Abstract: A multifunction sensor provides a plurality of parameter sensors in one sensor module which can interface with and control operation of one or more processor control systems in an occupied space networked environment such as a commercial building. The multifunction sensor comprises at least an occupancy sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a temperature sensor. A common network communications and control processor is coupled to a common communication transceiver, and are shared in common by the occupancy sensor, the ambient light sensor and the temperature sensor, such that the multifunction sensor can interface with and control operation of one or more processor control systems. A plurality of the multifunction sensors are placed at different locations throughout the building.

Abstract: A discharge lamp operating circuit is connected to a source of alternating current (AC) voltage, and has a discharge lamp and a semi-resonant circuit connected to the source of alternating current voltage and in series with the lamp. A starting circuit for initiating operation of said discharge lamp is also connected in the circuit. The lamp switching maintains the series semi-resonant circuit in oscillation and the series semi-resonant circuit maintains the lamp in operation after operation has been initiated by the starting circuit. Highly efficient energy transfer between inductive and capacitive components of the system result in low loss and high power factor. A variable capacitance circuit is provided to allow use of the discharge lamp operating circuit with different line voltages, and to allow dimming.

Abstract: A lighting arrester in the form of a double-ended polymer enclosure contains one or more varistor discs in vertical alignment having terminals at the opposing ends for external electrical connection. The discs are formed from a zinc oxide composition with metal electrodes on opposing faces that are electrically connected with each other and with the end terminals by U-shaped metal straps.

Abstract: An adjustable hanger assembly is disclosed for mounting and supporting an electrical box between a pair of structural supports, such as studs or joists. The adjustable hanger assembly is designed to properly position electrical boxes of different depths between the structural supports such that the open end of the electrical box is flush with the exterior surface of the wallboard or plasterboard, e.g., dry wall or sheet rock. The adjustable hanger assembly has a pair of telescoping support members slidably coupled together and a hanger strap fixedly coupled to an electrical box. The support members are preferably tubular with a rectangular transverse cross-section. One side of the support members acts as a positioning edge for maintaining the open end of an electrical box of a first depth flush with the exterior surface of the wall board.

Abstract: An illuminated sign having a housing with a back wall and a peripheral wall extending around the back wall to form an illuminating recess. The housing further having a top and a bottom and a bracket located within the recess, adjacent the top. An illuminating device is also positioned within the recess. A cover is hingedly coupled to the bottom of the housing by a hinge for pivotal movement relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position. The cover has an inner side facing the housing and an oppositely facing outer side. A transparent, protective shield is coupled directly to the outer side of the cover. A first tamper-resistant fastener is located adjacent the top of the housing and couples together the bracket and the cover for selectively securing the cover in the closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying emergency power to a lighting device, in particular, an HID lamp, when a failure occurs in a main power supply. The apparatus can include a rectifier circuit for converting an AC voltage signal provided by the main power supply to a DC voltage signal. A capacitive element can be coupled across the DC output terminals of the rectifier circuit and across a DC coil of a DC relay circuit. The amount of energy stored by the capacitor controls the DC relay to provide the voltage of the main power supply to the lamp circuit under normal conditions, and the voltage of an emergency power supply to the lamp circuit when the voltage of the main power supply falls below a predetermined level. Alternatively, an AC relay can be coupled directly to the main AC voltage power supply or emergency power supply and configured to perform a similar operation.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a body adapted to receive a plug at one end, a cover, a hinge having a bifurcated end and pivotally mounting the cover to the body for movement between an open condition and a closed condition relative to the body and biasing the cover toward the closed condition, and position retention tabs formed on laterally spaced apart lugs defined on the bifurcated end of the hinge with each tab projecting outwardly therefrom and defining an arcuate-shaped shoulder such that the shoulders of the tabs and the body can retain a rod-shaped member therebetween for blocking movement of the cover from the open condition to the closed condition when the plug is not present at the one end of the body. The cover is also rotatable between an open position where the cover is removable from the body and a closed position where the cover is secured onto the body.

