A binding structure for binding a bundle of sheets and that includes a base and a pair of opposed position legs that are integrally formed with and extend from respective sides of the base. The pair of legs and base together defines a retention area in which the bundle of sheets is held. The pair of legs is constructed and arranged with a resilient bias toward each other, but separable to enable the bundle of sheets to be held therebetween under a biasing force. The legs each have at least one inwardly directed rib arranged for contact with opposed sides of the bundle of sheets, and a thermal adhesive layer is disposed on the base and upon which the bundle of sheets rests, to be later formed in a thermal binding machine.

A tactile orientation indicator is positioned along the periphery of a bill, and a tactile denomination indicator is positioned elsewhere along the periphery of the bill. The user of the bill may then use their tactile senses to feel along the edges of the bill to orient the bill to a pre-determined orientation based on the location of the orientation indicator. The user then feels along the periphery of the bill to locate the denomination indicator. Using a predetermined system associating the location of the denomination indicator with a particular bill denomination, the user may then identify the denomination of the bill even if blind or otherwise visually impaired.

A binding structure for binding a bundle of sheets and that includes a base and a pair of opposed position legs that are integrally formed with and extend from respective sides of the base. The pair of legs and base together defines a retention area in which the bundle of sheets is held. The pair of legs is constructed and arranged with a resilient bias toward each other, but separable to enable the bundle of sheets to be held therebetween under a biasing force. The legs each have at least one inwardly directed rib arranged for contact with opposed sides of the bundle of sheets, and a thermal adhesive layer is disposed on the base and upon which the bundle of sheets rests, to be later formed in a thermal binding machine.

A binding system for binding a set of media sheets, including first and second binder pieces, each including an end cap, a retainer, a cylinder and a connection mechanism. The retainer has an arc-shaped cross-section having an associated arc angle thereby providing an opening slot that extends along a length of the retainer. The retainer and the cylinder are connected to the end cap such that the cylinder is positioned within the retainer. The binder pieces are adapted to bind the set of sheets of media by inserting the set of media sheets into the first and second binder pieces such that the media sheets are wrapped around the cylinders and extend out of the opening slots in the retainers, and engaging the connection mechanisms to connect the first and second binder pieces together.

Recessed adhesive binding systems. One system can include a plurality of sheets arranged in a stack, each of the plurality of sheets having a front surface, a rear surface, and an exposed edge. At least one of the front surface and the rear surface of each of the plurality sheets can include at least one recessed adhesive positioned adjacent the exposed edge to form an at least partially exposed recessed adhesive, which can be selectively activated. The rear surface of a first sheet in the plurality of sheets can be positioned adjacent the front surface of a second sheet in the plurality of sheets, or vice versa, and the exposed edges of the plurality of sheets can be staggered, such that the exposed edge of the second sheet extends further outwardly from the stack than the exposed edge of the first sheet in the stack.

A binding system for binding a set of media sheets, including a cylinder having an outer diameter and a length, and a retainer fabricated from a flexible material. The retainer has an arc-shaped cross-section having an inner diameter and an associated arc angle thereby providing an opening slot that extends along a length of the retainer. The binding system is adapted to bind the set of media sheets by wrapping the media sheets around the cylinder and inserting the wrapped cylinder into the retainer with the wrapped media sheets extending out of the opening slot in the retainer. The inner diameter of the retainer is less than the sum of the outer diameter of the cylinder and a total thickness of the wrapped media sheets so that the retainer flexes to provide a clamping force to bind the media sheets.

A booklet stacker to stack multiple booklets each bound with a ring member includes a stack tray on which multiple booklets are stacked, a shifter disposed upstream from the stack tray in a booklet conveyance direction in which a booklet is conveyed, the shifter to adjust a position of the booklet in a width direction perpendicular to the booklet conveyance direction by shifting the booklet a distance shorter than a ring pitch of the ring member in the width direction, and a booklet conveyer disposed upstream from the stack tray in the booklet conveyance direction, to convey the booklet positioned by the shifter to the stack tray.

