US4862042A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for forming segmented luminosity in gas discharge tubes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-04-13
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Granted: 1989-08-29
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Expires: 2007-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A device for producing and controlling the flow rate of bubble-like ionization discontinuities (30) in a gas discharge tube (10) which includes means to produce an alternating current at a frequency between 1500 and 8000 Hz and a voltage between 2000 and 12000 V (16), a capacitor (36) in series with the tube to prevent direct current flow through the tube, and means to produce asymmetry (18) between the positive portion and the negative portion of the alternating current through the tube, the asymmetry being time asymmetry or wave shape asymmetry, the degree of asymmetry influencing the rate of apparent bubble flow through the tube and the direction of asymmetry influencing the direction of the apparent bubble flow through the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Kennan C. Herrick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:25
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/282; H05B41/285; H05B41/2858
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
In a device including a gas discharge tube having electrodes, an AC circuit including said electrodes and an AC power source connected to impose sufficient potential between said electrodes to ionize the gas in said tube to produce segmented luminosity, the improvement comprising: first means to produce AC current through said tube at a frequency between 1500 and 8000 Hz, second means to eliminate direct current flow between said electrodes, and third means to regulate and modify the asymmetry of the wave pattern of said AC current flowing through said ionized gas without the application of direct current in order to control movement of luminous segments in said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a device including a gas discharge tube having electrodes, an AC circuit including said electrodes and an AC power source connected to impose sufficient potential between said electrodes to ionize the gas in said tube to produce segmented luminosity, the improvement comprising: first means to produce AC current through said tube at a frequency between 1500 and 8000 Hz, second means to eliminate direct current flow between said electrodes, and third means to regulate and modify the asymmetry of the wave pattern of said AC current flowing through said ionized gas without the application of direct current in order to control movement of luminous segments in said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said third means includes means to regulate the time asymmetry between the positive portion and the negative portion of said AC current.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said means to regulate includes a comparator and an integrator in a negative feedback loop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said third means includes means to regulate the wave shape of the positive portion of said AC current wave and of the negative portion of said AC current wave.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said third means includes a transformer having its secondary coil in circuit with said tube, having a magnetic shunt surrounded with a shunt coil and having means to vary the current through said shunt coil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said means to vary the current through said shunt coil includes a potentiometer connected differentially across said shunt coil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said potentiometer is in series with said shunt coil and connected differentially to two oppositely connected diodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said third means includes a transformer having its secondary coil in circuit with said tube and having a magnetic shunt in magnetic circuit with a permanent magnet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said second means is a capacitor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 1 including a midtube current path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 10 wherein said midtube current path is an electrically conductive element in capacitive coupling with the gas in said tube and electrically connected with a reference potential.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said reference potential is ground.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said third means includes means to measure the apparent movement of said segmented luminosity in said tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 13 wherein said means to measure includes a photoelectric cell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 14 wherein said means to measure includes a circuit responsive to a low-frequency current component in the electrode circuit of said tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-28 | 1993-02-27 | 1993-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-28 | 1997-02-27 | 1997-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-28 | 2001-02-27 | 2001-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |