Abstract: An energized circuit alarm assembly includes a housing that is positoinable on a metal circuit housing in an electrical distribution system. A magnet is coupled to the housing and the magnet magnetically engages a metal circuit housing in an electrical distribution system. A plurality of conductors is each coupled to and extends away from the housing. Each of the conductors is electrically coupled to a respective electrical lead in the metal circuit housing when an electrician is servicing a circuit fed by the electrical lead. An alarm unit is coupled to the housing and each of the conductors is electrically coupled to the alarm unit. The alarm unit emits an alert when the alarm unit senses electrical current on any of the conductors to alert the electrician to the potential for electrocution.

Abstract: An automation system including a plurality of peripheral devices, each configured to perform at least one function relating to energy consumption in a facility and an automation controller in communication with the plurality of peripheral devices and providing for the control of the performance of the function by each device. An external network resource such as at least a virtual private network server is configured to enable communication with the automation controller. The automation controller is configured, such as by executing virtual private network software, to establish and maintain a secure data link with the virtual private network server and to enable oversight and/or control of the automation controller via the virtual private network server.

Abstract: A power-supply noise measuring circuit includes a voltage fluctuation detecting circuit, a unit time generating circuit, a current measuring circuit, and a sampling circuit. The voltage fluctuation detecting circuit generates a detection current in accordance with a voltage fluctuation of a power supply. The unit time generating circuit generates a unit time in accordance with a clock signal. The current measuring circuit treasures an amount of the detection current per unit time. The sampling circuit samples the amount of the detection current measured by the current measuring circuit, every unit time. The present invention provides the power-supply noise measuring circuit that has a small circuit area and enough accuracy.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method and apparatus of voltage measurement with a high resolution. An apparatus of voltage measurement includes: a buffer circuit for separating a voltage between terminals of a capacitor or an equivalent voltage into a first voltage region corresponding to a full scale of an analog/digital (A/D) converter and a second voltage region corresponding to a voltage exceeding the full scale of the A/D converter when the voltage between the terminals of the capacitor charged or the equivalent voltage is higher than the full scale of the A/D converter; the A/D converters corresponding to the first and second voltage regions for converting the voltages of the respective regions from analog to digital values; and a voltage measurement device for evaluating a measured voltage value from the digital values and calculating the voltage of the voltage supply.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for remotely controlled illumination of liquids in a variety of environments. In one example, remotely controlled multi-color LED-based light sources are employed to achieve a wide range of enhanced lighting effects in liquids. In another example, a pool or spa is illuminated by one or more remotely controlled multicolor light sources that may be employed as individually and independently controllable devices, or coupled together to form a remotely controlled networked lighting system to provide a variety of programmable and/or coordinated color illumination effects in the pool or spa environment.

Abstract: A tachometer has a display responsive to an rpm signal for producing an observable indication of an rpm value. A circuit responsive to an engine input develops a standard rpm signal representative of instantaneous engine rpm, and a differential Power Band amplifier circuit amplifies the difference between the standard rpm signal and an adjustable “offset” rpm signal by predetermined gain to produce an amplified differential rpm signal. A switching circuit selects the standard rpm signal or the amplified differential rpm Power Band signal for driving the display. A peak or valley rpm signal may also be developed and selected for display either in a standard mode or a differentially amplified Power Band mode.

Abstract: An electrometer (20) for measuring an unknown DC potential finds particular utility in applications requiring a high input resistance and minimal current drain during measurement. The electrometer (20) employs a circuit containing a sampling diode (D1) and capacitor (C1). Prior to a measurement being taken, the capacitor (C1) is charged to a common-mode voltage and the diode (D1) is reverse biased to a potential approximating the unknown potential of the voltage source (30) to be measured. A switch (S1) is employed to momentarily cause current flow through the capacitor (C1) and to forward bias the diode (D1). The unknown potential is calculated from potentials associated with the sampling diode (D1) and the capacitor (C1). The calculation involves sampling the potential of the capacitor (C1) at precisely determined time delays.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for measuring current in a working circuit is provided with a first operational amplifier having a positive input, a negative input, and an output connected to at least one in-line amplifier to form a first current path. A second operational amplifier having a positive input, a negative input, and an output connected to a differential amplifier is provided within the circuit to form a second current path. An input terminal is connected to the negative inputs of each of the operational amplifiers to provide a connection between the electronic circuit and the working circuit. A variable conductance component is connected in series between the input terminal and the negative input of the second operational amplifier to control the flow of variable currents through the two current paths.