A method and circuit arrangement for controlling the motor current in an electric motor, in particular a stepper motor, by a chopper method is provided. In the method/circuit arrangement, the motor is operated with a coil current that follows a target coil current substantially more accurately at least at the zero crossing of the coil current. The method/circuit arrangement provides a good symmetry of the sinusoidal wave shape of the coil current with respect to the zero crossing of the coil current. The method is achieved in particular by the active control of the coil current both in the direction of a predefined target coil current and opposite the direction of the predefined target coil current with respect to upper or lower desired current values and a lowering or increasing of the upper or lower desired current values.

A system for pre-charging a current minor includes a controller configured to provide a first current and an additional current to a current minor to rapidly charge a capacitance associated with the current minor based on a reference voltage or control signals. A power amplifier module includes at least one current minor and a controller. A capacitor is coupled to the current minor. The controller provides a bias current in an amount proportional to an input to a voltage-to-current converter. The controller receives a control signal that directs the controller to apply one of a pre-charge voltage and a nominal voltage to the voltage-to-current converter.

An input receiver circuit including a single-to-differential amplifier and a semiconductor device including the input receiver circuit are disclosed. The input receiver circuit includes a first stage amplifier unit and a second stage amplifier unit. The first stage amplifier unit amplifies a single input signal in a single-to-differential mode to generate a differential output signal, without using a reference voltage. The second stage amplifier unit amplifies the differential output signal in a differential-to-single mode to generate a single output signal.

A microwave semiconductor amplifier includes a semiconductor amplifier element, an input matching circuit and an output matching circuit. The semiconductor amplifying element includes an input electrode and an output electrode and has a capacitive output impedance. The input matching circuit is connected to the input electrode. The output matching circuit includes a bonding wire and a first transmission line. The bonding wire includes first and second end portions. The first end portion is connected to the output electrode. The second end portion is connected to one end portion of the first transmission line. A fundamental impedance and a second harmonic impedance seen toward the external load change toward the one end portion. The second harmonic impedance at the one end portion has an inductive reactance. The output matching circuit matches the capacitive output impedance of the semiconductor amplifying element to the fundamental impedance of the external load.

A light emitting apparatus including: a plurality of light emitting elements; a drive circuit including a transistor and a capacitor having one end connected to a gate of the transistor; and a signal supply circuit for receiving a digital gradation signal and outputting an analog voltage signal to the drive circuit, including a computation circuit configured to correct the input digital gradation signal to generate a corrected digital gradation signal, in which the drive circuit is configured to conduct an auto-zero operation which reduce the gate-source voltage of the transistor to a threshold voltage by flowing the drain current to the capacitor, and the computation circuit is configured to generate the corrected digital gradation signal by multiplying a correction coefficient to the input digital gradation signal subtracted by a particular signal common to the plurality of light emitting elements.

Differential power amplifier circuitry includes a differential transistor pair, an input transformer, and biasing circuitry. The base contact of each transistor in the differential transistor pair may be coupled to the input transformer through a coupling capacitor. The coupling capacitors may be designed to resonate with the input transformer about a desired frequency range, thereby passing desirable signals to the differential transistor pair while blocking undesirable signals. The biasing circuitry may include a pair of emitter follower transistors, each coupled at the emitter to the base contact of each one of the transistors in the differential transistor pair and adapted to bias the differential transistor pair to maximize efficiency and stability.

A semiconductor package device comprises a radio frequency power transistor having an output port operably coupled to a single de-coupling capacitance located within the semiconductor package device. The single de-coupling capacitance is arranged to provide both high frequency decoupling and low frequency decoupling of signals output from the radio frequency power transistor.

