Abstract: A surface acoustic wave resonator includes a piezoelectric substrate and an interdigital transducer (IDT) that includes electrode fingers exciting a surface acoustic wave on the piezoelectric substrate, a first region at a center of the IDT, and a second region and a third region at opposite sides of the IDT. In the IDT, a line occupation rate at which an electromechanical coupling coefficient becomes a maximum is different from the line occupation rate at which reflection of the surface acoustic wave becomes a maximum.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a piezoelectric device, a silicon oxide film is deposited by sputtering on a surface of a single-crystal piezoelectric substrate closer to an ion-implanted region, and a silicon nitride film is deposited by sputtering on a surface of the dielectric film opposite to a side thereof closer to the single-crystal piezoelectric substrate. The silicon oxide film has a composition that is deficient in oxygen relative to the stoichiometric composition. Accordingly, little oxygen is supplied from the silicon oxide film to the piezoelectric thin film during heat treatment of a piezoelectric device. This prevents oxidation of the piezoelectric thin film and therefore formation of an oxide layer with high resistivity in the piezoelectric thin film. As a result, a pyroelectric charge generated in the piezoelectric thin film can flow to the silicon oxide film.

Abstract: A polarity switching circuit includes: a first current-limiting resistor and a second current-limiting resistor connected to a DC high voltage; a first transistor switch, a second transistor switch, a fourth transistor switch, and a fifth transistor switch respectively controlled by a first PWM signal and a second PWM signal; a third transistor and a sixth transistor switch whose control terminals are respectively connected to the first transistor switch and the fourth transistor switch; a first filter connected to the second transistor switch and the third transistor switch and a contact of a piezoelectric actuator; and a second filter connected to the fifth transistor switch and the sixth transistor switch and another contact of the piezoelectric actuator. When the first and the second PWM signal are switching between a high level and a low level, output AC voltages with smoothed AC waveforms are supplied to the contacts of the piezoelectric actuator.

Abstract: A vibration wave driving apparatus can match the vibration direction of a projecting portion of a vibrator to the displacement direction of a contacting portion of a driven body so that the projecting portion of the vibrator and the contacting portion of the driven body can be brought into contact and driven with stability. The vibration direction of the projecting portion is affected by selecting the position of the projecting portion relative to the nodes of vibration.

Abstract: A vibrator according to an aspect of the present invention is provided with an adjustment region which is realized with use of an electro-mechanical energy conversion element that is designed for an adjustment on a resonance frequency, and an impedance element is arranged to be connected to the adjustment region.

Abstract: A micro or nano electromechanical transducer device formed on a semiconductor substrate comprises a movable structure which is arranged to be movable in response to actuation of an actuating structure. The movable structure comprises a mechanical structure having at least one mechanical layer having a first thermal response characteristic, at least one layer of the actuating structure having a second thermal response characteristic different to the first thermal response characteristic, and a thermal compensation structure having at least one thermal compensation layer. The thermal compensation layer is different to the at least one layer and is arranged to compensate a thermal effect produced by the mechanical layer and the at least one layer of the actuating structure such that the movement of the movable structure is substantially independent of variations in temperature.

Abstract: There is provided a new self-generating electric power device using a piezoelectric element. An electric power device includes: a resonant portion that is secured at least at one end, receives waves propagating through a space or a medium and resonates; a piezoelectric element that is formed to connect to the resonant portion, and generates a voltage according to resonance of the resonant portion; and a first electrode and a second electrode that are formed on opposite surfaces of the piezoelectric element, and output the generated voltage.

Abstract: One embodiment of a piezoelectric generator which uses fibrous piezoelectric sensors to harness energy from sound and vibrations. These sensors will be fitted into a multilayered base consisting of a sound reflecting layer and alternating layers of conductive and nonconductive materials. The sound reflecting layer will serve to increase energy generation efficiency when multiple sheets of the apparatus is used, and the alternating layers of conductive and nonconductive materials will collect electricity generated from the piezoelectric sensors. Once collected, this electricity will then be used to power appliances or be stored in a battery for future use. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a multiple degree of freedom (DOF) actuated device having a single transducer source, wherein each DOF is individually actuated by a particular amplified response frequency and wherein simultaneous multiple DOF actuation is possible through superimposing multiple frequencies. Further included are several embodiments rectifying DOF(s) into a continuous output motion.

