Abstract: A stairway 2 is fabricated using a plurality of load bearing modules 4 that are attached to form a box beam 60 that can be freestanding. Each module 4 included flat vertical front and rear panels 6, 20 that are joined by vertical inside and outside panels 30, 3 8. The modules are joined by affixing the front panel of a higher module to the rear panel of the next adjacent lower module to form a stepped configuration. For a curved stairway 2, the helical box beam 60 formed of a plurality of trapezoid shaped modules 4 provides the principle support for the weight of the stairway 2 and the weight of any body positioned on the stairway. Longitudinal members 64, 66, 68 extending between the lower edges of adjacent modules 4 are loaded in tension and resist separation of the individual modules 4. Because the box beam 60 is the primary weight carrying member, the longitudinal members can be relatively thin and flexible and easy to fabricate.

Abstract: A dimmer switch 2 for use in a lighting or electrical power control system includes an air gap switch 20 for open circuiting the load from the source of electrical power. Normal load control is provided by power control circuitry on a printed circuit board 24 in the dimmer switch 2. The air gap switch 20 includes two opposed contact springs 30 mounted on the same printed circuit board. These contact springs 30 include contact tabs 32 normally held in contact. An air gap actuator post 50 molded on one end of a dimmer switch rocker 4 can be moved between the contact tabs 32 to open the air gap switch 20. Convex latching surfaces or ridges 38 on each contact spring 30 engage channels 52 on the air gap actuator post 50 to disengagably hold the post 50 in place. The rocker 4 is rotated from a neutral position to a normal actuation position to activate push button switches 26 on the printed circuit board 24, and the rocker 4 can be rotated further to bring the air gap actuator between contact tabs 32.

Abstract: To offer a locking connector having a double-lock device with a positioner determining the position of the contacts. Cavities 8 are formed in the housing 2. A double-lock device 50 having cavities 64 corresponding to the cavities 8 is inserted in a recess 14 in the housing 2. At the pressure section 54 of the double-lock device 50, an extension 56 is made. From the front end of the extension 56, a connector positioner 58 extends vertically downward along the joining surface 4. The positioner 58 has an opening 60 and front edge 62 which determine position of the contacting sections 102 of the contacts 100 when the double-lock device 50 is in the fully locked position.

Abstract: Light beam detection is taught in method and apparatus where a light source of coherent light is directed toward a reflecting hologram made to simulate a parabolic mirror to generate light beams detected by photoreceptors along one side of an opto-frame, such receptors being scanned in a manner to preclude false detection of an object within the field of light. An an alternative, multiple light sources are used with a single receptor and an appropriate hologram.

Abstract: A modulated touch entry system and corresponding method for detecting the presence and location of a member within an irradiated field. A touch entry system and corresponding method are disclosed which utilize modulated pulses of light from light emitters, such as light emitting diodes, which are detected by corresponding light detectors, such as phototransistors. The light emitters and the corresponding light detectors are arranged around a frame to provide an irradiated field. The system utilizes circuitry to precondition a signal from the light detectors prior to analyzing the presence of a "hit"; i.e., the presence of a member within the irradiated field. The circuitry includes a differential amplifier and a programmable amplifier, which consists of a digital to analog converter, a current to voltage converter, and a gain stage, to precondition the signal from the light detectors.

Abstract: An access floor module for use with wiring extending beneath the floor of a structure can be used with both high tension and low tension conductors. High tension and low tension outlets can be mounted on the front of a rotatable frame member. Cables are attached to the back and the frame can be inserted into the floor into the plenum beneath the access floor on the same level as the cables and the frame pivotably mounted with respect to the floor. The frame also provides structural support for the module cover.

Abstract: Cable tap and splice assembly for selectively connecting tap conductors to cable wire conductors comprises a housing having a cable wire locator for locating the cable wires in predetermined coplanar positions. A plurality of bus conductors are provided in the housing and extend parallel to the cable wires with each bus connector being dedicated to, and associated with, a single cable wire. The bus conductors have receptacle sites which are accessible from the exterior of the housing so that terminals can be mated with the bus conductors. Connecting devices extend from the bus conductors to the cable wires. The assembly has a major surface having defined zones, each of which receives an electrical connector that has male terminals which are mated with specific cable wires when the connector is coupled to the major surface. The bus conductors can also connect two connecting devices engaging two wires in separate cables positioned in abuttment with a central, removable, partition in the cable clamp.

Abstract: A convenience outlet assembly having a wall box which can be mounted relative to a stud in light frame construction is suitable for use with a hybrid cables containing both power and signal conductors. The assembly includes a mounting bracket attachable to a stud and a wall box which can be attached to the mounting bracket with a peripheral frame on the front of the wall box being precisely positioned relative to the exterior of a wall panel, even through the position of the mounting bracket can vary. A cable tap subassembly attachable to provided for interconnection of various modules in the assembly. This cable tape subassembly can be part of the rear wall of the housing.

Abstract: Housing assembly for components, such as Hall effect sensors, comprises an inner housing of premolded relatively firm plastic material and an outer housing which is overmolded on the inner housing. The components are contained in cavities in the inner housing. Passageways extend through the inner housing to the cavities and the soft overmolded material flows through these passageways and forms a surrounding cushion within the cavities for the components. Also disclosed is a system for mounting proximity sensors on an automotive door lock or the like in a manner which detects the fully closed and the partially closed conditions of the door.