A radio frequency system includes a power amplifier that outputs a radio frequency signal to a matching network via a transmission line between the power amplifier and the matching network. A sensor monitors the radio frequency signal and generates first sensor signals based on the radio frequency signal. A distortion module determines a first distortion value according to at least one of (i) a sinusoidal function of the first sensor signals and (ii) a cross-correlation function of the first sensor signals. A first correction circuit (i) generates a first impedance tuning value based on the first distortion value and a first predetermined value, and (ii) provides feedforward control of impedance matching performed within the matching network including outputting the first impedance tuning value to one of the power amplifier and the matching network.

A power amplifier module includes a power amplifier including a GaAs bipolar transistor having a collector, a base abutting the collector, and an emitter, the collector having a doping concentration of at least about 3×1016 cm−3 at a junction with the base, the collector also having at least a first grading in which doping concentration increases away from the base; and an RF transmission line driven by the power amplifier, the RF transmission line including a conductive layer and finish plating on the conductive layer, the finish plating including a gold layer, a palladium layer proximate the gold layer, and a diffusion barrier layer proximate the palladium layer, the diffusion barrier layer including nickel and having a thickness that is less than about the skin depth of nickel at 0.9 GHz. Other embodiments of the module are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

Systems and methods are provided for generating an amplitude modulation signal to a switchmode power amplifier. A DC to DC switch is configured to receive a DC input voltage and to provide a DC output voltage. A low dropout regulator is configured to provide the amplitude modulation signal according to a modulation control signal received by the low dropout regulator. A control circuit is configured to establish a nominal operating power level for the power amplifier via the amplitude modulation signal and to maintain a minimum voltage difference between the DC output voltage and the low dropout regulator output. A modulator control circuit is configured to provide the modulation control signal to the low dropout regulator. The modulator control circuit provides the transition from a high amplitude to a low amplitude and a transition from the low amplitude to the high amplitude at configurable first and second slopes, respectively.

Systems and methods are provided for amplifying multiple input signals to generate multiple output signals. An example system includes a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel. The first channel is configured to receive one or more first input signals, process information associated with the one or more first input signals and a first ramp signal, and generate one or more first output signals. The second channel is configured to receive one or more second input signals, process information associated with the one or more second input signals and a second ramp signal, and generate one or more second output signals. The first ramp signal corresponds to a first phase. The second ramp signal corresponds to a second phase. The first phase and the second phase are different.

An automatic gain control device includes: a variable gain adjusting unit, for adjusting an input signal by a variable gain and outputting an adjustment result; an analog-digital converting unit, for performing analog-digital conversion on the adjustment result to obtain an analog-digital conversion result; and a gain determining unit, for determining a distribution status over a predetermined period of time of a maximum or a minimum of the analog-digital conversion result, comparing the distribution status with a first distribution condition, and if the distribution status meets the first distribution condition, then keeping the variable gain unchanged, otherwise changing the variable gain and determining newly a distribution status until the newly determined distribution status meets a second distribution condition which is at least as strict as the first distribution condition.

The clamping system for clamping a shank, for example a tool shank, into a seat has a spiral-shaped circumferential groove arranged in the wall of the seating hole and a clamping wedge which is provided with corresponding spiral-shaped ribs and is insertable into a recess on the shank.

A machining system that includes an ultrasonic machining assembly, wherein the ultrasonic machining assembly further includes a machining tool; a collet adapted to receive the machining tool; and an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is operative to transmit acoustical vibrations to the machining tool; and a machining apparatus, wherein the machining apparatus is adapted to receive and secure the ultrasonic machining assembly, and wherein the machining apparatus is operative to transmit torque to the machining tool by applying rotary motion to the ultrasonic machining assembly.

An attachment apparatus for a reciprocating tool provides a tool holder having an angled bracket and a guide rod extending from the angled bracket. The guide rod can engage a travel slot on the reciprocating tool. An instrument such as a saw blade can be attached to the angled bracket or guide rod. The guide rod stabilizes the instrument during use. The travel slot can be defined integrally on the reciprocating tool or on an attachment to the tool. In some embodiments, a neck mount assembly is attached to the neck on the reciprocating tool. The neck mount assembly can include a frame and a guide plate. The guide plate can include a travel slot shaped for receiving the guide rod.

