Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a control circuit and a one-time programmable circuit. The control circuit determines if the one-time programmable circuit is programmed in response to an attempt to access a mode of the integrated circuit after the integrated circuit powers up. The control circuit generates a signal to indicate to a user of the integrated circuit that the mode of the integrated circuit has been previously accessed if the control circuit determines that the one-time programmable circuit has been programmed to indicate a previous access to the mode of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a control circuit and a one-time programmable circuit. The control circuit determines if the one-time programmable circuit is programmed in response to an attempt to access a mode of the integrated circuit after the integrated circuit powers up. The control circuit generates a signal to indicate to a user of the integrated circuit that the mode of the integrated circuit has been previously accessed if the control circuit determines that the one-time programmable circuit has been programmed to indicate a previous access to the mode of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a control circuit, a one-time programmable circuit, and a security feature. The control circuit determines if the one-time programmable circuit is programmed in response to a request by a user of the integrated circuit to access the security feature. The control circuit generates a signal to indicate to the user of the integrated circuit that the security feature has been previously accessed if the control circuit determines that the one-time programmable circuit has been programmed to indicate a previous access to the security feature. The control circuit causes the one-time programmable circuit to be programmed in response to the request if the control circuit determines that the one-time programmable circuit has not been programmed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a control circuit, a one-time programmable circuit, and a security feature. The control circuit determines if the one-time programmable circuit is programmed in response to a request by a user of the integrated circuit to access the security feature. The control circuit generates a signal to indicate to the user of the integrated circuit that the security feature has been previously accessed if the control circuit determines that the one-time programmable circuit has been programmed to indicate a previous access to the security feature. The control circuit causes the one-time programmable circuit to be programmed in response to the request if the control circuit determines that the one-time programmable circuit has not been programmed.

Abstract: An electrical switch has a casing, fixed and moving contacts, and an internal operator turning and moving the moving contact relative to the fixed contact for switching. The casing has an opening through which an engagement part of the operator is accessible from outside for engaging a pull chain to turn the operator. The casing has a tubular part by which the switch may be mounted and through which the pull chain extends. The tubular part, being molded, has an inner surface defining a passage for the pull chain, an outer surface bearing a screw thread for engagement by a threaded nut, and, in a transverse cross-section, four recesses between the inner and outer surfaces to alleviate deformation of the screw thread due to shrinkage in molding.

Abstract: An electrical switch has a casing, four fixed contacts, a moving contact located in the casing, and an operator supported by the casing for movement moving the moving contact into and out of contact with the fixed contacts. The casing has an aperture adjacent each fixed contact, through which an end of an electrical cable may be inserted for connection to the fixed contact. The aperture faces in a first direction, laterally outwards from the casing. The electrical switch includes a holder located on the casing immediately outside the aperture for holding an electrical cable connected through the aperture, bent, and extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction.

Abstract: An electrical switch has a casing, four fixed contacts, a moving contact located in the casing, and an operator supported by the casing for movement moving the moving contact into and out of contact with the fixed contacts. The casing has an aperture adjacent each fixed contact, through which an end of an electrical cable may be inserted for connection to the fixed contact. The aperture faces in a first direction, laterally outwards from the casing. The electrical switch includes a holder located on the casing immediately outside the aperture for holding an electrical cable connected through the aperture, bent, and extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction.

Abstract: An electrical switch has a casing, fixed and moving contacts, and an internal operator turning and moving the moving contact relative to the fixed contact for switching. The casing has an opening through which an engagement part of the operator is accessible from outside for engaging a pull chain to turn the operator. The casing has a tubular part by which the switch may be mounted and through which the pull chain extends. The tubular part, being molded, has an inner surface defining a passage for the pull chain, an outer surface bearing a screw thread for engagement by a threaded nut, and, in a transverse cross-section, four recesses between the inner and outer surfaces to alleviate deformation of the screw thread due to shrinkage in molding.