Abstract: A touch input device, suitable for use in detecting the presence of an opaque element within a display area bounded by light emitting elements and light detecting elements includes light emitter activating circuitry in which the light emitting elements are individually selectable. Each light emitting element is contained within a matrix and source drivers and sink drivers are effective to select a specific row and column address for each individual light emitter. Current for the light emitters is provided by a voltage source which is chosen for compatibility with the logic used in the touch input system. A charge pump operating sequentially with the selection light emitting elements is used to establish a voltage greater than the normal supply voltage to overcome the voltage drops of the source and sink driver and the activated light emitter to insure light emission greater than a minimum threshold.

Abstract: An electrical transmission cable incorporating coaxial cables, power supply cables, data conductors and telephone conductors suitable for use in residential wiring is disclosed. Cable comprises a bundle configuration in which coaxial conductors are disposed in a center of a round bundle between data and telephone conductors to reduce the continuation of signals in the data and telephone conductors.

Abstract: An edge linearization device for linearizing the electric fields in a resistive surface is described. A plurality of electrodes are disposed on the perimeter of an area on a surface having a substantially uniform resistivity. The device utilizes the geometry of the spaces between adjacent conductive elements to provide resistive elements. At least one of the electrodes has an extension. The extension or extensions of the electrodes are progressively inwardly displaced into the area from the perimeter so that there is at least one center-most extension on a first portion of said perimeter and also on a second, opposing portion of said perimeter. In a preferred embodiment, the invention utilizes a surface with a substantially rectangular area having four sides and four corners. Disposed along the sides are a plurality of electrodes and corner electrodes and disposed in the corners of the surface are corner connectors. The use of T-shaped extensions of the electrodes on such a surface is also disclosed.

Abstract: Hermaphroditic electrical terminals positioned within hermaphroditic insulative housings are suitable for electrical power distribution. Each terminal has an inclined contact arm opposed to a generally flat contact arm. Both contact arms are longitudinally coined. Each generally flat contact arm is sandwiched between the two arms of the other terminal when the two terminals are mated. The convex coined surfaces on the inclined arms engage concave coined surfaces on the generally flat contact of the other terminal to maintain the line contact between convex coined surfaces on the generally flat contact arms in static equilibrium.

Abstract: A stamped and formed terminal for use in establishing an insulation displacemnt termination to wires extending in either of two orthogonal directions is disclosed. The stamped and formed terminal has a box-like conductor terminating portion in which wires can be inserted into slots in opposed plates on two of the four sides. The other plates can then be deformed about weakened sections to overlap a conductor inserted into plates on the adjacent sides to provide strain relief to prevent removal of the wire from the slots. Interconnection to other terminals can then be made to a termination portion which will have the same orientation relative to the insulative body regardless of the direction of the conductors.

Abstract: Cast solder preforms, rings or donuts suitable for use in a reflow solder process to interconnect through-hole pins in an electrical connector to plated through holes in a printed circuit board are disclosed. A plurality of solder donuts are cast into an array so that the plurality of donuts are initially formed as a single unit. The donuts can be either cast onto pins in a connector or cast onto a separate carrier for subsequent insertion onto the pins in a connector.

Abstract: A surface accessible wiring system for the distribution of power and signal conductors such as telephone or data conductors is disclosed. A raceway comprises a channel member having a plurality of compartments, a cover which can be securely snapped to the raceway channel and a plurality of connector housings. Each raceway component is extruded from a material such as aluminum. Ribs on the cover and the connector housings are securely snapped into engagement with lips on the channels so that the covers can only be removed with the use of a tool. The channels are shallow so that the raceway assembly can be mounted substantially flush with the exterior surface of a wall or a wall panel, either at the base or top of the wall or at desk level.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprising a receptacle connector and a pin header is disclosed. The receptacle connector is attached to wires and the pin header can be secured to a printed circuit board. The receptacle connector is secured in the shrouded pin header by a double acting connector latch extending upwardly from one wall of the header housing. Connector latch comprises a yoke section with upwardly extending deflectable arms and a centrally disposed downwardly extending deflectable cantilever beam. The latching protrusion engages a trough located on the exterior of the receptacle connector.

Abstract: An insulation displacement terminal having a pair of slotted plates retained in a nest formed by embossments on sidewalls extending past the edges of slotted plates. The sidewalls and the slotted plates are formed orthogonally upward from a common base. Outer ellipsoidal embossments are formed on opposite sides of a cylindrical embossment. The embossments are formed by a shallow drawing process without removal of material from the planar sidewalls. Adjacent edges of the embossments are sheared to form a nest receiving the side edges of the slotted plates.This application is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 07/280,753 filed Dec. 6, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,382, issued Aug. 14, 1990.

Abstract: A fluorescent light fixture employing modular prewired endcaps as depicted herein. A one piece insulative body includes both fluorescent lamp supports and a junction block. Jumper assemblies comprising wires having socket terminals and junction interconnect terminals on opposite ends are assembled in cavities in the insulative body on the inner face of the insulative body. The insulative body can then be attached to the hood of the fluorescent lamp assembly and lead wires can be attached between the endcap assembly and other components such as ballasts on the fluorescent lighting fixture.