Abstract: A solar dual-system controller comprising a shell, a solar panel, a circuit board, a first rear cover and a second rear cover; the solar panel is disposed on the outer wall of the shell; the first rear cover is fixed to the shell, thereby forming a first chamber; the circuit board is fixed within the first chamber; a storage battery, which is electrically connected to the circuit board, is fixed within the first chamber; the second rear cover is snapped to the shell, thereby forming a second chamber; a dry battery, which is electrically connected to the circuit board, is detachably disposed within the second chamber.

Abstract: A field emission device is configured as a heat engine. Different embodiments of the heat engine may have different configurations that may include a cathode, gate, suppressor, and anode arranged in different ways according to a particular embodiment. Different embodiments of the heat engine may also incorporate different materials in and/or proximate to the cathode, gate, suppressor, and anode.

Abstract: A circuit (10), for causing a light source (30) to flash in correspondence to the peak amplitudes of an incoming sound signal, e.g. music (12), comprises an audio transducer (14), a band-pass amplifier (16), a peak detector section (18), and a filter (20) connected to a monostable circuit (24) via a capacitor (22). The light source (30) comprises one or more surface mount LED devices, and can be used to illuminate the contents of a container, e.g. a drinks bottle.

Abstract: Field emission devices are configured in addressable arrays.

Abstract: Field emission devices are configured in addressable arrays.

Abstract: A power distribution system for applying electric power to a plurality of lighting units is provided. The power distribution system includes at least one user interface having a first pairing setting unit, a plurality of second pairing setting units, and a power line. The user interface is electrically connected with a power source. Each of the second pairing setting units is electrically connected with one of the lighting units, respectively. The power line connected with the lighting units is electrically connected between the first pairing setting unit and the second pairing setting units. Each of the second pairing setting units is capable of receiving an electrical signal output by the first pairing setting unit and determining whether the lighting unit controlled thereby is turned on or not. Therefore, each of the second pairing setting units connected with the same power line can be controlled individually.

Abstract: A color adjustable lamp may be controlled using a TRIAC dimmer circuit and includes a lamp driving circuit and two or more light sources. Each light source may output light having a different color. By setting an output intensity of each light source, light having a desired color may be output. A circuit or a processing unit of the lamp driving circuit may detect a set phase angle of the TRIAC dimmer circuit by determining a shape of the supplied alternating voltage. According to the determined shape, the circuit or processing unit controls a lamp driver circuit for each light source in order to control the intensity of the light output by each light source and set the color of the color adjustable lamp by adjusting the intensity of the light emitted by each light source.

Abstract: A discharge lamp operating system has first and second discharge lamp operating circuits. The first discharge lamp operating circuit includes first and second primary windings, a first secondary winding, a first discharge lamp connected to the first primary winding, and a second discharge lamp connected to the second primary winding. The second discharge lamp operating circuit includes third and fourth primary windings, a second secondary winding, a third discharge lamp connected to the third primary winding, and a fourth discharge lamp connected to the fourth primary winding. The first secondary winding and the second secondary winding are connected in series.

Abstract: A color adjustable lamp may be controlled using a well-known TRIAC dimmer circuit. The color adjustable lamp comprises two or more light sources. Each light source may output light having a different color. By setting an output intensity of each light source, light having a desired color may be output. A circuit or a processing unit comprised in a lamp driving circuit may detect a set phase angle of the TRIAC dimmer circuit by determining a shape of the supplied alternating voltage. According to the determined shape, the circuit or processing unit controls a lamp driver circuit for each light source in order to control the intensity of the light output by each light source.

Abstract: A multi-lamp backlight system is disclosed. The multi-lamp backlight system includes a plurality of lamps, an inverter circuit and a current balance circuit. The inverter circuit is capable of converting a DC input signal to a pair of AC output signals, which have a 180 degree phase shift. The pair of AC output signals are delivered to the plurality of lamps. The current balance circuit is connected to the low voltage sides of the plurality of lamps for balancing the lamp currents.

Abstract: This invention discloses an illumination method and an illumination control method. An embodiment of the illumination system includes two light detection modules for detecting a light produced by a light emitting diode and an ambient light, calculating a reference spectral distribution based on a detection result of the ambient light, comparing the detection result of the light emitting diode with the reference spectral distribution, and driving the illumination module to emit a light matching with the reference spectral distribution based on a comparison result. Another embodiment of the illumination system includes a light detection module for periodically switching the light emitting diode to emit light and stop emitting light. When the light emitting diode stops an illumination period, the light detection module detects an ambient light, and when the light emitting diode continues an illumination period, the light detection module detects a light produced by the light emitting diode.

Abstract: A LED controller that allows the user to control the output intensity of one or more LED lights is disclosed. The intensity levels or brightness of the LED lights are not limited to 3, 4 or even 10 levels of light output; instead, the LED controller provides what appears to the human eye as a smooth range of changing brightness levels depending on the needs the user.

Abstract: A skylight LED lighting system is described. The system utilizes LED lights attached to or near a skylight in order to provide a user with the ability to increase the amount of light being directed into an area. The system can utilize a LED controller to allow the user to control the light output intensity. The LED controller provides a smooth range of changing brightness levels. The system can utilize one or more solar cells and batteries to power the LED lights. The system can be controlled via a radio frequency remote control. Additionally, the system can utilize a flexible, skylight-shaped installation housing that can be inserted into the skylight under compression. When the compression is released, the ring expands to press against the inside of the skylight and holds the skylight LED lighting system in place.

Abstract: This invention is a control panel and a compatible circuit which is used for controlling the color and intensity of multi-colored light fixtures. The panel consists of a saturated color mixing control source, a white level control source, and a brightness control source. The circuit consists of a control panel interface that converts and processes the control panel inputs into signals that can be used to control multi-color lighting fixtures.

Abstract: A light source module including a circuit substrate, light emitting chip packages, and driving devices is provided. The circuit substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface. The bottom surface has at least one component installed area and at least one metal exposed area. The light emitting chip packages are disposed on the top surface. The driving devices are disposed in the component installed area. The driving devices are electrically connected to the light emitting chip packages through the circuit substrate.

Abstract: A device and method for illuminating an electrically powered decorative lighting system with a plurality of individual light elements that can be positioned in or on surrounding plants, windows, or other display areas to simulate fireflies. The plurality of light emitting elements, such as LEDs or fiber optic cables, are arrangable with mounting devices or can be suspended or attached to any surrounding structure to provide an ornamental lighting effects. Electrical power is provided with rechargeable batteries charged with a solar panel. One preferred embodiment uses insulation-displacement connectors and an insulation-displacement connector ribbon cable to attach the light emitters to a microprocessor control which creates unique and varied timing patterns for the various light emitters to simulate fireflies.

Abstract: A first LED array including a first capacitor, LED blocks, and a second capacitor that are connected in series with each other, a second LED array having a similar configuration to the first LED array, and a third LED array having a similar configuration to the first LED array are connected in parallel with each other and are connected to an AC power supply AC. Each of the LED blocks includes a first series circuit and a second series circuit that are connected in parallel with each other. The first series circuit includes two LEDs that are connected in series with each other in the same direction. The second series circuit includes two LEDs that are connected in series with each other in an identical direction opposite to the direction of the LEDs in the first series circuit. A connection point between the two LEDs in the second series circuit in one of the adjacent LED blocks is coupled to a connection point between the two LEDs in the first series circuit in the other one of the adjacent LED blocks.

Abstract: An illuminator assembly is provided for supplying night vision illumination. The assembly includes a support housing and an infrared illumination source. An infrared reflector receives the radiation emitted from the infrared illumination source and reflects the infrared radiation in a first substantially collimated field of view and transmits visible light therethrough. A visible light reflector is located behind the infrared reflective mirror for receiving visible light transmitted through the infrared reflector and reflecting scattering the visible light in a second field of view.

Abstract: A lamp driving apparatus of a liquid crystal display includes a plurality of lamps arranged with a predetermined distance between adjacent lamps; a comparator to compare output voltages of lamps that are separated by more than the lamp distance; and a power interceptor to cut off the power supply of a lamp where mis-discharge is generated, in accordance with a comparison result of the comparator. A lamp driving method of a liquid crystal display which includes: comparing a designated reference voltage with lamp output voltages, and intercepting the power supply of the lamp of which the output voltage is different from the reference voltage to stop mis-discharge between lamps.

Abstract: A DC/AC converter circuit structure for driving a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps is described. A common-mode choke is used between the cold cathode fluorescent lamps. The common-mode choke balances the currents respectively flowing through the cold cathode fluorescent lamps.

Abstract: An inverter apparatus for driving a plurality of lamp units including a plurality of lamps is provided. The inverter apparatus includes a plurality of inverters. Each inverter includes a delay block delaying an input ON/OFF signal to generate an output ON/OFF signal and an inverting block controlling the lighting of the corresponding lamp unit based on the output ON/OFF signal. The plurality of inverters includes a first inverter receiving the input ON/OFF signal from an external device and a second inverter receiving the input ON/OFF signal from one of the plurality of inverters.

Abstract: A DC/AC converter circuit structure for driving a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps is described. A common-mode choke is used between the cold cathode fluorescent lamps. The common-mode choke balances the currents respectively flowing through the cold cathode fluorescent lamps.

Abstract: A frequency synchronization device for a large LCD having a plurality of lamps as a background light source is disclosed. The device comprises a power amplification unit wherein one power amplification unit is electrically coupled to another amplification unit, each power amplification unit being electrically coupled to one or more of the lamps, adapted to generate a driving signal, and adapted to send the driving signal to the coupled lamp(s) for causing the lamps to operate at the same frequency; a plurality of current sampling elements each electrically coupled to one or more of the lamps for sampling current thereof; and control means comprising a control element and a diode, the control means being electrically coupled to current sampling elements so as to stabilize the current of the lamps. The connection and circuitry of the device are much simplified and improved.

Abstract: A state detection device is disclosed that is for detecting driving states of plural loads which are connected with each other in parallel and are driven by a driving unit. The state detection device includes a voltage detection unit for detecting voltages applied to the loads; a combined voltage generation unit for generating a combined voltage equivalent to a combination of the detected voltages; and a state detection unit for detecting driving states of the loads based on a magnitude of the combined voltage and magnitudes of the voltages applied to the loads.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic ballast and to a controller which drives this ballast, in which two communication protocols are provided for the digital drive.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for independent control of power systems, particularly lighting network branches, and separate control of individual branch components. Multi-branch systems comprise independently controllable branches that inter-communicate via PLC communications. In each branch, components such as ballasts, local control units, sensors, actuators, and repeaters, may exchange commands and queries independently of a branch remote control unit (BRCU). Alternatively, a BRCU may manage or arbitrate communications, or interact with other BRCUs, other control units and external management systems. Ballasts include a multi-channel ballast that enables close-loop control of individual fixtures, or of individual dimmable or non-dimmable lamps within a fixture. The close-loop control is facilitated by sampling circuits/sensors co-located with each controlled fixture or lamp. All controllers are preferably implemented using an integrated digital controller.

Abstract: An inverter apparatus for driving a plurality of lamp units including a plurality of lamps is provided. The inverter apparatus includes a plurality of inverters. Each inverter includes a delay block delaying an input ON/OFF signal to generate an output ON/OFF signal and an inverting block controlling the lighting of the corresponding lamp unit based on the output ON/OFF signal. The plurality of inverters includes a first inverter receiving the input ON/OFF signal from an external device and a second inverter receiving the input ON/OFF signal from one of the plurality of inverters.

