Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes an actuator assembly that is responsive to the fault detection signal. The actuator assembly includes a breaker coil configured to generate an actuation force in response to being energized. A circuit interrupter includes four sets of movable contacts configured to be driven into a reset state in response to a reset stimulus, the four sets of movable contacts being configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the actuation force. A self-test circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the at least one sensor. The self-test circuit is configured to automatically generate a test signal from time to time during a predetermined portion of an AC power line cycle. The self-test circuit is configured such that the test signal is sensed by the at least one sensor when the at least one sensor is operational, the sensor output signal being a function of the test signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a housing assembly including a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a plurality of receptacle load terminals. A circuit assembly includes at least one signal detection circuit and an interrupting contact assembly. The interrupting contact assembly includes four sets of interrupting contacts being at least partially disposed on four cantilevered members. The four cantilevered members include a first set of two cantilevered members and a second set of two cantilevered members. The first set of cantilevered members is configured to rotate around a first axis in a first direction and the second set of cantilevered members being configured to rotate around a second axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a front cover member and a back cover member substantially in parallel with the front cover member. The housing further includes an electrically isolating member disposed between the front cover member and the back cover member such that a front interior region is formed and a rear interior region is formed. A protective electrical assembly includes a sensor assembly coupled to a plurality of line terminals and a solenoid assembly coupled to an interrupting contact assembly. The sensor assembly and the solenoid assembly are substantially disposed in a first rear interior region portion. The sensor assembly includes at least one toroidal transformer having a toroidal axis and the solenoid assembly including a solenoid coil having a solenoid coil axis. The toroidal axis and the solenoid coil axis are substantially parallel to one another.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes an automatic self-test assembly coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals, the detection circuit, the fault detection circuit and the circuit interrupter assembly. The automatic self-test assembly is configured to cause the detection circuit to generate a simulated sensor fault signal during a predetermined half-cycle of an AC line cycle in accordance with a predetermined periodic testing schedule, monitor the fault detection signal corresponding to the simulated sensor fault signal, and generate a test result signal based on monitoring the fault detection signal. The automatic self-test assembly also includes a noise immunized decision circuit configured to evaluate a plurality of test results to thereby provide a noise immunized end-of-life signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a light emitting wiring device for selectively illuminating a space. The device includes a housing including a plurality of wiring terminals configured to be connected to a source of electrical power. A circuit is disposed in the housing. The circuit is configured to provide an output signal in response to at least one external input signal. The device also includes an emission-detection assembly includes a lamp sub-assembly coupled to the at least one circuit. The lamp sub-assembly includes at least one light emitting element configured to emit light in response to the output signal. An ambient light sensor sub-assembly is coupled to the at least one circuit and includes an ambient light sensor and a sensor housing assembly. The ambient light sensor is configured to generate the at least one external input signal in response to an ambient light level in the space.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective wiring device for use in an electrical distribution system. The device includes a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals configured to be coupled to the plurality of line terminals in a reset state. A detector circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals. The detector circuit is configured to generate a detection signal in response to detecting at least one predefined perturbation in the electrical distribution system. A circuit interrupter assembly is coupled between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The circuit interrupter assembly is configured to decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in response to the detection signal. An end-of-life mechanism is coupled to the detector circuit. The end-of-life mechanism is configured to permanently decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in the absence of an intervening signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device that includes a housing assembly including a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a plurality of receptacle load terminals coupled to the plurality of load terminals by a plurality of conductors. A circuit interrupting assembly is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals, the circuit interrupting assembly establishing electrically continuity between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals in a reset state and interrupting the electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals in a tripped state. A wiring state detection circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals. At least one switchable element is coupled to the wiring state detection circuit, the at least one switchable element including a plurality of switching states.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a front cover member having a front major surface and a back cover member having a back major surface substantially in parallel with the front major surface. The housing further includes an electrically isolating member disposed between the front cover member and the back cover member such that a front interior region is formed between the front cover member and the electrically isolating member and a rear interior region is formed between the back cover member and the electrically isolating member. The user accessible reset button assembly establishes a plane normal to the major front surface and subdividing the rear interior region into a first rear interior region portion and a second rear interior region portion. The interrupting contact assembly is configured to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of receptacle terminals in a reset state.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals including a line hot terminal and a line neutral terminal, and a plurality of load terminals including a load hot terminal and a load neutral terminal. An interrupting contact assembly includes four sets of interrupting contacts configured to provide electrical continuity at least between the line hot terminal and the load hot terminal and the line neutral terminal and the load neutral terminal in a reset state. The four sets of interrupting contacts are open in a tripped state. A miswire prevention arrangement is configured to prevent the interrupting contact assembly from maintaining the reset state when the load hot terminal and the load neutral terminal are connected to a source of AC power.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wiring device that includes a front cover assembly. The front cover assembly includes a front cover having at least one plug receptacle opening disposed therein. A ground strap is coupled to the cover assembly. A device assembly includes a plurality of line terminals configured to be connected to an AC power source, a plurality of load terminals configured to be connected to a downstream load, and at least one set of receptacle load terminals in communication with the at least one receptacle opening. The device assembly also includes a fault response circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals. A back cover is coupled to the front cover assembly to accommodate the device assembly therein. The ground strap element is disposed between the front cover assembly and the back cover. The back cover extending beyond the ground strap a distance substantially less than or equal to one inch.