Discharge Device Load Patents (Class 315/326)
  • Patent number: 8222834
    Abstract: An electronic ballast is provided for powering a high intensity discharge lamp. A voltage step-down circuit is arranged to reduce an input DC voltage. An inverter circuit includes at least one high frequency switching element is and arranged to convert the reduced voltage to a high frequency AC voltage. A resonant circuit receives the high frequency voltage and is further coupled to the discharge lamp. A voltage step-down control circuit controls the DC voltage output from the voltage step-down circuit. A driving circuit supplies a driving signal to the switching element of the inverter, and further adjusts a driving frequency of the driving signal, thereby controlling the high-frequency voltage. The high frequency voltage in a first operating mode is controlled to a low level wherein the lamp is prevented from starting. The high frequency voltage in a second operating mode is controlled to a high level wherein the discharge lamp can be started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Nakada, Tomoyuki Nakano, Junichi Hasegawa, Koji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8212484
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating and maintaining an abnormal glow volumetric sonoplasma discharge (VSPD). With certain parameters of the electrical discharge and of the intensity of elastic vibrations, it is possible to initiate VSPD within a cavitating liquid medium. The mechanism for the initiation of VSPD is related to the breakdown of gas phase microchannels formed by growth cavitation bubbles. The method for continuous processing uses elastic vibrations in the frequency range 1-100 kHz with enough intensity for the development of cavitation phenomena; these vibrations are introduced into the liquid phase working medium, and a source of direct, alternating, high frequency and ultrahigh frequency electric field in liquid provides the initiation and stable glow of VSPD. Resulting VSPD is characterized by volumetric glow in the frequency range of visible light and ultraviolet radiation in the entire cavitational-electric field and has a rising volt-ampere characteristic curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Research and Innovation, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfredo Zolezzi-Garreton, Oleg Abramov, Vladimir Abramov, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8203285
    Abstract: A high-brightness LED lamp with battery conservation and solar charging features. The portable, self-contained lamp utilizes one or more high-brightness LEDs to provide area or decorative illumination. A solar cell charging device maintains the rechargeable batteries during the daytime with available ambient light. An electronic control circuit conserves battery power by limiting the period of time that the LEDs are energized during nighttime hours when ambient lighting conditions cannot support the recharging function. A photodetector device allows the control circuit to make this determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: International Development LLC
    Inventor: Chi Gon Chen
  • Patent number: 8174199
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting apparatus includes a power control circuit that outputs a DC current, an AC conversion circuit to which the DC current is inputted, the AC conversion circuit repeatedly reversing the polarity of the DC current between a first polarity and a second polarity at predetermined timings to produce and output a discharge lamp driving AC current, and a controller that controls the AC conversion circuit to perform AC conversion control in which the timings at which the polarity of the discharge lamp driving AC current is reversed are controlled and controls the power control circuit to perform section current control in which the magnitude of the DC current is controlled in each polarity reverse timing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyasu Soma, Kentaro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8167676
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a Fluorescent Lighting System are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention may be used as a fluorescent lamp ballast which is controlled using a non-resonant circuit that allows the ballast to lower to fifty percent the light output of the lamp while providing a corresponding fifty percent reduction in energy used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: VAXO Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Martin, Lucien Tournie, Douglas Gene Lockie
  • Publication number: 20120091922
    Abstract: A tungsten cathode material to be used for TIG welding, plasma spraying, plasma cutting, electro-discharge machining, discharge lamps, and the like is improved; use of the radioactive element thorium is reduced; and a long life and a high performance are realized. In a tungsten cathode material, oxide particles containing an oxide or oxides of at least one selected from the group consisting of Sm, Nd, Gd, and La in a total amount of 50 vol % or more are dispersed, the oxide particles having an average particle diameter d satisfying the relationship 0<d?2.5 ?m. Given a volume fraction f (vol %) of the total amount of the oxide particles in the tungsten cathode material, 0.083?f/I holds when a current I(A) such that 0<I?40 A is applied to an electrode being made of the tungsten cathode material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: NIPPON TUNGSTEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Matsuo, Yasutsugu Ueno, Keiji Hara, Keiichi Ozuka, Shuichi Teramoto
