Abstract: A safety device for the emergency interruption of the drilling maneuvering in a drilling machine is provided with a guide tower or mast (17) and a device (10) for realizing the driving in the ground of drilling elements. The device includes at least a frame (12) fixed to the mast and provided with at least an arm or a door (11) rotating around an axis (Y) with respect to the frame. A microswitch (23) is activated by the movements of rotation given to the door (11) for stopping at least some of the dangerous drilling maneuvering.

Abstract: The present invention comprises, in various embodiments, systems and methods for shutting down a laser system in an intelligent and flexible manner. An intelligent laser interlock system includes both hardwired components, and intelligent components configured to execute computing instructions. The hardwired components and the intelligent components are configured to shutdown the laser system to one or more alternative shutdown states in response to one or more interlock signals.

Abstract: A voice coil motor type focusing actuator is disclosed to have a fixed unit, a movable unit and two resilient holding members. The fixed unit has a bracket with two slide shafts and a plurality of magnets mounted in the bracket. The movable unit has a lens holder movably mounted inside the bracket and a coil wound around the lens holder. The lens holder has two lugs. Each lug has a through hole for the slide shaft of the fixed unit to insert thereinto. The resilient holding member is fastened between the bracket of the fixed unit and the lens holder of the movable unit. When a current is supplied to the coil, a magnetic force is produced between the coil and the magnets to move the movable unit. When the current stops, an elastic force due to the resilient holding unit is utilized to pull the movable unit back to its original position.

Abstract: An electromagnetic machine (1) comprises an electrical conductor vane (7) disposed between two magnetic arrays (3). The electrical conductor vane (7) comprises a plurality of electrically insulated conductors (35), wherein when the conductors (35) are disposed in magnetic fields produced by the magnetic arrays (3) and when current flows in the conductors (35), an electromagnetic force is induced to cause movement of the magnetic arrays (3) relative to the electrical conductor vane (7) and wherein the set of conductors (35) substantially fills the gap between the magnetic arrays (3) through which the magnetic fields pass.

Abstract: The present invention replaces the internal combustion engine utilizing a conventional 12 voltage system that is used in automobiles today. The combustion engine can be a 90 degree V-Type or Inline type of cylinder block. This magnetic drive engine of the present invention comprises a head assembly supported by a cylinder engine block. The cylinder block houses the pistons and the head assembly houses a plurality of corresponding plug assemblies. Each plug assembly has an electromagnet on its bottom end which switches polarity based upon the polarity sent by the sensors on the crankshaft. By integrating the mechanics and the electromagnetism needed to push and pull the magnets on the pistons, the plug assembly is a staging area, for the coils and rods (mediums), to initiate the changing of polarity. A computer controls the switching of polarity and voltage needed for top performance.

Abstract: A stator includes a substantially cylindrical stator core, which has a fixing ridge provided with a fastening portion for fixing, and which is positioned so that an axial center of the stator extends substantially horizontally; and sealing members, which are respectively attached to both axial ends of the stator core so as to be positioned on a side of the uppermost part of the main body outer peripheral surface with respect to the target ridge, and which respectively form sealing walls that have a height equal to or higher than a horizontal plane extending in the uppermost part of the ridge outer peripheral surface, wherein a recess surrounded by the ridge outer peripheral surface, the main body outer peripheral surface, and the sealing walls serves as a refrigerant reservoir recess for storing a refrigerant.

Abstract: An induction motor has a rotation detector, a heat dissipating disc for dissipating heat generated from a rotor, and a cooling fan for forcibly cooling the heat dissipating disc with outside air. The heat dissipating disc is disposed between the rotation detector and the cooling fan.

Abstract: A resolver is configured to determine the rotational position of a first member that is selectively rotatable about an axis with respect to a second member. The resolver includes a stator core, a plurality of wire windings operatively connected to the stator core, a winding support between the windings and the stator core, and a cover at least partially enclosing the windings. One of the cover and the winding support defines a pin that is fittable inside a hole in the second member. The pin functions as a locating feature, which ensures that the stator is accurately mounted to the second member. Because the pin is part of the winding support or the cover, the locating feature does not entail the use of an extra part, thereby simplifying assembly of the stator.

