Abstract: An electrical wiring device includes a manually adjustable switch, a light emitting diode (LED), a light level sensor, and a microcontroller. The wiring device also optionally includes an occupancy sensor. Light level is sensed through a light pipe and light is emitted by the LED through the same light pipe. When the manually adjustable switch is positioned to energize a load, the LED is deactivated and ambient light level is sensed by light sensors through the light pipe. The ambient light level is compared to a minimum ambient light level to determine if the load will be energized. Alternatively, the LED is deactivated and the ambient light level is sensed through the light pipe when the switch is positioned to de-energize the load. This ambient light level is stored and compared to the minimum ambient light level at a time when the switch is later positioned to energize the load.

Abstract: An electrical control system includes a power supply circuit comprising a load. Further, the electrical control system includes a master node that is electrically coupled to the load via the power supply circuit. The master node includes a first power line communication interface and a first wireless communication interface. Furthermore, the electrical control system includes at least one slave node that is electrically coupled to the master node via the power supply circuit. The at least one slave node includes a second power line communication interface that is communicable with the first power line communication interface to send a first control signal to the master node through power line communication for controlling the load. The electrical control system further includes a controller that is wirelessly coupled to the master node to send a second control signal wirelessly to the master node for controlling the load.

Abstract: Embodiments of a plasma generator apparatus for ashing a work piece are provided. The apparatus includes a container adapted for continuous gas flow there through from an inlet end to an outlet end thereof. The container is fabricated of a dielectric material and adapted for ionization therein of a portion of at least one component of gas flowing therethrough. A gas flow distributor is configured to direct gas flow to a region within the container and a coil surrounds at least a portion of side walls of the container adjacent the region of the container to which the gas flow distributor directs gas flow. A radio frequency generator is coupled to the coil.

Abstract: A dimmer system for a luminaire is provided. The dimmer system has a dimmer that receives a first current and supplies a reduced-magnitude current. The dimmer system also has a boosting system that receives the reduced-magnitude current and supplies a boosted current to a light source or lamp if the reduced-magnitude current is being received in conjunction with the initial turn-on of the dimmer. The boosted current can be provided for a predetermined period of time. The boosted current can also be provided as pulses of boosted current interspersed with pulses of the reduced-magnitude current. The boosted current can have the magnitude of the first current or range from 70% to 100% of the first current.

Abstract: Embodiments of a plasma generator apparatus for ashing a work piece are provided. The apparatus includes a container adapted for continuous gas flow there through from an inlet end to an outlet end thereof. The container is fabricated of a dielectric material and adapted for ionization therein of a portion of at least one component of gas flowing therethrough. A gas flow distributor is configured to direct gas flow to a region within the container and a coil surrounds at least a portion of side walls of the container adjacent the region of the container to which the gas flow distributor directs gas flow. A radio frequency generator is coupled to the coil.

Abstract: An electrical wiring device includes a manually adjustable switch, a light emitting diode (LED), a light level sensor, and a microcontroller. The wiring device also optionally includes an occupancy sensor. Light level is sensed through a light pipe and light is emitted by the LED through the same light pipe. When the manually adjustable switch is positioned to energize a load, the LED is deactivated and ambient light level is sensed by light sensors through the light pipe. The ambient light level is compared to a minimum ambient light level to determine if the load will be energized. Alternatively, the LED is deactivated and the ambient light level is sensed through the light pipe when the switch is positioned to de-energize the load. This ambient light level is stored and compared to the minimum ambient light level at a time when the switch is later positioned to energize the load.

Abstract: An electrical control system.

Abstract: An electrical wiring device includes a manually adjustable switch, a light emitting diode (LED), a light level sensor, and a microcontroller. The wiring device also optionally includes an occupancy sensor. Light level is sensed through a light pipe and light is emitted by the LED through the same light pipe. When the manually adjustable switch is positioned to energize a load, the LED is deactivated and ambient light level is sensed by light sensors through the light pipe. The ambient light level is compared to a minimum ambient light level to determine if the load will be energized. Alternatively, the LED is deactivated and the ambient light level is sensed through the light pipe when the switch is positioned to de-energize the load. This ambient light level is stored and compared to the minimum ambient light level at a time when the switch is later positioned to energize the load.

Abstract: An electrical wiring device includes a dimmable night light therein. The night light includes one or more light sources for emitting light and an optional lens disposed over the light sources. The lens allows light from the light sources to be emitted therethrough. In some embodiments, the lens is used to turn on the night light, turn off the night light, and dim the night light. In some exemplary embodiments, manipulation of the lens selects an operating mode for the device. The device optionally includes an occupancy detection sensor to assist detecting occupancy within a monitored area.

Abstract: An electrical control system includes one or more master nodes that are adapted to control and monitor the operation of one or more slave nodes. The master nodes and the slave nodes are operably coupled by one or more communication interfaces, such as radio frequency, Internet Protocol, power line, or other conventional communication interfaces. A hand-held radio frequency controller includes a controller that is operably coupled to an radio frequency transceiver. The controller includes an operating system and application programs, including a device engine, a scenes engine, an events engine, a system engine, and an away engine. The device engine, scenes engine, events engine, system engine and away engine permit a user of the hand-held radio frequency controller to customize the operation of at least some of the aspects of the master and slave nodes.

