Abstract: A light emitting element drive device of the present invention includes a light emitting element; a drive unit for driving the light emitting element; an electricity storage element capable of storing electric power; a battery power supply capable of supplying electric power to the electricity storage element; and a boost chopper circuit having an inductor, for boosting voltage by opening and closing a switching element. The drive unit is switchable between three states: a storing state in which electric power from the battery power supply is stored in the electricity storage element; a first discharging state in which the electric power stored in the electricity storage element is supplied to the light emitting element; and a second discharging state in which electric power from the battery power supply is boosted by the boost chopper circuit and is supplied to the light emitting element.

Abstract: A field emission cathode comprises at least one electron emitting parcel, and at least one ion absorbing parcel each being electrically connected with each of the at least one electron emitting parcel. The electron emitting parcel includes a first substrate and a nano emission component disposed on the first substrate for emitting electrons in an electric field. The ion absorbing parcel is constituted by a second substrate, in which the electric conductivity of the first substrate is less than that of the second substrate. A field emission light comprises the said field emission cathode, a field emission anode and a power supply. Thus the positive ions in an electric field can be absorbed by ion absorbing parcels to suppress an ion bombardment in the electric field. The efficiency of the electric field of the field emission is then maintained, and the lifetime of the field emission light is enhanced.

Abstract: A first ink discharging is carried out onto picture element regions on a glass substrate, picture element regions being components divided off by a black matrix in a fine region. Drying of ink forms an ink film whose layer thickness is thick at a surrounding section and thin at a midsection. Further, second ink discharging is carried out on the first ink film and by drying ink discharged in the second ink discharging, an ink layer which has a flat surface is formed.

Abstract: Mixtures and light-emitting devices that incorporate such mixtures are disclosed in which a soluble phenyl-substituted poly(para-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) copolymer (“superyellow”) is used as the host light-emitting polymer and methyltrioctylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, an ionic liquid, is used to introduce a dilute concentration of mobile ions into the emitting polymer layer. These mixtures and devices incorporating them are able to combine some of the characteristics of polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs) and polymer light-emitting electrochemical cells (PLECs).

Abstract: A ballast for feeding a high-pressure discharge lamp. The ballast: supplies the lamp with an AC voltage at an ignition frequency (fi) during an ignition period (ti), supplies the lamp with an AC voltage at a glow frequency (fg) during a glow period (tg) following the ignition period (ti), repeats the start-up sequence of ignition period and glow period (ti, tg), supplies the lamp with an AC voltage at an operating frequency (fb) during an operating period (tb) following the last start-up sequence, and interrupts the power supply to the lamp in a start-up sequence, not being the last start-up sequence, during an interruption period (td) following the glow period (tg).

Abstract: A command triggered plasma opening switch assembly using an amplification stage. The assembly surrounds a coaxial transmission line and has a main plasma opening switch (POS) close to the load and a trigger POS upstream from the main POS. The trigger POS establishes two different current pathways through the assembly depended on whether it has received a trigger current pulse. The initial pathway has both POS's with plasma between their anodes and cathodes to form a short across the transmission line and isolating the load. The final current pathway is formed when the trigger POS receives a trigger current pulse which energizes its fast coil to push the conductive plasma out from between its anode and cathode, allowing the main transmission line current to pass to the fast coil of the main POS, thus pushing its plasma out the way so as to establish a direct current pathway to the load.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying short pulsed waveforms, on the order of 1 &mgr;s pulses at a frequency of about 5 kHz, to a discharge lamp, such as a low-pressure mercury/argon lamp, in order to shift the ratio of the intensities of two of the mercury lines, in particular the 254 nm and 365 nm lines, of which for a sinusoidal excitation signal the 254 nm line is predominant, towards the higher wavelength. This greatly increases the efficiency of a lamp using phosphors excited by these UV emissions, because of the reduced Stokes shift.

Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) system is for use in avionic applications. The system includes an integral cathode fall indicator. The indicator relies on a gas fill mixture to provide an orange glow when the cathode fall region has an abnormally high potential across it. During normal operation, the gas fill mixture provides a light blue glow. The gas mixture includes helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon.