  • Patent number: 8154211
    Abstract: An apparatus and method thereof for igniting and operating a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp during an in service life, and powering down the lamp when an end-of-life (EOL) lamp condition is detected. The apparatus and method defines a series of thresholds of lamp voltage asymmetry, or rectification thresholds, and monitors the lamp rectification from ignition through normal operation. The detection scheme is masked off for a predetermined period of time when the lamp is initially started. Thereafter, the rectification threshold of the lamp voltage asymmetry is gradually reduced over time, until a defined minimum rectification threshold level is reached and maintained. The method continuously monitors the lamp voltage and records whenever the lamp voltage asymmetry is higher than the rectification threshold level at any lamp voltage cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Nanu Brates, Bhavinkumar Shah, Yiyoung Tony Sun
  • Publication number: 20120074874
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electron emitting element, comprising: a first electrode; an insulating fine particle layer formed on the first electrode and composed of insulating fine particles; and a second electrode formed on the insulating fine particle layer, wherein the insulating fine particle layer is provided with recesses formed in a surface thereof, the surface facing the second electrode, the recesses each having a depth smaller than a thickness of the insulating fine particle layer, and when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, electrons provided from the first electrode are accelerated in the insulating fine particle layer to be emitted though the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Kanako HIRATA, Hiroyuki HIRAKAWA, Ayae NAGAOKA, Yasuo IMURA, Tadashi IWAMATSU
  • Patent number: 8134311
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light source for generating light having a spectral emittance in at least a part of the range of 380 nm to 780 nm, the light having a spectral power distribution E(?) as a function of the wavelength ?, and a general color-rendering index Ra, wherein the ratio of the integral spectral power distribution over a first range of 575 nm???650 nm to that of a second range of 380 nm???780 nm is given by the relation: and wherein Bb, ?0.15 and Ra?20. The light generated by the light source has a relatively small disturbing effect on migrating birds, while it still allows acceptable visibility for human beings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Maurice Alexander Hugo Donners, Cornelis Jojakim Jalink, Gerardus Arnoldus Rita Van Dijk, Vincent Fischer, Hans Van Sprang
  • Patent number: 8089220
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating a high pressure discharge lamp includes a bridge circuit with at least two switches, a control device controlling the switches. The bridge circuit is a half-bridge circuit having exactly two switches. The control device switches on and off in an alternating manner, the first switch and the second switch of the bridge circuit having a first frequency. When the first switch is switched off for controlling the other switch with a rectangular signal of a second frequency which is greater than the first frequency and a predeterminable connection duration. The circuit also includes a tension measuring device measuring an actual value of tension over the high pressure discharge lamp. A reference device provides at least one upper threshold value for the voltage via the high pressure discharge lamp. A comparison device compares the actual voltage over the high pressure discharge lamp with the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Alois Braun, Walter Limmer, Joachim Mühlschlegel
  • Publication number: 20110316452
    Abstract: A method for generating white light and a lighting device are provided. The method comprises exciting blue cathodoluminescence material by FED to generate blue light; exciting yellow photoluminescence material by the blue light generated to generate yellow light, complexing the residual blue light that do not excite the yellow photoluminescence material and the yellow light to generate a white light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Mingjie Zhou, Wenbo Ma
  • Patent number: 8044613
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device includes: a power control circuit outputting DC current; an AC conversion circuit generating and outputting discharge lamp driving AC current by inverting the polarity of the DC current at a predetermined timing; a control circuit performing an AC conversion control process of controlling a polarity inversion timing of the discharge lamp driving AC current on the AC conversion circuit and performing an interval current control process of controlling a current value of the DC current every polarity inversion timing interval on the power control circuit; a detection unit detecting a discharge lamp driving voltage at the time of normal lighting; a history information storage periodically storing history information of the detected discharge lamp driving voltage, a statistics processing unit statistically processing the stored history information every predetermined period; and a statistical information storage storing information having been subjected to the statistical process a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Okawa, Kentaro Yamauchi, Tetsuo Terashima, Takeshi Takezawa
  • Publication number: 20110236072
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electron emitting element, comprising: a first electrode; an insulating fine particle layer formed on the first electrode; and comprising first insulating fine particles and second insulating fine particles larger than the first insulating fine particles, a surface of the insulating fine particle layer having a projection formed from the second insulating fine particles, and a second electrode formed on the insulating fine particle layer, wherein when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, electrons provided from the first electrode are accelerated in the insulating fine particle layer to be emitted from the second electrode via the projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Yasuo Imura, Hiroyuki Hirakawa, Ayae Nagaoka, Kanako Hirata, Tadashi Iwamatsu
  • Patent number: 8026675
    Abstract: There is provided an LED driving circuit including: at least one ladder network circuit including: (n+1) number of first branches connected in parallel with one another by n number of first middle junction points between a first junction point and a second junction point, where n denotes an integer satisfying n?2, (n+1) number of second branches connected in parallel with one another by n number of second middle junction points between the first junction point and the second junction point, the (n+1) number of second branches connected in parallel with the first branches; and n number of middle branches connecting the first and second middle junction points of an identical m sequence to each other, respectively, wherein each of the first and second, and middle branches comprises at least one LED device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung LED Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Jin Lee, Byoung Own Min, Gil Han Park, Grigory Onushkin
  • Patent number: 8022644
    Abstract: Ignition of a gas discharge lamp 10, which has a gas containing main space and two inner electrodes, of a lighting unit 4 of a lighting system is achieved by the use of a high frequency resonance circuit. The resonance circuit is connected to the inner electrodes and to a supply device 2, which supplies an alternating supply voltage. An outer electrode 22 is arranged near one the inner electrodes and to a node of the resonance circuit. Upon supplying the supply voltage a high voltage alternating burst will be generated at the outer electrode. This will result into a discharge of the gas in the main space. In turn, this will induce a discharge of the remaining gas. Then the frequency of the supply voltage will increase and a small reactive current only will remain to flow through the resonance circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Carsten Deppe, Peter Luerkens, Raul Duran
  • Publication number: 20110205529
    Abstract: A cell for a vacuum ultraviolet plasma light source, the cell having a closed sapphire tube containing at least one noble gas. Such a cell does not have a metal housing, metal-to-metal seals, or any other metal flanges or components, except for the electrodes (in some embodiments). In this manner, the cell is kept to a relatively small size, and exhibits a more uniform heating of the gas and cell than can be readily achieved with a hybridized metal/window cell design. These designs generally result in higher plasma temperatures (a brighter light source), shorter wavelength output, and lower optical noise due to fewer gas convection currents created between the hotter plasma regions and surrounding colder gases. These cells provide a greater amount of output with wavelengths in the vacuum ultraviolet range than do quartz or fused silica cells. These cells also produce continuous spectral emission well into the infrared range, making them a broadband light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Gross, Yung-Ho Chuang, John Fielden
  • Patent number: 7995952
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are electron emitters, charging devices, and methods of forming them. An electron emitter array can include a plurality of nanostructures, each of the plurality of nanostructures can include a first end and a second end, wherein the first end can be connected to a first electrode and the second end can be positioned to emit electrons, and wherein each of the plurality of nanostructures can be formed of one or more of oxidation resistant metals, doped metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, doped metal oxides, and ceramics. The electron emitter array can also include a second electrode in close proximity to the first electrode, wherein one or more of the plurality of nanostructures can emit electrons in a gas upon application of an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David H. Pan, Fa-Gung Fan, Joseph A. Swift, Dan A. Hays, Michael F. Zona
  • Patent number: 7947243
    Abstract: Based on designs concerning boron nitride thin-films each including boron nitride crystals in acute-ended shapes excellent in field electron emission properties, and designs of emitters adopting such thin-films, it is aimed at appropriately controlling a distribution state of such crystals to thereby provide an emitter having an excellent efficiency and thus requiring only a lower threshold electric field for electron emission. In a design of a boron nitride thin-film emitter comprising crystals that are each represented by a general formula BN, that each include sp3 bonded boron nitride, sp2 bonded boron nitride, or a mixture thereof, and that each exhibit an acute-ended shape excellent in field electron emission property; there is controlled an angle of a substrate relative to a reaction gas flow upon deposition of the emitter from a vapor phase, thereby controlling a distribution state of the crystals over a surface of the thin-film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: National Institute for Materials Science