Abstract: An electronic component includes: an element that is located on a substrate; a signal wiring that is located on the substrate and electrically connected to the element; a metal plate that is located so as to form a cavity on a functional part of the element and covers an upper surface of the cavity; a support post that is located on the substrate so as not to be located on the signal wiring, and supports the metal plate; and an insulating portion that covers the metal plate and the support post, and contacts a side surface of the cavity.

Abstract: Mechanical resonating structures and related methods are described. The mechanical resonating structures may provide improved efficiency over conventional resonating structures. Some of the structures have lengths and widths and are designed to vibrate in a direction approximately parallel to either the length or width. They may have boundaries bounding the length and width dimensions, which may substantially align with nodes or anti-nodes of vibration.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and apparatus for generating electricity are provided. Electricity is generated through the mechanisms nuclear magnetic spin and remnant polarization electric generation. The apparatus may include a material with high nuclear magnetic spin or high remnant polarization coupled with a poled ferroelectric material. The apparatus may also include a pair of electrical contacts disposed on opposite sides of the poled ferroelectric material and the high nuclear magnetic spin or high remnant polarization material. Further, a magnetic field may be applied to the high nuclear magnetic spin material.

Abstract: An exemplary tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating piece has a rectangular base having upper and lower main surfaces and a pair of vibrating arms extending longitudinally from the base. The vibrating arms also have the upper and lower main surfaces. Each main surface of each vibrating arm defines a respective vibrating-arm groove extending longitudinally into the base. Each main surface of the base has at least one respective step-side surface situated outboard, in an X-axis direction, of each vibrating-arm groove. Each step-side surface is parallel with the respective vibrating-arm groove. A first electrode is situated on the vibrating-arm grooves of the first vibrating arm and on the at least one respective step-side surface on each main surface. A second electrode is situated on the vibrating-arm grooves of the second vibrating arm and on the at least one respective step-side surface on each main surface. The first and second electrodes are energized with different electrical polarities.

Abstract: A lamp apparatus includes an apparatus body including a housing having a cap at one end side, and thermal conducting fins provided on an inner surface of the housing so as to extend from the one end side along the other end side thereof and project inward of the housing, a thermal radiation plate attached to the other end side of the housing in a state in which one surface side is in contact with the thermal conducting fins, a light-emitting body attached to the other surface side of the thermal radiation plate, and a lighting circuit disposed in the housing and configured to light the light-emitting body.

Abstract: Problem is to enhance the welding strength when a projecting shape section is resistance-welded to a around electrode. A ground electrode 30 includes a ground electrode base material 35 and a projecting shape section 36. The projecting shape section 36 is connected by resistance welding to an opposite surface 32 of the ground electrode 30 so as to be opposite and project towards the leading end of a center electrode 20. The ground electrode base material 35 and the projecting shape section 36 are formed from a material that is composed of the same metal (for example, nickel) as a main component and have a relation of formulas (1) and (2) described below. In formula (1), the specific resistance of the ground electrode base material 35 is R (??cm) and the specific resistance of the projecting shape section 36 is S (??cm). The specific resistance R>the specific resistance S . . . (formula 1), the specific resistance R?specific resistance S?20 . . . (formula 2).

Abstract: An organic light-emitting display apparatus including first and second edge sub-pixel lines disposed at opposing side edges of the apparatus and center sub-pixel lines disposed therebetween, each for emitting a single color of light. An external emission width of the first edge sub-pixel line is less than an external emission width of the center sub-pixel lines that emit the same color. An external emission width of the second edge sub-pixel line is less than the width of the center sub-pixel lines that emit the same color.

Abstract: An organic light emitting diode display includes a first substrate, the first substrate including at least one organic light emitting diode and a pixel defining layer having an opening portion defining a light emitting region of the organic light emitting diode, protruding portions increasingly protruding on the pixel defining layer as the protruding portions approach the edges of the first substrate, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, a sealing member bonding the first substrate to the second substrate, and filler in a space between the first substrate and the second substrate.

Abstract: To provide a light-emitting element with high emission efficiency or long lifetime, in which the use amount of a phosphorescent compound is small. To provide a light-emitting element including a light-emitting layer between a pair of electrodes, wherein the light-emitting layer includes a phosphorescent compound, a first organic compound, and a second organic compound, and the combination of the first organic compound and the second organic compound forms an exciplex. The light-emitting element transfers energy by utilizing the overlap between the emission spectrum of the exciplex and the absorption spectrum of the phosphorescent compound and thus has high energy transfer efficiency, even when the concentration of the phosphorescent compound is low.