A thermally zoned substrate holder including a substantially cylindrical base having top and bottom surfaces configured to support a substrate. A plurality of temperature control elements are disposed within the base. An insulator thermally separates the temperature control elements. The insulator is made from an insulting material having a lower coefficient of thermal conductivity than the base (e.g., a gas- or vacuum-filled chamber).

A pin-and-collet assembly, a longwall shearer comprising a ranging arm attached to a lifting bracket with such assembly, a method for the secure fastening of one piece to another, such as securely fastening the ranging arm to the lifting bracket of a longwall shearer using such assembly as a bushing, and a method for longwall mining of ore, such as trona, using such longwall shearer. This assembly is easy to install, does not have to be tightened during longwall operation of an ore panel, and is also demountable when it is time to stop the longwall mining operation and time to remove/replace the ranging arm for maintenance and/or when the end of the ore panel is reached.

The present invention relates to a hole-saw assembly (10) including a hole saw (26) having at one end a plurality of cutting teeth and at the other end two shafts. The assembly includes a mandrel (16) coaxially aligned with said hole-saw and including a body having two bores there through coaxially aligned with said shafts. An annulus (20) located on top of the body is coaxially aligned with said mandrel and hole saw and includes two holes, the annulus rotatable around its longitudinal axis from a first to a second position. In the first position the annulus holes are aligned with the bores and shafts allowing the shafts to be freely insertable and removable and in the second position the holes are misaligned to lock the shafts to the annulus. The mandrel further includes a pair of driving pins (22) adapted to engage driving apertures (24) found in hole saws especially larger ones. Typically the driving pins may biased to enable the assembly to be used even with those hole saws that do not include driving apertures and that also enables easier assembly of the device. A compressible O-ring (42) may further facilitate the operation of the assembly. This device avoids the problem of thread stripping.

An apparatus of semiconductor process including a chuck and a vacuum source is provided. The chuck has a plurality of holes for holding a semiconductor substrate, and the vacuum source is used for providing vacuum suction through the holes to make the semiconductor substrate be subjected to varied suction intensities according to a warpage level thereof.

An automated machine for attaching a suture to a surgical needle comprises a first apparatus located at a first predetermined location for sorting a plurality of randomly oriented needles and orienting each needle for automatic handling at a first predetermined location, each of the needles having a suture receiving opening formed therein. A second apparatus located at a second predetermined location is provided for automatically cutting an indefinite length of suture material to a definite length suture strand and for automatically inserting an end of the definite length suture strand into the suture receiving opening formed in the needle. Also provided is a third apparatus for swaging the needle to close the suture receiving opening about the suture to secure said suture thereto and form therefrom a needle and suture assembly. An indexing device automatically receives each individual needle in a predetermined orientation at the first predetermined location and conveys the needle for sequential processing from the first to the second locations to form the needle-suture assembly.

There is disclosed an apparatus for forming a surgical incision member comprising which includes a first die associated with a base and having a first groove therein for receipt of at least a portion of a needle blank. A second die is mounted for movement on the base between a position remote from the first die and a position adjacent the first die. The second die includes a second groove alignable with the first groove to hold a needle blank therebetween, the first and second dies each having spaced apart channels intersecting the first and second grooves. A notching die is provided and is mounted for movement within at the channels so as to engage and notch an edge of the needle blank contained within the first and second grooves. The apparatus also includes structure for curving a needle blank contained within the first and second grooves. A method of forming a surgical incision member is also disclosed, and a surgical incision member blank.