Abstract: A universal ceiling box adapted to selectively support fans and fixtures. The ceiling box preferably has a substantially flat, top portion with a side portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter of the top portion. The side portion and the top portion form a main cavity with an open bottom end. A mounting element extends from the side portion into the main cavity for selectively coupling and supporting fans and fixtures thereto. The mounting element has a pair of opposed fan mounting holes with a first diameter, and a pair of opposed fixture mounting holes with a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter. Each of the first and second mounting holes has an axis extending perpendicular to the top portion, respectively.

Abstract: A device for connecting, and then isolating and disconnecting an arrester includes a non-conductive housing with two electrical terminals. The housing has opposite ends separated by an internal chamber. The terminals are mounted at the housing ends. A resistor engages and extends between the terminals in the housing internal chamber. A cartridge with an explosive charge is mounted in the internal chamber adjacent the resistor. A gap spacer surrounds the cartridge, is adjacent one of the terminals and is spaced from the other terminal.

Abstract: A device box having a cover member and a base member releasably coupled together by a snap-fit latching arrangement. Preferably, both the cover member and the base member are integrally molded as one-piece, unitary members with only non-hidden surfaces so that they can be manufactured by straight draw-type injection molding techniques, rather than by molds using sliders. The latching arrangement of the preferred embodiments includes one or more latch members resiliently coupled to the base member for releasably engaging one or more apertures in the cover member.

Abstract: An electrical insulator in the form of a pintype insulator has a load sustaining mechanical core and a dielectric sheath overlying the mechanical core to protect the mechanical core from the weather. The mechanical core is constructed of a load sustaining dielectric material which is different from the dielectric material of the sheath. The mechanical core has a profiled outer surface with a top groove, two side grooves, an annular rib and an axially extending threaded bore. The dielectric sheath is applied over the mechanical core as thin as practical to minimize the amount of sheath material being used. However, the dielectrical sheath is molded on the mechanical core to form a pair of weathersheds which can either extend radially outwardly therefrom or substantially downwardly therefrom in the form of vertical sheds.

Abstract: A system for selectively providing power from a power source to a load to operate in an area for at least one occupant comprising a processing device for controlling the opening and closing of a relay connected between the load and the power source for energizing the load, and a sensor for detecting the presence of an occupant in the area. The processing device is programmable to close the relay in response to an output signal from the sensor for a period of time that can be of fixed duration, or a duration that is dynamically and automatically determined using sensor data relating to measure time between successive, detected occupant movements. In addition to a daylight inhibit function, the system is provided with color indicators and a tone generator to indicate various operating conditions and to guide a user entering selected system parameters, among other features.

Abstract: A connection system for a computer network includes a computer terminal (12), wall outlet (16), a patch panel (28), an interface panel (32) and a network hub (36). A terminal jack (14) on the computer terminal and an outlet jack (18) on the wall terminal are connected by a patch cord (20). The patch panel has a plurality of patch modular jacks (40), each of which is connected to an interface modular jack (46) by a patch cord (34). An elongated receptacle (48) is mounted on the interface panel and is connected to the modular jacks of the interface panel by a wiring board (50). The wiring board has conductive paths which connect the terminals of the interface modular jacks with the terminals of the elongated receptacle and cancel crosstalk. The network hub is connected to the interface connector by a patch cord (38).

Abstract: A lighting fixture for lighting a large area such as a sporting field. The lighting fixture has a bowl-shaped reflector with an internal glare and spill control assembly for aiming and controlling the light emitted therefrom. The glare and spill control assembly is located within the bowl-shaped reflector and behind the lens cover of the lighting fixture so that the glare and spill control assembly is substantially isolated from the effects of weather. The glare and spill control assembly preferably has a plurality of arc-shaped louvers located substantially in the upper half of the reflector for controlling glare and spill of the light from the lamp. The lower half of the reflector preferably has either a reflector insert for redirecting light more parallel to the central aiming axis, or a light absorbing baffle for reducing glare.

