Amusement device incorporating gas discharge tube
Patent 5089745 Issued on February 18, 1992. Estimated Expiration Date: 
July 23, 2010. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
July 23, 2010. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 1654068 1785070 1790903 2437009 Electronic wand Controlled light source Skin test device using I.C. comparator circuit Abnormal cell detecting device Toy light sword Single connection gas discharge display and driver Patent #: 4742278 InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 559403 filed on 07/23/1990US Classes:315/76, SPECIAL APPLICATION116/202, Visual light signal315/227R, CONDENSER IN THE SUPPLY CIRCUIT315/236, Electromagnetic influenced discharge device load315/248, Induction-type discharge device load324/158.1, MISCELLANEOUS340/691.3, Degree or urgency446/485With lampExaminersPrimary: LaRoche, Eugene R.Assistant: Shingleton, Michael B Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassesH01K 007/00H05B 037/00 H05B 041/16 G08B 003/00 AbstractAn amusement device comprising a gas-filled plasma discharge tube; an electrode adjacent an end of the tube for coupling high-frequency, high-voltage energy into the gas in the plasma discharge tube; an ionization energy supply operably connectable to a source of electrcity for producing an adjustable high-frequency, high-voltage energy at an output thereof having an upper limit sufficient to ionize the gas in the plasma discharge tube without a ground return by utilizing the electrical capacity of the surroundings to provide a reactive impedance for plasma tube current to flow into, the electrode being operable connected to the output; and, a control circuit operably connected to the ionization energy supply for adjusting the level of the high-frequency, high-voltage energy at the output between levels causing ionization of the gas in the plasma discharge tube to occur in differing amounts as a function of a changing stimulus connected to an input thereof. There are embodiments as a light saber, an emotions meter, or the like, and a "Dancing Plasma Fire" device driven by an audio source. The preferred electrode capacitively couples to the discharge tube.Other References
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