Abstract: In a method for operating a portable electronic device a recharge process for recharging a rechargeable energy storage of the portable electronic device is detected. A heater is activated for heating a sensitive layer of a chemical sensor contained in the portable electronic device subject to the detection of the recharge process.

Abstract: A power-saving method for a lamp power-saving system is provided. The method includes the following steps. A lamp control unit is provided to control a fluorescent lamp. The lamp control unit includes a power conversion circuit and a preheat and lighting circuit. The preheat and lighting circuit, coupled to the power conversion circuit and two terminals of the fluorescent lamp, preheats and activates the fluorescent lamp, and outputs a feedback signal indicating a current passing through the fluorescent lamp. When the feedback signal indicates the fluorescent lamp is in a preheat mode, a resonant circuit of the preheat and lighting circuit is enabled to preheat the fluorescent lamp via a current path provided by a diode bridge of the preheat and lighting circuit. When the feedback signal indicates the fluorescent lamp is lighted, the current path of the preheat and lighting circuit is disconnected to stop preheating.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a backlight module and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. The backlight module includes a light guide panel (LGP), a lightbar, and a backplane. The LGP is arranged in the backplane, and the lightbar is arranged on a side of the LGP. The backlight module further includes heating devices that heat two opposite ends of the lightbar. When the lightbar operates, the heating devices emit heat to increase operating temperature of the two opposite ends of the lightbar to make the operating temperature of the two opposite ends of the lightbar to be close to or equal to operating temperature of middle of the lightbar.

Abstract: Provided is a lamp ballast having a filament heating apparatus for gas discharge lamp, including a PFC converter for receiving an AC input voltage and converting the AC input voltage into a DC bus voltage; an inverter connected to an output end of the PFC converter for converting the DC bus voltage into an AC output voltage for driving gas discharge lamps; and a filament heating apparatus connected to the output end of the PFC converter. The filament heating apparatus includes an auxiliary heating circuit for converting the DC bus voltage into a heating power for pre-heating the filaments of the gas discharge lamps; and a control circuit connected to the inverter and the auxiliary heating circuit for generating an auxiliary voltage according to the heating power to activate the PFC converter.

Abstract: A lamp assembly provides both instant light through use of an incandescent/halogen lamp source and an energy saving type light provided by a compact fluorescent lamp source. Both light sources are enclosed within a common envelope or outer bulb. The sensor member monitors a temperature of the cathode and mercury reservoir of the compact fluorescent lamp source in order to determine when to terminate power to the incandescent lamp source.

Abstract: A high frequency cathode heater supply for a microwave source includes a SMPS inverter and an isolation transformer having a primary winding arranged to be powered by the SMPS inverter, a monitor winding passing through primary core assemblies of the primary winding and a secondary winding arranged for connection to the cathode heater. A current monitor is arranged to monitor a current in the primary windings. Signal processing modules are arranged to receive a first input signal from the monitor winding indicative of a voltage across the cathode heater and a second input signal from the current monitor indicative of a current through the cathode heater. The signal processing modules are arranged to output a control signal to the SMPS inverter to control power supplied to the cathode heater dependent on a monitored resistance of, or monitored power supplied to, the cathode heater as determined from the first input signal and the second input signal.

