Abstract: A DC power supply for lighting includes low voltage driver electronics for any suitable load such as lighting along with a supervisory controller that communicates to the driver electronics via any suitable digital communication protocol. Each driver's output ports include a 3rd wire that communicates to the low voltage load fixture for the purpose of auto-negotiating the appropriate power level without first having to energize the fixture.

Abstract: A mobile robot guest for interacting with a human resident performs a room-traversing search procedure prior to interacting with the resident, and may verbally query whether the resident being sought is present. Upon finding the resident, the mobile robot may facilitate a teleconferencing session with a remote third party, or interact with the resident in a number of ways. For example, the robot may carry on a dialogue with the resident, reinforce compliance with medication or other schedules, etc. In addition, the robot incorporates safety features for preventing collisions with the resident; and the robot may audibly announce and/or visibly indicate its presence in order to avoid becoming a dangerous obstacle. Furthermore, the mobile robot behaves in accordance with an integral privacy policy, such that any sensor recording or transmission must be approved by the resident.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electronic ballast-based device for controlling an electronic control circuit and a lighting lamp. The device includes an electronic ballast and an electronic control circuit which are connected with each other, the electronic control circuit including a filament analog circuit, a rectifier bridge circuit, at least two frequency detection circuits connected in parallel, an interface logic circuit and a switching circuit; the electronic ballast is connected with the switch circuit sequentially through the filament analog circuit and the rectifier bridge circuit; the at least two frequency detection circuits connected in parallel have one end connected between the filament analog circuit and the rectifier bridge circuit, or connected between the electronic ballast and the filament analog circuit, and another end connected with the interface logic circuit; and the interface logic circuit is connected with the switching circuit.

Abstract: A control circuit used to control a DC-DC converter includes a duty cycle control unit to control a duty cycle of the DC-DC converter and a hysteretic control unit to maintain a voltage at an output of the DC-DC converter within a narrow range during certain operational time periods. The hysteretic control unit may maintain the converter output voltage within the range by alternately enabling and disabling the duty cycle control unit based on feedback from the DC-DC converter output. In at least one embodiment, the control circuit is used within LED driver circuitry for driving a plurality of LED channels.

Abstract: A control system controls the operation of at least a first and a second independently controllable LED light member. The control system includes a frame member on which a plurality of electrical components can be mounted, and at least one input port for receiving at least one of a power source and a command signal source capable of sending a command signal to at least one of the first and second LED light members. A first driver member is provided for conducting power to deliver conditioned DC power to the first LED member. A first driver to frame connector removably couples the first driver member to the frame member. A second driver member conditions power to deliver conditioned DC power to the second LED member, and a second driver to frame connector removably couples the first driver member to the frame member. A first external output port is coupled to the first driver, and a second external output port coupled to the second driver.

Abstract: A transformer wiring method and apparatus for fluorescent lighting are described. The fluorescent lighting apparatus includes a transformer and a ballast. An installer is easily able to balance the system load because each fluorescent lighting apparatus includes its own transformer and may be connected directly to a facility's three phase power distribution while still operating at rated voltages. Moreover, the ballast is protected from surges and stray voltages thereby reducing the frequency of ballast failures.

Abstract: An arrangement (900) and method (1000) for providing power line communication from an AC power source (910) to a circuit (900) for supplying power to a load (960), as well as electronic ballasts (20,30,40,70,80) that operate according to the method (1000).

Abstract: A circuit arrangement has a first input terminal for a first voltage potential; a second input terminal for a second voltage potential; a third input terminal for feeding a starting voltage; a first electrical connection, which provides at its first end a first output terminal for a high-pressure discharge lamp, and which is coupled at its second end to the first input terminal for the first voltage potential; a second electrical connection, which provides at its first end a second output terminal for a high-pressure discharge lamp, and which is coupled at its second end to the second input terminal for the second voltage potential; a first inductor arranged in the second electrical connection; and a starting device coupled on the input side at least to the third input terminal for feeding a starting voltage, and on the output side to one of the output terminals, and a second inductor together with a first inductor.

Abstract: A transformer unit connects to an ac outlet and provides ac controlled by an opto-coupled triac to another ac outlet. The transformer unit includes a transformer and a third connector for connection to a control unit separate from the transformer unit. The third connector provides the control signal from the control unit, a low voltage supply for the control unit derived from the transformer, and the timing of the ac waveform, provided by a zero crossing signal or an ac or rectified ac signal which can constitute the low voltage supply. The control unit, electrically isolated from the ac supply, can produce the control signal under manual control or automatically to gradually change the conduction phase angle of the triac. The brightness of a lamp connected to the ac outlet is thereby controlled manually or automatically to provide a simulated dawn or dusk.

Abstract: An improved voltage reduction apparatus specifically designed to overcome implementation problems of a prior art voltage reduction apparatus. The present invention is designed to overcome the problem of magnetic field flux induced harmonic distortion and heating associated with the prior art which otherwise substantially detracted from the advantageous implementation thereof. More specifically the present invention, also provides a highly advantageous apparatus for reducing voltage to a load, after first providing a full magnitude of voltage thereto by the use of an autotransformer having a series winding and a common winding disconnectable and connectable to one another by means of a relay or other equivalent switching device. However it also provides a bucking coil winding in parallel with the common winding and wound in bifilar opposed relation thereto.

Abstract: A power circuit for N series connected loads according to the present invention includes N transformers having primary windings connected in series across a constant current AC source and secondary windings connected in series with the N loads. N-1 conductors are coupled from a junction between the loads to a corresponding junction between the secondary windings. Failure of one of the loads resulting in an open circuit will not interrupt power to the remaining loads.

Abstract: A lampholder for miniature light sets has a socket at one end to receive a lamp unit and a wireway at the opposite end which is covered by a snap-on cover. The socket receives two identical contact plates which are laterally reversible so that in one position they project by a respective insulation severing element into one portion of the wireway to engage a first wire, and in a second position the severing element projects into a second portion of the wireway to engage a second wire.

Abstract: A multi-room controller for controlling a plurality of individual light controls, each associated with a room of a partitionable space. The individual light controls each control the light individually in the control's room. An assignment panel associated with the multi-room controller is operable to link several individual light controls in a group under the control of a selected individual control within the group. This linking occurs when several rooms have been combined into a larger room and it is desirable to have uniform control of the lighting within the larger room. The multi-room controller is in communication with each individual light control and responsive to the assignment panel for transferring control of the group to the selected individual light control. In one operation mode, the lighting is controlled by a preselected individual control. In another mode, the lighting is controlled by any of the linked controls in the group. All linked controls mimic the last activated control.

Abstract: A power supply system for portable floodlighting equipment employing high-intensity electric discharge lamps comprises an alternating current generator having three or more independent armature windings, one for producing independently current at a voltage sufficiently high for starting a discharge lamp in series with a capacitor. The windings are out of phase with one another and interference with the operation of the lamps energized by the separate and independent windings and electric apparatus energized by the standard voltage generator is effectively eliminated. The use of the generator winding for starting and energizing the lamps eliminates the usual starting ballast and decreases the weight and cost of the portable floodlighting unit.

Abstract: A series-parallel lighting string having a cord with three wires separated by insulation and a series of cutouts severing the center wire of the cord, and lampholders positioned at each of the cutouts to hold a miniature push-in type light bulb. Each of the lampholders has a pair of contact plates between which a bulb is inserted with its lead wires in contact with the plates. The contact plates are positioned within a husk of the lampholder, and the husk has a snap-fitting cap hingedly attached thereto to define a wireway. The wireway is formed by corresponding semicircular grooves in each of the husk and the cap sized to receive the cord. Each of the contact plates has an insulation-piercing contact finger positioned to engage one of the end portions of the severed wire to each side of the cutout in the cord. The first and last lampholders in each series set has a second cord-piercing contact finger which contacts one or the other of the outer non-severed wires.

Abstract: A power supply system for portable floodlighting equipment employing high-intensity electric discharge lamps comprises an alternating current generator having two independent armature windings, one for producing current at a standard voltage and the other for producing current at a voltage sufficiently high for starting a discharge lamp in series with a capacitor. The two windings are out of phase and interference with the operation of the lamps energized by the first winding and electric apparatus energized by the second is effectively eliminated. The use of the generator winding for starting and energizing the lamps eliminates the usual starting ballast and decreases the weight and cost of the portable floodlighting unit.

Abstract: The invention is both a system for supplying high frequency alternating current to gas discharge lamps, such as fluorescent lamps, and the like and a unit that can be placed in or adjacent to a lighting fixture to convert a direct current supply into high frequency AC and also provide the ballast needed for operation of the gas discharge lamps. This unit contains a symmetrical, class B, push-pull current-limited, tuned-collector, sinusoidal oscillator which is self starting, highly efficient and stable over a wide range of input voltage, with or without load. The number of parts is a minimum and the parts are relatively low cost, the power losses are very low and the system operates at high power factor with low acoustic and radio noise and low flicker.

Abstract: A lighting system comprises gaseous discharge lamps (8) connected to a source (1) of regulated alternating current through current transformers (5). The primary windings (6) of the current transformers (5) are connected in series to the source (1). The gaseous discharge lamps (8) are connected to the secondary windings (7) of the transformers (5).The lighting system is designed for lighting industrial buildings, streets, highways, stadiums, mines, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the voltage applied to a load in an AC system utilizes an autotransformer and a relay or equivalent switching device between the common winding and the series winding. In each of the AC lines, the common winding and relay are connected between the load and the AC common while the series winding is connected between the input and the output. The relay is normally open to pass substantially full input voltage to the load, but when closed the relay permits current flow in the common winding to reduce voltage to the load. The relay or equivalent switching is therefore not in the direct flow of load current and can be of lower current rating and smaller size and cost as compared to prior art voltage reduction systems.

Abstract: A portable fluorescent tube assembly is disclosed having a relatively low voltage electric convenience outlet associated with the assembly. Although higher than normally supplied voltages are needed to initiate the lighting of a fluorescent tube, these voltages are unsuited for energizing still other electrical apparatus which is designed for normally supplied voltages. The circuitry of the present fluorescent tube assembly supplies both relatively high and low voltages at the portable unit itself, so that the tube can be fired to initiate lighting at the relatively high voltage, and yet other electrical apparatus can be energized directly from the portable assembly at a relatively low voltage.

Abstract: The invention is both a system for supplying high frequency alternating current to gas discharge lamps, such as fluuorescent lamps, and the like and a unit that can be placed in or adjacent to a lighting fixture to convert a direct current supply into high frequency AC and also provide the ballast needed for operation of the gas discharge lamps. This unit contains a symmetrical, class B, push-pull current-limited, tuned-collector, sinusoidal oscillator which is self starting, highly efficient and stable over a wide range of input voltage, with or without load. The number of parts is a minimum and the parts are relatively low cost, the power losses are very low and the system operates at high power factor with low acoustic and radio noise and low flicker.