Abstract: An electrical control system.

Abstract: An electrical switch device includes a housing, faceplate, and a light pipe assembly that includes a light transmissive channel, a position stop, and a cam. The device also includes an air gap switch having a movable contact assembly and a stationary contact assembly. The movable contact assembly includes a cam follower that engages the cam of the light pipe assembly. The light pipe assembly is configured to pulled outward from the outer surface of the faceplate. Movement of the light pipe assembly cause the cam follower of the movable contact assembly to move along the cam and separate the movable contact from the stationary contact, shorting the circuit. Pushing the light pipe assembly in a direction back into the faceplate causes the cam follower to move in the opposite direction along the cam and allows the movable contact to engage the stationary contact and close the circuit.

Abstract: An electrical wiring device operates in more than one operating mode and includes a microcontroller, an occupancy detection sensor communicably coupled to the microcontroller, and at least one accessible user interface communicably coupled to the microcontroller. The accessible user interface is accessible to an end-user without having to disassemble any portion of the device. The accessible user interface is manipulated to select one of several operating modes. In some embodiments, the device includes a night light that also can be an accessible user interface. In some of those embodiments, one of the operating modes includes a night light operating mode, wherein the device's operation is dependent upon the status of the night light. In some embodiments, an indicator is included to inform the end-user when to stop manipulating the accessible user interface.

Abstract: A dimmer system for a luminaire is provided. The dimmer system has a dimmer that receives a first current and supplies a reduced-magnitude current. The dimmer system also has a boosting system that receives the reduced-magnitude current and supplies a boosted current to a light source or lamp if the reduced-magnitude current is being received in conjunction with the initial turn-on of the dimmer. The boosted current can be provided for a predetermined period of time. The boosted current can also be provided as pulses of boosted current interspersed with pulses of the reduced-magnitude current. The boosted current can have the magnitude of the first current or range from 70% to 100% of the first current.

Abstract: An electrical wiring device includes a manually adjustable switch, a light emitting diode (LED), a light level sensor, and a microcontroller. The wiring device also optionally includes an occupancy sensor. Light level is sensed through a light pipe and light is emitted by the LED through the same light pipe. When the manually adjustable switch is positioned to energize a load, the LED is deactivated and ambient light level is sensed by light sensors through the light pipe. The ambient light level is compared to a minimum ambient light level to determine if the load will be energized. Alternatively, the LED is deactivated and the ambient light level is sensed through the light pipe when the switch is positioned to de-energize the load. This ambient light level is stored and compared to the minimum ambient light level at a time when the switch is later positioned to energize the load.

Abstract: An electrical switch device includes a housing, faceplate, and a light pipe assembly that includes a light transmissive channel, a position stop, and a cam. The device also includes an air gap switch having a movable contact assembly and a stationary contact assembly. The movable contact assembly includes a cam follower that engages the cam of the light pipe assembly. The light pipe assembly is configured to pulled outward from the outer surface of the faceplate. Movement of the light pipe assembly cause the cam follower of the movable contact assembly to move along the cam and separate the movable contact from the stationary contact, shorting the circuit. Pushing the light pipe assembly in a direction back into the faceplate causes the cam follower to move in the opposite direction along the cam and allows the movable contact to engage the stationary contact and close the circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments of a plasma generator apparatus for ashing a work piece are provided. The apparatus includes a container adapted for continuous gas flow there through from an inlet end to an outlet end thereof. The container is fabricated of a dielectric material and adapted for ionization therein of a portion of at least one component of gas flowing therethrough. A gas flow distributor is configured to direct gas flow to a region within the container and a coil surrounds at least a portion of side walls of the container adjacent the region of the container to which the gas flow distributor directs gas flow. A radio frequency generator is coupled to the coil.

Abstract: An electrical control system includes one or more battery-powered RF switches capable of acting as a master or slave or both within the electrical control system. The battery-powered RF switch includes a top housing and a bottom housing. The battery-powered RF switch also includes a printed circuit boar assembly that includes switch sensors, a dimmer button, and an LED indicator. The battery-powered RF switch also includes a manually-operated on/off switch, battery receptacles within the housing, batteries positioned within the battery receptacles and a battery retaining bracket for removably holding the batteries in place within the battery receptacles. The battery-powered RF switch is capable of being mounted to a vertical surface by applying double-sided adhesive to the back side of the housing and pressing the housing against the vertical surface.

Abstract: An electrical wiring device includes a dimmable night light therein. The night light includes one or more light sources for emitting light and an optional lens disposed over the light sources. The lens allows light from the light sources to be emitted therethrough. In some embodiments, the lens is used to turn on the night light, turn off the night light, and dim the night light. In some exemplary embodiments, manipulation of the lens selects an operating mode for the device. The device optionally includes an occupancy detection sensor to assist detecting occupancy within a monitored area.