Abstract: A method of producing an input variable for a cross-coil indicating instrument from a measurement signal is disclosed in which the frequency of the measurement signal is converted into a frequency-proportional input current for the cross-coil indicating instrument (11). Furthermore, a circuit is disclosed in which an input terminal for the measurement signal is connected to a period measuring device (3, 4, 5) the output of which is connected to a divider (6). The output of the divider feeds a control variable which is proportional to the frequency of the measurement signal (f.sub.M) to an input (13) of a processing circuit (8, 10). The known method and the known circuit have the disadvantage that, in case of a low frequency of the measurement signal, a jerky movement of the pointer of the indicating instrument (11) can be observed.

Abstract: A bimetallic indicator includes a bimetal being deformed by heat generated by an electric current supplied to a heat coil wound around the bimetal, a pointer moved in relation to the deformation of the bimetal and indicating a measured value in accordance with an amount of electric current supplied to the heating coil, and a driving gear, which is rotated by the deformation of said bimetal. The driving gear includes two first pitch portions each having a plurality of teeth with a regular pitch and a second pitch portion provided between the first pitch portions and having a pitch smaller than that of the first pitch portion. A driven gear to which the pointer is mounted is engaged with the driving gear and rotated together with the pointer by the rotation of the driving gear. The rotation of the driving gear is transmitted to the driven gear only when the first pitch portion of the driving gear is in engagement with the driven gear.

Abstract: A signal strength detector comprises first, second and third transistors of the same conductivity type. The emitter electrodes of each transistor are connected together and coupled with one of a pair of dc supply lines. The collector electrodes of the first and second transistors are each coupled with the other of the pair of dc supply lines. The base electrode of the first and second transistors are each coupled via a resistor to the base electrode of the third transistor. The collector electrode of the third transistor is effective to provide a source of output current which is representative of a differential signal level between the base electrodes of the first and second transistors.

Abstract: A small self-contained voltage monitoring device, which can be connected to a power line, has a display driver in circuit with a plurality of lamps to light one lamp at a time, depending on the power line voltage. A first oscillator in circuit with the display driver is actuated to operate a sound generator and alarm if the power line voltage falls outside a preset range. A second oscillator is in circuit with the first oscillator if the power line voltage is interrupted even momentarily, both oscillators are actuated by an auxiliary power source to generate a different sounding alarm. The alarm will continue to sound even if the power line voltage is restored until the auxiliary power source is manually deactivated.

Abstract: A preamplifier circuit for a voltage measuring instrument which provides for noninteracting span and zero adjustments. Two voltage follower circuits are used. The first produces a current through the output resistor of the preamplifier proportional to the voltage being measured while the second produces a current through the output resistor proportional to a fixed reference voltage. For both amplifiers, the proportionality is adjustable by a potentiometer which modifies the feedback on the first amplifier and the part of the reference used as input to the second amplifier.

Abstract: A level indicating circuit includes a pair of transistors, arranged as a differential amplifier and to whose bases an input signal is applied, a level-detecting circuit to supply to a meter or the like an indicating current whose level is related to the magnitude of the input signal; and a network connecting the collector of at least one of the transistors of the differential amplifier to the level-detecting circuit and establishing a threshold for the input signal such that the level-detecting circuit supplies its indicating current only when the input signal exceeds the threshold. The level-detecting circuit can include a transistor which is biased so as to begin conducting only when the magnitude of the input signal exceeds the dynamic range of the differential amplifier and drives one or the other of the transistors thereto to cutoff or saturation.

Abstract: A volt meter is connected across the battery terminals to read output voltage; a standard load, which may be the normally connected or design load for the storage battery is connected thereacross and, when a predetermined load current flows into the standard load, a control means coupled to the volt meter controls the volt meter to then indicate battery voltage as a measure of remaining stored charge.

Abstract: An expanded scale measuring circuit including a four-arm bridge having a pair of input terminals for connections to a source of input voltage to be measured and a pair of measuring terminals between which are connected a current responsive meter. Located in one pair of the bridge arms are a resistor and diode that establish a reference voltage at one of the measuring terminals. The other pair of arms are formed by a voltage divider network including a zener diode that establishes a fixed reduction in the portion of input voltage applied to the other measuring terminal and therefore in the voltage appearing across the meter. By appropriately selecting resistance values for the divider network, a zero meter current condition is established for an input voltage at the bottom of a range of interest.