Abstract: A top emission type organic electroluminescent display device includes a first substrate including a pixel region, a switching thin film transistor and a driving thin film transistor in the pixel region on the first substrate, a passivation layer covering the switching thin film transistor and the driving thin film transistor and exposing a drain electrode of the driving thin film transistor, a first electrode on the passivation layer and connected to the drain electrode of the driving thin film transistor, a buffer pattern in a border of the pixel region and overlapping an edge of the first electrode, a first spacer on the buffer pattern along a first direction, the first spacer having a first thickness and a dam shape, a second spacer on the buffer pattern along a second direction, the second spacer having a second thickness and a dam shape, a third spacer on the buffer pattern at a crossing portion of the first and second spacers, the third spacer having a third thickness and a columnar shape, wherein the

Abstract: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device is provided. The OLED display device according to an embodiment of this document may comprise a substrate and a number of unit pixels placed over the substrate. Each of the unit pixels comprises emission layers each interposed between first electrodes and a second electrode. The unit pixel further comprises three subpixels emitting respective pieces of light of red, green, and blue. Each of two or less of the three subpixels may comprise a translucent reflection layer.

Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus including: a substrate; an LED chip mounted on a first surface of the substrate; a fluorescent material-containing layer containing a first fluorescent material, which fluorescent material-containing layer is provided above the first surface of the substrate so as to cover the LED chip; and a color-adjusting fluorescent layer that contains a second fluorescent material, which color-adjusting fluorescent material layer is formed in a layer provided on an outer side of the fluorescent material-containing layer in an emission direction, the color-adjusting fluorescent layer being formed in dots. Thus, the present invention provides a light-emitting apparatus and a method for manufacturing the same, each making it possible to carry out fine color adjustment so as to prevent a subtle color shift that occurs due to a factor such as a difference in concentration of a fluorescent material or the like.

Abstract: A light-emitting device including: an organic layer which is interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode and in which a first light-emitting layer and a second light-emitting layer emitting light of single colors or two or more different colors in a visible wavelength region are sequentially included at mutually separated positions in that order in a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode; a first reflective interface which is provided on the side of the first electrode so as to reflect light emitted from the first light-emitting layer and the second light-emitting layer to be emitted from the side of the second electrode; and a second reflective interface and a third reflective interface which are sequentially provided on the side of the second electrode at mutually separated positions in that order in a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode.

Abstract: A flexible display panel including: a flexible substrate including a first region, second regions that extend from the first region and that have a curved surface, and a third region folded towards the second regions; a first display region in the first region of the flexible substrate; a second display region in the second regions of the flexible substrate; a plurality of non-display regions outside the first display region or the second display regions, wherein at least one of the plurality of non-display regions is in the third region of the flexible substrate; and an encapsulation member for encapsulating the first display region and the second display regions.

Abstract: An organic electro-luminescence display device and a method for fabricating the same are provided. A first substrate and a second substrate are sealed by a sealant. An organic electro-luminescent diode is formed on the first substrate. The sealant contains a frit glass and a light-heat converter. The frit glass can reduce the moisture and oxygen transmission rate by preventing the organic electro-luminescent diode from being thermally decomposed during a curing process. Since the two substrates are encapsulated by the frit glass, the lifetime and reliability of the organic electro-luminescence display device can be increased.

Abstract: An organic EL panel has a light-emitting part including one or a plurality of organic EL elements over a substrate and having a sealing structure sealing the light-emitting part. The organic EL element includes an organic layer formed on a first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the organic layer. The organic EL panel includes a coating film coating the light-emitting part. A contact object is arranged on an inner surface of the sealing structure. One or a plurality of convex parts is formed on the contact object. The coating film is formed to have a thickness larger than the length of the convex part.

Abstract: A mercury-free discharge lamp with an electrical power consumption of less than 35 Watts may include a translucent discharge vessel which has a discharge space into which electrodes protrude for generating a gas discharge, wherein metal halides and ignition gas are contained in the discharge space, wherein the metal halides are present in a quantity in the range from 5 milligrams to 15 milligrams per 1 milliliter of discharge space volume in the discharge space.

