Abstract: An inductive-capacitive charge-discharge ignition system includes an ignition transformer primary winding and a capacitor to be charged by a unipolar alternating current source. An electronic switch connects the primary winding and capacitor in parallel during the discharge mode of the system so that the discharge current from the capacitor aids the discharge current in the primary winding. Rectifiers may be used between the outputs of the source and the primary winding and capacitor. Another version of this system employs DC power to charge the primary winding, and the unipolar source to charge the capacitor, with a rectifier between the source and capacitor. Another capacitor may be used in the secondary winding of the ignition transformer. The system may be controlled by a variety of timers. A high velocity igniter arc having luminous particles surrounding a more concentrated filament of such luminous particles is developed by the system extending across the entire base of an igniter.

Abstract: An arrangement for starting and operating a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp provided with preheatable electrodes. The lamp is supplied from a battery via two direct-to-alternating current converters connected between the battery and the lamp. One converter is a voltage-controlled converter which exclusively effects the preheating of the electrodes, whereas the other converter supplies the lamp current only. This arrangement provides reliable ignition and operation of the lamp even in the case of a large variation in the battery voltage.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for triggering a flash lamp without the use of a conventional high voltage trigger pulse. In accordance with the invention, gas molecules in the flash lamp are ionized by the application of radiant energy to lower the impedance of the flash lamp. An energy discharge device (e.g., a capacitor) is thus able to discharge abruptly through the flash lamp causing the lamp to flash.

Abstract: A metal vapor discharge lamp includes a cathode comprising a reservoir of liquid cesium. Metallic cesium which is eroded from the cathode surface by the action of the discharge is returned to the reservoir by the combined effects of gravity, evaporation, condensation, and diffusion to provide a highly stable, long-lived lamp.The intense infrared pulse output of cesium vapor discharge lamps of the present invention is well suited for triggering light-activated semiconductor switches through dielectric pipe networks and for pumping neodymium glass or neodymium-YAG lasers.

Abstract: An improved ballast circuit for a low pressure gas discharge lamp having two filament type electrodes at opposite ends of the lamp is disclosed. The ballast circuit includes a first device for providing a high AC voltage for application across opposite electrodes of the lamp; a solid state controlled current source for providing a controlled current to the first device for enabling the first device to apply the AC voltage across the lamp electrodes to illuminate the lamp, wherein the voltage placed across said electrodes is non-sinusoidal; and a second device coupled to the first device for inhibiting the non-sinusoidal voltage from causing mercury migration in the lamp. The second device includes circuit connections for enabling current flow through only one filament of the lamp; and for biasing the voltage applied across the lamp about a DC level for balancing the effect upon mercury migration within the lamp caused by enabling current to flow through only the one filament.

Abstract: An AC powered ignition system employs a rectangular wave power source and a timer for controlling igniter firings. Such timer intermittently interrupts the flow of DC bias current in active stages of the AC power source so as to create a large transient current and high induced voltage in an output transformer. The large transient current is intermodulated with a Kettering type transient to provide high energy firing levels to igniters in a fuel burning engine. The output transformer is coupled to an ignition transformer and to a reactance compensating capacitor to energize a distributor and igniters connected to the distributor.

Abstract: Discharge lamps are connected to a commerical alternating current power supply through an impedance for blocking high frequency signals and an impedance compensating for the negative resistance of the discharge lamps. The discharge lamps are also connected to the commercial alternating current power supply through a rectifier and oscillator circuit, a voltage signal is generated including the commercial alternating current voltage superposed on a high-frequency, high-voltage signal from the oscillator. This voltage signal is applied to the discharge lamps to energize the same and maintain the lamps in a lighted condition.

Abstract: An energizing circuit for gas discharge lamps for room or street lighting or for lights used in document copying machines and the like comprises means for continuously energizing the same at a low non-useful light producing level when such lamps are not needed by a voltage which strikes an arc and maintains a low level of ionization with an infinitesimally small current and very little energy drain. This voltage may be an AC voltage or a DC voltage supplied by a unique circuit including a number of DC voltage sources, rectifiers, voltage adjusting and current-limiting impedances and electronic switches. The lamps are energized by AC or pulsating DC supplied by the aforesaid or other electronic switches operated at a high frequency of at least about 20-30 kilo-Hertz.

Abstract: Energy provided by two circuits each of which has inductive and capacitive components which provide initial conditions for the ignition firing cycle, makes possible high modulated power components of the system for delivery to a high voltage distributor. Such conventional distributor sequences the igniter firing.

Abstract: An alternator energized ignition system is provided for producing a transient ringing waveform forced by high voltage output of the alternator. A configuration of this system also provides for feeding DC power to result in the conventional transient that modulates the transient ringing waveform to produce very high ignition energy economically.

Abstract: An ignition system makes use of the Kettering transient voltage induced into the primary winding of an ignition transformer and utilizes a circuit which provides several voltage transients which are intermodulated to provide extremely high energy levels and a plurality of firing pulses during any one igniter firing period. An ignition transformer with multiple primary windings is utilized, the output or secondary winding feeding a conventional distributor.

