Abstract: Disclosed is a compact fluorescent lamp having a chassis member consisting of a cylindrical part and a holder member, a screw base screwed to the cylindrical part, a base member attached to the cylindrical part, a winding envelope formed by bending a straight tube twice into U-shapes, a ballast mounted to the holder member of the chassis member and a globe member attached to the base member.

Abstract: A device for prolonging the life of an incandescent lamp includes a rectifier unit adapted for attachment to a lamp base and subsequent insertion into an appropriate lamp socket along with the lamp. The rectifier unit employs a leadless diode chip which is positioned off center within the socket so that the forces applied to the rectifier unit as the lamp is being screwed into the socket will not be applied directly to the diode chip. The rectifier unit also employs a pair of recessed electrical contacts attached to the diode chip and designed to minimize the distance that the unit raises the lamp in the socket and to conduct away the heat generated by the diode chip.

Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp having a chassis member, a screw base screwed to the chassis member, a base member secured to the chassis member, a winding envelope having bent part and both ends oriented to the same direction, a ballast surrounded by the winding envelope and a globe member attached to the base member. The ballast is disposed between the bent part and the ends of the winding envelope so as to provide the winding envelope with a desirable coolest wall temperature.

Abstract: A circular fluorescent lamp unit comprises a circular tubular fluorescent mp; a housing secured inside the space formed by the circular fluorescent lamp, the housing containing the ballast and starting device; and a base for connection to a supply voltage, the base being connected to the housing concentrically with the circular fluorescent lamp. The improvement resides in that the housing is an elongate hollow body which extends diametrically across the space defined by the circular fluorescent lamp; the housing having one end for enclosing the ends of the circular fluorescent lamp and another end for taking support against the wall of the circular fluorescent lamp which is diametrically opposite to the ends of the circular fluorescent lamp. In a preferred embodiment, the housing comprises two interconnected form locking housing cup-shaped members.

Abstract: An enclosed electrical device (42) includes an electrical circuit (50) having elements (48-68) which lie substantially in and along a plane (115). A member (70) is applied to a one side and a member (85) is applied to another side of the circuit (50) for at least partially enclosing the same. Conductors (48) and (49) of circuit (50) are fixedly penetrated, preferably by pins (74) which are fixedly engaged to enclosure members (70) and (85). Such engagement is advantageously provided by making the pins (74) an integral part of member (70), for example by including pins (74) in a premolded member (70). Such engagement is also advantageously provided by making pin-engaging sockets (94) an integral part of member (85), also for example by including the sockets (94) in a premolded member (85). By a preferred friction fit of pins (74) and sockets (94), the enclosure members (70) and (85 ) and circuit elements (48-68) are sufficiently fixed relative to one another to resist forces applied thereto in service.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp device formed of an outer tube containing a fluorescent lamp therein, a connection tube connected to one end of the outer tube, a cap containing a glow starter and a condenser therein connected to the other end of the outer tube, and a base member connected to the connection tube. The base member contains a ballast member mainly formed of a thermistor and a thermal adjustment member having an integrally formed contacting member for making electrical connection with a base pin of the fluorescent lamp. The thermal adjustment member and the thermistor are in direct electrical and mechanical engagement such that the thermal adjustment member conducts heat from the thermistor to the thermal adjustment member.

Abstract: An aiming post light for artillery and mortar operations at night wherein an ordinary GI flashlight may be used, without modification, as a post light when mounted on a support and wherein its original ordinary lightbulb is replaced with a novel bulb of same base outer configuration in which the bulb has encapsulated solid state circuitry to provide a blinking and/or steady light emitting diode (LED) as the light source. Depending upon the particular LED and circuitry selected, the light may be continuous or intermittent and may be a selected color. In one embodiment several options are available when using a single bulb.

Abstract: An integrally connected fluorescent lamp and ballast unit having an elongated ballast of wire wound around and along an elongated magnetizable core and extending alongside an elongated lamp bulb. The elongated lamp and ballast can be straight, or can be curved. The ballast provides a combined resistive and inductive ballasting impedance for the lamp.

Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp with a screw-in plug to fit conventional screw sockets which operates at 20-30 watts and provides the lumen output of a 75-100 watt lamp. The lamp is essentially a hollow cylinder with a glass envelope for the two outer walls. The space between the two outer walls is partitioned to constrain the arc discharge to follow a designated path around the inner surface of the lamp. Efficiency is promoted by novel ballast design. The screw-in fluorescent lamp contains a coil in the center of the lamp which creates a diverging magnetic field which causes the arc discharge to spread and may also serve the dual purpose of limiting arc current. Arc spreading coils of several designs are disclosed to provide oriented diverging magnetic fields, rotating diverging magnetic fields and magnetic fields shaped to the lamp envelope with which they are employed.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine; the plug including a pair of electrodes spaced alongside each other, and extending through an insulator fitted in a metal casing that is threaded, so as to be screwed into the engine, each electrode being intercepted by a solid state H.V. time delay device, which, in one example thereof, may comprise a high voltage diode, and, in another example, may comprise a solid state semi-conductor or the like.

Abstract: A thin disc-like device for attachment to the base end of an incandescent light bulb to provide an auxiliary voltage reducing circuit interfaced between the central base contacts of the light bulb and its cooperating lampholder for purposes of extending the rated life of the light bulb. The device is made up of a generally annular insulator base, which protectively houses, locates and mounts a laminated contact assembly made up of a pair of registeringly disposed brass or copper foil electrical conductor contact plates separated by an intervening sheet insulator; the conductor plates having interfacial soldered connections with an interposed flat leaderless silicon rectifier chip. A compressible annular mounting gasket is adhesively secured to the upper side of the contact assembly, its base housing and the base of the light bulb.

Abstract: High-intensity-discharge sodium lamp incorporates as a starting gas xenon at a pressure between 50 and 300 torrs, in order to improve the lamp efficiency and the spectral power distribution of the discharge. To facilitate lamp starting on a conventional pulse-type starting circuit, a trigger electrode is wrapped about the exterior of the arc tube proximate one of the lamp electrodes, with the potential applied to the trigger electrode during lamp starting being the same as that which is applied to the other or more remote lamp electrode. The starting pulse applied between the trigger electrode and the proximate lamp electrode initiates the lamp discharge. The trigger electrode also extends along the outer surface of the arc tube contiguous therewith toward the other electrode and the discharge, once initiated, progresses toward the other electrode.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for a ferrite core disposed within a solenoidal electric field lamp comprises first and second members disposed in chord-like fashion, each having an opening for receiving the core, and in one embodiment, a third member which encircles the core in a chord-like fashion and also encloses the first and second members so as to fixedly hold them to the core when ends of the first and second members are stressedly anchored to points distal from the core. In another embodiment the third member comprises a circular band to which said first and second members are attached, said band being readily affixable to a glass pedestal header assembly. The mounting means cooperate with the lamp assembly so as to reduce the level of electromagnetic interference produced, and can be fabricated rapidly and inexpensively.

Abstract: An electroluminescent display device includes at least two conductive leads spaced from each other with a light-emitting element electrically coupled between such leads. A transparent, insulating base is formed about and between the leads. The base encapsulates both the leads and the light-emitting element.At least one lateral portion of each lead extends beyond the base and substantially conforms to the configuration of the base. In conforming such lateral portions, they are preferably wrapped around the base and fixed to it. These lateral portions are arranged so that light from the light-emitting element may pass axially through the base and out of its ends. In addition, light may pass laterally out of the base.The device may also be used for circuit protection purposes. To so use the device, a protective element is electrically coupled between the leads so that upon the occurrence of an overload condition in an external circuit coupled to the lateral portions, the protective element decouples the leads.

Abstract: A metal vapor discharge lamp includes a discharge tube with main electrodes at each end. A starting electrode extends around at least an axial portion of the tube intermediate the main electrodes, one main electrode is connected to the starting electrode by a first resistance and the other main electrode is connected to the other electrode by a second resistance. At least one of the resistances has a temperature dependent characteristic which is substantially more positive than the other resistance.

