Abstract: A power supply circuit comprising a first switching transistor having a control terminal and a control terminal switching threshold and that charges current from a voltage source into a charge storage capacitor, a control circuit controlling the on/off operation of the switching transistor whereby the switching transistor is turned on when the voltage of the voltage source is below a predetermined level and turned off when the voltage of the voltage source is above the predetermined level, a control voltage supply circuit providing a control voltage to the control terminal of the switching transistor substantially in excess of the switching threshold when the voltage of the voltage source is below the predetermined voltage thereby to drive the switching transistor on in a saturated region of operation; and a charge storage capacitor for providing an output voltage of the power supply.

Abstract: An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collected in both two and three wire installations. Both zero cross detectors are monitored and are used to automatically configure the electronic control. Over voltage circuitry senses an over voltage condition across a MOSFET which is in the off state and turns the MOSFET on so that it desirably will not reach the avalanche region. Over current circuitry senses when the current through the MOSFETs has exceeded a predetermined current threshold and then turns the MOSFETs off so they do not exceed the MOSFETs' safe operating area (SOA) curve. Latching circuitry is employed to keep the protection circuitry in effect even after a fault condition has cleared.

Abstract: An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collected in both two and three wire installations. Both zero cross detectors are monitored and are used to automatically configure the electronic control. Over voltage circuitry senses an over voltage condition across a MOSFET which is in the off state and turns the MOSFET on so that it desirably will not reach the avalanche region. Over current circuitry senses when the current through the MOSFETs has exceeded a predetermined current threshold and then turns the MOSFETs off so they do not exceed the MOSFETs' safe operating area (SOA) curve. Latching circuitry is employed to keep the protection circuitry in effect even after a fault condition has cleared.

Abstract: An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collected in both two and three wire installations. Both zero cross detectors are monitored and are used to automatically configure the electronic control. Over voltage circuitry senses an over voltage condition across a MOSFET which is in the off state and turns the MOSFET on so that it desirably will not reach the avalanche region. Over current circuitry senses when the current through the MOSFETs has exceeded a predetermined current threshold and then turns the MOSFETs off so they do not exceed the MOSFETs' safe operating area (SOA) curve. Latching circuitry is employed to keep the protection circuitry in effect even after a fault condition has cleared.

Abstract: A linear slide selector switch for multiple channels for selecting between several switch positions. Specifically, there is a housing having a hinged door with a latch lock, the door rotates to a closed position and is held in a closed position by the latch lock. The housing also contains a slide and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has rows of contacts. A contactor is mounted to the slide. As the slide is moved linearly, electrical connections are made and broken on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A variable resistance control device and switch has a base, made of insulating material, a rheostat, mounted to the base, and a switch, mounted to the base. The rheostat includes a variable resistor trace, positioned on the base, a collector trace, positioned on the base next to and insulated from the variable resistor trace. The rheostat includes an actuator, slidably coupled to the base, for sliding over a length of both the variable resistor trace and the collector trace to make electrical contact therebetween. The rheostat also includes a first set of contacts, that are 1) electrically coupled during operation of the rheostat, and are 2) electrically isolated during operation of the switch; and a second set of contacts, that are 1) electrically isolated during operation of the rheostat, and are 2) electrically coupled during the operation of the switch.

Abstract: A volume control for in-wall building stereo systems. Specifically, there is a sliding switch coupled between a mounting bracket and a printed circuit board that has components mounted thereon including two multi-tap inductors or transformers. The in-wall mounted speaker volume control slide selector switch assembly. Specifically, the assembly has a sliding selector switch, for housing electrical components, having a shaft extending from the sliding selector switch, for sliding in a linear direction to control volume of the in-wall mounted speaker. Additionally, there is a transformer, for supplying power to the in-wall mounted speaker, having a plurality of transformer taps. Further, there is a printed circuit board, for electrically connecting and physically mounting the transformers and the sliding selector switch thereto. Also, there is a mounting bracket, for supporting the printed circuit board and the transformer and sliding selector switch.

Abstract: A method for assembling a spark plug 20, 66 which includes providing a ground electrode 24 on a spark plug shell 22 having a predetermined final configuration and position and then mounting an insulator 34 in the shell. The distance from a step 38 in an insulator bore 37 to the ground electrode is measured. Based upon this measurement and a desired dimension for a spark gap 56, the dimension on a center electrode 48, 68, 74 between a shoulder 50, 76 and a tip 52, 80 is adjusted so that when the center electrode is disposed in the insulator bore with the shoulder seated on the bore step, the tip forms the desired spark gap with the ground electrode. The center electrode then is assembled into the insulator.