Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes at least one sensor that provides a sensor output signal corresponding to electrical perturbations propagating on the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals. A protective circuit assembly configured to detect a fault condition when the sensor output signal substantially corresponds to at least one predetermined fault criterion and generate a trip actuation signal in response thereto. A solenoid coil is configured to generate a trip actuation force in response to the trip actuation signal. A circuit interrupter assembly includes movable contacts configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the trip actuation force. An automatic fault simulation circuit is configured to generate a self-test signal without execution of software code. The self-test signal is generated such that it is sensed by the at least one sensor if the at least one sensor is operational.

Abstract: A system for enhancing sound quality comprising a filter that square roots the instantaneous amplitude of frequencies in an input signal for generating artificial harmonics corresponding to said frequencies. The system can comprise an automatic level control that momentarily boosts the amplitude of a higher frequency portion of the input signal to emphasize attack transients occurring within the input signal.

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 a protective device that includes a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals, the plurality of load terminals including a plurality of hot load terminals and a plurality of neutral load terminals. The device also includes a circuit interrupter having four sets of moveable contacts, the four sets of moveable contacts being configured to couple the plurality of line terminal to the plurality of load terminals in a reset state and to decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in a tripped state. A test circuit includes an end of life detection circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals by a switch mechanism associated with the four sets of moveable contacts.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals. The plurality of line terminals are coupled to the plurality of load terminals in a reset state and decoupled therefrom in a tripped state. A wiring state detection circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals. The wiring state detection circuit is configured to monitor an electrical signal propagating on the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals and derive at least one signal characteristic therefrom. The wiring state detection circuit is configured to automatically determine a wiring state of the electrical wiring device based on the at least one signal characteristic upon device installation or device reinstallation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective device that includes a detection circuit, a fault detection circuit, and a circuit interrupter assembly contacts configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the trip actuation and driven into a reset state in response to a reset actuation. A reset mechanism is configured to provide the reset actuation in response to a user reset input. A test assembly includes a test circuit configured to generate a simulated electrical perturbation exceeding the predetermined level in response to a user test input and a test timing mechanism configured to drive the circuit interrupter into the tripped state and disable the reset mechanism if any one of the detection circuit, fault detection circuit, actuation assembly, or circuit interrupter assembly fail before a predetermined time elapses such that the device is permanently inoperable.

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 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 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: An electrical control device including an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit has a circuit protection component such as, e.g., a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). The exemplary GFCI includes a TEST circuit activator and a RESET circuit activator, as well as a visual circuit status indicator indicia that is in an active (illuminated) state when the circuit is in a fault condition. The status indicator indicia is visually, physically, ergonomically or otherwise positively informatively associated with the TEST circuit activator and/or the RESET circuit activator. The positive informative association between the indicator indicia and the TEST circuit activator and/or the RESET circuit activator may be made by physical and/or visual boundaries or markings on a cover portion of the device or by integrally incorporating the indicia in the TEST circuit activator and/or the RESET circuit activator. The indicia may be a steady state or a blinking illumination.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective shutter assembly for use within a cover assembly of an electrical wiring device. The assembly includes a frameless shutter sub-assembly movable between a closed position and an open position. The frameless shutter sub-assembly is configured to move from the closed position to the open position in response to engaging at least one plug blade having a predetermined plug blade geometry. A spring member is disposed within the frameless shutter sub-assembly. The spring member is configured to bias the frameless shutter sub-assembly in the closed position. At least one retainer element is disposed in the frameless shutter sub-assembly. The at least one retainer element being configured to retain the spring member within the frameless shutter sub-assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals coupled to a plurality of load terminals by way of at least one conductive path. A miswire detection circuit is coupled to the at least one conductive path. The miswire detection circuit is configured to monitor signal propagation characteristics on the at least one conductive path and generate a miswire detection signal based on the signal propagation characteristics commencing each time source power is applied to either the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the at least one conductive path. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect a fault condition propagating on the at least one conductive path. The fault detection circuit is configured to generate a trip signal in response to either the fault condition or the miswire detection signal. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the fault detection circuit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective device the includes a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals. A detection circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals. The detection circuit is configured to generate a sensor signal in response to an electrical perturbation propagating on the plurality of line terminals and/or the plurality of load terminals. A fault detection circuit is coupled to detection circuit. The fault detection circuit is configured to generate a fault detection signal when the electrical perturbation exceeds a predetermined level. An actuation assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit. The actuation assembly is configured to generate a trip actuation in response to the fault detection signal. A circuit interrupter assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit.

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 an electrical wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a plurality of receptacle load terminals. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of receptacle load terminals. The circuit interrupter includes a latch mechanism configured to electrically couple the plurality of line terminals to the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of receptacle load terminals in a reset state and decouple at least one of the plurality of line terminals from at least one of the plurality of load terminals and at least one of the plurality of receptacle load terminals from each other in a tripped state. A reset assembly is coupled to the latch mechanism. The reset assembly includes a substantially non-metallic reset button assembly configured to engage the latch mechanism to thereby drive the circuit interrupter from the tripped state into the reset state.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective shutter assembly for use within a cover assembly of an electrical wiring device. The assembly includes a frameless shutter sub-assembly movable between a closed position and an open position. The frameless shutter sub-assembly is configured to move from the closed position to the open position in response to engaging at least one plug blade having a predetermined plug blade geometry. A spring member is disposed within the frameless shutter sub-assembly. The spring member is configured to bias the frameless shutter sub-assembly in the closed position. At least one retainer element is disposed in the frameless shutter sub-assembly. The at least one retainer element being configured to retain the spring member within the frameless shutter sub-assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective device including a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals configured to be connected to at least one load. A test circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The test circuit is configured to generate a simulated fault signal to the fault detection circuit in response to a user stimulus. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect at least one fault condition. The at least one fault condition includes the simulated fault signal. A circuit interrupter assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit. The circuit interrupter assembly includes a set of movable contacts configured to open in response to the fault detection circuit in a tripped state. The plurality of line terminals are decoupled from the plurality of load terminals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective shutter assembly for use within a cover assembly of an electrical wiring device. The assembly includes a frameless shutter sub-assembly movable between a closed position and an open position. The frameless shutter sub-assembly is configured to move from the closed position to the open position in response to engaging at least one plug blade having a predetermined plug blade geometry. A spring member is disposed within the frameless shutter sub-assembly. The spring member is configured to bias the frameless shutter sub-assembly in the closed position. At least one retainer element is disposed in the frameless shutter sub-assembly. The at least one retainer element being configured to retain the spring member within the frameless shutter sub-assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals coupled to a plurality of load terminals by way of at least one conductive path. A miswire detection circuit is coupled to the at least one conductive path. The miswire detection circuit is configured to monitor signal propagation characteristics on the at least one conductive path and generate a miswire detection signal based on the signal propagation characteristics commencing each time source power is applied to either the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the at least one conductive path. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect a fault condition propagating on the at least one conductive path. The fault detection circuit is configured to generate a trip signal in response to either the fault condition or the miswire detection signal. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the fault detection circuit.