Abstract: A protection circuit limits operating power supplied to an electrical device from an electrical power source below a predetermined power rating. The protection circuit comprises a switching device for adjusting electrical power supplied from the power source to the electrical device; a sensor sensing a parameter relating to the operating power; and a comparator comparing the parameter sensed by the sensor and, in response to identifying an undesirable operating condition, controlling the switching device to adjust electrical power supplied to the electrical device to below a predetermined power rating.

Abstract: An electrical rotary switch has a rotor with a periphery, a moving contact on the rotor and several connected parts adjacent the rotor periphery, and four fixed contacts around the rotor for short-circuiting by the moving contact. Each fixed contact has first, second, and third integrally connected sections. The first section bears resiliently against the rotor periphery for sliding contact with the moving contact parts. The second section turns through an angle larger than 135° from the first section. The third section turns through an angle smaller than 90° from the second section for connection of an electrical cable by self-gripping. The moving contact has an undulating profile matching with that of an adjacent part of the rotor periphery.

Abstract: A protection circuit limits operating power supplied to an electrical device from an electrical power source below a predetermined power rating. The protection circuit comprises a switching device for adjusting electrical power supplied from the power source to the electrical device; a sensor sensing a parameter relating to the operating power; and a comparator comparing the parameter sensed by the sensor and, in response to identifying an undesirable operating condition, controlling the switching device to adjust electrical power supplied to the electrical device to below a predetermined power rating.

Abstract: An electrical cable connector includes a housing, a holder movable to bring and hold the cable in engagement with the housing, and an operator for moving the holder, through screw action, to hold the cable in engagement with the housing. The holder has opposed left and right limbs extending upwards. Two electrical conductors within the housing have sharp lower ends for piercing the cable to contact a respective core of the cable when the cable is brought into engagement with the housing, and upper ends for connection with a second electrical cable. The upper end of each of the conductors includes a self-gripping device which grips the end of a core of the second cable automatically, upon approach of the end of the core, electrically and mechanically connecting the end of the core to the upper end of the conductor.

Abstract: An electrical rotary switch has a casing, a rotor supported within the casing for rotation, a moving contact mounted on the rotor for rotation with the rotor, and four fixed contacts located laterally of the rotor for short-circuiting by the moving contact. Each fixed contact has a contact body in the casing for contact by the moving contact and a leg extending from the contact body and projecting out of the casing for insertion through a circuit board and soldering to the circuit board for mechanical and electrical connection.

Abstract: An electrical connector for use on an electrical cable, for drawing power from the cable, includes a body having upper and lower sides, the lower side including a channel which opens to the exterior on the lower side such that the cable can be laterally inserted into the channel from the lower side, a clamp in the channel for clamping the cable in the channel, and an operator on the upper side for operating the clamp, the operator being operable through a screw action. Also included is a pair of conductors, each conductor having a sharp lower end for piercing the cable clamped in the channel to make contact with a respective conductive core of the cable, and an upper end for external electrical connection on the upper side.

Abstract: An electrical slide switch having a housing, four fixed contacts, a switching member supported for limited reciprocating rotary movement, and two moving contacts supported by the switching member for movement into and out of contact with the fixed contacts. An actuator is supported by the housing for linear sliding movement moving the switching member. Two of four fixed contacts are located on one side of the switching member and the other two fixed contacts are located on the opposite side of the switching member. Each moving contact has a first part for electrically inter-connecting a respective pair of the fixed contacts on opposite sides of the switching member in a first position and a second part for electrically inter-connecting a respective pair of the fixed contacts on the same side of the switching member in a second position, producing a reversal of electrical contact interconnections.

Abstract: An electrical slide switch having a housing, four fixed contacts, a switching member supported for limited reciprocating rotary movement, and two moving contacts supported by the switching member for movement into and out of contact with the fixed contacts. An actuator is supported by the housing for linear sliding movement moving the switching member. Two of four fixed contacts are located on one side of the switching member and the other two fixed contacts are located on the opposite side of the switching member. Each moving contact has a first part for electrically inter-connecting a respective pair of the fixed contacts on opposite sides of the switching member in a first position and a second part for electrically inter-connecting a respective pair of the fixed contacts on the same side of the switching member in a second position, producing a reversal of electrical contact interconnections.