Patents by Inventor Joshua P. Haines

Joshua P. Haines has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11977118
    Abstract: A tester for a frequency-dependent ground fault interrupt wiring device, including: a tester circuit, including: a switch disposed between a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein a leakage current flows through a leakage path between the first terminal and the second terminal when a voltage is applied across the first terminal and the second terminal, a magnitude of the leakage current being determined, at least in part, by a conductivity of the switch; and a waveform generator configured to generate a periodic output signal having a frequency, wherein the switch is driven to modulate the magnitude of the leakage current such that the leakage current has a frequency substantially equal to a frequency of the waveform generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Michael F. McMahon
  • Patent number: 11855436
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device including a housing assembly including a plurality of terminals at least partially disposed therein, the plurality of terminals including a HOT/LOAD terminal, a NEUTRAL terminal, a first traveler terminal, and a second traveler terminal, wherein, when in use, at least one of the terminals is connected to line hot; a first series FET and a second series FET disposed in series between the HOT/LOAD terminal and one of the first traveler terminal or the second traveler terminal; at least one of a first sensor producing a first sensor output according to current flow or a voltage at the one of the first traveler terminal or the second traveler terminal and a second sensor producing a second sensor output according to current flow through the NEUTRAL terminal or according to a voltage between the first series FET and second series FET; and a controller configured to determine to which of the plurality of terminals line hot is connected based, at least, on the first sensor output or the s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Mueller, Joshua P. Haines, David A. Finlay, Sr., Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11837422
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electronic switch device, the device including a housing assembly including a front cover assembly having a user accessible surface, a back body assembly, terminals configured to be coupled to an AC power source and the load; an antenna assembly including an antenna substrate disposed inside the housing assembly adjacent a portion of the front cover assembly, an antenna being disposed on the antenna substrate having a conductive grid structure; and a circuit assembly disposed inside the housing assembly coupled to the terminals, the circuit assembly comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including a ground plane, the circuit assembly being electrically connected to the antenna assembly via a conductor, the printed circuit board being separated from the antenna assembly by a predetermined distance, the circuit assembly including a relay switch having at least one solenoid winding connected to the circuit assembly and a set of contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Richard M. Rohmer, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230251328
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device including: a plurality of line terminals comprising a line-side phase terminal and a line-side neutral terminal; a plurality of load terminals comprising a load-side phase terminal and a load-side neutral terminal; a line conductor electrically coupling the line-side phase terminal to the load-side phase terminal; a neutral conductor electrically coupling the line-side neutral terminal to the load-side neutral terminal; and a controller configured to trigger a trip mechanism to electrically decouple the at least one of the plurality of line terminals from at least one of the plurality of load terminals based, at least in part, on comparing a magnitude of the current differential to a threshold, wherein the threshold is a function of the frequency of the current differential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Michael T. McMahon
  • Patent number: 11635474
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device including: a plurality of line terminals comprising a line-side phase terminal and a line-side neutral terminal; a plurality of load terminals comprising a load-side phase terminal and a load-side neutral terminal; a line conductor electrically coupling the line-side phase terminal to the load-side phase terminal; a neutral conductor electrically coupling the line-side neutral terminal to the load-side neutral terminal; and a controller configured to trigger a trip mechanism to electrically decouple the at least one of the plurality of line terminals from at least one of the plurality of load terminals based, at least in part, on comparing a magnitude of the current differential to a threshold, wherein the threshold is a function of the frequency of the current differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Michael F. McMahon
  • Publication number: 20230045908
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device including a housing assembly including a plurality of terminals at least partially disposed therein, the plurality of terminals including a HOT/LOAD terminal, a NEUTRAL terminal, a first traveler terminal, and a second traveler terminal, wherein, when in use, at least one of the terminals is connected to line hot; a first series FET and a second series FET disposed in series between the HOT/LOAD terminal and one of the first traveler terminal or the second traveler terminal; at least one of a first sensor producing a first sensor output according to current flow or a voltage at the one of the first traveler terminal or the second traveler terminal and a second sensor producing a second sensor output according to current flow through the NEUTRAL terminal or according to a voltage between the first series FET and second series FET; and a controller configured to determine to which of the plurality of terminals line hot is connected based, at least, on the first sensor output or the s
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Mueller, Joshua P. Haines, David A. Finlay, SR., Gerald R. Savicki, JR.
  • Patent number: 11444457
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device having a solid-state switch element positioned between the fault detection switch element and the solenoid coil to prevent the solenoid coil from being energized when the circuit interrupter is in the tripped state. The solid-state switch element may have a gate that receives a gate signal that turns the solid-state switch element on when the circuit interrupter is in the reset state and does not receive the gate signal so that the second switch element is turned off when the circuit interrupter is in the tripped state. The gate may be connected to the line terminals and to ground by a mechanical switch responsive to the circuit interrupter state or by another solid-state switch driven by a processor that is programmed to detect whether the circuit interrupter is in the reset state or the tripped state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Michael F. McMahon
  • Publication number: 20220256367
    Abstract: A protective wiring device disposed in an electrical distribution system, the device comprising: a plurality of line terminals comprising a line-side phase terminal and a line-side neutral terminal; a plurality of load terminals comprising a load-side phase terminal and a load-side neutral terminal; a line conductor electrically coupling the line-side phase terminal to the load-side phase terminal; a neutral conductor electrically coupling the line-side neutral terminal to the load-side neutral terminal; a controller configured to transmit wirelessly data derived from signals present on at least one of the line conductor or the neutral conductor and to receive wirelessly receive at least one command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Testani, Joshua P. Haines, Thomas Cunningham
  • Patent number: 11349305
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device including a housing assembly including a plurality of terminals at least partially disposed therein, the plurality of terminals including a HOT/LOAD terminal, a NEUTRAL terminal, a first traveler terminal, and a second traveler terminal, wherein, when in use, at least one of the terminals is connected to line hot; a first series FET and a second series FET disposed in series between the HOT/LOAD terminal and one of the first traveler terminal or the second traveler terminal; at least one of a first sensor producing a first sensor output according to current flow or a voltage at the one of the first traveler terminal or the second traveler terminal and a second sensor producing a second sensor output according to current flow through the NEUTRAL terminal or according to a voltage between the first series FET and second series FET; and a controller configured to determine to which of the plurality of terminals line hot is connected based, at least, on the first sensor output or the s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Mueller, Joshua P. Haines, David A. Finlay, Sr., Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11264791
    Abstract: A protective wiring device disposed in an electrical distribution system, the device comprising: a plurality of line terminals comprising a line-side phase terminal and a line-side neutral terminal; a plurality of load terminals comprising a load-side phase terminal and a load-side neutral terminal; a line conductor electrically coupling the line-side phase terminal to the load-side phase terminal; a neutral conductor electrically coupling the line-side neutral terminal to the load-side neutral terminal; a controller configured to transmit wirelessly data derived from signals present on at least one of the line conductor or the neutral conductor and to receive wirelessly receive at least one command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Testani, Joshua P. Haines, Thomas Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20220014189
    Abstract: A system for automatically controlling at least one wirelessly controllable receptacle includes a photocell assembly comprising a photocell and photocell controller configured to detect a level of ambient light and to vary a light detection signal to have a first value when the level of ambient light is below a threshold and a second value when the level of ambient light is above the threshold; and a controller configured to receive the light detection signal and to wirelessly control at least one of a receptacle outlet or a switch, according to the light detection signal, wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly control the at least one receptacle or switch to turn ON in response to the first value of the light detection signal and to turn OFF in response to the second value of the light detection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua P. Haines
  • Patent number: 11160150
    Abstract: A dimmer, including a housing assembly including a plurality of terminals at least partially disposed therein, the plurality of terminals including a line terminal, a neutral terminal, and a load terminal; at least one variable control mechanism coupled to the housing assembly, the at least one variable control mechanism being configured to adjustably select a user adjustable load setting, the user adjustable load setting being adjustable between a minimum setting and a maximum setting; a series pass element disposed in series the line terminal and the load terminal; a sensor producing a sensor output representative of load current at the load terminal; and a controller configured to determine, according to a characteristic of the load current, whether a load connected to the load terminal is a capacitive load, wherein the controller is further configured to, upon determining that the load is a capacitive load, provide sufficient power to the load sufficient to cause the load to illuminate before reducing the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Anthony M. Testani
  • Publication number: 20210270901
    Abstract: A tester for a frequency-dependent ground fault interrupt wiring device, including: a tester circuit, including: a switch disposed between a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein a leakage current flows through a leakage path between the first terminal and the second terminal when a voltage is applied across the first terminal and the second terminal, a magnitude of the leakage current being determined, at least in part, by a conductivity of the switch; and a waveform generator configured to generate a periodic output signal having a frequency, wherein the switch is driven to modulate the magnitude of the leakage current such that the leakage current has a frequency substantially equal to a frequency of the waveform generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Michael F. McMahon
  • Publication number: 20210185777
    Abstract: A dimmer, including a housing assembly including a plurality of terminals at least partially disposed therein, the plurality of terminals including a line terminal, a neutral terminal, and a load terminal; at least one variable control mechanism coupled to the housing assembly, the at least one variable control mechanism being configured to adjustably select a user adjustable load setting, the user adjustable load setting being adjustable between a minimum setting and a maximum setting; a series pass element disposed in series the line terminal and the load terminal; a sensor producing a sensor output representative of load current at the load terminal; and a controller configured to determine, according to a characteristic of the load current, whether a load connected to the load terminal is a capacitive load, wherein the controller is further configured to, upon determining that the load is a capacitive load, provide sufficient power to the load sufficient to cause the load to illuminate before reducing the
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Anthony M. Testani
  • Publication number: 20210096192
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device including: a plurality of line terminals comprising a line-side phase terminal and a line-side neutral terminal; a plurality of load terminals comprising a load-side phase terminal and a load-side neutral terminal; a line conductor electrically coupling the line-side phase terminal to the load-side phase terminal; a neutral conductor electrically coupling the line-side neutral terminal to the load-side neutral terminal; and a controller configured to trigger a trip mechanism to electrically decouple the at least one of the plurality of line terminals from at least one of the plurality of load terminals based, at least in part, on comparing a magnitude of the current differential to a threshold, wherein the threshold is a function of the frequency of the current differential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Michael F. McMahon
  • Publication number: 20210020396
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electronic switch device, the device including a housing assembly including a front cover assembly having a user accessible surface, a back body assembly, terminals configured to be coupled to an AC power source and the load; an antenna assembly including an antenna substrate disposed inside the housing assembly adjacent a portion of the front cover assembly, an antenna being disposed on the antenna substrate having a conductive grid structure; and a circuit assembly disposed inside the housing assembly coupled to the terminals, the circuit assembly comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including a ground plane, the circuit assembly being electrically connected to the antenna assembly via a conductor, the printed circuit board being separated from the antenna assembly by a predetermined distance, the circuit assembly including a relay switch having at least one solenoid winding connected to the circuit assembly and a set of contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Richard M. Rohmer, Gerald R. Savicki, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200343722
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device including a housing assembly including a plurality of terminals at least partially disposed therein, the plurality of terminals including a HOT/LOAD terminal, a NEUTRAL terminal, a first traveler terminal, and a second traveler terminal, wherein, when in use, at least one of the terminals is connected to line hot; a first series FET and a second series FET disposed in series between the HOT/LOAD terminal and one of the first traveler terminal or the second traveler terminal; at least one of a first sensor producing a first sensor output according to current flow or a voltage at the one of the first traveler terminal or the second traveler terminal and a second sensor producing a second sensor output according to current flow through the NEUTRAL terminal or according to a voltage between the first series FET and second series FET; and a controller configured to determine to which of the plurality of terminals line hot is connected based, at least, on the first sensor output or the s
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Mueller, Joshua P. Haines, David A. Finlay, SR., Gerald R. Savicki, JR.
  • Patent number: 10796870
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electronic switch device, the device including a housing assembly including a front cover assembly having a user accessible surface, a back body assembly, terminals configured to be coupled to an AC power source and the load; an antenna assembly including an antenna substrate disposed inside the housing assembly adjacent a portion of the front cover assembly, an antenna being disposed on the antenna substrate having a conductive grid structure; and a circuit assembly disposed inside the housing assembly coupled to the terminals, the circuit assembly comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including a ground plane, the circuit assembly being electrically connected to the antenna assembly via a conductor, the printed circuit board being separated from the antenna assembly by a predetermined distance, the circuit assembly including a relay switch having at least one solenoid winding connected to the circuit assembly and a set of contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Richard M. Rohmer, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200127452
    Abstract: An arc fault protective wiring device disposed in an electrical distribution system is disclosed, the device including a pulse frequency digitizer, the pulse frequency digitizer being configured to receive a plurality of pulses, each pulse being representative of an instance that the derivative of the current through a neutral conductor exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the pulse frequency digitizer further being configured to produce a digital signal, the digital signal being representative of the instances at which a frequency of the plurality of pulses exceeds a predetermined threshold; and at least one processor configured to trigger a trip mechanism to electrically decouple a line terminal from a load terminal based, at least in part, on the digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Thomas N. Packard, Anthony M. Testani, Michael F. McMahon
  • Publication number: 20200014201
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device having a solid-state switch element positioned between the fault detection switch element and the solenoid coil to prevent the solenoid coil from being energized when the circuit interrupter is in the tripped state. The solid-state switch element may have a gate that receives a gate signal that turns the solid-state switch element on when the circuit interrupter is in the reset state and does not receive the gate signal so that the second switch element is turned off when the circuit interrupter is in the tripped state. The gate may be connected to the line terminals and to ground by a mechanical switch responsive to the circuit interrupter state or by another solid-state switch driven by a processor that is programmed to detect whether the circuit interrupter is in the reset state or the tripped state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Haines, Michael F. McMahon