Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8053997 | Load control device having a trigger circuit characterized by a variable voltage threshold A two-wire load control device, such as a dimmer, is operable to control the amount of power delivered to an electrical load, such as a magnetic low-voltage (MLV) load, and comprises a bidirectional semiconductor switch, a timing circuit, a trigger circuit having a ... | 11/08/2011 |
| 7880396 | Projector device employing ballast with flyback converter A projector device employing ballast with a flyback converter is disclosed. For example, one embodiment comprises a lamp driver circuit including a power stage circuit including a flyback converter to output a direct current signal to a bridge circuit, the bridge ci... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7705544 | Lamp circuit with controlled ignition pulse voltages over a wide range of ballast-to-lamp distances A lamp ignition circuit provides a high voltage electrical pulse to ignite a gas discharge lamp. A non-linear filter element within a charge circuit regulates the voltage of the ignition pulse such that the ignition pulse remains within a prescribed voltage range ov... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7432660 | IC-based low cost reliable electronic ballast with multiple striking attempts and end of lamp life protection The present invention relates generally to a simple, low cost ballast for fluorescent lamps that incorporates an integrated circuit and a number of ballast protection functions to cost effectively enhance its reliability. End of lamp life circuitry is provided to sh... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7425799 | Current detecting circuit The object of the present invention is to provide a current detecting circuit capable of detecting a current flowing to a switching device with high accuracy, with less power loss, with high voltage, and in an insulated form. A current detecting circuit of th... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7414373 | Discharge lamp driving circuit and method of driving a discharge lamp A discharge lamp driving circuit includes an inverter, a ballast capacitor, a discharge lamp, and a lamp current detecting circuit. The inverter converts a DC voltage into an AC voltage with high frequency to output the AC voltage to an output port based on a pulse ... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7401603 | High tension capacitive discharge ignition with reinforcing triggering pulses A capacitive discharge ignition system in which a controllable switch is positioned between a storage capacitor and the primary winding of an ignition transformer. The switch is controlled to create a train of pulses to the primary winding timed to reinforce the rin... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7385356 | Energy saving startup circuit for power supply A startup circuit (30) for a power supply (44), has an input (31) for connecting to a source of high voltage thereto, and an output rail (33) for feeding rectified voltage to the power supply. A first energy storage device (35) is ... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7378803 | Igniting pulse booster circuit A pulse booster circuit (10) comprises a first pulse transfer path (41) and a second pulse transfer path (42) extending between input terminals (11a; 11b) and output terminals (12a; 12b). A... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7355300 | Solid state turbine engine ignition exciter having elevated temperature operational capability A turbine engine ignition exciter circuit applies energy stored in the exciter tank capacitor to the load (igniter plug) through a thyristor type semiconductor switching device that minimizes leakage current at elevated operating temperatures. The semiconductor swit... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7339330 | Methods and circuits for instant hot restart of high intensity discharge lamps A lamp ballast for operating a high intensity discharge lamp includes an electronic ballast circuit to supply an operating voltage to the discharge lamp, and an igniter circuit to supply starting pulses to the discharge lamp in a cold state and to supply hot restrik... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7291983 | Ballast and igniter for a lamp having larger storage capacitor than charge pump capacitor A ballast according to the present invention operates in an ignition state, a warm-up state, and a steady state for igniting and powering a lamp. The ballast comprises an igniter that ignites the lamp during the ignition state and a switching power inverter, for exa... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7271545 | Ballast and igniter for a lamp having larger storage capacitor than charge pump capacitor A ballast according to the present invention operates in an ignition state, a warm-up state, and a steady state for igniting and powering a lamp. The ballast comprises an igniter that ignites the lamp during the ignition state and a switching power inverter, for exa... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7245471 | Discharge device for inductive devices A method and apparatus for protecting an energized inductive device such as an electromagnet from an open circuit, i.e., the loss of the power source for the inductive device. A diode is connected across terminals of the inductive device such that when the inductive... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7230389 | Metal halide lamp having function for suppressing abnormal discharge A metal halide lamp includes a ceramic arc tube that is composed of a main body and two narrow tube parts provided at respective ends of the main body; a pair of electrodes provided inside the main body; two feeders, each being connected at one end thereof to a diff... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7221103 | Circuit for operating high-pressure discharge lamps A circuit for operating high-pressure discharge lamps, wherein a voltage transformer for power supply to a loading circuit includes a connection for the high-pressure discharge lamp (La) and for the secondary winding (L1b) of an ignition transformer (T... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7193368 | Parallel lamps with instant program start electronic ballast In a current fed electronic ballast multiple lamps are operated in a parallel circuit arrangement. The ballast provides pre-heating to the cathodes of the lamps for a period of time before an open circuit voltage is ramped up to the preferred starting voltage of the... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7164239 | Discharge lamp ballast circuit A discharge lamp ballast circuit is provided which can prolong the life of a discharge lamp, and reduce the size and cost of the ballast circuit. It generates from an AC voltage boosted by a DC-AC inverter circuit a DC voltage higher than the breakdown voltage of an... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7130180 | Partitioned exciter system A partitioned exciter system for use with an igniter in an aircraft engine. The exciter has low-energy charging circuit and a high-energy discharge circuit that are remotely located from each other and that are connected by a low-energy coaxial cable. The charging c... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7106007 | Flashlight lamp circuit with automatic light adjustment A flashlight lamp circuit with automatic light adjustment includes a flashlight charging unit for controlling charging of a main capacitor, a flashlight activation unit activating the flashlight lamp to project a flashlight on the photographed object according to a ... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7095601 | High energy primary spark ignition system for a gas turbine engine An exciter circuit for a gas turbine engine delivers a first single high-energy spark followed by subsequent sparks of relatively lower energy to ensures start reliability by specifically clearing ice build-up at the ignition plugs. ... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7095181 | Method and apparatus for controllably generating sparks in an ignition system or the like An apparatus for controllably generating sparks is provided. The apparatus includes a spark generating device; at least two output stages connected to the spark generating device; means for charging energy storage devices in the output stages and at least partially ... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7019471 | Ballast control IC with minimal internal and external components A ballast controller integrated circuit which executes a specific set of instructions via an integrated state diagram architecture to control a fluorescent lamp or high intensity discharge lamp and protect the ballast. The state diagram architecture controls powerin... | 03/28/2006 |
| 6973911 | Method and device for controlling ignition timing of ignition device for internal combustion engine The invention simplifies the structure of a magneto generator and stabilizes the operation of an internal combustion engine at the time of start-up, thereby providing an ignition device simplified in structure and reduced in size and providing improved safety to the... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6972529 | Switch mode power supply for a gas discharge lamp A switch mode power supply for igniting and operating a high-pressure gas discharge lamp includes an ignition sub-circuit which is coupled via a transformer to the circuit. The ignition sub-circuit has at least an ignition capacitor, and a switching element for disc... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6960883 | Flash lamp device and flash emitting device A flash lamp device having a flash lamp that includes an arc tube in which a pair of electrodes are disposed in opposition and a high voltage supply proximal conductor which extends parallel to the electrodes, on the exterior of the arc tube of the flash lamp. The h... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6917501 | Electrostatic discharge protection apparatus and method employing a high frequency noncoupled starter circuit An apparatus and method for providing electrostatic discharge protection. An exemplary micro tube spark gap type electrostatic discharge protection device comprises first and second separated spark electrodes hat form a spark gap therebetween. A high frequency nonco... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6891335 | Electric gas lighting device An electric gas lighting device including an ignition circuit for generating sparks at at least one burner and connected to a supply line, supplying a supply voltage, via enabling means for alternatively enabling/disabling spark generation when connected/disconnecte... | 05/10/2005 |
| 6788005 | Inverter and lamp ignition system using the same An inverter for igniting a discharge lamp comprises a transformer, a first switch transistor, a second switch transistor, a first snubber capacitor, a second snubber capacitor, a reset capacitor, and a control circuit. One of the source/drain of the first switch tra... | 09/07/2004 |
| 6774579 | Electric discharge lamp and electric discharge lamp drive apparatus A lighting control signal generating circuit 10 controls the output pulse of a drive signal circuit 11 by the output signal. The output pulses of the drive signal circuit 11 include a first and a second pulse drive signal 11a, 1... | 08/10/2004 |
| 6724155 | Lamp ignition circuit for lamp driven voltage transformation and ballasting system A lamp ignition circuit is provided which can initiate operation of a gas discharge lamp using a driving voltage which is similar in magnitude to the lamp operating voltage. The lamp ignition circuit is useful with a semi-resonant ballast and lamp circuit in which s... | 04/20/2004 |
| 6707260 | Circuit arrangement including DC-AC converter having a dependable start circuit A self-oscillating bridge circuit comprises a start circuit for rendering one of the switches conductive for the first time at the start of operation. The start circuit is configured in such a way that it does not influence the switching of the bridge switches durin... | 03/16/2004 |
| 6680587 | Electronic ballast with adaptable charge pump power factor correction A ballast (20') for powering a plurality of gas discharge lamps (12,14,16) includes a load-adaptable charge pump power factor correction arrangement (62,64,66,100,200,300) for feeding back a high frequency current having a magnitude that is dependent on t... | 01/20/2004 |
| 6670777 | Ignition system and method An ignition system for an engine includes an exciter circuit for use with an igniter, the exciter circuit having a step-up transformer the utilizes a relatively low voltage in its primary to produce a high voltage pulse that is applied to the igniter to c... | 12/30/2003 |
| 6608451 | Ballast circuit with an ignitor for starting multiple HID lamps A ballast circuit with an ignitor circuit for starting serially connected HID lamps is provided. The ballast circuit comprises an electromagnetic ballast arrangement for driving the lamps and an ignitor circuit for starting the lamps. In an embodiment of ... | 08/19/2003 |
| 6593703 | Apparatus and method for driving a high intensity discharge lamp A circuit arrangement and control thereof for igniting a high intensity discharge lamp, for reducing current stresses imposed on semiconductor devices during a polarity transition of a lamp voltage or lamp current, and for maintaining a parasitic current ... | 07/15/2003 |
| 6528956 | Electronic ballast for high-intensity discharge lamps An electronic ballast for supplying operating power to a high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp. The ballast includes a full-wave rectifier connected to an AC power line to produce an unregulated pulsating DC output which is applied to a power factor correct... | 03/04/2003 |
| 6525493 | Materials test chamber with xenon lamp radiation A high-instantaneous, low-average current ballast is used in an accelerated weathering apparatus. The ballast includes a DC voltage generator or front end, to generate a high DC voltage, which produces a charging current to charge an arc capacitor. The en... | 02/25/2003 |
| 6522088 | Lamp ignition with automatic compensation for parasitic capacitance Ballast circuitry is provided for powering a gaseous discharge lamp which has a range of possible parasitic loading capacitances associated with it. The circuitry includes a reactive source of ignition pulses which stores sufficient energy to charge the h... | 02/18/2003 |
| 6504313 | Ignition scheme for electronic HID ballast An improved ignition circuit for a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp is disclosed. The ignition voltage is provided across a single capacitor, and at the end of the ignition phase, a second capacitor is switched into the circuit to divide the voltage ac... | 01/07/2003 |
