Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic low voltage dimmer circuit that reduces DC magnetizing current which may be present in a dimmer system. The dimmer circuit delivers an RMS value of an AC supply voltage to a load while preventing or reducing a DC magnetizing current from damaging the dimmer circuit and/or load. The dimmer circuit includes a shutdown circuit which detects whether a DC voltage, corresponding to the DC current, is present across a circuit component and whether the DC voltage has reached or exceeded a predetermined voltage reference level, rendering the component non-conductive and thus preventing the DC magnetizing current from flowing through a load.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a night light assembly which plugs directly into an electrical wall receptacle to provide a beam of light that can be directed along different paths.

Abstract: A night light having a lamp socket for holding a lamp and a lamp shade around the lamp such that when the lamp shade is removed from the lamp socket, power to the lamp is automatically interrupted.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a reverse phase control power switching circuit for controlling the flow of current through a load from an AC source comprises a sensing bridge in series with the load and the AC source. The conductive state of the sensing bridge is responsive to a pulse generator and a zero crossing detection and overload protection means. Phase control means coupled to the pulse generator determines turn off of the sensing bridge is reset by the zero crossing detection and overload protection means. Responsive to a load current condition exceeding a maximum current caused by an overload or a short, the zero crossing detection and overloading protection network terminates conduction of current through the sensing bridge. The sensing bridge starts conducting current to the load at the beginning of the AC cycle and continues to conduct to a desired AC voltage phase angle or earlier if an excessive current condition caused by an overload condition or a short occurs.

Abstract: There is disclosed a porcelain lamp socket for use in a humid environment where the socket has a body, a screw shell, a center contact and two terminals; one for the line and the other for the neutral wire connection. The screw shell and the line and neutral terminals are attached to the porcelain body by means of fasteners such as eyelets, rivets, screws, etc. All electrical conductors in the bottom of the socket, including the fasteners are covered with a spacer which forms a watertight seal with the bottom surface of the body. The spacer, which can be made of high dielectric plastic material, can be mechanically held in place by projections which fit snuggly within the eyelets or rivets. RTV, either by itself or in combination with soft fillers such as washers can also be used to obtain a water tight seal. The device disclosed finds utility in applications where superior dielectric strength is desired between the live parts on or in the socket and the sheet metal (ground) to which the socket is mounted.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a reverse phase control power switching circuit for controlling the flow of current through a load from an AC source comprises a sensing bridge in series with the load and the AC source. The conductive state of the sensing bridge is responsive to a pulse generator and a zero crossing detection and overload protection means. Phase control means coupled to the pulse generator determines turn off of the sensing bridge is reset by the zero crossing detection and overload protection means. Responsive to a load current condition exceeding a maximum current caused by an overload or a short, the zero crossing detection and overloading protection network terminates conduction of current through the sensing bridge. The sensing bridge starts conducting current to the load at the beginning of the AC cycle and continues to conduct to a desired AC voltage phase angle or earlier if an excessive current condition caused by an overload condition or a short occurs.

Abstract: A circuit for protecting fluorescent lamps connected to a high frequency electronic ballast has a detecting bridge connected to the fluorescent lamps, an output of the detecting bridge varying linearly with a difference between a highest and a lowest voltage across the fluorescent lamps. A timer is connected to the detecting bridge output, and a trigger is connected to an output of the timer, the trigger being responsive to an over-voltage condition of a fluorescent lamp operating at failure mode. A controllable switch is connected across the fluorescent lamps, the controllable switch being controlled by an output of the trigger. The controllable switch, when closed, shorts the fluorescent lamps between their terminals, to protect the circuit when one or more fluorescent lamps are operating at failure mode or at the end of their operating life.

Abstract: A circuit for protecting fluorescent lamps connected to high frequency electronic ballasts has a detecting bridge connected to the fluorescent lamps, an output of the detecting bridge varying linearly with the highest voltage across the fluorescent lamps, a number of shunt capacitors equal to the number of fluorescent lamps, each shunt capacitor being connected between the detecting bridge and a corresponding fluorescent lamp, a timer connected to the detecting bridge output, a trigger connected to an output of the timer, the trigger being responsive to an over-voltage condition of a fluorescent lamp operating at failure mode, and a controllable switch connected across the fluorescent lamps, the controllable switch being controlled by an output of the trigger. The controllable switch, when closed, couples the shunt capacitors across the terminals of a corresponding fluorescent lamp and shuts down the fluorescent lamp which is operating at failure mode or at the end of its operating life.