Abstract: A cold-cathode, crossed field switch has a magnet system which generates a magnetic field that is radially-oriented about a switch axis and a planar electrode system which generates an axially-oriented electric field. These structures facilitate a switch whose capacitance, inductance and fabrication costs are all reduced from that of conventional cold-cathode, crossed-field switches. Magnets of the magnet system are arranged in two concentric annular rings with their north and south poles aligned either axially or radially. The planar electrode system includes a cathode, a source grid, a control grid and an anode which are arranged in a substantially parallel relationship.

Abstract: A high impedance plasma opening switch having an anode and a cathode and at least one additional electrode placed between the anode and cathode. The presence of the additional electrodes leads to the creation of additional plasma gaps which are in series, increasing the net impedance of the switch. An equivalent effect can be obtained by using two or more conventional plasma switches with their plasma gaps wired in series. Higher impedance switches can provide high current and voltage to higher impedance loads such as plasma radiation sources.

Abstract: By incorporating two-pole circuits (13) as switching elements in a picture display device based on field emission, the emission (and hence the picture intensity) is substantially defined by the charge of a capacitance (15) associated with a part of a pixel (8). Charge-controlled drive leads to a more accurate adjustment than the voltage-controlled drive used until now and leads to lower drive voltages, less power consumption and a longer lifetime of the phosphors used in the display device.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling the luminous output of a fluorescent lamp over a wide dimming range. The luminous output is controlled by controlling the lamp current, while the lamp is immersed in a lateral electrostatic field. The lamp and external electrostatic ionization electrodes are driven by a true analog voltage-to-current converter that has a dynamic range inherently wider than conventional PWM circuits. A modified, transformer coupled, push-pull converter with an analog-current-driven primary circuit is used in one embodiment of the apparatus. The lamp driver must be capable of providing a high compliance voltage consistent with the I-V profile of the lamp. A subordinate primary winding on the transformer may be used to reduce magnetization current and to supply sufficient energy for supporting the lateral electrostatic field that is generated by the ionization electrodes which may be printed on a PWB mounted behind the lamp.

Abstract: A flat display device includes no exposed part of an insulated substrate on the inner wall of electron pass holes for attaining a high intensity of a display screen, high operational stability of the display screen, and having a simple structure for manufacturing it easily. In a control electrode, resistive films are formed on the exposed part of an insulated body. When the electrons pass through electron pass holes, electron beams are controlled without charging the insulated substrate by the electrons.

Abstract: An electric flash apparatus of the present invention has an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (I.G.B.T.) for controlling the light emission actuation of the strobe tube (Xe), which is connected to the strobe tube in series, a switching element (11) for supplying a driving signal to the I.G.B.T. from a main capacitor (C.sub.M), and a gate circuit (14) for controlling actuation of the switching element (11), which is connected across both ends of the strobe tube (Xe), and is actuated by a switch circuit (17) for actuating a trigger circuit (20). And the actuation of the switching element (11) is kept by turning on of the I.G.B.T.

Abstract: An opening switch for very high power electrical pulses uses a slow magnetic field to confine a plasma across a gap between two electrodes. The plasma conducts the electric pulse across the gap while the switch is closed. A magnetic field generated by the pulse repels the slow magnetic field from the negative electrode to push the plasma from the electrode, opening the switch. A plurality of radial vanes may be used to enhance the slow magnetic field.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of detecting the low-speed electrons (photo-electrons, exo-electrons) emitted from an object with increased accuracy, regardless of the condition of operating environment is disclosed. The apparatus consists in the main of a bell-shaped cathode opened to the atmosphere at the bottom thereof, and an anode supported within the cathode. The anode is supplied with a high voltage enough to induce a gaseous discharge upon the entrance of the low-speed electrons into the cathode, and the number of pulses generated by the anode as a result of this gaseous discharge is counted. Also, a sensor is provided to detect the condition of the operating environment and outputs a signal indicative of the condition. This signal is used to adjust the condition for gaseous discharge across the anode and the cathode to thereby maintain a constant counting rate.