Abstract: Gas discharge lamps, especially of the fluorescent tube type, powered from the A.C. line through a rectifier, with a double electrode arrangement and a discharge-type cross connection of the electrode chambers, characterized by the fact that preferably straight glass tube sections of equal length are connected to form an elongated rectangular unit by means of two geometrically equal U-shaped end pieces by the fact that a gas-discharge-tight diaphragm, which is permeable to mercury vapor is provided on one U-shaped end, as well as electrode holders being provided on both sides thereof and at least one pump nipple tube being provided in the other U-shaped end piece.

Abstract: A lamp-starting device for use in a lamp socket adapted to receive the base of a lamp, the device having a pair of electrically-conductive plates disposed in spaced relation in and electrically insulated from each other by a housing of electrically insulating material. An electrical resistor is located between and electrically connects the plates, the resistor being in the circuit when the lamp is initially energized. A temperature-actuated mercury switch is located between the plates, the mercury switch being electrically connected to and located in heat transfer relation to the plate that is adapted to engage the lamp base. The mercury switch electrically interconnecting the plates when the mercury is heated by conductive heat from the lamp socket to bypass the resistor in the circuit after initial energization.

Abstract: A spark plug cap for use on a spark plug of an internal combustion engine to much intensify sparking across the gap between central and ground electrodes of the spark plug. The spark plug cap includes an insulating body having a connector provided at its one end for mechanically connecting the cap to the spark plug. An electrical conductor extends through the insulating body for supplying high-tension ignition current to the central electrode of the spark plug. At least one capacitor unit is supported within the insulating body and electrically connected across the gap between the spark plug electrodes.

Abstract: An illuminating device used for decorating purposes comprises a base for electrical and mechanical connection to a socket, a discharge tube or bulb, a discharge control element for the discharge tube or bulb, supporting wires to support the discharge tube or bulb and the discharge control element, and a light transmitting envelope to be received in the base covering the discharge tube or bulb, the discharge control element and the supporting wires therewithin.

Abstract: An electroluminescent display device includes at least two elongated, conductive contacts substantially adjacent to and spaced from each other with at least two substantially coextensive ends. A light-emitting element is electrically coupled between the coextensive ends. An elongated insulating base is formed about and between the contacts with their elongated outer edges extending beyond the elongated sides of the base. The base extends substantially the entire length of the outer edges of the contacts and is substantially integral between such contacts.The device is fabricated in a lead frame environment, wherein the light-emitting element is bonded to a lead frame. A lens is formed over the light-emitting element. The contacts for the device, which may be slidably engageable, are formed from the lead frame. The base is formed contiguous to the lens and over the lead frame to embed the contacts within the base with edges of the contacts extending laterally beyond the surface of the base.

Abstract: A strip of light-signal unit shells to be formed into single light-signal units including a flat sheet of conductive material having openings which form continuous longitudinal conductors along two opposite edges of the sheet, continuous transverse conductors extending from one longitudinal conductor to the other and a pair of discontinuous conductors extending from opposite continuous longitudinal conductors adjacent each of the continuous transverse conductors, and insulating shells each provided with a recess, each shell encapsulating a portion of one continuous transverse conductor and an adjacent pair of discontinuous conductors, the pair of discontinuous conductors extending into the recess.

Abstract: A monolithic electroluminescent semiconductor device comprising a monocrystalline semiconductor body having a major surface; a semiconductor zone which extends along a part of said major surface of said semiconductor body, said zone adjoining a portion of the semiconductor body and forming therewith a diode that can emit radiation, said diode having a junction which extends to at least said surface of said semiconductor body; a current path element disposed at said major surface and connected electrically in parallel with said junction, said current path element being physically separate from said semiconductor zone and said semiconductor body portion and leaving said junction at least partly intact at said surface, whereby the current voltage characteristics of said current path and of said diode intersect each other and the dynamic admittance of said current path at the intersection is smaller than that of said diode.

