P3D Re: fluorescent illumination.

[michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Michael Kersenbrock)]

>    George said "I don't see a benefit over fluorescent illumination."
> I can think of a few:  Cool operation, constant light output (the instant 
> you apply power to your Halogen lamp the intensity drops continously as the 
> battery is consumed, unless your plugged into the wall), better color 

Actually, you could add circuitry that isn't all that complex that would 
make the halogen intensity constant even though the battery is drooping.  
Just a relatively low power DC-to-DC switching converter (with regulation).
Using one of the chips made for battery-powered equipment would make it
fairly straightforward (made by Maxim and others).  

Don't really think it'd be worth it though.  One also could use Ni-Cad's
instead, and although they'd expire sooner, and that they'd start at a bit
lower voltage, their voltage is fairly constant until they die (much
like the characteristic mentioned above for the fluorescent lamp).

> control independant of applied power, much much better battery life, uniform
> distribution (not a point source).  Those are just a few.

Are the fluorescent lamp circuits being used instant-on (and stable)?  This 
would be important in a viewer that's used with a button. An initial-ionization
flicker may be annoying for those who use it in this manner.  Would it flicker?

Mike K.


> 
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> John Vala
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