Abstract: A triggerable opening switch for a very high voltage and current pulse includes a transmission line extending from a source to a load and having an intermediate switch section including a plasma for conducting electrons between transmission line conductors and a magnetic field for breaking the plasma conduction path and magnetically insulating the electrons when it is desired to open the switch.

Abstract: A shutter (36) is provided for controlling a beam, or current, of charged particles in a device such as a thyratron (10). The substrate (38) defines an aperture (60) with a gap (32) which is placeable within the current. Coils (48) are formed on the substrate (38) adjacent the aperture (60) to produce a magnetic field for trapping the charged particles in or about aperture (60). The proximity of the coils (48) to the aperture (60) enables an effective magnetic field to be generated by coils (48) having a low inductance suitable for high frequency control. The substantially monolithic structure including the substrate (38) and coils (48) enables the entire shutter assembly (36) to be effectively located with respect to the particle beam.

Abstract: A triggerable ceramic gas tube voltage breakdown device, particularly adapted for use in an electrical circuit for controlling the light output of a photoflash lamp, includes means for reducing the attenuation of an electrical trigger pulse in the region of the electrode gap due to the ceramic spacer tube. The electric field intensity in the region of the electrode gap resulting from the trigger pulse may be enhanced by disposing annular conductive material in the region and by connecting that material to a source of the trigger pulses. Alternatively or in conjunction therewith, the configuration of the ceramic spacer tube may be altered by removing material from the ceramic spacer tube in the region of the electrode gap, thereby enhancing the electric field intensity in that region resulting from the trigger pulses.

Abstract: The invention provides a laser arrangement including in its discharge circuit a switching thyratron which is capable of conduction normally in one direction and protectively in the reverse direction. The thyratron has an anode formed as a hollow body which is adapted to retain plasma generated during a pulse of forward conduction so that the anode is provided to act as a cathode permitting protective reversal of the thyratron when this is subject to reversal of voltage.

Abstract: The amount of light to be produced in an electronic flash lamp apparatus, which is required to take a picture under proper exposure conditions, is predetermined depending on the object distance, the lens diaphragm aperture and the film speed. The actual amount of light produced in the electronic flash lamp apparatus is given as the integrated voltage of a portion only, of the discharge current that flows through the flash discharge tube. The electronic flash lamp apparatus automatically terminates the flash, when agreement between the predetermined and actual amounts of light is reached.

Abstract: A high-voltage power supply for an electron-beam gun with a heatable cathode and an anode and of the type having an electronic switch connected in the current circuit for the cathode and controllable for blocking the current to the cathode, includes an impulse protecting filter connected in the current circuit for the cathode. The filter comprises a capacitor connected in parallel to the cathode, a choke connected in series with the cathode current circuit, a blocking diode and a discharge resistor connected in series therewith, with the diode and resistor connected in parallel with the choke.

Abstract: A plasma switch comprising a substantially evacuated chamber, a generally tubular cathode disposed within the chamber, an elongated anode disposed concentrically within and projecting from the opposite ends of the cathode, the opposite ends of the cathode being substantially closed by an electrically conductive end plates, at least one of such end plates being electrically insulated from the cathode and from the anode, and circuit means for selectively connecting such end plate to the anode or to the cathode.

Abstract: A method for breaking direct current, whereby an initial gas pressure, corresponding to the working conditions of a stationary current channel, is set in a gas discharge device, whereafter direct current is passed through the gas discharge device, and the density of the gas filling said gas discharge device is simultaneously reduced over the entire volume of the gas discharge device to a critical value which causes a breaking of the direct current. The d.c. breaker for effecting this method is built around a gas discharge device comprising an anode, a cathode, and intermediate electrodes interposed between said anode and cathode. The cathode is formed by an end emitter, a cone-shaped reflector with the cone's apex facing the end emitter, and two coaxial cylinders encompassing the end emitter and reflector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sun lamp provided with a timer circuit that includes a capacitor. As soon as the capacitor reaches a certain charge condition the sun lamp is switched-off.The sun lamp also comprises a safety circuit responsive to a given level of current through the capacitor, which indicates a defect in the timer circuit 2, to rapidly terminate the irradiation.

Abstract: Circuitry directed to the rapid de-ionization of ultraviolet detectors by increasing the mobility of the ionized gases within the tubes which will enable the tubes to more effectively operate at low temperatures. The circuitry includes connecting circuitry for shorting the elements of the tube such that they will be at the same potential immediately after firing and also includes circuitry for the shunting of the tube immediately after firing to limit the number of ions generated in the discharge process. The shorting of the elements increases the surface area of negative electrodes for the recapture of the ions and the distance through which the ions must travel is reduced by a factor of one-half.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter which can be used as a high voltage d-c breaker or fault current limiter transfer switch or the like contains a pair of cooperable contacts disposed in an evacuated container. One of the contacts also serves as the cathode of a magnetically modulated vacuum arc discharge device. This cathode is spaced from an anode disposed in the wall of the evacuated housing. The anode is surrounded by a winding which is capable of producing a magnetic field which can increase the impedance of the arc plasma between the cathode and anode in order to decrease the arc current and extinguish the arc. The cooperable contacts within the interrupter serve to carry load current and also serve to create the inital arc which is transferred between the anode and cathode structures.

Abstract: A high voltage interrupter consists of a cathode disposed centrally along the axis of an annular anode ring. The anode ring is a part of the wall of an evacuated container and is enclosed by a magnetic coil. Current flows through an arc plasma struck between the cathode and anode and this arc current is controlled by a magnetic field produced by the external coil which varies the impedance of the arc and causes the arc to extinguish. The anode contains a plurality of parallel metal vanes which extend into the interior of the evacuated housing to increase the current capability of the device and to control the rate of change of the current during switching operation.

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 circuit interrupting device for providing protection against surge currents is constructed to operate very rapidly. A surge current generates a magnetic field in coils which deflects an electron beam which normally travels from a cathode to an anode to complete an electric circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sunlamp device which is provided with a high pressure mercury vapour discharge tube and with an auxiliary device for extinguishing the discharge tube with a given time delay on termination of the desired irradiation period.According to the invention a switch connected in series with the discharge tube is shunted by a resistor having a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTC resistor). This ensures that after the switch has been opened on termination of the desired irradiation period the PTC resistor passes current for some time. As a result the resistance of this PTC resistor is increased, which causes the current through the discharge tube to be reduced. This finally results in an increase of the operating voltage of the discharge tube to a value higher than the available voltage, so that the tube is extinguished. This device is simpler than a known device provided with two timers.

Abstract: A circuit for igniting an electronic flashtube including a thyristor connected in series with the flashtube and an ignition capacitor connected through a switching thyristor to an ignition transformer to trigger the flashtube. The state of the series thyristor is controlled by means such as an electronic threshold switch to provide proper switching operation over a range of flashtubes with different specimen variations with respect to the time required to build up plasma.

Abstract: The time period necessary to charge a current-to-light convertible energy storing capacitor to a certain voltage is reduced as compared with prior art devices. The energy storing capacitor is connected across a flash tube and switching element series-connected with each other. The switching element is provided with a control circuit, responsive to the voltage of the storage capacitor decreasing to a level at which the flash tube is stopped from producing flash light, for producing a terminating signal by which the switching element is brought into the open or non conducting state. With this arrangement, it is made possible to prevent complete discharge of the electric charge stored in the storage capacitor from occurring, thereby providing the advantage of saving a good fraction of the charging time period which would be otherwise necessary when the storage capacitor is completely discharged to zero voltage.

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: The invention consists of an electrical circuit for a vehicle headlight system whereby the conventional parallel circuit connection of headlights is automatically converted into a series circuit connection under conditions appropriate for daytime running lights, whereby the light output of the headlights is reduced as compared to that in conventional headlight circuit mode, and a method for interconnecting such circuit with conventional headlight systems.