There is disclosed an apparatus and a method for progressively forming high strength surgical needles from bulk needle stock material. The apparatus generally includes a series of progressive needle processing stations. A first series of needle processing stations removes material from needle stock material to rough form needle blanks attached to a carrier strip while a second series of processing stations refine the rough formed needle blanks attached to the strip into the desired surgical needles. The disclosed method generally includes the steps of gutting needle stock material to rough form needle blanks attached to a carrier strip and progressively coining the rough formed blanks into surgical needles. Finally, there is disclosed a high bend strength surgical needle formed on the disclosed apparatus or by the disclosed method. Preferably, the surgical needle is a surgical incision member having a predetermined radius of curvature and an optimized conical radius at the tips.

A continuous process for heat treating and cleaning and tempering martensitic stainless steel surgical needles is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the surgical needles to a partial vacuum at a temperature less than the heat treating temperature to remove volatile surface contaminant. Then the needles are heat treated in an argon gas environment at a pressure equal to or greater than 1.0 Torr. Next the temperature of the oven is lowered to temper the needles.

A semi-automated machine for singulating individual surgical needles from an bulk supply and attaching a suture to the surgical needle is described. Each of the surgical needles has a suture receiving opening formed therein for receiving a suture. The machine includes a needle singulation station, a precise positioning station, a suture feeding station, a swage station, a pull-test station and an off-load station. The singulation station has a sliding surface that assists an operator in singulating needles and depositing them in a pair of drop locations for subsequent automatic handling. Indexing conveyors, an articulated robot and a precision conveyor are used with a pre-positioning and a precise positioning station for orienting each needle for automatic handling. A universal gripper mounted on a rotary indexing device automatically receives each individual needle in a predetermined orientation and conveys the needle for sequential processing from station to station to form the needle-suture assembly. A swage station is provided for swaging the needle to close the suture receiving opening about the suture to secure said suture thereto and form therefrom a needle and suture assembly. A final off-load station provides an apparatus for assembling a predetermined number of need-suture assemblies in a bundle for subsequent packaging.

A radial piston pump has a plurality of cylinders within which pistons reciprocally move. Each cylinder is connected to a first port by an inlet passage that has an inlet check valve, and is connected to a second port by an outlet passage that has an outlet check valve. A throttling plate extends across the inlet passages and has a separate aperture associated with each inlet passage. Rotation of the throttling plate varies the degree of alignment of each aperture with the associated inlet passage, thereby forming variable orifices for altering displacement of the pump. Uniquely shaped apertures specifically affect the rate at which the variable orifices close with throttle plate movement, so that the closure rate decreases with increased closure of the variable orifices.

The disclosed invention introduces an efficient lifting mechanism for reciprocating vertically a load system, the load consisting of the aggregate weights of a cargo payload in conjunction with “dead weights” of moving parts of the lifting apparatus. The disclosed invention uses a hydro-pneumatic linear actuator to lift the load and a pressurized accumulator, acting as a force intensifier. The pressurized accumulator, acting as a self-contained stored energy source, provides to the actuator adequate power to lift the “dead weights” plus part of the cargo payload. An external power source provides to the actuator adequate power to lift the remainder of the cargo payload. The disclosed invention saves significant amounts of power and energy in applications in which the “dead weights” are sizable compared to the cargo load. The disclosed invention provides also exceptional means for accurate motion control of the cargo payload.

A sensor coupler adapted to operatively connect a sensor to a piston-cylinder assembly. The sensor coupler includes a first end member and a second end member. The first end member is disposed on a port of the piston-cylinder assembly, in communication with the sensor, and the second end member is disposed in a cylinder chamber of the piston-cylinder assembly. Further, one or more cables are extending between the first end member and the second end member. The one or more cables are configured to transmit signals indicative of a position of a piston in the piston-cylinder assembly to the sensor. The sensor coupler further includes a biasing member to connect the first end member and the second end member.