Abstract: A drive unit in particular for an actuating element of a motor vehicle, is described, which has a gear mechanism unit, a drive motor and a contacting unit, with the gear mechanism unit encompassing a first interface for a detachable attachment of the drive motor and a second interface for the detachable attachment of the contacting unit, and with the drive motor being energized by the contacting unit in the mounted condition. The interfaces of the gear mechanism unit are designed to energize the drive motor through the contacting unit, and a rotary sensor that can contact the contacting unit and can detect the rotation of a gear mechanism rotating element (for example 6) is provided. Such a drive unit is very flexible with regard to the applicable control- and/or regulating electronic system.

Abstract: A rotating electromagnetic machine has a tubular axle with mounting rings, a common ring, a coil input ring, and at least one bearing set mounted on it. A fitting is secured at a distal end of the tubular axle, and a commutator is secured at the proximal end. A housing is mounted on the bearing sets through adaptors. Connecting bars extend axially within the axle with lateral rods joined to the connecting bars at their distal ends, the bars commuting between segments of the commutator electromagnetic coils. A plurality of the electromagnetic coils are secured to the coil input ring. The coils are formed of spiral turns of a single flat strip electrically conductive material. A plurality of peripheral and sector magnets are mounted adjacent to the electromagnetic coils with electromagnetic interaction when relative motion occurs between the coils and the magnets.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetic electricity generator having a coil structure capable of selectively changing output characteristics by using the same armature coil structure. In the magnetic electricity generator having armature coils and a magnet, the armature coils are configured with plural circuits of three-phase armature coils, wherein coil groups of each phase coil of the three-phase armature coils are divided into two or more coil groups, connection ports (T1 to T7, T9, T11, T13 to 22, T24, T26, and T28 to T30) are disposed to each coil group, and intermediate connection ports (T8, T10, T12, T23, T25, and T27) are disposed to one coil group in each phase coil, and wherein the connection ports and the intermediate connection ports are selectively connected with wires between the phase coils according to desired output voltage and current, so that output voltage characteristics can be adjusted according to connection scheme.

Abstract: An output shaft and an input shaft are connected with a connection member interposed therebetween, and a motor rotor is provided outside the connection member. Part of oil flowing down from an oil supply opening 11a of a motor housing MH is supplied to a first spline joint section of the input shaft and the connection member through a space and an opening of a bearing flange fixed to the motor housing MH. The oil lubricating the first spline joint section moves along an inner circumferential surface of a hole by a centrifugal force generated by rotation of the connection member, the oil moves in a radial direction along an end face on one end section side of the connection member 40 in one end section of the connection member, and the oil is supplied to a second spline joint section of the output shaft and the connection member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a PM type step motor used to move a camera or an optical pickup lens of media related equipment. In the step motor, coupling holes are formed in the central portions of both sides of a casing unit thereof, a bushing is press-fitted or inserted into an associated coupling hole, and a ring member is press-fitted over the outer circumference of the bushing protruding outward from the coupling hole such that the bushing is secured to the casing unit, thus preventing the bushing from becoming separated from the casing unit. The step motor can be freely applied to peripheral device modules of various outer diameters using the ring member.

Abstract: The magnetically levitating vehicle includes a frame, a control device, tire chambers, and tires. The frame includes a magnetic shield, a cabin, and an undercarriage. The control device includes a control stick and a mounting system. The control stick includes an accelerator, levitation, and brake button. The mounting system includes a horizontal piece, a vertical and base piece, and push button locks. The plurality of tire chambers includes a plurality of sensor and levitation electromagnet pairs, propulsion electromagnets and permanent propulsion magnets. The vertical piece and horizontal piece both include an inner and outer shaft, the latter of which includes a plurality of holes. The inner shell includes an orientation device, a plurality of permanent levitation magnets and sensor and propulsion electromagnet pairs, a plurality of permanent safety magnets, and an axle. The outer shell includes a tire tread.

Abstract: Electric machines comprising a plurality of magnetized rotors, preferably including bi-pole magnets. The rotors are configured to drive and/or be driven by a common shaft, as for example by suitable configurations of gears. The rotors are magnetically indexed, in pairs, with respect to each other and to corresponding electrical windings, such that, when a current is passed through the one or more windings, the rotors provide phased rotary power to the common shaft; or, when torque is applied to the common shaft, a phased electrical output is provided to the windings.

Abstract: To provide a magnetic machine capable of reducing the ripple and cogging of torque or thrust. An electric motor 1 includes three stators 6 to 8 each having an armature row, a rotor 3 having a permanent magnet row, and a rotor 10 having a soft magnetic material row. The respective phases in electrical angle between magnetic poles generated at respective armatures 6a to 8a of the armature row and the magnetic poles of the permanent magnet row are set to be each displaced in a predetermined direction by an electrical angle of 2?/3, and the respective phases in electrical angle between the magnetic poles generated at the respective armatures 6a to 8a of the armature row and soft magnetic material cores 11b to 13b of the soft magnetic material row are set to be each displaced in the predetermined direction by an electrical angle of ?/3.

Abstract: A high-speed sleeveless rotor for an electric machine is provided. The rotor includes a shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and a rotor core circumscribing at least a portion of the shaft wherein the rotor core includes an axially oriented slot. The slot includes a radially outer slot opening, a radially inner slot floor, and a slot sidewall extending therebetween. The slot floor includes a topstick attachment member extending radially outward from the slot floor and configured to engage a topstick positioned in the slot opening and the slot sidewall includes a shoulder configured to engage the topstick, preventing radially outward movement of the topstick.

Abstract: In an embedded magnet motor, radial magnets and first inclined magnets form north poles. The radial magnets and second inclined magnets form south poles. Core sheets each include preformed radial accommodating slots the number of which is expressed by P/2. Some of the preformed radial accommodating slots are short slots and the rest are long slots. The short slots are located at some parts of each radial accommodating slot along the axial direction. Radially inner ends of the short slots restrict the radial magnets from moving radially inward.

Abstract: An electric motor comprises a stator and a rotor rotatably mounted confronting the stator. The rotor has a rotor core which comprises at least a first tooth, a second tooth and a third tooth which are adjacent. Each of the teeth comprises a rib section radially and outwardly extending from a core and a tooth section located at an outer end of the rib section. The angle between the first tooth and the second tooth is n degrees, wherein when the rotor core is rotated n degrees to move the first tooth towards the second tooth, the rotated second tooth does not coincide with the pre-rotated third tooth.

Abstract: Ultrasound transducers and methods of making ultrasound transducers with improved thermal characteristics are provided. An ultrasound transducer can include: a backing, a piezoelectric element attached to the backing, a first matching layer attached to the piezoelectric element, and a second matching layer attached to the first matching layer. The first matching layer can comprise metal and can have a thermal conductivity of about greater than 30 W/mK. The second matching layer can have a thermal conductivity of about 0.5-300 W/mK. The first matching layer can have an acoustic impedance of about 10-20 MRayl, and the second matching layer can have a lower acoustic impedance. The first matching layer can be thicker than the second matching layer. The ultrasound transducer can include a lens and a matching layer disposed between the piezoelectric element and the lens can be configured to conduct heat from the piezoelectric element to the backing.

Abstract: A stand-alone power generation device that provides power to an auxiliary system on an airborne platform, includes a piezoelectric energy harvesting device and an energy storage unit, including a battery and a power conditioner. The device extracts energy generated by turbulent airflow around the platform and stores the energy to meet future power requirements. The piezoelectric energy harvesting device is located on a portion of an inner surface of an outward shell of the platform. The stand-alone power generation device is electrically connected to the auxiliary system. The stand-alone power generation device also includes a router that connects the power generation unit to the platform electrical distribution system. Excess power generated by the device may be delivered to the platform electrical distribution system for use by other platform systems.

Abstract: A flexural vibration piece includes a flexural vibrator that has a first region on which a compressive stress or a tensile stress acts due to vibration and a second region having a relationship in which a tensile stress acts thereon when a compressive stress acts on the first region and a compressive stress acts thereon when a tensile stress acts on the first region, and performs flexural vibration in a first plane. The flexural vibration piece also includes a heat conduction path, in the vicinity of the first region and the second region, that is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the flexural vibrator and thermally connects between the first region and the second region.

Abstract: To stably provide a KNN piezoelectric thin film element having piezoelectric characteristics replaceable with a PZT thin film. A piezoelectric thin film element includes: a piezoelectric thin film on a substrate, having an alkali niobium oxide series perovskite structure expressed by a general formula (K1-xNax)NbO3 (0<x<1), wherein an intensity of a higher angle side skirt field is stronger than an intensity of a lower angle side skirt field of a diffraction peak in a KNN (002) diffraction peak in an X-ray diffraction 2?/? pattern of the piezoelectric thin film element.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a light-emitting apparatus includes an insulating base made of ceramics, an obverse metallic component dividedly arranged on the front surface of the insulating base, semiconductor light-emitting elements mounted on the obverse metallic component, and a reverse metallic component arranged on a back surface of the insulating base and having a thickness same as or smaller than a thickness of the obverse metallic component and a volume equal to 50% or larger of a volume of the obverse metallic component.