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective device that includes a hot line terminal, a neutral line terminal, a hot load terminal, and a neutral load terminal. A low pass filter circuit has a capacitor coupled in series with a solenoid coil of the protective device. The low pass filter is coupled across the hot line terminal and the neutral line terminal. A miswire detection circuit is configured to detect a miswire fault condition when AC power is coupled to the hot load terminal and the neutral load terminal. An interrupting contact assembly includes interrupting contacts that provide electrical continuity between the hot line terminal and the hot load terminal and the neutral line terminal and the neutral load terminal in a reset state. The interrupting contacts are open in a tripped state. An indicator circuit is coupled to the interrupting contact assembly and being configured to indicate the tripped state and/or the reset state.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes an automatic self-test assembly coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals, the detection circuit, the fault detection circuit and the circuit interrupter assembly. The automatic self-test assembly is configured to cause the detection circuit to generate a simulated sensor fault signal during a predetermined half-cycle of an AC line cycle in accordance with a predetermined periodic testing schedule, monitor the fault detection signal corresponding to the simulated sensor fault signal, and generate a test result signal based on monitoring the fault detection signal. The automatic self-test assembly also includes a noise immunized decision circuit configured to evaluate a plurality of test results to thereby provide a noise immunized end-of-life signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wiring device that includes a front cover assembly. The front cover assembly includes a front cover having at least one plug receptacle opening disposed therein. A ground strap is coupled to the cover assembly. A device assembly includes a plurality of line terminals configured to be connected to an AC power source, a plurality of load terminals configured to be connected to a downstream load, and at least one set of receptacle load terminals in communication with the at least one receptacle opening. The device assembly also includes a fault response circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals. A back cover is coupled to the front cover assembly to accommodate the device assembly therein. The ground strap element is disposed between the front cover assembly and the back cover. The back cover extending beyond the ground strap a distance substantially less than or equal to one inch.

Abstract: The present invention is directed electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly having line terminals, load terminals, and receptacle terminals. A fault detection circuit is configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting fault conditions. First interrupting contacts are configured to electrically couple the line terminals and the load terminals in a reset condition and decouple the line terminals from the load terminals in response to the fault detection signal in a tripped state. A wiring state detection circuit is coupled to at least one of the line terminals. The wiring state detection circuit is configured to generate a first wiring signal when the line terminals are connected to a source of AC power. Second interrupting contacts are configured to electrically couple the at least one receptacle load terminal to the at least one load terminal in response to the first wiring signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective device that includes a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals. A wiring state detection circuit is configured to detect a wiring state associated with the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals and configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting at least one fault condition. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the fault detection circuit. The circuit interrupter includes four sets of interrupting contacts configured to provide electrical continuity at least between the hot line terminal and the hot load terminal and the neutral line terminal and the neutral load terminal in a reset state. The four sets of interrupting contacts are open in a tripped state.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a circuit and method for self-testing a protection device for use in an AC power distribution system. The device is configured to be coupled between an AC power distribution system and at least one load. The method includes the step of introducing a simulated ground neutral fault during a first predetermined half cycle half cycle of the AC power. An attempt is made to detect the introduced simulated grounded neutral fault during the first predetermined half cycle half cycle. A fault condition is signaled if the introduced simulated grounded neutral fault is not detected within a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly including a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals. A miswire detection circuit is coupled to at least one of the plurality of line terminals, the miswire detection circuit being configured to generate a miswire detection signal when AC power is coupled to the plurality of load terminals. The miswire detection circuit includes a circuit element configured to open circuit after a predetermined period of time elapses when AC power is coupled to the hot line terminal and neutral line terminal. A fault detection circuit is coupled to at least one of the plurality of line terminals and configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting at least one fault condition and/or the miswire detection signal. An interrupting contact assembly is coupled between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly having at least one line terminal and at least one load terminal partially disposed therein. A first conductive path is electrically coupled to the at least one line terminal. A second conductive path is electrically coupled to the at least one load terminal, the second conductive path being connected to the first conductive path in a reset state. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the first conductive path. The fault detection circuit is configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting at least one fault condition. A wiring state detection circuit is coupled to the first conductive path. The wiring state detection circuit selectively provides a wiring state detection signal when the at least one line terminal is coupled to a source of AC power, and not providing the wiring state detection signal otherwise.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective device that includes a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals. The fault detection circuit is configured to provide a detection output signal in response to a detected condition. A switching device is coupled to the fault detection circuit. The switching device is configured to provide a trip signal in response to the detection output signal, the switching device being characterized by at least one device parameter. A circuit interrupting assembly is configured to electrically connect the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals in a reset state and disconnect the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in response to the trip signal in a tripped state. An indicator circuit assembly is coupled to the switching device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly having at least one receptacle. The receptacle is configured to receive plug contact blades inserted therein. The housing assembly includes a hot line terminal, a neutral line terminal, a hot load terminal, and a neutral load terminal. A set of receptacle contacts is disposed in the housing assembly and in communication with the receptacle. The receptacle contacts includes a hot user-accessible load contact and a neutral user accessible load contact. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the test assembly. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect at least one fault condition and provide a fault detect signal in response thereto. A four-pole interrupting contact assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit and includes a set of four-pole interrupting contacts. A reset mechanism is coupled to the four-pole interrupting contact assembly.