Abstract: Disclosed is a backlight system and a method for driving backlight capable of reducing noises and voltage fluctuations in power voltage due to a turn-on/turn-off of the lamp. The backlight system includes two lamps, a power supply unit for supplying alternating voltage or alternating current supplies power for driving the lamps to each lamp with a predetermined time lag or phase difference. With this feature of the present invention, the magnitude of noise and voltage fluctuations occurring in the power voltages supplied to the power supply unit may be significantly reduced. Thus, deterioration of display quality, flicker, etc., due to noise and voltage fluctuation can be prevented. Also, there is provided a backlight system which may produce a lamp driving signal with a constant frequency obtained by multiplying a frequency of vertical synchronization signal by an integer.

Abstract: A vehicle head light or auxiliary light assembly (10) that includes an inner housing (12) and an outer housing (30), wherein located between the inner and outer housings (12,30) is a light passage channel (46). At the center of the inner housing (12) is attached a central light bulb (28), and to each side of the outer housing (30) is attached a side light bulb (52). To the front of the outer housing (30) is attached a front lens (56) having around its perimeter (60) a plurality of light refracting serrations (62). When the lights of the assembly (10) are turned on by an electrical control circuit (70), the central light (28) illuminates in combination with the side lights (52). The side lights produce a light beam that is applied through the light passage channel (46), is refracted along the serrations (62) and is visible along the inner perimeter (60) of the front lens (56).

Abstract: A cold cathode-ray tube driving method by using a voltage with fixed phase shift to drive each cold cathode-ray tube of a backlighting module in a large size LCD; a circuit with phase excursion formed by the voltage so to provide a fixed phase shift between abutted loads to supply a highly consistent power source and to effectively control electricity leakage due to unstable phase shift between abutted loads.

Abstract: A driving apparatus of a discharge tube lamp includes a voltage source; a plurality of AC conversion circuits for boosting a voltage supplied from the voltage source and generating a plurality of boosted AC signals; a plurality of discharge tubes for receiving the boosted AC signals and emitting a plurality of lights; a plurality of detection circuits arranged between each of the plurality of AC conversion circuits and a ground voltage source for detecting a voltage supplied to each of the plurality of discharge tubes; and a controller arranged between the voltage source and each of the plurality of the AC conversion circuits for controlling the voltage supplied to the plurality of AC conversion circuits in accordance with a plurality of detection signals supplied from the plurality of detection circuits.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for operating one of a plurality of lamps employed within a luminaire via a single ballast, thereby extending the operational life of the luminaire. The operating lamp disables the lamps downstream from itself by preventing current from conducting through lamps other than the operating lamp. The lamps upstream from the operating lamp typically lack a sufficient voltage for ignition and operation. However, if any of the upstream lamps begin to operate, the lamps operating downstream cease to operate. In the event that two lamps begin to operate in an asymmetric manner, a capacitor is preferably provided to maintain a reverse voltage with respect to the output of the ballast, thus ensuring reduced voltage across the rectified lamps until one lamp extinguishes and the second lamp begins to operate.

Abstract: In the gas discharge image display of this invention, the peak value of a write pulse supplied to one of two electrodes of each of fluorescent lamps aligned in a matrix form is substantially equal to the peak value of a sustain pulse supplied to that electrode. Therefore, when a row line drive circuit or a column line drive circuit supplies, in a sustain period of a fluorescent lamp to be discharged, a write pulse to another fluorescent lamp aligned in the same row or column of the matrix form, a voltage at the fluorescent lamp to be discharged can be made constant in the sustain period.

Abstract: In a field emission electron gun including emitters (104) on predetermined parts of a substrate (409), an insulator film (105) on a remaining part of the substrate, a first gate electrode (101) on the insulator film so as to surround the emitters with a space left between each emitter and the first gate electrode, the emitters are formed on the substrate except a center part of the substrate. The first gate electrode has an inner peripheral surface which defines a hole (107) exposing a center portion of the insulator film that is positioned on the center part of the substrate. A second gate electrode (102) is formed on the insulator film to surround an outer peripheral surface of the first gate electrode with a distance left between the outer peripheral surface of the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode.

Abstract: An improved display bias arrangement is provided using a DC filament voltage in conjunction with stepped grid voltages to maintain even illumination. In a VF display there is a directly heated cathode (filament), an anode and a grid. If a DC filament voltage is used, one end of the cathode will be at different potential than the other, thus resulting in a variation in anode-to-cathode potential across the display. This varying potential causes electrons to hit the anode with varying speed, causing a variation in display intensity. In this invention, the cathode (filament) is supplied with a DC voltage and the grid of each segment is supplied with a different voltage, thereby equalizing the anode-to-cathode potential for each display digit. In a first embodiment, resistor networks are used to equalize the anode-to-cathode voltages. In a second embodiment, diode networks are used to equalize the anode-to-cathode voltages.

Abstract: A light driver circuit which is activated by an audio signal. The circuit includes three signal channels and four automatic level control circuits. The three channels are high, low and mid-range frequency channels. There is an automatic level control circuit circuit at the input of the circuit and a separate automatic level control circuit incorporated into each of the three channels. An optical isolation unit is provided in each channel to, effectively, isolate the output from the signal source. A typical utilization of the circuit is with strobe-lights, discotheque lights, or the like.

Abstract: A spark gap apparatus triggerable by application of a microwave pulse. The apparatus includes a first electrode including a microwave waveguide, and a second electrode spaced from the first electrode. A microwave generator is connected to supply microwave pulses to the waveguide. A main current circuit to be switched is connected to the electrodes. The first and second electrodes include components for causing the simultaneous existence of a number of spark channels therebetween in response to coupling of a microwave pulse to the waveguide so that coupling of the pulse to the waveguide results in switching of the main current circuit. A method of using the spark gap apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A discharge tube opening circuit for varying tube intensity at regular intervals without flicker between an illuminated and an unilluminated state. Combinations of tubes controlled by respective circuits give rise to novel display arrangements through choice of tube colors and particular sequences of variation of luminous intensity.

Abstract: A multiplex strobe light in which several ionized gas flash tubes are fed in parallel from a common power and trigger circuit. The common power circuit has a capacitor which is connected across a charging voltage and all of the flash tubes. The common trigger circuit has an SCR gated on by a zener when the charge on the capacitor reaches the desired voltage. Each flash tube has its own transformer with the secondary connected to its control electrode and the primary connected to a capacitor discharged through the SCR so the flash tubes are turned on simultaneously and share the power capacitor discharge.

Abstract: Each of picture elements on a color display system is formed of a triad of small monochromatic cathode ray tubes luminescing in red, green and blue in response to unfocused electron beams from respective electron guns and disposed in a cylindrical housing. The tubes include identical components interconnected through respective leads extending externally of the housing. Alternatively, the housing may additionally include a driving source having a high voltage generator for applying an anode voltage to the tubes and leads extending externally of the housing which serve to energize the generator and tube heaters and to apply control signals to the tubes.

Abstract: In one preferred form of calculators, a multi-digit fluorescent display tube and an LSI semiconductor chip together are disposed on a printed circuit flexible film. More particularly, individual components of the multi-digit fluorescent display tube (that is, segmented anode electrodes, grid or accelerator electrodes and a directly heated type filament) and the LSI semiconductor chip are housed within a common package which in turn is disposed directly on the printed circuit flexible film. Connection between the fluorescent display tube and the LSI chip is accomplished by conductor leaves carried on the printed circuit flexible film. In addition, the printed circuit flexible film carries a plurality of stationary key contacts which constitute the keyboard of the calculators.

Abstract: A plurality of flash units mounted as warning, navigational or signal beacons are driven from a remote energy storage power converter with reduced number and or size of discharge current cables by common use of cables combined with sequential flashing such that the discharge current for only one flash lamp is carried by a cable at a given instant. By very close spacing, the sequential flashes may be made to appear simultaneous to the human eye.