharge vessel is provided on the outer bulb. The advantages of an auxiliary start antenna can thus be enjoyed without being counterbalanced by an increased sodium diffusion.

Abstract: A gas discharge lamp, in particular a low-pressure gas discharge lamp, comprising an electrode including a carrier of an electrode metal and a first electrode coating of an electron-emitting material, which material comprises a metal powder preparation of a powder of a reducing metal selected from the group formed by aluminum, silicon, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, molybdenum, tungsten and the alloys thereof, which metal powder preparation is provided with a powder coating containing a noble metal selected from the group formed by rhenium, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, palladium, rhodium, iridium and platinum, and the alloys thereof, and said material comprising at least one alkaline earth metal oxide selected from the group formed by calcium oxide, strontium oxide and barium oxide, is characterized by a uniform emission current and a long service life.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus including a processing chamber having an upper surface, a first inlet, and a second inlet. The apparatus includes a wall extending from the upper surface into the processing chamber. The wall encircles the first inlet, and the wall has a base end and a terminal end, where the terminal end includes the second inlet. The apparatus includes a first inductive coil provided within the wall and encircling the first inlet, and a second inductive coil provided within the wall and encircling the second inlet. Additionally, the apparatus includes a first magnet array provided within the base end of the wall adjacent the first inlet, and a second magnet array provided within the terminal end of the wall adjacent the second inlet. A method of controlling plasma chemistry within a plasma processing apparatus is provided that includes the steps of providing a first magnetic field about a first injection region and providing a second magnetic field about a second injection region.

Abstract: A Reflective Field Emission Display (FED) system using reflective field emission pixel elements is disclosed. In the FED system disclosed, each pixel elements is composed of at least one edge emitter that is operable to emit electrons and at least one reflector that is operable to first attract and then reflect the emitted electrons onto a transparent layer that is operable to attract the reflected electrons. The transparent anode layer is oppositely positioned with respect to the cathode or emitter edge. In a one aspect of the invention, a phosphor layer interposed between the transparent layer and the pixel element produces a light photon as reflected electrons are attracted to the transparent layer. In another aspect of the invention, a plurality of phosphor layers are applied to the transparent layer to produce a color display when reflected electrons are attracted to the transparent layer.

Abstract: To provide an EL driving circuit, a control method and an electronic apparatus for suppressing counter electromotive force of a coil generated by rapid voltage fluctuation in case of turning off an EL element. In the IC chip, main circuits such as an oscillating circuit, flip-flops as a dividing circuit and a switched H-bridge circuit are provided. The oscillating circuit is connected to a capacitor through PIN and connected to the flip-flop inside the IC chip. The oscillating circuit generates a high frequency clock and outputs the clock to the flip-flop. The flip-flop outputs its output to the flip-flop and one of input terminals of an AND circuit. The flip-flop divides the clock outputted from the flip-flop by 16 to generate a lower frequency clock. The flip-flop makes the two low frequency clocks in reversal phase each other to output them to one of input terminals of an AND circuit and one of input terminals of an AND circuit respectively.

Abstract: In an organic EL display device including a TFT (40) and an organic EL element (60) formed on an insulating substrate (10) of a glass substrate, insulating films, namely, a planarization insulating film (17), an interlayer insulating film (15), and a gate insulating film (12), for forming the TFT (40) are not provided at a region for forming the organic EL element (60). Instead, an opening (65) formed by removing these insulating films is provided to expose the glass substrate (10), and at this exposed region an anode (61), an emissive element layer (62), and a cathode (63) are formed in this order. Consequently, light emitted from the emissive element layer (62) is prevented from reflecting at interfaces between these insulating films (12, 15, and 17), and efficiently exits from the glass substrate (10) side.

Abstract: An active matrix organic electroluminescence display device and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed in the present invention. The device includes gate and data lines defining a pixel region on a substrate, a switching thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines, a driving thin film transistor connected to the switching thin film transistor, a power line connected to the driving thin film transistor, a transparent first capacitor electrode connected to and overlapping the power line, a second capacitor electrode connected to the driving thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode formed at the pixel region and connected to the driving thin film transistor.

Abstract: A ballast circuit includes an output isolation transformer having a primary winding and first and second secondary terminals coupled to opposing ballast lamp terminals for additively applying potentials on the primary winding and the first and second secondary winding potentials across the lamp and limiting ground fault voltages. The circuit can include a closed loop feedback path from a load to a feedback rectifier for promoting linear operation of an input rectifier.

Abstract: Photographic flashes use the major portion of available energy in modern cameras. A series of innovations within a photographic flash system improves the energy efficiency by a factor of 3, and thereby extends battery life. The flash system includes a precise flash-termination circuit, a high-efficiency charging circuit, a low-leakage coupled inductor, and a battery-saving charge-circuit drive. Flash termination is controlled by a majority-carrier switching device. This circuit allows termination of the flash current without the timing uncertainty or parasitic leakage associated with previous designs. Multiple flashes also can be produced by the circuit, which may be interfaced with through-the-lens flash controls. A flyback-converter charging circuit uses a coupled inductor that has an alternately layered winding pattern to lower leakage inductance drastically, and uses appropriately selected wire types to decrease skin-effect resistance losses.

Abstract: An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp includes a rectifier, a valley-fill circuit, an inverter having first and second series-connected controllably conductive device having complementary duty cycles, a control circuit for controlling the controllably conductive device, and an independent cat ear power supply to provide power to the ballast control circuits. The result is a ballast having substantially improved THD, and current crest factor. In a preferred embodiment, the valley-fill circuit includes an energy storage device that stores energy in response to a controllably conductive device. In an especially preferred embodiment, the controllably conductive device of the valley-fill circuit is also one of the controllably conductive devices of the inverter.

Abstract: A circuit and method for running a metal halide arc discharge lamp from an AC power source. The circuit includes a rectifier for producing a DC voltage. The lamp is resistively ballasted by a current limiting filament connected in series with the lamp. The circuit includes a switch that closes during start up of the lamp so that the resistive filament is energized to provide immediate light prior to the lamp entering the normal run mode.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a backlight including external electrode fluorescent lamps and a method for driving the backlight. The backlight includes fluorescent lamps having external electrodes made of an electrically conductive material for wrapping the outer peripheral surfaces including edge cross-sections on both ends of a glass tube with a layer of fluorescent substance applied thereon. The backlight is constructed in a manner that a plurality of such fluorescent lamps are installed at the outer portions of a plastic light guide, and an alternating current type power source is applied from the outside to the fluorescent lamps by installing a plurality of the fluorescent lamps between a reflecting plate and a diffusing plate and electrically connecting them with one another.