    Inventors: Shojiro Komatsu, Yusuke Moriyoshi, Katsuyuki Okada
  • Publication number: 20110115415
    Abstract: A dielectric barrier discharge reactor made in the form of a module formed of two electrode panels that are vertically arranged in a parallel manner each having a plurality of metal discharge needles and a meshed treatment unit set between the electrode panels in a parallel manner. The meshed treatment unit includes a substrate having a size equal to the electrode panels, and a metal catalyst prepared from gold, silver, platinum, nickel, manganese, chrome or their combination and coated on the substrate. The dielectric barrier discharge reactor is practical for home or public space application to purify air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: Kun-Liang Hong
  • Patent number: 7944440
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a power supply unit which outputs a supply voltage at a first level when an outside power is supplied and outputs the supply voltage at a second level when the outside power is removed; a discharge unit which outputs a discharge signal when the supply voltage at the second level is input; and a liquid crystal panel including a gate discharge line, a plurality of gate lines connected to the gate discharge line, a plurality of thin film transistors connected to the plurality of gate lines, and a plurality of liquid crystal capacitors connected to the thin film transistors and which charges to a gradation display voltage. The thin film transistor is turned on to discharge the gradation display voltage charged in the plurality of liquid crystal capacitors when the discharge signal is provided to the gate discharge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Heon Park
  • Publication number: 20100320915
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a Fluorescent Lighting System are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention may be used as a fluorescent lamp ballast which is controlled using a non-resonant circuit that allows the ballast to lower to fifty percent the light output of the lamp while providing a corresponding fifty percent reduction in energy used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: John T. Martin, Lucien Tournie, Douglas Gene Lockie
  • Publication number: 20100296843
    Abstract: An electron emitting element of the present invention includes an electron acceleration layer sandwiched between an electrode substrate and a thin-film electrode, and the electron acceleration layer includes a fine particle layer containing insulating fine particles and a basic dispersant. This makes it possible to provide an electron emitting element which does not cause insulation breakdown in an insulating layer and which can be produced at a low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hirawaka, Ayae Nagaoka, Yasuo Imura, Tadashi Iwamatsu
  • Publication number: 20100296845
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electron emitting element which has good energy efficiency and which is capable of controlling a value of current flowing in an electron acceleration layer and an amount of emitted electrons by adjusting a resistance value of the electron acceleration layer and an amount of generated ballistic electrons. An electron emitting element 1 includes an electron acceleration layer 4 including a fine particle layer containing insulating fine particles. In the electron emitting element 1, Ie=?·R?0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Hiroyuki HIRAKAWA, Ayae Nagaoka, Yasuo Imura, Tadashi Iwamatsu
  • Publication number: 20100296842
    Abstract: An electron emitting element of the present invention includes an electron acceleration layer that includes insulating fine particles but does not include conductive fine particles, the electron acceleration layer being provided between an electrode substrate and a thin-film electrode. This electron emitting element accelerates electrons in the electron acceleration layer and emits the electrons from the thin-film electrode, when a voltage is applied between the electrode substrate and the thin-film electrode. Accordingly, the electron emitting element of the present invention makes dielectric breakdown hard to occur. Further, this electron emitting element is produced easily at low cost and capable of emitting a steady and sufficient amount of electrons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Yasuo IMURA, Hiroyuki Hirakawa, Ayae Nagaoka, Tadashi Iwamatsu, Kanako Hirata
  • Publication number: 20100296844
    Abstract: According to an electron emitting element of the present invention, an electron acceleration layer sandwiched between an electrode substrate and a thin-film electrode contains (i) insulating fine particles and (ii) at least one of (a) conductive fine particles having an average particle diameter smaller than an average particle diameter of the insulating fine particles and (b) a basic dispersant. The electron acceleration layer has a surface roughness of 0.2 ?m or less in centerline average roughness (Ra). The thin-film electrode has a film thickness of 100 nm or less. As such, according to the electron emitting element of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the thin-film electrode to an appropriate thickness. Accordingly, it is possible to increase electron emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Yasuo IMURA, Hiroyuki Hirakawa, Ayae Nagaoka, Tadashi Iwamatsu
  • Publication number: 20100278561
    Abstract: An electron emitting element (1) includes a substrate (2), an upper electrode (3), and a fine particle layer (4) sandwiched between the substrate (2) and the upper electrode (3). The fine particle layer (4) includes metal fine particles (6) with high resistance to oxidation, and insulating fine particles (5) larger in size than the metal fine particles (6). The electron emitting element (1) can steadily emit electrons not only in vacuum but also in the atmosphere. Further, the electron emitting element (1) can work without electric discharge so that harmful substances such as ozone, NOx, or the like are scarcely generated. Accordingly, degradation of the electron emitting element (1) due to oxidation does not occur. Therefore, the electron emitting element (1) has a long life and can steadily work continuously for a long period of time even in the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kanda, Tadashi Iwamatsu, Toshihiro Tamura, Hiroyuki Hirakawa, Yoshio Ichii
  • Publication number: 20100253246
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dielectric barrier discharge lamp in a coaxial double-tube arrangement, comprising an exterior electrode (6), and interior electrode (7), and an auxiliary electrode (8). The interior electrode (7) is designed as an electrically conductive layer placed inside the interior tube (3) of the double-tube arrangement. The auxiliary electrode (8) is designed, for example, as a metal tube or pipe and is also disposed inside the interior tube (3), specifically in direct contact with the layer. In this manner, the conductivity of the interior electrode (S) is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Axel Hombach, Oliver Rosier, Markus Roth, Siegmar Rudakowski
  • Publication number: 20100231784
    Abstract: [Problems to be Solved] To solve a problem that introducing electric appliances such as a transmitter for transmitting micro radio waves such as Bluetooth and RFID, a transmitter for transmitting infrared rays, and a camera for capturing an image into an in-house requires a high cost. [Means to Solve the Problems] Energy is acquired from a magnetic field that is generated by a current for turning on a fluorescent lamp of a lighting equipment so as to drive the electric appliances such as a transmitter for transmitting micro radio waves such as Bluetooth and RFID, a transmitter for transmitting infrared rays, and a camera for capturing an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junichi Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20100225254
    Abstract: The cold cathode lamp includes a light-transmissive insulating tube; the first and second internal electrodes disposed inside the insulating tube; the first and second external electrodes disposed outside the insulating tube and connected to the first and second internal electrodes, respectively; the first and second insulating members covering the first and second external electrodes, respectively; the first opposite electrode opposite the first external electrode with the first insulating member interposed therebetween, the second opposite electrode opposite the second external electrode with the second insulating member interposed therebetween, the first insulating layer covering the outer edges of the first opposite electrode; and the second insulating layer covering the outer edges of the second opposite electrode. It is possible to light up a plurality of cold cathode lamps that are connected in parallel to a power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiki Takata
  • Publication number: 20100225253
    Abstract: A cold cathode lamp includes a light-transmitting insulating tube, first and second internal electrodes arranged inside the insulating tube, first and second external electrodes arranged outside the insulating tube and respectively connected with the first and second internal electrodes, first and second insulating bodies respectively covering the first and second external electrodes, a first counter electrode arranged opposite to the first external electrode via the first insulating body, and a second counter electrode arranged opposite to the second external electrode via the second insulating body. The first (second) counter electrode has a portion which does not face the first (second) external electrode, and the space between this portion and the insulating tube is filled with the first (second) insulating body. A plurality of such cold cathode lamps can be lit by being connected in parallel with a power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiki Takata
  • Publication number: 20100215402
    Abstract: An electron emitting element of the present invention includes an electron acceleration layer between an electrode substrate and a thin-film electrode. The electron acceleration layer includes a binder component in which insulating fine particles and conductive fine particles are dispersed. Therefore, the electron emitting element of the present invention is capable of preventing degradation of the electron acceleration layer and can efficiently and steadily emit electrons not only in vacuum but also under the atmospheric pressure. Further, the electron emitting element of the present invention can be formed so as to have an improved mechanical strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Ayae Nagaoka, Tadashi Iwamatsu, Hiroyuki Hirakawa, Yasuo Imura
  • Publication number: 20100194313
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high voltage electrical connection line (11), in particular for electrically connecting a gas discharge source (10) to a high voltage power source (9). The connection line is formed of a stack of two electrically conductive plates (2) separated by an electrically isolating layer (1). An electrically conductive layer (8) of a material having a higher electrical resistivity than the material of the conductive plates (2) is arranged between said isolating layer (1) and said conductive plates (2). The proposed connection line provides a higher life time when used for connecting a high voltage power source and a pulsed discharge lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Dominik Marcel Vaudrevange, Jakob Willi Neff, Christof Metzmacher
  • Publication number: 20100196050
    Abstract: An electron emitting element of the present invention includes an electron acceleration layer provided between an electrode substrate and a thin-film electrode, which electron acceleration layer includes (a) conductive fine particles and (b) insulating fine particles having an average particle diameter greater than that of the conductive fine particles. The electron emitting element satisfies the following relational expression: 0.3x+3.9?y?75, where x (nm) is an average particle diameter of the insulating fine particles, and y (nm) is a thickness of the thin-film electrode 3. Such a configuration allows modification of the thickness of the thin-film electrode with respect to the size of the insulating particles, thereby ensuring electrical conduction and allowing sufficient current to flow inside the element. As a result, stable emission of ballistic electrons from the thin-film electrode is possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Tadashi Iwamatsu, Ayae Nagaoka, Hiroyuki Hirakawa, Yasuo Imura
  • Publication number: 20100181942
    Abstract: A thermionic emission device, in particular for use in an x-ray tube, has an indirectly heated primary emitter that is fashioned as a flat emitter with an unstructured primary emission surface, and a heating emitter that is fashioned as a flat emitter with a structured heat emission surface. The primary emitter and the heating emitter each has at least two terminal lugs, and the primary emission surface and the heat emission surface are aligned essentially parallel to one another. The emission device provides an optimally high quality of the focal spot with a simple design and, given high thermal load, an unwanted widening or defocusing of the electron beam is avoided by the terminal lugs of the primary emitter being aligned essentially perpendicular to the primary emission surface and not protruding beyond the primary emission surface in the lateral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventor: Joerg Freudenberger
  • Patent number: 7750578
    Abstract: A discharge lamp ballast apparatus has a reflecting mirror 2 and a power source circuit 5. The reflecting mirror 2 is disposed around a discharge light bulb 1 in such a manner as to cast light from the discharge light bulb 1 in one direction. The power source circuit 5 applies a start pulse of a negative potential with respect to the potential of the reflecting mirror 2 to an electrode 6 located at a side with the higher electric field concentration produced between electrodes 6 and 7 to which a high voltage of the start pulse is applied. This makes it possible to produce a dielectric breakdown near the electrode 6, and makes it easier to start the discharge light bulb 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ohsawa, Yasutaka Inanaga
  • Publication number: 20100164410
    Abstract: A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD-) lamp (1) comprising a discharge volume (2) which is delimited by a first and a second wall (4, 5) is disclosed, wherein both walls (4, 5) are exposed to different electrical potentials by means of a power supply (11) for exciting a gas discharge within the discharge volume (2). By providing at least one electrically conductive ignition aid or igniter which extends within the discharge volume (2) and which electrically contacts the first and the second wall (4, 5) with each other, a significant reduction of the initial ignition voltage of the lamp (1) can be obtained, especially after long pauses of operation of the lamp (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Georg Greuel, Wolfgang Schiene, Norbert Braun
  • Publication number: 20100127643
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a rear plate including electron-emitting devices, a face plate including an anode electrode for accelerating electrons from the electron-emitting devices, a plate-shaped spacer being disposed between the rear and face plates and including a conductive member formed in a longitudinal direction of the spacer, and a potential-supplying unit for forming a potential gradient in the conductive member in the longitudinal direction of the spacer to compensate a difference between a distance to the spacer from a position on the face plate irradiated with electrons emitted from a first electron-emitting device among the electron-emitting devices and that from a position on the face plate irradiated with electrons emitted from a second electron-emitting device among the electron-emitting devices, the second electron-emitting device being located at a position shifted in the longitudinal direction of the spacer with respect to a position of the first electron-emitting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoya Onishi
  • Patent number: 7714522
    Abstract: A method and a circuit arrangement operate a discharge lamp, such as a high-intensity discharge lamp (HID) or ultra high performance lamps (UHP). The discharge lamp has first and second operating phases with a higher first or a lower second frequency of the lamp's alternating current (AC). The operating phases are activated alternatively at defined intervals and for defined periods of time, in order to achieve a stable arc discharge and only a low burnout or rise in burning voltage of the lamp during its life by configuring certain forms of electrode tips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Pavel Pekarski, Johan Wijntjens, Holger Moench, Jens Pollmann-Retsch
  • Publication number: 20100097011
    Abstract: An evaluation device for measuring the ignition energy of a discharge lamp that is ignited by means of a superposed ignition unit, with the aid of a measuring signal that is proportional to the voltage across the discharge, and a measuring signal that is proportional to the current flowing through the lamp, is provided. The evaluation device is configured such that the energy injected into a discharge lamp during a high voltage pulse is suitably evaluated by means of a combination of an analog circuit and a digital circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: OSRAM GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRAENKTER HAFTUNG
    Inventor: Ludger Wilken
  • Patent number: 7696699
    Abstract: A lamp base (2) for a high-pressure discharge lamp comprises an ignition transformer (1000), which is placed in the interior (214) of the lamp base (2) and which serves to ignite the gas discharge inside the high-pressure discharge lamp. To this end, the ignition transformer (1000) comprises a core on which its windings (1001, 1002) are placed. The core is formed by a first core part (1004) and by at least one second core part (1005, 1006, 1007), which are each made of a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material and are separated by at least one gap (10078). The first core part (1004) has a cylindrical section on which the windings (1001, 1002) of the ignition transformer (1000) are placed, and core parts (1004, 1005, 1006, 1007) are formed in such a manner that the core, apart from the at least one gap (1008), has a closed shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Osram Gesellschaft mit Beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Daniel Lerchegger, Bernhard Sieβegger
  • Patent number: 7692391
    Abstract: A discharge lamp ballast having a starting circuit including a second inductor connected between a first end of a discharge lamp and the positive voltage side of a first capacitor; a second capacitor forming a resonance circuit together with the second inductor; a second switching element connected between the positive terminal of a DC power source and the second end of the lamp; a third switching element connected between the second end of the lamp and the negative voltage side of the first capacitor; and a starting controller that controls both switching elements. The starting controller alternately turns both switching elements on and off so as to contribute resonance voltage of the resonance circuit for starting of the lamp in case of the starting mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Nakada, Hirofumi Konishi, Junichi Hasegawa, Koji Watanabe, Kiyoaki Uchihashi, Toshiaki Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20100066272
    Abstract: A cold cathode tube lamp is fed with power from a first conductive member and a second conductive member provided outside in a mounted state, and includes a glass tube, first and second internal electrodes provided inside the glass tube, a first external electrode provided outside the glass tube and connected to the first internal electrode, a second external electrode provided outside the glass tube and connected to the second internal electrode, a first insulating layer coated on the first external electrode, and a second insulating layer coated on the second external electrode. In a mounted state, the first conductive member and the first external electrode are capacitively coupled together, and the second conductive member and the second external electrode are capacitively coupled together. With such a structure, parallel lighting can be achieved by parallel driving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiki TAKATA
  • Publication number: 20100045212
    Abstract: Nanotubes are positioned laterally between posts. These posts can be formed directly on a substrate, or on top of sharp protrusions, which are themselves located on the substrate. Horizontally positioned nanotubes can be used as emitters, either singly or as part of an array. Electron emissions from the sidewalls of the nanotubes can be used to generate X-rays, Microwaves and Terahertz radiation, or other electromagnetic radiation. Arrays of laterally positioned nanotubes can reduce screening effects and other emission irregularities sometimes caused by vertically positioned nanotube emitters that rely on emissions from nanotube ends. Carbon nanotubes can be manually between two posts, or grown in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: Vladimir Mancevski
  • Publication number: 20100039040
    Abstract: Disclosed are a new Mercury-free flat light source structure capable of enhancing and adjusting brightness, maintaining stable and uniform discharge, and improving luminous efficiency, and a large flat light source apparatus using the same Mercury-free flat light source structure as a unit cell capable of adjusting the brightness and causing local discharges in selected areas, and a driving method thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Ki-Woong Whang, Ju-Kwang Lee
  • Publication number: 20100033114
    Abstract: A lamp includes a discharge vessel with electrodes extending into the discharge vessel and an ionizable fill sealed within the vessel. The fill includes a buffer gas, optionally mercury, and a halide component comprising a sodium halide, a lanthanum halide, a thallium halide, and a calcium halide. The lanthanum halide is present in the halide component at a mol fraction of at least 0.03.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: Raghu Ramaiah
  • Publication number: 20090322258
    Abstract: A method of producing an electron source, a carbon nanotube (CNT) electron source, and a method of field emission using an electron source are disclosed. Embodiments provide convenient and effective mechanisms for improving thermal and mechanical performance of CNT electron sources, in one example, by heating a polymer-based matrix (e.g., PDMS) beyond its curing point until the polymer decomposes to form a cross linked and rigid matrix comprising silicon dioxide (SiO2). Additionally, embodiments provide convenient, effective and cost-efficient mechanisms for producing large-scale electron sources with controlled and nearly uniform CNT densities by spin coating a CNT/PDMS solution onto a substrate comprising an electrode, where an electric field is used to align the CNTs while the matrix is heated to convert the PDMS-based matrix to an SiO2-based matrix to secure the CNTs with respect to one another and with respect to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Cattien V. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7592758
    Abstract: A stabilizer with brightness control for a High Intensity discharge lamp comprising a base, an positive electrode terminal configured with a power input of the base, a negative electrode terminal configured with the base on the same side the positive electrode terminal configured, a power-switching terminal configured with the base on the other side the positive electrode terminal configured, a control switch and a control element on a circuit board inside the base, wherein the control switch coupled with the positive electrode terminal, the negative electrode terminal and the power-switching terminal respectively, and a connect pin of the power-switching terminal is corresponding to the control element on a circuit board inside the base so as to adjust brightness for a High Intensity discharge lamp by the control switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventor: A-Chuan Chen
  • Publication number: 20090224679
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are electron emitters, charging devices, and methods of forming them. An electron emitter array can include a plurality of nanostructures, each of the plurality of nanostructures can include a first end and a second end, wherein the first end can be connected to a first electrode and the second end can be positioned to emit electrons, and wherein each of the plurality of nanostructures can be formed of one or more of oxidation resistant metals, doped metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, doped metal oxides, and ceramics. The electron emitter array can also include a second electrode in close proximity to the first electrode, wherein one or more of the plurality of nanostructures can emit electrons in a gas upon application of an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: David H. Pan, Fa-Gung Fan, Joseph A. Swift, Dan A. Hays, Michael F. Zona
  • Publication number: 20090195193
    Abstract: A light device, such as a device using compact fluorescent light, is disclosed. The light device includes a housing. A compact fluorescent light source is supported by the housing. A converting device is coupled with the compact fluorescent light source. The converting device is provided for connecting with a low voltage line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: Peter D. Joseph
  • Patent number: 7545107
    Abstract: There is provided an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device with small size and low cost by simplifying a noise suppression part and a lighting apparatus having the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device. A counter circuit of a frequency signal generating circuit repeatedly generates a frequency signal of which the amplitude is varied in a multi-step shape on the basis of an oscillation period of an oscillation circuit. An oscillation circuit outputs an oscillation signal of a frequency corresponding to the amplitude of the frequency signal. A drive circuit drives a switching element of an inverter circuit at the frequency of the oscillation signal and the inverter circuit applies a high-frequency voltage generated by the switching operation of the switching element to an induction coil to start up and light the electrodeless discharge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shohei Yamamoto, Hiroshi Kido, Akira Nakajo