Abstract: A lamp-starting device for use in a lamp socket adapted to receive the base of a lamp, the device having a pair of electrically-conductive plates disposed in spaced relation in and electrically insulated from each other by a housing of electrically insulating material. An electrical resistor is located between and electrically connects the plates, the resistor being in the circuit when the lamp is initially energized. A temperature-responsive bimetal strip is located between the plates, the bimetal strip having a contact movable into engagement with a contact on one of the plates when the bimetal strip is heated by conductive heat from the resistor, lamp base and socket to by-pass the resistor in the circuit after initial energization, the bimetal strip being electrically connected to the other of the plates. The bimetal strip includes a loop disposed about the resistor and engaging the other plate and engaging an electrically-insulating member disposed between the plates.

Abstract: An electric incandescent lamp dimming combination fixture device having a subcombination which has at least one thyristor type of semiconductor component, with or without a voltage transient protecting "G.E. MOV." type VP varistor, as desired, and with or without a separate selective electric switch or switching means. The combination fixture device having, in at least one of its other embodiments, a subcombination of at least one-half-wave diode rectifier or rectifying means which is an semiconductor member, of the silicon type, with or without a varistor of the zink oxide doped with gallium oxide diode type, or even a diode of the germanium type, as desired, and at least one electrical selectively switching means.

Abstract: An integral self-contained fluorescent lamp unit comprising an elongated lamp and an elongated ballast resistor carried in an outwardly extending housing member positioned alongside the lamp.

Abstract: A jacketed high intensity discharge lamp utilizes a starter electrode voltage doubling circuit comprising a diode and a mica-dielectric capacitor which is electrically interposed between an inlead into the jacket and the frame side rod and forms an integral structural part of the frame which supports the arc tube. The starter electrode is resistively connected to the side rod to facilitate starting and the arrangement maintains a positive D.C. bias on the frame which reduces electrolysis of sodium through the arc tube walls.

Abstract: An illuminating device for a microscope provided with a lighting control circuit controlled by changing the firing angle for which an impedance means is inserted between the output side of said lighting control circuit and primary side of the transformer in order to obtain a gentle rising curve for the current at the time of firing, thus to reduce the noise.

Abstract: An arrangement to eliminate the initial current overshoot which normally occurs when a tungsten incandescent lamp is connected to a power source. The arrangement uses a negative temperature coefficient thermistor having a certain predetermined mass. It has been determined that a practical limiter to eliminate current overshoot can be made only when the mass of the limiter is within a relatively narrow range. The hot and cold resistance of the limiter must also be within prescribed ranges to give a limiter which is not only effective in eliminating the current overshoot, but also efficient in steady state operation such that the limiter dissipates less than 1% of the total power.

Abstract: An article positionable in a conventional light bulb socket for decreasing the power input and limiting the power turn-on and turn-off transients to a bulb inserted into such socket to thereby increase the life expectancy of the light bulb. The article includes a wafer of insulating material having a notch in the perimeter thereof, an axial lead diode or other power decreasing and/or transient limiting device positioned in the notch, the leads of the device extending radially inwardly and being positioned and/or coiled into spiral patterns or other patterns to form electrical terminals at the center of the wafer, on opposite sides thereof, and a pair of flexible pads of insulating material having widths approximately equal to the inside diameter of the base of the light bulb socket, the pads being secured to opposite sides of the wafer, the diode, and each other, each pad having a central opening therein to expose the electrical terminals.

Abstract: The fluorescent light bulb of the present invention is adapted to be used in the socket of a conventional incandescent bulb fixture and includes a centrally located ballast electrically connected to a socket plug which is adapted to be received in the socket of the fixture. A fluorescent tube or envelope substantially completely surrounds and encloses the central ballast. The fluorescent tube has electrical contacts formed therein which are in electrical connection to the ballast in order to form a compact fluorescent light bulb assembly.