Abstract: An ignition system providing a transient waveform intermodulates with an AC waveform in an ignition transformer to provide higher voltage and current outputs for longer periods of time than conventional systems. A simple, reliable and inexpensive timing device is provided for generation of the transient waveform at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A spark plug igniter with an auxiliary power source, in which the auxiliary power source is a DC-DC converter including a feedback loop. A high voltage induced in a secondary winding of an ignition coil and a DC voltage generated by the converter are additionally supplied in the same polarity to a spark discharge gap. The feedback loop of the DC-DC converter comprises a feedback winding, a rectifier connected to the feedback winding through a reactance element, and means for connecting the DC output of the rectifier in series to the DC power source of the converter in the same polarity.

Abstract: The light producing efficiency of gas filled electrical discharge tubes is improved by applying a high voltage narrow pulsed ionizing potential across the electrodes of the tube and eliminating, through removal and/or neutralization, gas ions between the electrodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing output indications in response to the presence of an electromagnetic energy receptor within a predetermined distance of a glow discharge device the electrodes of which have a voltage applied thereacross at least equal to the maintaining voltage but less than the breakdown voltage, including an excitor for generating an electromagnetic field around the glow discharge device at a strength less than the ionization level but sufficient to ionize the gas when the electromagnetic energy receptor is within the predetermined distance of the glow discharge device.

Abstract: A high energy ignition system makes use of induced transient voltages in an ignition transformer to intermodulate a plural number of such transients and thereby provide extremely high voltages to fire an igniter. The transformer output is connected in conventional manner to a standard distributor to sequentially energize igniters.

Abstract: An anode and a cathode are disposed in an opposing relation in a tubing in which an inactive gas is enclosed to form a discharge lamp by which an atomic spectrum is emitted. The cathode contains atomic spectrum emitting elements also serving to form the material of cathode. The discharge lamp is supplied with a high frequency power from a high frequency source and simultaneously with a direct current power from a direct current source. This causes the direct current discharge and high frequency discharge to be effected between a pair of electrodes in a superimposed manner. The atoms sputtered by the direct current are efficiently excited by the application of the high frequency with the result that atomic spectra with high brightness are obtained.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for start and hot restart of a high pressure arc discharge lamp includes the application of an AC ionizing potential to the lamp, the ionizing potential characterized by a period such that the electron density of the fill material of the lamp is increased on each half cycle of said potential until the lamp is started. The invention is disclosed in an integrated ballast, and in an addition to an existing conventional ballast.This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 506,116, filed Sept. 16, 1974, and now abandoned.

Abstract: A high voltage glow discharge power source providing a plurality of glow discharges by gas ignition within at least one elongated electrically insulating member having a central bore along the axis of elongation of the member. Electrodes are positioned along the outer surface along the length of the member to which current sources and sinks are connected in alternation. A DC power supply provides the energy for the current sources and sinks. End plates covering the bore are transparent to optical frequencies. Glow discharges occur within the bore so that when a laser generator beam is diverted into the bore through the end plates, the gas in the bore being ignited to provide the glow, discharges and effects a power gain in the laser signal at the other end of the bore.

Abstract: Circuitry for maintaining an arc or spark across a spark gap for a desired length of time is disclosed. A high-voltage, direct-current (dc) source is connected in series with a secondary winding of a high voltage, step-up transformer or coil and a spark gap such as a spark plug for example. The high-voltage source may be on continuously or may be turned on and off by a control circuit such as a solid state switch which is, in turn, responsive to a timing device such as a set of ignition contact points or a magnetic pulse generator operating in synchronism with a spark ignition engine. The timing device also provides signals to a current switching circuit which interrupts current flow through a primary winding of the high-voltage coil at the prescribed time that a spark is desired at the spark gap.The control circuit may, if desired, include both a switch and a multivibrator if the timer is of the pulse-generating magnetic type.

Abstract: A method for improving the light producing efficiency of gas filled electrical discharge tubes wherein a high voltage narrow pulsed ionizing potential is applied across the electrodes of the tube along with a relatively low bias potential.

Abstract: Disclosed is a driving method for a thin-film electroluminescent element of a three-layer construction which emits light and exhibits the hysteresis phenomenon within the light emission versus applied voltage characteristics. The light intensity is maintained and memorized at a predetermined value in the element by the application of a train of sustaining pulses of alternating voltage, the amplitude thereof being chosen at the voltage level appearing at the point in the hysteresis loop characteristics where the difference between the maximum light brightness on the voltage decreasing curve and the minimum light brightness on the voltage increasing curve is considerably large. The sustaining light brightness is controlled by varying the amplitude or the pulse width of the sustaining pulses. The information may be written, memorized and eliminated in the EL element as variations of the light brightness.

Abstract: A flash tube modulator circuit having a high peak power output at a high etition rate (50 KC) with variable pulse widths by employing resonant charging and discharging to ionize the gas in a flash tube followed by a high current pulse to produce a high peak power output.