Abstract: A light assembly includes a metal halide light source having an arc tube with first and second legs extending from a discharge chamber. A light transmissive capsule surrounds the light source. A reflector is received in the capsule and has a large diameter, annular first portion that receives light from the discharge chamber and is dimensioned to operatively engage an inner surface of the capsule to mount the reflector assembly and light source relative to the capsule. In addition, a small diameter portion of the reflector assembly is received around the first leg. By electrically interconnecting the reflector with the second electrode assembly, namely the support leg, and positioning the small diameter portion closer to the first electrode assembly than the dimension between the electrode terminal ends allows the reflector to also serve as an ignition aid.

Abstract: A surface emission type electron source including a first electrode having a planar form, a second electrode having a planar form facing the first electrode, an electron passage layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, an insulator or semiconductor layer between the second electrode and the electron passage layer, and a power source part configured to apply a voltage to the second electrode and the first electrode. The electron passage layer includes plural quantum wires extending in a first direction from the first electrode to the second electrode. The quantum wires are made of silicon and spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals, and electrons are emitted from a front surface of the second electrode. Protrusions protruding toward leading ends of the quantum wires are formed on a back surface of the second electrode at positions corresponding to the quantum wires.

Abstract: To provide a small electron gun capable of keeping a high vacuum pressure used for an electron microscope and an electron-beam drawing apparatus. An electron gun constituted by a nonevaporative getter pump, a heater, a filament, and an electron-source positioning mechanism is provided with an opening for rough exhausting and its automatically opening/closing valve, and means for ionizing and decomposing an inert gas or a compound gas for the nonevaporative getter pump. It is possible to keep a high vacuum pressure of 10?10 Torr without requiring an ion pump by using a small electron gun having a height and a width of approximately 15 cm while emitting electrons from the electron gun.

Abstract: Lamp connectors are provided. The lamp connectors include a swinging connector and a rotatable connector. The swinging connector is coupled to a pivot connection point disposed on a first exterior surface of a lamp. The swinging connector is operative to pivot between a first position close in proximity to the lamp and a second position at distance away from the lamp. A portion of the swinging connector may be received and retained by a second exterior surface of the lamp, when the lamp is in the first position. The rotatable connector is attached to an end of a lamp via a rotation mechanism. The rotation mechanism is disposed on the end of the lamp. The rotatable connector includes a surface and a pin protruding therefrom. The pin is offset from a central portion of the end of the lamp.

Abstract: A cathode has a cathode head in which is arranged at least one emitter that emits electrons upon application of a heating voltage. At least one series resistor is connected in the voltage feed to at least one emitter. The use of such a cathode in an x-ray tube enables x-ray exposures with a high quality.

Abstract: A phosphor includes Eu-activated YVO4:Eu doped Pith 10 ppm to 3,000 ppm of Tb and/or 50 ppm to 4,500 ppm of Sm. The luminance of light emitted by ultraviolet excitation is higher than that of undoped YVO4:Eu.

Abstract: Field emission devices (FEDs) are provided. In one embodiment, an FED includes an electron emitter, a tube spaced apart from the electron emitter and having a first opening and a second opening, and a gate electrode disposed on an outer surface of the tube. The first opening is disposed at one end of the tube adjacent to the electron emitter, and the second opening is disposed at the other end of the tube. The FED further includes an anode that is spaced apart from the second opening and collects secondary electrons emitted from the second opening.

Abstract: To achieve a light-emitting device emitting light with high brightness, closer to natural light, and less color shift due to a small change in intensity of emitted light, in a light-emitting device including a light source emitting light by driving current and at least one wavelength-converting material absorbing at least part of the light from the light source and emitting light having a different wavelength, the color coordinate x1(17.5) and the color coordinate y1(17.5) of the light emitted at a driving current density of 17.5 A/cm2 and the color coordinate x1(70) and the color coordinate y1(70) of the light emitted at a driving current density of 70 A/cm2 satisfy the following Expressions (D) and (E): ?0.006?x1(17.5)?x1(70)?0.006??(D), ?0.006?y1(17.5)?y1(70)?0.006??(E).

Abstract: A tiled electroluminescent device that improves light-emission uniformity and reduces reflection from ambient light includes a first and a second electroluminescent device tile, a portion of the edge of the first device tile abutted with a portion of the edge of the second device tile leaving a gap between the first and second device tile edges, each device tile including a substrate, having an optical index and a level of transparency, and an electroluminescent diode for emitting light according to a distribution that is substantially Lambertian, whereby light is directed along an oblique angle to the surface of the substrate of the first tile and through the edge of the first device tile; and a filler located in the gap between the abutting edges of the first and second device tiles, the filler having an optical index and a level of transparency matched to the substrates.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescence display device is provided. The organic electroluminescence display device includes plural organic electroluminescence elements. Each organic electroluminescence element includes: a lower electrode; an insulating layer having an opening, in which a lower electrode is exposed at the bottom of the opening; an auxiliary wiring; a stacked structure provided from a portion over the lower electrode exposed at the bottom of the opening to a portion of the insulating layer surrounding the opening, including a light emitting layer made of an organic light-emitting material; and an upper electrode. At least one layer of the stacked structure partially contacts the auxiliary wiring. The insulating layer and the auxiliary wiring are provided in common to the plurality of organic EL elements. The upper electrode covers the whole surface of the stacked structures and the auxiliary wiring.

Abstract: A display is provided. The display includes an acceptor substrate including red light-emitting elements arranged in a first column, green light-emitting elements arranged in a second column, and blue light-emitting elements arranged in a third column. The light-emitting elements are arranged along a row direction and are each obtained by arranging rectangular organic light-emitting elements for generating light of one of red, green, and blue along a longitudinal direction of the organic light-emitting elements.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a light source is disclosed which has an OLED device and an index bridging elastomer disposed on the substrate or transparent electrode of said OLED device and on the exterior of said OLED device. The elastomer bridges the refractive index between the substrate and an intended target for said apparatus.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a semiconductor nanocrystal and a charge transporting layer that includes an inorganic material. The charge transporting layer can be a hole or electron transporting layer. The inorganic material can be an inorganic semiconductor.

Abstract: One object is to provide a lighting device having a large irradiation range at low cost. One object is to provide a lighting device with improved light extraction efficiency at low cost. The lighting device includes a light-transmitting base, a first light-transmitting electrode formed over almost the whole area of a surface of the light-transmitting base, an EL layer over the first light-transmitting electrode, and a second electrode over the EL layer. The light-transmitting base has a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, a prismatic shape, or a pyramidal shape whose bottom surface is the surface of the light-transmitting base.

Abstract: An end cap assembly for a light tube that has a circuit board with one or more solid state lighting devices mounted thereto and a lens covering the circuit board includes an end cap body having a lens engagement surface configured to engage the lens and an external mating interface configured to mate with a socket connector of a fixture. An end cap connector extends from the end cap body. The end cap connector holds contacts having first mating portions configured to be electrically connected to the circuit board and second mating portions configured to be electrically connected to the socket connector.

Abstract: A gas discharge device with one or more gas filled Plasma-tubes on or within a rigid, flexible, or semi-flexible substrate with each Plasma-tube being electrically connected to one or more electrical conductors such as electrodes. In one embodiment, each Plasma-tube is made of one or more luminescent substances with the exterior of each tube containing one or more luminescent substances. The Plasma-tubes may be used alone or in combination with Plasma-shells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus. The plasma display apparatus comprises an upper substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the upper substrate, a lower substrate disposed to face the upper substrate, and a third electrode and a barrier rib formed in the lower substrate. First and second black matrices are formed in the upper substrate and are separated from each other on a same straight line. According to the present invention, while maintaining the function of improving a contrast ratio and reflectance of a black matrix, a short and a spotted pattern that may occur when simultaneous exposure is performed can be reduced, and so the picture quality, the cost of production, and efficiency can be improved.

Abstract: An electronic ballast circuit includes a filament drive circuit that can adjust the pulse width of a pulsed heating signal in accordance with the lamp current to a gas-discharge lamp. A logic device, such as an SR flip-flop, is used to control a switch that is coupled to the primary winding of a filament drive transformer coupled to the lamp filaments. The logic device opens and closes the switch device to generate the pulses of the pulsed heating signal and thus controls the pulse width of the pulses. A clock signal triggers logic device to start a pulse while the end of the pulse is determined by a signal level across a resistor in series with the primary winding of filament drive transformer. Once this signal level is at or above a threshold level, logic device switches the switch device to end the pulse.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for igniting and generating an expanding diffuse microwave plasma and to a device for carrying out such a method. The method is particularly suited for generating microwave plasmas for the purpose of carrying out plasma treatment of surfaces and substances, particularly three-dimensional objects as well as particles under atmospheric pressure. The aim of the invention is to provide a method for igniting and generating these plasmas that is, particularly under normal and high pressure, easy and operationally safe as well as, in principle, carried out without a flow of gas. The invention also relates to a method and device for carrying out plasma treatment of surfaces and substances by means of such a plasma, which makes an effective plasma treatment possible due to its high stability with regard to plasma generation and maintenance, low gas consumption and a high plasma volume.

Abstract: For production of plasma from a medium gas mass in an elongated shape, electric field forming elements 3, 4 that form an electric field in the medium gas mass are provided. The electric field forming elements form an electric field so that partial discharge occurs from the electric field forming elements toward both sides in the longitudinal direction of the medium gas mass. Accordingly, plasma 5 is produced from the medium gas mass. The medium gas mass is formed by, for example, gas supply members 1,2 that guide medium gas, through an internal hollow, to the electric field forming elements. An electric field forming area includes, for example, at least one high-potential electrode 3 and a voltage applying unit 4 that applies a voltage to the high-potential electrode. Plasma limited in medium gas can be produced with high energy efficiency stably over a wide range of parameters through a simple configuration.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp having a bulb containing a fill that forms a light-emitting plasma is described. The lamp includes a power amplifier to provide radio frequency power to the fill at a frequency in the range of about 50 MHz to 10 GHz and the power amplifier is configured to operate in at least two classes of operation. Control electronics of the lamp is configured to change the class of operation of the power amplifier during operation of the plasma lamp. For example, the power amplifier may be configured to operate as a class A/B amplifier during at least a first mode of operation and a class C amplifier during at least a second mode of operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a control system and a shed wherein the lighting is adjusted depending on the presence of an animal in a specific section of a shed. The shed is divided into a number of sections, for example a separation section. When no cows have access to the separation section and the section is therefore empty, the control system ensures that the lighting in the respective section is switched off. As the control system according to the invention controls both access to the section and lighting thereof, it is possible to dispense with movement sensors for controlling lighting in the respective sections.

Abstract: A light module for signaling comprising an assembly module (1), defined by a body with any geometry and ordinarily in the form of a box (2), including a rear closing (3) and a frontal lens (4) and, between said parts, an electronic circuit (5) and a corresponding set of light emitting diodes (6), being said electronic circuit (5) constituted by the following blocks: a source (7) to regulate the feeding voltage of other blocks within five volts with low quiescent current; synchronism (8) for electrical conditioning if an eventual reference signal for foreign synchronism occurs; blinking sequence generator (9) with means to define the period of time during which the set of lights (6) is on and off.

Abstract: A hybrid light source comprises a high-efficiency lamp, for example, a fluorescent lamp, and a low-efficiency lamp, for example, a halogen lamp. A control circuit individually controls the amount of power delivered to each of the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp, such that a total light output of the hybrid light source ranges throughout a dimming range from a minimum total intensity to a maximum total intensity. The high-efficiency lamp is turned off and the low-efficiency lamp produces all of the total light intensity of the hybrid light source when the total light intensity is below a transition intensity. The low-efficiency lamp is controlled such that the correlated color temperature of the hybrid light source decreases as the total light intensity is decreased below the transition intensity. The hybrid light source is characterized by a low impedance throughout the dimming range.

Abstract: An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp comprises an inverter circuit that operates in a partially self-oscillating manner. The inverter circuit comprises a push-pull converter having a main transformer having a primary winding for producing a high-frequency AC voltage, semiconductor switches electrically coupled to the primary winding of the main transformer for conducting current through the primary winding on an alternate basis, and gate drive circuits for controlling the semiconductor switches on a cycle-by-cycle basis. The drive circuits control (e.g., turn on) the semiconductor switches in response to first control signals derived from the main transformer, and control (e.g., turn off) the semiconductor switches in response to second control signals received from a control circuit. The control circuit controls the semiconductor switches in response to a peak value of an integral of an inverter current flowing through the inverter circuit.

Abstract: A system drives one or a plurality of LEDs, regulating their brightness by controlling the LEDs' average current or voltage. The system includes a switching power converter and an integrated digital regulator with at least one of electrical, thermal, and optical feedbacks. The regulator is constructed as a hysteretic peak current mode controller for continuous mode of operation of the power converter. For a discontinuous mode of operation of the power converter, a pulse averaging sliding mode control is used. Average LED current is measured by integrating LED pulse current at off time and hysteretically adjusting on time of the power switch. An input battery is protected from discharging at abnormally low impedance of the output.