Abstract: A connector has an attaching portion with a first axis extending in a first direction, a first free end adapted to receive a mating connection element, and a second end spaced from the first free end along the first axis. The connector further has first and second arm portions coupled to the second end of the attaching portion and extending outwardly therefrom. Each of the arm portions has a second longitudinal axis extending transverse to the first axis of the attaching portion. Each of the first and second arm portions further has a plurality of ports for receiving conducting devices or conductors, each of the ports being open towards a direction that is transverse to the second longitudinal axis. Preferably, the first and second arm portions and the attaching portion are integrally formed as a unitary, one-piece member.

Abstract: A connector for communication systems includes first and second interfaces electrically coupled by a circuit. The first interface has first, second, third and sixth primary terminals arranged in order in a first ordered array. The second interface has a plurality of secondary terminals arranged in a second ordered array. The circuit couples the primary terminals to the respective secondary terminals and cancels crosstalk induced across adjacent terminals. The circuit includes conductive traces connecting the respective primary and secondary terminals. Sections of first and third paths are in relatively close proximity to provide a first reactive coupling between those two paths. Sections of the first and sixth paths are in relatively close proximity to provide a second reactive coupling between those two paths. The sections of the conductive paths have lengths, widths and spacings to cancel the crosstalk induced at the terminals.

Abstract: An improved mounting bracket can be used to selectively support both 4 inch square electrical boxes and 411/16 inch square electrical boxes such that vertical movement of either type of electrical box is limited. The mounting bracket is preferably a one-piece, unitary member stamped from sheet metal. The mounting bracket has a top support rail, a bottom support rail and a pair of mounting ends coupling the support rails together to define a large, elongated central cut-out portion. An electrical box and its associated cover may be mounted between two wall studs by first attaching the mounting bracket of the present invention to the wall studs. The open front end of the box is then placed flush against the rear surface of the bracket such that a top portion of the box contacts the bottom rail of the bracket.

Abstract: An system is provided for testing emergency lighting units using a receiver connected to the emergency lighting unit and a portable transmitter operable remotely with respect to the emergency lighting unit. The emergency lighting comprises a transfer relay for switching a battery between a primary power source and a lamp. A TEST button and the receiver each include a normally closed contact switch connected in series with each other, as well as with a primary power source input and transfer control circuitry. The transmitter generates encoded signals for wireless transmission to the receiver as long as a control switch on the transmitter is being activated by a user. The receiver receives and decodes the encoded signals and opens its normally closed relay as long as encoded signals are being received, causing the transfer control circuitry to activate the transfer relay to switch the battery from the primary power source to the lamp.

Abstract: A light fixture is disclosed for lighting a large area such as sporting fields. The lighting fixture has a bowl-shaped reflector with a central aiming axis and a side-mounted lamp mounting socket for a transversely supporting a single-ended lamp with the reflector. The light fixture also has a mounting arm for coupling the reflector to a support member and for supporting the lamp substantially perpendicular to the central aiming axis of the reflector. More specifically, the mounting arm has a first end coupled to the exterior of the reflector and a second end located substantially adjacent the central aiming axis of the reflector. The mounting arm also has a wiring channel extending between its first and second ends and a socket recess located at its first end for mounting the lamp mounting socket therein.

Abstract: A modular electrical assembly is enclosed in an elastomeric weathershed housing, and has a plurality of electrical components and end terminals aligned in a column and in electrical connection with one another via their axially-directed ends and under an axially-directed compressive force via a non-conductive filament winding. The filament winding defines a crisscross pattern with lateral openings for venting gas upon failure of one of the electrical components. The openings can be filled with fracturable epoxy or other insulating materials. Each end terminal has an electrically conductive part with a radially extending flange at its inner end, and an electrically insulative part mounted over the electrically conductive part and engaging the flange.