A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a pump, a tank, and an actuator. The hydraulic control system may also have at least a first valve configured to control fluid flow between the pump, the tank, a first chamber of the actuator, and a second chamber of the actuator; a second valve fluidly disposed between the second chamber and the tank; and a third valve fluidly disposed between the first and second chambers. The hydraulic control system may further have a controller configured to selectively cause the second valve to block fluid flow from the second chamber of the actuator to the tank, and to selectively cause the third valve to fluidly communicate the first and second chambers of the actuator when the second valve blocks fluid flow from the second chamber of the actuator to the tank.

A manual release valve is provided for a electro-hydraulic actuator of the type including a piston movable in a cylinder and defining a piston side chamber and a rod side chamber, the valve threadedly attached to the housing of the actuator and extending at least partially within the fluid housing conduits, the valve moveable from a closed position fully seated in the housing to an open position for fluidly connecting both the piston side chamber and the rod side chamber to the reservoir, the valve further including a pressure relief portion that is operable when the valve is in the closed position for relieving pressure from at least one of the piston side chamber or the rod side chamber.

A radial thermal engine with an improved valve system is disclosed herein comprising intake and exhaust port valve assemblies fluidly connected to respective intake and exhaust ports contained within a cylinder head assembly. Each intake and each exhaust port valve assembly comprises at least one rotatable port cover having spaced apart openings which are periodically alignable to the intake and exhaust ports, respectively.

This disclosure provides for pressure limiting a hydraulic system to a desired pressure value by a particular circuit by controlling and closing the compensator when the desired pressure setting is achieved. Closing the compensator will reduced the pressure head and flow in the circuit resulting in improved efficiency. One illustrated embodiment of the disclosure provides a relief valve in the pilot signal for a compensator. The method relates to limiting the pressure on an open side of the compensator, such that the pressure on the other side closes the compensator thereby limiting the pressure and also flow in the hydraulic circuit. In other words, the pressure on the open side is limited by the relief valve. Thus, the pressure on the other side increases thereby regulating the flow and pressure through the compensator. In another embodiment of the disclosure, instead of reducing the pressure on the open side, the pressure on the closed side is increased, thereby controlling the flow and pressure of the hydraulic circuit. The pressure can be increased by a pump or any other suitable mode.

A cup for an air valve assembly in a positive displacement pneumatic motor includes a cup body, a gas cavity, and a first pilot slot. The cup body is rectilinear and has a sliding face as one side, and the gas cavity is concave and extends into the cup body through the sliding face and terminates within the cup body. The first pilot slot extends from the gas cavity and into the cup body through the sliding face and terminates within the cup body.

A brake actuating unit for actuating a motor vehicle braking system of the “brake-by-wire” type having a brake booster. In order to provide a brake actuating unit for actuating a motor vehicle braking system of the “brake-by-wire” type, which on the one hand fulfills the statutory requirements care and which on the other hand is inexpensive to produce, it is proposed according to aspects of the invention, that the brake booster be provided as a travel-controlled brake booster, so that when not in the “brake-by-wire” operating mode the brake pedal is decoupled from feedback forces of the brake actuating unit, and the return force is simulated by the pedal travel simulator even when not in the “brake-by-wire” operating mode.

A hydraulic motor assembly capable of precise control having a housing, a hydraulic mounting surface located in the housing, a cylinder block rotatably disposed on the hydraulic mounting surface, a motor shaft engaged to the cylinder block and supported proximate to a first end, a plurality of cooperating gears located in the housing and rotationally engaged to a second end of the motor shaft, an output shaft rotationally engaged to the plurality of cooperating gears, a speed sensor located proximate to one of the plurality of cooperating gears, wherein the speed sensor transmits a signal indicative of the rotational speed of the one of the plurality of cooperating gears.

A brake booster with regenerative brake force generation comprising a force input element coupled to a brake pedal. A chamber arrangement having a vacuum chamber and a working chamber that are separated from one another by a movable wall. A control valve actuated in accordance with a displacement of the force input element. The working chamber is connectable selectively to the vacuum chamber and the atmosphere to generate and reduce a differential pressure at the movable wall. The control valve has a control valve housing that is connected for joint movement to the movable wall. In a first actuation phase of the brake booster from its rest position, the force input element is displaceable relative to the control valve housing by an idle travel, in which the control valve remains non-actuated to suppress a build-up of a differential pressure at the movable wall.

