Abstract: A motion detector with a lens-sensor mounting and adjustment arrangement that permits a user to adjust the effective range of the motion detector without altering the sensor's sensitivity settings. The mounting arrangement provides for relative movement of the sensor in relation to the lens matrix through an adjustment accessible to a user from outside the motion detector housing. In a disclosed embodiment a sensor is mounted on a printed circuit board that is disposed to slide on elongate rails. An expansible actuator assembly includes a threaded traveling member coupled to a threaded drive member, one end being accessible through the motion detector housing for engagement by a user and the other end being coupled to the printed circuit board so as to actuate movement of the sensor with respect to the lens.

Abstract: A manual override circuit for use in commercial and household electronic devices. The override circuit may employ as little as a single integrated-circuit operational amplifier, two capacitors, which are charged and discharged in appropriate sequence in response to toggling of the power supply, and several resistors. In one embodiment the manual override circuitry includes an integrated-circuit operational amplifier, which provides a high signal at its output for triggering switching circuitry to energize a load. An RC network couples low-voltage a power supply to the inverting input of the op amp. The inverting and noninverting inputs of the op amp are coupled together through a resistive network, which may be provided by single resistor. A second resistive network, which may also be provided by single resistor couples the inverting input to ground.

Abstract: A light fixture controlled by a passive infrared motion detector including a base, one or more lamp holders attached to the base, and a detector housing also attached to the base and containing the motion detector. The lamp holders each comprise a socket housing for receiving a floodlight bulb or the like and a shade or reflector at the front of the socket housing. The lamp holder assembly is connected to the base by a support arm that is pivotably connected to a side wall of the socket housing offset from the end of the socket housing instead of being connected at the end of the socket housing as is conventional. The pivoting side mounting of the lamp holder permits the lamp holder to pivot with a moment arm that is significantly shorter than the overall length of the lamp holder.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement and method for firing a gated thyristor used for applying electrical power to a load, in response to a trigger signal, from a live power lead and a neutral power lead such as found in the common household electrical service. The load to be energized in response to the trigger signal is connected between the neutral power lead and one of the thyristor main terminals, the other thyristor main terminal being connected to the live power lead. The live power lead is biased at a negative potential with respect to the neutral power lead to define a circuit ground at the negative potential. A gate circuit is connected between the gate terminal and the circuit ground for applying a potential to the gate terminal in response to the trigger signal that is at least as great as the thyristor's characteristic threshold potential for enabling current flow between the thyristor main terminals and thereby energizing the load.

Abstract: A snap-fit plastic ball joint that may be molded using a plurality of shutoffs on inner and outer mold pieces without the need for a solid or collapsible ball-shaped core. The ball joint includes a socket and a plurality of molded plastic retaining fingers disposed around the perimeter of the socket and extending away from the socket. The retaining fingers extend longitudinally along a ball seated in the socket and are formed to engage the ball and retain it in its seated position. The socket itself is formed by a plurality of seating fingers that are disposed around the socket alternating with a plurality of web members. The web members form extensions of the retaining fingers. The alternating seating fingers and web members are joined at their neighboring edges to define the socket. The seating fingers are shaped at their distal ends to define a concave seat for seating the ball of the ball joint and the web members provide support for the seating fingers.

Abstract: A simple, low-cost method and apparatus for supporting a lighting fixture, motion detector or the like while it is being electrically connected and mounted on a junction box in a side wall or ceiling. A disposable support link is provided for supporting the weight of the fixture during installation. The support link is easily attachable to the junction box and to the fixture without the need for tools, and can even be attached with only one hand. When the electrical connections are completed and the fixture is ready to be mounted on the junction box, the support link may simply be left in place in the junction box or in one embodiment may be removed with one hand as easily as it was attached. The support link is secured to the back side of the fixture in a position that will face the junction box when the fixture is in its installed configuration on the junction box.

Abstract: A quartz lamp that permits the bulb to be replaced from a side port without disassembling the lamp housing, and without having to touch the quartz envelope of the bulb. The lamp has an access port in a side wall of the lamp housing through which an expired bulb is extracted and a replacement bulb is installed. A knob seats in the access port where it is lockable into its seated position. Attached to the inner surface of the knob is a first bulb holder assembly, which receives and holds the bulb at one of its ends and establishes electrical contact with the bulb at that end. A second bulb holder assembly is secured within the lamp housing at a position opposite the access port and in registration with the first bulb holder assembly. The second bulb holder assembly receives and holds, and establishes electrical contact with, the bulb at the opposite end when it is inserted into the lamp housing through the access port.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for use in occupancy detectors for preventing false triggering when a load such as a light is de-energized. The occupancy detector includes circuitry for providing an intermediate signal indicating detection of a target object. An output stage receives the intermediate signal and in response provides a trigger signal for energizing the light or other load. An RC network, having a characteristic charge decay time, is coupled to the output stage such that the characteristic charge decay time governs the duration for which the output stage asserts the trigger signal for energizing the light or other load. Output signals from the occupancy-detecting circuitry are applied to the RC network through a first transistor switch. A second RC network, having its own characteristic charge decay time, is provided and the trigger signal is applied to charge the second RC network.

Abstract: A two-sided passive infrared integrated-circuit sensor package for use in infrared motion detectors as well as other infrared sensing applications. The integrated-circuit sensor package has a casing with viewing windows transmissive to infrared radiation on opposite sides. Infrared sensing elements are mounted within the integrated circuit package so that both sides of the sensing elements are able to receive infrared radiation through the viewing windows from the areas in front of and behind the integrated-circuit package. By this simple mechanical change in the package and sensing element mounting, the area of sensitivity of the sensor is effectively doubled with no change in the electronic design of the circuit and with no increase in the number or size of the infrared-sensitive sensing elements within the IC package.

Abstract: A passive infra-red motion detector with wide field of view extending to greater than 180 degrees that can be achieved in a cost-effective manner using a single sensor. The motion detector includes a generally prismoidal infra-red mirror having two angled reflecting surfaces forming an apex, which apex may be truncated. The prismoidal reflecting surfaces and their apex are positioned close to and overlying at least a portion of the motion detector sensor and the apex is spaced apart from the sensor at most a distance comparable to a characteristic transverse dimension of the sensor. Because of the close proximity of the mirror to the sensor, the area of the reflecting surfaces need not be very large and may be made comparatively small. The mirror surfaces deflect infrared energy from a suitable arrangement of lenses or other focusing elements onto the sensor from a plurality of zones so as to extend the lateral extremities of the motion detector field of view.