Abstract: A ballast is designed to adaptively warm-up one or more lamps driven by the ballast when the lamps are dimmed to a selected dimming level and lamp impedance instability results. The ballast can therefore maintain a stable light output in low ambient temperature conditions that normally cause lamp impedance instability and visible flickering of the lamp. The ballast uses lamp impedance sensing circuit to sense lamp instability and adaptively warms up the lamp whenever the ballast detects lamp instability by increasing the current provided to the lamp (i.e., current through the lamp) for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A power circuit for at least one gas discharge lamp comprising a first filament and a second filament, the power circuit including an electronic driver circuit, preferably for generating a first alternating voltage between the first and second filament for starting up the gas discharge lamp and for generating a second alternating voltage between the first and second filament for having the gas discharge lamp burn after it has been started up, wherein the power circuit further includes an electronic heating circuit for, at least during generation of the second alternating voltage, generating a first current through the first filament for heating the first filament and/or generating a second current through the second filament for heating the second filament.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric axial-flow fan having turbine type waterproof enclosure, which is rainproof and installed at the top portion of sealed heat dissipation housing of a high power lamp, so when the electric axial-flow fan is operated, the airflow passes through the top portion of lamp housing, which is relatively hotter, of the sealed heat dissipation housing and is concentrated towards the center, then leaded to upwardly enter an axial airflow inlet port formed at the bottom of the turbine type waterproof enclosure, thereby being exhausted to the surroundings through radially-arranged exhaust blades, thus when the present invention being applied in a high power lamp, an air cooling effect by external airflow can be provided to the top portion, which is relatively hotter, of the lamp housing, without influencing the waterproof sealing effect.

Abstract: A current-preheat electronic ballast includes an AC-to-DC converter, a controlling unit, an auxiliary voltage generator, and an inverter. The inverter is connected with the DC bus for converting a high DC voltage into an AC output voltage and generating a resonant current and a lamp filament current to a lamp group. The inverter includes a resonant circuit and a resonant capacitor adjusting circuit. The resonant circuit provides electric energy required to preheat the lamp group. The resonant capacitor adjusting circuit judges whether the inverter is enabled according to the detecting element. After the inverter has been enabled for a delayed time, two high-voltage switching terminals of the resonant capacitor adjusting circuit are correspondingly conducted or shut off, so that an equivalent resonant capacitance value of the resonant circuit is changed and a voltage drop across two ends of a lamp filament of the lamp group is changed.

Abstract: A lamp assembly provides both instant light through use of an incandescent/halogen light/lamp source and an energy saving type light provided by a compact fluorescent light/lamp source. Both light sources are enclosed within a common envelope or outer bulb. First and second thermal sensors are provided in the lamp envelope at spaced locations to monitor the temperature of the lamp. When the sum of these two temperatures reaches a preselected value, power to the incandescent lamp source is terminated. Alternatively, when the difference these two temperatures reaches a preselected value, power to the incandescent lamp source is terminated.

Abstract: A ballast. The ballast includes a power converter, a transformer, a heater circuit, and a controller. The power converter is configured to receive an input power and convert the input power to a relatively high direct current (DC) voltage. The transformer has a center-tapped primary winding coupled to the power converter and a secondary winding coupled to a lamp. The heater circuit is separate from the transformer and is configured to provide a current to an electrode of the lamp to heat the electrode. The controller is configured to control the heater circuit for providing the current to the electrode.

Abstract: A local minimum of a current monitoring signal is identified by a starter unit that turns off a fluorescent lamp without using a wall switch. Closing a main switch in the starter unit stops an illuminating current from flowing through a gas in the lamp. The local minimum of the current monitoring signal is reached when an increasing valid sample is identified following four valid samples. A sample is valid if it does not differ from the preceding valid sample by more than a threshold difference based on known properties of the signal. By skipping invalid samples, the local minimum is accurately determined to have been reached despite transient noise spikes in the signal that would trip any voltage threshold used to locate the local minimum. When the main switch is opened at a predetermined time after the local minimum, the illuminating current does not again flow through the gas.

Abstract: A discharge lamp having an improved run-up time is disclosed. In an embodiment, the discharge lamp includes a light-transmissive discharge tube extending from a first end to a second end and having an inner surface and an outer surface, a phosphor coating layered onto the inner surface of the discharge tube, and a fill gas composition capable of sustaining a discharge sealed within the discharge tube. Also included is a resistive heating wire positioned about the outer surface of the discharge tube. In some embodiments, a lamp driver circuit is included that operates when the lamp is turned ON to provide power to electrodes in the discharge tube and to provide power to the resistive heating wire, and operates to disconnect power from the resistive heating wire when the discharge lamp achieves a predetermined percentage of its stabilized lumen output.

Abstract: A power-saving method for a lamp power-saving system is provided. The method includes the following steps. A lamp control unit is provided to control a fluorescent lamp. The lamp control unit includes a power conversion circuit and a preheat and lighting circuit. The preheat and lighting circuit, coupled to the power conversion circuit and two terminals of the fluorescent lamp, preheats and activates the fluorescent lamp, and outputs a feedback signal indicating a current passing through the fluorescent lamp. When the feedback signal indicates the fluorescent lamp is in a preheat mode, a resonant circuit of the preheat and lighting circuit is enabled to preheat the fluorescent lamp via a current path provided by a diode bridge of the preheat and lighting circuit. When the feedback signal indicates the fluorescent lamp is lighted, the current path of the preheat and lighting circuit is disconnected to stop preheating.

Abstract: A current-preheat electronic ballast includes an AC-to-DC converter, a controlling unit, an auxiliary voltage generator, and an inverter. The inverter is connected with the DC bus for converting a high DC voltage into an AC output voltage and generating a resonant current and a lamp filament current to a lamp group. The inverter includes a resonant circuit and a resonant capacitor adjusting circuit. The resonant circuit provides electric energy required to preheat the lamp group. The resonant capacitor adjusting circuit judges whether the inverter is enabled according to the detecting element. After the inverter has been enabled for a delayed time, two high-voltage switching terminals of the resonant capacitor adjusting circuit are correspondingly conducted or shut off, so that an equivalent resonant capacitance value of the resonant circuit is changed and a voltage drop across two ends of a lamp filament of the lamp group is changed.

Abstract: In a known method for operating an amalgam lamp having a nominal power Poptimum, it is provided that a lamp voltage Uoptimum designed for a maximum UVC emission is applied between electrodes or a lamp current Ioptimum designed for a maximum UVC emission flows between electrodes. The discharge space is accessible for an amalgam deposit, which is heatable by a heating element in which a heating current Iheating is conducted through the heating element. Starting from this background, in order to provide an operating mode that ensures a stable operation in the region of the optimum power, it is proposed that a target value of the lamp current Itarget is set that is less than Ioptimum and that the heating current Iheating is turned on or increased when the lamp current falls below a lower limit I1 and is turned off or reduced when it exceeds an upper limit I2 for the lamp current.

Abstract: A fluorescent lighting device includes a ballast and a tube. An amalgam is located within the tube. A resistive heater is operatively coupled with the ballast, to receive electrical power from the ballast while the fluorescent lighting device is in an OFF state. The resistive heater is mounted near the amalgam to transfer heat to the amalgam while the fluorescent lighting device is in the OFF state.

Abstract: Provided is a lamp ballast having a filament heating apparatus for gas discharge lamp, including a PFC converter for receiving an AC input voltage and converting the AC input voltage into a DC bus voltage; an inverter connected to an output end of the PFC converter for converting the DC bus voltage into an AC output voltage for driving gas discharge lamps; and a filament heating apparatus connected to the output end of the PFC converter. The filament heating apparatus includes an auxiliary heating circuit for converting the DC bus voltage into a heating power for pre-heating the filaments of the gas discharge lamps; and a control circuit connected to the inverter and the auxiliary heating circuit for generating an auxiliary voltage according to the heating power to activate the PFC converter.

Abstract: A high frequency cathode heater supply for a microwave source includes a SMPS inverter and an isolation transformer having a primary winding arranged to be powered by the SMPS inverter, a monitor winding passing through primary core assemblies of the primary winding and a secondary winding arranged for connection to the cathode heater. A current monitor is arranged to monitor a current in the primary windings. Signal processing modules are arranged to receive a first input signal from the monitor winding indicative of a voltage across the cathode heater and a second input signal from the current monitor indicative of a current through the cathode heater. The signal processing modules are arranged to output a control signal to the SMPS inverter to control power supplied to the cathode heater dependent on a monitored resistance of, or monitored power supplied to, the cathode heater as determined from the first input signal and the second input signal.

Abstract: A lamp includes a bracket having a cover, a lamp body fixed to the bracket by a shaft, a heating device and a pressure switch. The lamp body includes first and second portions at opposite sides of the shaft. The heating device is mounted at the first portion of the lamp body and the cover. The pressure switch is mounted to the cover and engages with a top of the second portion. When a weight of the snow/ice accumulated on the first portion of the lamp body is beyond a set value, the pressure switch controls the heating device to be switched on to melt the snow/ice; when the weight of the snow/ice accumulated on the lamp body decreases to be less than the set value, the pressure switch controls the heating device to be switched off.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention disclose a ballast and associated control circuit wherein the control circuit comprises a multi function pin, a preheat cut-off circuit and an over-voltage protection circuit, wherein the multi function pin is coupled to the preheat cut-off circuit and a first switch configured to turn on the first switch at a preheat state of the ballast and to turn off the first switch at the end of the preheat state, and wherein the multi function pin is further coupled to the over-voltage protection circuit and a voltage sense circuit configured to receive a sensed output voltage signal and to stop the ballast after the preheat state when the sensed output voltage is larger than a first threshold. Compared with prior art, the present invention may reduce the volume and lower down the cost of circuit.

Abstract: A ballast circuit includes a filament cutback circuit to reduce a pre-heat voltage after the lamp filaments have been pre-heated. The filament cutback circuit includes a filament cut-back inductive component magnetically coupled to the resonant inductive component in the inverter to receive a filament cutback control voltage associated with an AC voltage for powering the lamps. During the pre-heating period, the filament cutback control voltage is not high enough to charge a chargeable component to a switch threshold level. However, during lamp ignition, the filament cutback control voltage is increased and charges the chargeable component to the switch threshold level. This causes a switch device to operate in a conductive switch state and the filament cutback circuit suppresses the pre-heat voltage.

Abstract: An electronic ballast and startup method including an electronic ballast operably connected to a lamp having a lamp filament, the electronic ballast having a timer (110) generating an inverter control signal (112) and a preheat control signal (114); a converter (120) receiving AC power and generating DC power (122); a self-oscillating inverter (130) receiving DC power (122) and being operable to provide lamp power (132) to the lamp, the self-oscillating inverter (130) being responsive to the inverter control signal (112); and a filament preheater (140) receiving DC power (122) and being operable to provide filament power (142) to the lamp filament, the filament preheater (140) being responsive to the preheat control signal (114). When AC power is initially applied, preheat control signal (114) directs the filament preheater (140) to provide filament power (142), and inverter control signal (112) directs the self-oscillating inverter (130) not to provide lamp power (132).

Abstract: A fluorescent-lamp-driving device contains a driving control circuit that receives direct current power voltage and a lamp control signal for performing drive control on fluorescent lamps and converts the direct current power voltage to alternating current power voltage, and a transformer containing a winding at its primary side and windings for driving a heater and for maintaining discharge at its secondary side. The alternating current power voltage is supplied to heaters of the fluorescent lamps at their high electric potential side. The driving control circuit increases the frequency of the alternating current power supply to a frequency thereof in which voltage of the fluorescent lamps is equal to a discharge start voltage of the fluorescent lamps or less based on the lamp control signal at a period of starting-up time of the fluorescent lamps.

Abstract: Described in an example embodiment is an airfield light where the optical system can be easily removed, e.g., no tools. This allows maintenance of the optical system to be performed elsewhere, reducing the amount of time that airfield maintenance crews have to be spend on the field.

Abstract: A method for restoring the function of a plasma display panel according to the present invention restores a function of a plasma display panel by raising the temperature of the plasma display panel to 400° C. to 800° C.

Abstract: A cathodolumineseent lighting system has a light emitting device having an envelope with a transparent face, a cathode for emitting electrons, an anode with a phosphor layer and a conductor layer. The phosphor layer emits light through the transparent face of the envelope. The system also has a power supply for providing at least five thousand volts of power to the light emitting device, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. Additional embodiments responsive to triac-type dimmers with intensity and color-changes in response to dimmer control. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluorescent-lamp-driving device contains a driving control circuit that receives direct current power voltage and a lamp control signal for performing drive control on fluorescent lamps and converts the direct current power voltage to alternating current power voltage, and a transformer containing a winding at its primary side and windings for driving a heater and for maintaining discharge at its secondary side. The alternating current power voltage is supplied to heaters of the fluorescent lamps at their high electric potential side. The driving control circuit increases the frequency of the alternating current power supply to a frequency thereof in which voltage of the fluorescent lamps is equal to a discharge start voltage of the fluorescent lamps or less based on the lamp control signal at a period of starting-up time of the fluorescent lamps.

Abstract: A backlight device includes a hot cathode fluorescent tube having a pair of electrodes, a power source arranged to apply voltage having an alternating component to at least one of the pair of electrodes, and an electrode heating circuit arranged to supply heating current to the electrodes. The backlight device further includes temperature sensors that detect the temperatures in the electrodes to be supplied with the heating current. Based on the results detected by the temperature sensors a switch element is driven by the control section. The heating current is thus controlled. With this, the temperatures in the electrodes of the electrical discharge tube can be more accurately grasped, and the temperatures in the electrodes of the discharge tube can be more properly controlled.

Abstract: A light emission device and a display device having the light emission device are provided. The light emission device includes first and second substrates that are arranged to face each other, an electron emission unit that is located on a first surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate and has electron emission regions and driving electrodes, a light emission unit that is located on a surface of the second substrate and has an anode electrode and one or more phosphor layers, and a surface heat generation unit that is located on a second surface (or outer surface) of the first substrate facing away from the second substrate to control a temperature of the first substrate using a resistive layer having a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) property.

Abstract: A driving device for a CCFL circuit comprising at least one CCFL is provided. The driving device comprising at least one heating device controlling the temperature of the at least one CCFL, a power supply outputting a first voltage, and a switching device having a first input terminal receiving the first voltage and a first and second output terminal; wherein the first output terminal is coupled to the CCFL circuit outputting a second voltage when the first voltage is higher than a first level, and the second output terminal is coupled to the at least one heating device outputting a third voltage when the first voltage is lower than the first level. The driving device further comprises a controller controlling the power supply to output the first voltage higher than the first level to lighting up the at least one CCFL, and lower than the first level to control the temperature of the at least one CCFL.

Abstract: A main controller controls a capacitor charger to charge a capacitor as necessary. A sub-controller controls a power saving mode and stops a power supply to the main controller when shifting to the power saving mode. A charge control circuit compares a terminal voltage of the capacitor with a predetermined value by a comparator circuit. If the terminal voltage is lower than the reference value, an AND circuit takes a logical product of an output signal of the comparator circuit and a power saving signal indicating the shift to the power saving mode, and outputs a control signal indicating an instruction to charge the capacitor, to the capacitor charger.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a controller for suppressing the temperature of a screen in order to maintain the ambient temperature of the screen to the level of a predetermined standard temperature as to avoid the screen from being operated at abnormal temperature and lowering its service life. The present invention utilizes a temperature detector unit connected to a control unit for detecting the ambient temperature and outputting a temperature signal to the control unit. The temperature signal is compared with the predetermined standard temperature to determine the magnitude of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp for suppressing the operation of the screen to the best ambient temperature and maintaining the normal service temperature.

Abstract: An electronic ballast of a lighting system includes an output power supplier and a heater power supplier. The output power supplier is configured to supply electric power to a lamp of the lighting system. The heater power supplier is configured to provide substantially a rated voltage of a heater of an insulation detector to the heater even though a voltage of an electric power source for the lighting system is different from the rated voltage of the heater.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the ion-beam apparatus takes the form of a gridless ion source with a hot-filament cathode-neutralizer, in which the hot filament is heated with a current from the cathode-neutralizer heater. The cathode-neutralizer is connected to the negative terminal of the discharge supply for the gridless ion source. This connection is substantially isolated from ground (the potential of the surrounding vacuum chamber, which is usually at earth ground) and its potential is measured relative to ground. The heater current to the cathode-neutralizer is controlled by adjusting it so as to maintain this potential in a narrow operating range. This control can be manual or automatic.

Abstract: An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collected in both two and three wire installations. Both zero cross detectors are monitored and are used to automatically configure the electronic control. Over voltage circuitry senses an over voltage condition across a MOSFET which is in the off state and turns the MOSFET on so that it desirably will not reach the avalanche region. Over current circuitry senses when the current through the MOSFETs has exceeded a predetermined current threshold and then turns the MOSFETs off so they do not exceed the MOSFETs' safe operating area (SOA) curve. Latching circuitry is employed to keep the protection circuitry in effect even after a fault condition has cleared.

Abstract: A filament cut-back circuit comprises an impedance circuit coupled in series between either an AC voltage source and a primary filament winding, or a secondary filament winding and a filament. In response to an alternating voltage from the AC voltage source when coupled in series thereto or an alternating voltage from the secondary filament winding when coupled in series thereto, the impedance circuit operates as a short circuit when the alternating voltage is at a preheat frequency and operates as an open circuit when the alternating voltage is at an operating frequency.

Abstract: A method for setting an applied voltage in a plasma display panel is provided, in which a driving voltage margin is increased. A charge adjustment is performed by generating a discharge for changing a wall charge quantity without changing a polarity of the charging before addressing. In a coordinates space describing the relationship between the effective voltage between the first electrodes and the effective voltage between the second electrodes, a voltage range (Vt closed curve) that can generate a microdischarge for the charge adjustment is determined, and a waveform of an increasing voltage that is applied to the discharge cell is determined in accordance with a Vt closed curve.

Abstract: A straight cold cathode fluorescent lamp is detachably held at the back of a dial plate by a plurality of fork-shaped holders to illuminate a plurality of scales formed on the front surface of the dial plate and accommodated in the reflector which is also detachably fixed to a casing of the indicator instrument. A circuit board is also detachably fixed to the reflector.

Abstract: An illumination device includes a cold cathode fluorescent tube having a heat capacity of 0.035 Wsec/.degree. C. or less per unit length (1 cm) of a glass tube of a fluorescent section of the cold cathode fluorescent tube. The illumination device has a superior operation characteristic at a low temperature. The device is driven by a method and is implemented in a display device.

Abstract: A stamp-making apparatus is provided in which a transparent presser plate is arranged such that the presser plate is parallel with a stamp-making object material, an ink ribbon having a stamp image formed thereon is urged against the stamp-making object material via the presser plate, and exposure of the stamp-making object material to light is carried out via the ink ribbon as a mask. A ribbon feeder rolls out an ink ribbon wound around one end portion thereof to a position facing the stamp-making object material, and then rolls up the ink ribbon around another end portion thereof. A relative translation of the presser plate and the stamp-making object material is made toward each other by moving at least one of the presser plate and the stamp-making object material to thereby urge the ink ribbon against the stamp-making object material. A guide guides the ink ribbon when the ink ribbon is fed, to space between the presser plate and the stamp-making object material.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp controller for an original-document exposing apparatus includes a detection circuit for detecting the quantity of light emitted by a fluorescent lamp, an actuator for applying between filaments of the fluorescent lamp a voltage having a duty that is determined in accordance with the quantity of light detected, and a preheating circuit for preheating each of the filaments of the fluorescent lamp by applying a preheating voltage. According to the present invention, the actuator applies, between the filaments of the fluorescent lamp, a voltage having a duty which is smaller than the full duty regardless of a result of the quantity of light detected in a predetermined period at a start of turning the fluorescent lamp on, and the preheating circuit applies the preheating voltage to each of the filaments of the fluorescent lamp simultaneously with the application of the turning on voltage.

Abstract: A light source device having a controlled current source that maintains a constant intensity of light from the source during changes in light source temperature, particularly at warm-up. The light source is heated to speed up warm-up and to maintain constant temperature of the source during operation under varying ambient temperatures. Control of the current to the light source is determined by the temperature profile circuit with signals via a temperature signal conditioner from a temperature sensor proximate to the light source. Control of the heater is ultimately dictated by temperature sensor signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for addressing data storage elements (16) uses an ionizable gas excited by an AC energy source to store an analog datum in and read an analog datum out of each of the storage elements. The storage elements are defined by the overlapping areas of multiple column electrodes (18) extending in a common direction on a first substrate (48) and multiple channels (20) extending in a common direction on a second substrate (54). A layer of dielectric material (46) separates the first and the second substrates, which are positioned face-to-face and spaced-apart with the direction of the channels transverse to that of the column electrodes. Each of the channels is filled with an ionizable gas and includes two row electrodes electrically isolated from each other. At least one of the row electrodes is isolated from the gas by a dielectric coating (65) to prevent nonuniform current flow in certain regions along the length of a channel.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp light output is maximized by cooling the cathode regions. Mercury vapor pressure is maintained at an optimum or desired level for light production by cooling the cathode areas of the lamp. The cooled cathode areas of the lamp collect cathode emissive material and mercury vapor condensates. Thus, the light output remains uniform and constant. The functional length of the lamp is not degraded by the deposition of either cathode material or mercury vapor condensates. Cooling can be effected by forcing cool air against the exterior of the lamp adjacent the cathodes or by using forced water heat exchangers. By cooling the respective cathode regions equally, the amount of deposition in the respective regions is substantially the same. Thus, gradations of deposition are avoided. The constant high output fluorescent lamp can be used with electronic inspection equipment and machine vision measurement devices.

Abstract: In a fluorescent lamp assembly for use in an image scanner, a heater is associated with a glass tube of a fluorescent lamp for heating the glass tube. A controller is provided for controlling the heater in such a manner as to maintain temperture of the glass tube at the predetermined optimum level at which a luminescent characteristic of the fluorescent lamp is stabilized.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for a motor vehicle headlight including a reflector and/or a lens, a light source coupled to a voltage providing device (W), at least one electrically conductive heating element (H) mounted on or in an enclosing light-transmissive shield coupled to the voltage source, and a switching-on apparatus (E) for the heating element will, in addition to avoiding a coating and ice build-up, in an uncomplicated and cost effective manner provide a dependable, security-increasing, crack monitoring of the light transmissive shield in that the heating element is electrically coupled with an analyzing apparatus (A) which includes a light-transmissive-shield, crack-monitoring device formed as a current or voltage measuring device.

Abstract: An illuminating light source for a color image recording device comprises a glass tube having a predetermined diameter, a reflecting film coated on an inner wall of the glass tube excepting a part thereof by coating, a fluorescent film formed on the reflecting film coated on the glass tube, wherein at least one of a ultraviolet ray absorbing film and the fluorescent film is formed on the part on which the reflecting film is not formed thereby to maintain a ratio of a bright line to a fluorescence being not more than 1.3 when a fluorescent lamp current is applied.

Abstract: A highly stable high intensity atomic emission light source has a discharge region and the sample region each controlled by a separate heater. The sample region heater is controlled by a lamp stabilizer circuit which maintains the breakdown voltage within the discharge region at a constant level, thus providing a stable and high intensity light source.