Abstract: A gas discharge device such as a plasma display panel (PDP) device having one or more substrates and a multiplicity of pixels or subpixels. Each pixel or subpixel is defined by a hollow Plasma-shell filled with an ionizable gas. One or more addressing electrodes are in electrical contact with each Plasma-shell. The Plasma-shell may include inorganic and organic luminescent materials including quantum dots that are excited by the gas discharge within each Plasma-shell. The luminescent material, including quantum dots, may be located on an exterior and/or interior surface of the Plasma-shell or incorporated into the shell of the Plasma-shell. Up-conversion and down-conversion materials may be used. The substrate may be rigid or flexible with a flat, curved, or irregular surface. In one embodiment, the Plasma-shell is in the geometric shape of a cube or cuboid.

Abstract: A metal halide lamp having a luminous tube formed of translucent alumina as translucent ceramic in which additives of halides are sealingly included to emit at least red, blue and green light components, wherein an energy rate of a red light component is set to 55% to 75% and an energy ratio of a blue light component is set to 15% to 25%.

Abstract: A ceramic metal halide lamp is provided in which color rendering properties, especially a special color rendering index R9, are improved without causing lamp efficiency to be lowered substantially. In one aspect, a ceramic metal halide lamp includes a luminous tube in the interior of an outer bulb. The luminous tube is made from translucent ceramics and includes a light-emitting portion into which metal halides, mercury and a starting gas are sealed and capillaries with a pair of electrode assemblies extended thereto disposed at both ends of the light-emitting portion. The light-emitting portion has sealed therein at least thulium iodide (TmI3), thallium iodide (TlI), sodium iodide (NaI) and calcium iodide (CaI2). The light-emitting portion has further sealed therein silver iodide (AgI). A quantity of the AgI falls within a range of 2?(AgI/CaI2)[molar ratio]?5 and within a range of 0<(AgI/TlI)[molar ratio]?10.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating an electron beam is disclosed to reduce emittance of an electron beam. The apparatus includes: a housing including a rear portion where an electron beam is generated, a front portion having an electron beam discharge hole for discharging the electron beam to the exterior, and a side portion connecting the rear portion and the front portion, the side portion having a first hole and an opposite side portion, facing the first hole, having a second hole in order to reduce asymmetry of an electric field caused by the first hole; and a waveguide installed on the side portion to supply an electromagnetic wave to the interior of the housing through the first hole, wherein the electron beam is generated by laser incident to the interior of the housing and accelerated by the electromagnetic wave supplied to the interior of the housing.

Abstract: A cold field emission (CFE) electron source for a focused electron beam system such as a transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), or scanning electron microscope (SEM) is disclosed. The source employs an emitter enclosure electrode behind the CFE tip which, in conjunction with the extractor electrode, defines a closed volume that can be thoroughly cleaned by electron impact desorption (EID) and radiative heating from a heated filament located between the emitter enclosure electrode and extractor electrode. The extractor electrode may have a counterbore which restricts backscattered electrons generated at the extractor from reaching portions of the source and gun which have not been cleaned by EID.

Abstract: An illumination device comprises a bulb connector, a body structure and an insulating layer between the bulb connector and a first end portion of the body structure. The illumination device further comprises a first plurality of light emitting diodes arranged towards the first end portion of the body structure and a second light source comprising at least one light emitting diode arranged towards the second end portion of the body structure. A heat sink extends from the body structure and a controller within the body structure receives power through the bulb connector and supplies power to each of the light emitting diodes. As such, the illumination device can directly replace an incandescent bulb. Thus for example, the illumination device can replace an incandescent bulb of a traffic light without requiring changes to the compartment, fixture, reflector, or window/lens.

Abstract: A vehicle lighting arrangement comprising a luminous device, a luminous device driver circuit, a sensor and a nonvolatile memory, wherein the luminous device driver circuit is designed to drive the luminous device during luminous device driving such that the luminous device emits light, wherein the sensor is designed to detect a sensor state of the luminous device, and wherein the vehicle lighting arrangement is designed to read in a sensor state of the luminous device detected by the sensor and to write the read-in sensor state to the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A lighting control apparatus for a vehicle is provided which works to diagnose a malfunction of a light source which includes a plurality of lighting devices such as LEDs and emits light outside the vehicle. The lighting control apparatus determines a state of the vehicle. When the light source is determined to be malfunctioning, the lighting control apparatus operates the light source in one of predetermined warning lighting modes which is selected based on the state of the vehicle. This attracts a vehicle user's attention to the malfunctioning light source.

Abstract: A plasma generation device includes: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a stripline resonant ring disposed on the first surface of the substrate, and defining a discharge gap; a pair of electrode extensions connected to the stripline resonant ring at the discharge gap; a ground plane disposed on the second surface of the substrate; a gas flow element configured to flow gas between at least one of: (1) the discharge gap, and (2) the pair of electrode extensions; and a structure disposed adjacent the substrate to form an enclosure that substantially encloses at least a region including the discharge gap and the electrode extensions, the enclosure being adapted to contain a plasma.

Abstract: A plasma processing system for generating plasma to process at least a wafer. The plasma processing system includes a coil for conducting a current for sustaining at least a portion of the plasma. The plasma processing system also includes a sensor coupled with the coil for measuring a magnitude of a supplied current to provide a magnitude measurement without measuring any phase angle of the supplied current. The supplied current is the current or a total current that is used for providing a plurality of currents (e.g., including the current). The plasma processing system also includes a controller coupled with the sensor for generating a command using the magnitude measurement and/or information derived using the magnitude measurement, without using information related to phase angle measurement, and for providing the command for controlling the magnitude of the supplied current and/or a magnitude of the total current.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing and/or confining a plasma, said device comprising a chamber in the space of which the plasma is produced and/or confined, said chamber including a wall defining a housing inside the chamber and encompassing said space, wherein said device is characterized in that it comprises at least one assembly for producing and/or confining plasma, each assembly being composed of magnets having only an axial magnetization direction and being recessed in the wall defining the housing, so that the magnetization direction of all the magnets defining each assembly is substantially perpendicular to the housing defined by the wall and so that the assembly is substantially symmetrical to the housing, wherein the magnetic field lines do not extend through the wall of the chamber. The invention also relates to a method for producing and/or confining a plasma.

Abstract: An inductively coupled plasma ion source for a focused ion beam (FIB) system is disclosed, comprising an insulating plasma chamber with a feed gas delivery system, a compact radio frequency (RF) antenna coil positioned concentric to the plasma chamber and in proximity to, or in contact with, the outer diameter of the plasma chamber. In some embodiments, the plasma chamber is surrounded by a Faraday shield to prevent capacitive coupling between the RF voltage on the antenna and the plasma within the plasma chamber. High dielectric strength insulating tubing is heat shrunk onto the outer diameter of the conductive tubing or wire used to form the antenna to allow close packing of turns within the antenna coil. The insulating tubing is capable of standing off the RF voltage differences between different portions of the antenna, and between the antenna and the Faraday shield.

Abstract: Disclosed is an LED lighting apparatus equipped with a high-efficiency power supply, capable of representing high power efficiency even in a low-power LED lighting apparatus by recycling a surplus voltage to charge a condenser, which supplies power to the controller, with the surplus voltage if the surplus voltage is generated from an LED acting as a load after a rectified voltage supplied to the LED has been consumed in the LED according to a design value.

Abstract: A light apparatus with a hybrid power supply device and method utilizing the same are disclosed. The light apparatus includes an LED module, a solar module, an auxiliary power module, a voltage level detection circuit, a first switch unit, and a second switch unit. When a voltage of a solar electric power generated by the solar module is greater than a predetermined value, the voltage level detection circuit provides an electrical connection between the solar module and the LED module for enabling a transmission of the solar electric power to the LED module. When the voltage of the solar electric power is smaller than the predetermined value, the voltage level detection circuit provides an electrical connection between the auxiliary power module and the LED module for enabling a transmission of an auxiliary electric power generated by the auxiliary power module to the LED module.

Abstract: An OLED display includes an OLED panel, two conducting wires and a power supply. A display region of the OLED panel is divided into two sub-display regions. The two conducting wires are both disposed on the panel and out of the display region, and first terminals of the two conducting wires are electrically coupled to pixels in the first sub-display region and the second sub-display region respectively. The length of a conducting wire is longer than that of another conducting wire so that the resistance of the conducting wire is larger than that of the said another conducting wire. The power supply provides a relatively high voltage and a relatively low voltage to the second terminals of the relatively long conducting wire and the relatively short conducting wire respectively, so that the voltages of the first terminals of the two conducting wires are substantially the same.

Abstract: There is provided an alternating current (AC) driven light emitting device including a plurality of LED arrays connected in series, each having a structure in which a plurality of LEDs are electrically connected to form a two-terminal circuit and emit light by a bidirectional voltage when an AC voltage is applied to the two-terminal circuit; and a switching device connected to at least one of the plurality of LED arrays and controlling a total driving voltage with respect to the plurality of LED arrays. The AC driven light emitting device permits operation from a low driving voltage Vf while having a high driving voltage at a high voltage Vf, thereby achieving excellence in terms of power factor, THD, and energy efficiency.

Abstract: A split bridge circuit for rectifying the alternating current house supply into direct current (D.C.), using bi-polar transistor as rectifying devices. Using specified terminals of the bi-polar transistors results in a high forward voltage drop across the transistors (particularly as compared to the voltage drop across diode rectifiers in the prior art circuits), which reduces ripple significantly and lessens, or even eliminates, the need for a series limiting resistor in the circuit.

Abstract: An LED driver capable of controlling color/color temperature with a power carrier connects a power switch with a dimmer for linking an input end of an LED color/color temperature output controller. An LED array disposed on an output end of the controller allows a power cord to transmit a controlling signal. A synchronous and dimmer action detection differentiates an action of the dimmer or pressing times from an ON/OFF count, so that the LED array presents different color temperatures/colors accordingly. An LED condition memory saves the color temperature/color according to an output signal. In adjusting illumination, the dimmer changes an output current for altering the power of the LED array accordingly, which presents a stable light but avoids deviating the color temperature/color and flickering.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ballast structure on which a high-intensity discharge lamp (HID lamp) can be installed and which can light the HID lamp; the ballast structure is provided with a base and an HID lamp seat provided on the base, and the base is provided with a direct-current (DC) boost circuit, an alternating-current (AC) rectifier circuit and an ignition circuit, all of which circuits are arranged to form a circuit functioning as a ballast; the HID lamp seat is provided with positive-electrode and negative-electrode contact ends electrically connected to positive-electrode and negative-electrode output ends of the AC rectifier circuit and of the ignition circuit of the base; and the HID lamp installed on the ballast structure can be lit and kept in normal operation by a DC current.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an SCR dimming circuit and method for regulating the luminance of an LED load. In one embodiment, an SCR dimming circuit can include: an SCR element that generates a lack-phase AC voltage based on a sinusoidal AC supply; a rectifier bridge that generates a lack-phase DC voltage based on the lack-phase AC voltage; a conduction angle generator that receives the lack-phase DC voltage, and generates a controlling signal representative of a conduction angle of the SCR element; and a dimming signal generator that generates a dimming signal to regulate luminance of the LED load, where the dimming signal generator receives the controlling signal, an adjustable signal, and a clamping voltage, an amplitude of a dimming phase angle range is selected by a fixed signal determined by the clamping voltage, and the dimming phase angle range may be shifted by regulating the adjustable signal.

Abstract: A solid state lighting switch can include a first input control that can be configured to adjust a dimming indication or color indication for a solid state lighting fixture that is configured for coupling to the solid state lighting switch. A selective linking mechanism can be configured to activate a linked mode of operation of the switch to link the dimming indication to the color indication or to activate an unlinked mode of operation of the switch to unlink the dimming indication from the color indication.

Abstract: System and method for adjusting brightness of one or more cold-cathode fluorescent lamps. The system includes a voltage selector configured to receive a dimming voltage and a first threshold voltage and generate an output voltage. The output voltage is selected from a group consisting of the dimming voltage and the first threshold voltage. Additionally, the system includes an oscillator coupled to a first capacitor and configured to generate a ramp signal with the first capacitor, and a signal generator configured to receive the ramp signal and the output voltage and generate a first signal. The first signal corresponds to a lamp brightness level. Moreover, the system includes a brightness detector configured to receive the first signal and output a second signal. The second signal indicates whether the lamp brightness level is higher than a threshold brightness level.

Abstract: A detector circuit for controlling at least one fluorescent lamp is provided, wherein the detector circuit is configured such that an inactive fluorescent lamp can be detected if a first signal is present at least one of a first input and a second signal is present at a second input in a detection interval after a start-up phase.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described that can provide improved power factor correction and total harmonic distortion, efficiency and/or direct feedback of load current variations to a power source inverter. In one example, a power supply, for example, a ballast, can have an input circuit, an output circuit and an inverter circuit coupled between the input circuit and the output circuit. A current feedback circuit is coupled between the output circuit and the inverter circuit and configured to feed current back to the inverter circuit through a transformer stage separate from the inverter as a function of a current level in the output circuit.