An arrangement for providing a throttle cross-section for a fluid flow. The throttle cross-section can be varied depending on a pressure difference present across the throttle cross-section. The arrangement is designed such that the polarity of the pressure difference, by which the throttle cross-section can be varied and/or changed. It is thereby possible to use the arrangement for fluid flows that alternate in the flow direction thereof.

A hydraulic system is provided, having a pump, operably connected to a motor. It also comprises a controller-driven hydraulic actuator, operably connected to the pump and a hydraulic valve, operable to direct hydraulic fluid to and from either a rod side or a cylinder side of the hydraulic actuator. Rod and cylinder side pressures are pre-defined based on the instantaneous acceleration or deceleration required. Decelerating the hydraulic actuator could involve maintaining the current pressure in the meter-out side of the hydraulic actuator and decreasing the current pressure in the meter-in side by varying the speed of the pump. Deceleration of the hydraulic actuator could also include decreasing pressure on the meter-in side of the hydraulic actuator at a higher rate than on the meter-out side. Acceleration is achieved using a similar approach.

The invention relates to a welding wire feed system for feeding welding wire over a considerable distance from a remotely located wire storage spool to a welding gun through the use of straight lengths of angularly related conduit and intermediate low friction wire direction changing devices.

This disclosure is concerned with automatically replenishable cold cathode structures and the like wherein the monitoring of a predetermined variation in electron beam performance caused by erosion of the cathode material generates control signals for advancing reserve cathode material into operative position.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for efficient endothermic processing of liquids and the precipitation of dissolved elements and chemical compounds. Improvements over prior systems include system layout, components and modes of operation of the system. Applications of the system include destruction of toxic wastes and sewage treatment, precipitation of chemical compounds and elements including metals from solution (brine, sea water, industrial waste), sterilization and water purification, catalytic formation of chemical compounds, and processing of hydrocarbons.

A ceremonial illuminary including a voltage supply mechanism, a switching mechanism that is electrically connected to the voltage supply mechanism, a first lamp electrically connected to the switching mechanism, a second lamp electrically connected to the switching mechanism wherein the switching mechanism provides voltage to the first lamp to illuminate the first lamp and then switches to provide voltage to the second lamp instead of the first lamp when the first lamp burns-out and no longer illuminates. The first lamp and the second lamp are secured with an enclosure.

An auxiliary lighting system for a high-intensity discharge lamp. In one embodiment, the auxiliary lighting system has an auxiliary light source, an HID lamp status circuit having an input for connection to a status signal representative of the operational state of a high-intensity discharge lamp wherein the HID lamp status circuit determines whether the status signal meets predetermined signal criteria, a switch circuit having a first state that effects application of a voltage source to the auxiliary light source, and a second state that isolates the voltage source from the auxiliary light source, and a control circuit responsive to the HID lamp status circuit for controlling the switch circuit. The control circuit has a first state when the HID lamp status circuit determines that the status signal meets the predetermined signal criteria and a second state when the HID lamp status circuit determines that the status signal does not meet the predetermined signal criteria. When the control circuit is in the first state, the control circuit outputs a control signal for input into the switch circuit that configures the switch circuit into the first state. When the control circuit is in the second state, the control circuit outputs a control signal for input into the switch circuit that configures the switch circuit into the second state.

An information handling system (IHS) employs a power fault protection circuit to protect the IHS from overvoltages which may occur on an information line from a power adapter to the IHS. The system includes a processor coupled to the protection circuit. The circuit is operative in a first mode to decouple an information line from the IHS in response to a disable command and operative in a second mode to decouple the information line from the IHS when a voltage in the information line exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage.