Abstract: Disclosed is a photo controller, a photo controller assembly, and a process for controlling non-unity power factor devices. The photo controller includes a housing and a circuit board positioned within the housing. The circuit board includes a photosensor, an electronic controller, and a thyristor secured to the circuit board. The electronic controller is configured to produce a series of trigger pulses for activating the thyristor; wherein the thyristor is configured to control power switching of a non-unity power factor lamp.

Abstract: An autorecloser circuit including a relay circuit with an electromagnetic relay configured to be coupled between an AC power source and a customer location to deliver current from the AC power source to the customer location. A controller coupled to the relay circuit is configured to control the electromagnetic. A current sense circuit coupled to the controller is configured to detect an amount of the current that is delivered to the customer location and a reference voltage circuit coupled to the controller is configured to establish a reference level for the amount of the current that is delivered to the customer location. A power circuit coupled to the controller and to the relay circuit is configured to provide a DC power source to the controller and to the relay circuit from the AC power source. The controller is configured to disconnect or reconnect the AC power source from the customer location based on the detected amount of current.

Abstract: Photosensor circuits include a relay coil configured to control application of an alternating current (AC) power source to a load. The circuit includes a pulse width modulator circuit configured to generate a pulse width modulated signal having a pulse width that varies responsive to an average voltage across the relay coil. A drive transistor coupled to the relay coil controls the average voltage across the relay coil responsive to the pulse width modulated signal. A photo control circuit is configured to control application of the pulse width modulated signal to the drive transistor responsive to a detected light level. A power circuit coupled to the power source is configured to provide a regulated power signal to a comparator of the pulse width modulator circuit.

Abstract: Photosensor circuits include a relay coil configured to control application of an alternating current (AC) power source to a load. The circuit includes a pulse width modulator circuit configured to generate a pulse width modulated signal having a pulse width that varies responsive to an average voltage across the relay coil. A drive transistor coupled to the relay coil controls the average voltage across the relay coil responsive to the pulse width modulated signal. A photo control circuit is configured to control application of the pulse width modulated signal to the drive transistor responsive to a detected light level. A power circuit coupled to the power source is configured to provide a regulated power signal to a comparator of the pulse width modulator circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photo controller, a photo controller assembly, and a process for controlling non-unity power factor devices. The photo controller includes a housing and a circuit board positioned within the housing. The circuit board includes a photosensor, an electronic controller, and a thyristor secured to the circuit board. The electronic controller is configured to produce a series of trigger pulses for activating the thyristor; wherein the thyristor is configured to control power switching of a non-unity power factor lamp.

Abstract: Photosensor circuits include a relay coil configured to control application of an alternating current (AC) power source to a load. The circuit includes a pulse width modulator circuit configured to generate a pulse width modulated signal having a pulse width that varies responsive to an average voltage across the relay coil, including a capacitor of an averaging circuit coupled in parallel with the relay coil. A drive transistor is coupled between the relay coil and a neutral bus that controls the average voltage across the relay coil responsive to the pulse width modulated signal. A photo control circuit, including a select transistor, is configured to control application of the pulse width modulated signal to the drive transistor responsive to a detected light level. The pulse width modulator circuit further includes a current amplifier coupled between the voltage averaging circuit and the select transistor.

Abstract: A photocontrol device for controlling a powered device includes a housing assembly defining a cavity and including a base assembly. The base assembly includes an outer base member having a base opening, and an inner base member separately formed from the outer base member and mounted in the base opening. A circuit board is disposed in the cavity. A photosensor is connected to the circuit board. An elongate contact member is mechanically and electrically coupled to the circuit board. The elongate contact member is mounted on and extends through the inner base member. The elongate contact member is adapted to electrically connect the photocontrol device with the powered device.

Abstract: An autorecloser circuit including a relay circuit with an electromagnetic relay configured to be coupled between an AC power source and a customer location to deliver current from the AC power source to the customer location. A controller coupled to the relay circuit is configured to control the electromagnetic. A current sense circuit coupled to the controller is configured to detect an amount of the current that is delivered to the customer location and a reference voltage circuit coupled to the controller is configured to establish a reference level for the amount of the current that is delivered to the customer location. A power circuit coupled to the controller and to the relay circuit is configured to provide a DC power source to the controller and to the relay circuit from the AC power source. The controller is configured to disconnect or reconnect the AC power source from the customer location based on the detected amount of current.

Abstract: Photosensor circuits include a relay coil configured to control application of an alternating current (AC) power source to a load. The circuit includes a pulse width modulator circuit configured to generate a pulse width modulated signal having a pulse width that varies responsive to an average voltage across the relay coil. A photo control circuit is configured to control application of the pulse width modulated signal to a drive transistor responsive to a detected light level. A power circuit includes a rectifier circuit and a voltage divider circuit configured to generate a regulated power signal. A outputs a current responsive to a level of light detected by the phototransistor. A low pass filter circuit is coupled to a first terminal of the phototransistor filters the output current of the phototransistor to provide a light level signal voltage and a select transistor couples the pulse width modulated signal to the drive transistor responsive to the light level signal voltage having a selected level.

Abstract: Photosensor circuits include a relay coil configured to control application of an alternating current (AC) power source to a load. The circuit includes a pulse width modulator circuit configured to generate a pulse width modulated signal having a pulse width that varies responsive to an average voltage across the relay coil, including a capacitor of an averaging circuit coupled in parallel with the relay coil. A drive transistor is coupled between the relay coil and a neutral bus that controls the average voltage across the relay coil responsive to the pulse width modulated signal. A photo control circuit, including a select transistor, is configured to control application of the pulse width modulated signal to the drive transistor responsive to a detected light level. The pulse width modulator circuit further includes a current amplifier coupled between the voltage averaging circuit and the select transistor.

Abstract: A photocontrol device for controlling a powered device includes a housing assembly defining a cavity and including a base assembly. The base assembly includes an outer base member having a base opening, and an inner base member separately formed from the outer base member and mounted in the base opening. A circuit board is disposed in the cavity. A photosensor is connected to the circuit board. An elongate contact member is mechanically and electrically coupled to the circuit board. The elongate contact member is mounted on and extends through the inner base member. The elongate contact member is adapted to electrically connect the photocontrol device with the powered device.

Abstract: Photosensor circuits include a relay coil configured to control application of an alternating current (AC) power source to a load. A pulse width modulator circuit is configured to generate a pulse width modulated signal having a pulse width that varies responsive to an average voltage across the relay coil. A drive transistor controls the average voltage across the relay coil responsive to the pulse width modulated signal. A photo control circuit controls application of the pulse width modulated signal to the drive transistor responsive to a detected light level. A half-wave rectifier provide a power signal to the pulse width modulator circuit and the photo control circuit during one of the halves of the line cycle of the AC power source. The photo control circuit includes a phototransistor. A low pass filter circuit filters the output current of the phototransistor to provide a light level signal voltage.

Abstract: Photo control devices include a housing having a light transmissive portion. A photosensor is positioned in the housing to receive light passing through the light transmissive portion of the housing. A relay electrically coupled to the photosensor is responsive to a level of light detected by the photosensor. The photosensor includes a light sensitive silicon photo cell and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit is coupled to the silicon photo cell and the relay and includes a field effect transistor (FET) including a zener diode therein between a source and a drain of the FET. The silicon photo cell may be a photodiode and/or a phototransistor. The relay may be a thermal switch including a heater resistor.

Abstract: Photosensor circuits include a relay coil configured to control application of an alternating current (AC) power source to a load. The circuit includes a pulse width modulator circuit configured to generate a pulse width modulated signal having a pulse width that varies responsive to an average voltage across the relay coil. A drive transistor is coupled between the relay coil and a neutral bus that controls the average voltage across the relay coil responsive to the pulse width modulated signal. A photo control circuit is configured to control application of the pulse width modulated signal to the drive transistor responsive to a detected light level. A power circuit includes a half-wave rectifier coupled to the power source that is configured to provide a power signal to the pulse width modulator circuit and a regulated power signal to the photo control circuit.

Abstract: Photosensor circuits include a relay coil configured to control application of an alternating current (AC) power source to a load. A pulse width modulator circuit is configured to generate a pulse width modulated signal having a pulse width that varies responsive to an average voltage across the relay coil. A drive transistor controls the average voltage across the relay coil responsive to the pulse width modulated signal. A photo control circuit controls application of the pulse width modulated signal to the drive transistor responsive to a detected light level. A half-wave rectifier provide a power signal to the pulse width modulator circuit and the photo control circuit during one of the halves of the line cycle of the AC power source. The photo control circuit includes a phototransistor. A low pass filter circuit filters the output current of the phototransistor to provide a light level signal voltage.

Abstract: Photo control devices include a housing having a light transmissive portion. A photosensor is positioned in the housing to receive light passing through the light transmissive portion of the housing. A relay electrically coupled to the photosensor is responsive to a level of light detected by the photosensor. The photosensor includes a light sensitive silicon photo cell and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit is coupled to the silicon photo cell and the relay and includes a field effect transistor (FET) including a zener diode therein between a source and a drain of the FET. The silicon photo cell may be a photodiode and/or a phototransitor. The relay may be a thermal switch including a heater resistor.

Abstract: A photocontrol device includes a housing assembly and a flexible circuit board assembly. The housing assembly defines an enclosure cavity. The flexible circuit board assembly includes a flexible substrate and a photocontrol circuit mounted on the flexible substrate. The circuit board assembly is disposed in the enclosure cavity in a bent position.

Abstract: Methods of forming a filtered photosensor include providing a photosensor and an infrared blocking ink. The infrared blocking ink is printed on the photosensor. Printing the infrared blocking ink may include dipping the photosensor in the infrared blocking ink or spraying and/or brushing the infrared blocking ink on the photosensor. Photo control devices including a photosensor with an infrared blocking ink thereon are also provided.

Abstract: A photocontrol device includes a housing assembly and a flexible circuit board assembly. The housing assembly defines an enclosure cavity. The flexible circuit board assembly includes a flexible substrate and a photocontrol circuit mounted on the flexible substrate. The circuit board assembly is disposed in the enclosure cavity in a bent position.

Abstract: Methods for calibrating a photocontrol device having at least one flexible mounting leg mounting the photosensor to a circuit board and being electrically coupled to activate a switching device and calibrated photocontrol devices are provided. A photocontrol device is positioned proximate a light source. An aperture is positioned between the photosensor and the light source and an angle between the at least one flexible mounting leg and the circuit board is adjusted to calibrate a sensitivity of the photocontrol device to light from the light source passing through the aperture.