Abstract:
A standard bi-pin, non-thermionic fluorescent lamp comprising a fluorescent envelope having a length selected from about two-, four- and eight-foot lengths and a pair of electrode ends, an electrode mounted in the fluorescent envelope at each electrode end, respectively, a pair of rigid conductive mounting pins secured to each electrode end with at least one of the pins being electrically connected to an electrode, respectively. The electrode is selected from tungsten, copper, molybdenum, carbon steel, and a thin film coating on a dielectric substrate. The lamp is driven by a square wave alternating current driver source having a frequency of between about 75 kHz to about 3.9 MHz connected to the pair of electrodes with a preferred frequency of about 100 kHz. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of said non-thermionic lamps are connected in series across the AC square wave driver.
Abstract:
A cane and umbrella lighting system comprising a tubular shaft incorporating a housing having one or more openings formed in one or more walls thereof, a light-producing gas discharge lamp, a source of a high-frequency square-wave voltage having a pair of output terminals and substantially LC-free circuit connecting high-frequency square wave voltage to the gas discharge means to non-thermionically excite and illuminate the gas discharge lamp means, and thereby illuminate one or more openings.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for using the primordial fear of dolphin of killer whales to separate dolphin from tuna. The sound of killer whale is recorded, digitized, edited and enhanced to produce digitally synthesized killer whale sounds. These digitally synthesized sounds of one or more feeding killer whale is played under water and in the vicinity of a mixed school of dolphin and tuna and as the dolphin leave said vicinity, catching the tuna in nets. A playback unit is selectively triggered on and off from a remote location.
Abstract:
An optical instrument has a low powered light point source mounted on a tube for orienting light point source along a predetermined viewing axis for one eye of an observer. An optical void surrounds the point light source, including the tube. The light point source is coherent and/or collimated so as to be substantially free of autokinesis effects. The tube is mounted on orientable support structure for the predetermined viewing axis for one eye of an observer whereby when said observer is viewing a scene through his other eye an optically fused image is presented to the observer with said predetermined viewing axis including the point in said scene wherein said point source appears.
Abstract:
A ballast-free energy-efficient ultra-violet material treatment and purification system and method having an ultraviolet (UV) source comprising a gas discharge UV lamp having spaced electrodes, a source of a high-frequency (about 100 kHz to about 1.5 MHz) alternating-current square-wave voltage and connected directly to the spaced electrodes to non-thermionically start and operate the gas discharge UV lamp. Proportionate control of the intensity of UV generation is provided. A plurality of UV lamps are serially connected and started and operated by a high-frequency alternating-current square-wave voltage.
Abstract:
A low-voltage landscape lighting system having a stepdown transformer having a predetermined power rating and primary and secondary windings with said primary windings. The primary winding is adapted for connection to an AC supply source and the secondary winding being adapted for connection to a low-voltage outdoor power distribution cable and a plurality of lamp fixtures electrically connected to the power distribution cable. A number of low-voltage, non-thermionic, ballast-free fluorescent light sub-systems are connected to the distribution cables. Each has a fluorescent discharge lamp with electrodes spaced in a gaseous medium, a light transmissive envelope confining a gaseous discharge medium at a predetermined pressure between the electrodes. A power supply including a rectifier connected to the power distribution cable and constituting a direct current source is connected to a solid state switch device. The switch device is operated to generate a substantially square wave alternating current wave at the lamp electrodes so that the voltage supplied to the electrodes reverses polarity more rapidly than the pattern of electron and ion density in the tube can shift and electrons throughout the length of the tube are continually accelerated and will, through several cycles of the square wave create ions throughout the tube's volume, in steady state operation.
Abstract:
An "exit" sign lighting system comprising, in combination a housing having the word EXIT formed in an opening wall thereof, a translucent member in said opening, a gas discharge device, such as a fluorescent tube is driven from a source of a low-voltage, high-frequency square wave voltage having a pair of output terminals and an LC free circuit connecting the low-voltage, high-frequency square wave voltage to the gas discharge device to non-thermionically excite and illuminate the gas discharge device, and thereby illuminate the translucent member and the word EXIT. The low voltage is from about 2 volts to about 90 volts and the frequency is from about 75 kHz to about 3.5 MHz.
Abstract:
Improvements on the Parra "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING DOLPHIN FROM TUNA" using the primordial fear of dolphin of killer whales to separate dolphin from tuna wherein the sound of feeding killer whale is recorded, digitized, edited and enhanced to produce digitally synthesized killer whale sounds. These digitally synthesized sounds of one or more feeding killer whale is played under water and in the vicinity of a mixed school of dolphin and tuna and as the dolphin leave said vicinity, catching the tuna in nets. According to the present invention, one or more of a plurality of playback units are selectively triggered on and off from a remote location to steer the dolphin to safety. The playback unit is carried in an elongated hollow tube having a weighted end and a recovery end, the weight causing the end it is on to go to a predetermined depth in the sea with the recovery end having a hook for aerial retrieval. In one embodiment, the playback unit is in the form of a killer whale sonic grenade and a pressure sensor senses a predetermined depth and activates the playback unit.
Abstract:
Improvements on the Parra "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING DOLPHIN FROM TUNA" using the primordial fear of dolphin of killer whales to separate dolphin from tuna wherein the sound of feeding killer whale is recorded, digitized, edited and enhanced to produce digitally synthesized killer whale sounds. These digitally synthesized sounds of one or more feeding killer whale is played under water and in the vicinity of a mixed school of dolphin and tuna and as the dolphin leave said vicinity, catching the tuna in nets. According to the present invention, one or more of a plurality of playback units are selectively triggered on and off from a remote location to steer the dolphin to safety. The playback unit is carried in an elongated hollow tube having a weighted end and a recovery end, the weight causing the end it is on to go to a predetermined depth in the sea with the recovery end having a hook for aerial retrieval. In one embodiment, the playback unit is in the form of a killer whale sonic grenade and a pressure sensor senses a predetermined depth and activates the playback unit.
Abstract:
A fluorescent lighting system having a low-cost nonconductive plastic housing and a plurality of fluorescent lighting tubes carried in sockets in the housing and a square-wave alternating current source connected to drive the fluorescent lighting tubes.