Molex Corporation

Rixson-firemark Inc.

Burke J Crane

Garth S Jones

Stephen A Colleran

Fred L Krehbiel

Edward J Plocek

Jeffrey J Pawlicki

Duane M Fencl

Jack D Raymer, Ii

Kevin L Nelson

Augusto P Panella

Robert W DeRoss

Robert M Fuerst

Bill B Wilson

Thomas G Premo

Daniel Nigg

David L Brunker

Joseph D Comerci

John E Lopata

Stephen A Sampson

Steven F Wright

Timothy R Ponn

Edward S Sommer

Robert A Klemmer

Michael J O'Connell

James K Hollomon, Jr

Preston B Johnson

David J Conville

Edward Sammer

Robert DePass

An automatic switched power receptacle includes an outlet receptacle adapted to receive a plug. A relay is connected between the power receptacle and a source of power to selectively power the receptacle. A plug presence sensor in proximity to the receptacle senses presence of a plug in the receptacle. The plug presence sensor comprises a light source and light sensor, the light source and light sensor being disposed on opposite sides of a path of movement of a plug being inserted in the receptacle. An automatic control circuit is connected between the relay and the plug presence sensor for selectively energizing the relay to power the receptacle incident to the sensor sensing presence of a plug.

Hysteresis in a circuit for sensing presence of a plug

A dimmer circuit uses a triac for controlling application of power to a hot terminal where a load will be connected. A DC power supply develops DC power for powering a control circuit which includes a zero crossing detector circuit connected to an integrated circuit chip which develops a timer pulse at the appropriate time to dim the light. The timer pulse is output to a pulse stretching circuit which actually drives the triac. The pulse stretching circuit stretches the pulse to a maximum of one-half of a cycle. This ensures that the triac will be turned on even if the inductive current delays the establishment of adequate latching current. This creates a more symmetrical waveform and results in a reduced DC offset.

Light dimmer circuit with control pulse stretching

A power switching circuit selectively connects an electrical load having first and second input connections to any one of a plurality of branch power circuits. Each branch circuit includes a first and second conductor defining a relative voltage therebetween. The power switching circuit includes a selector switch for selecting which of the branch circuits is to be connected to the load. A triac is electrically connected to the first conductor of each branch circuit and to the first input connection of the load for selectively electrically connecting one of the first conductors to the first input connection. A triac is electrically connected to the second conductor of each branch circuit and to the second input connection of the load for selectively electrically connecting one of the second conductors to the second input connection. A control is operated by the selector switch for controlling the triacs to connect the respective first and second conductors of the selected branch circuit to the first and second input connections of the load.

Electronically switched power receptacle

A shielded hybrid ribbon cable assembly is provided for conducting electrical power and data signals. The assembly includes a plurality of spaced, parallel, power conductors and a plurality of data signal conductors. An insulating material holds together and electrically insulates the plurality of conductors. An electrically conductive shield is disposed about at least the data signal conductors for shielding electromagnetic capacitive interference. An inductive shielding means is interposed between the power conductors and the data signal conductors for shielding the signals of the data signal conductors from inductive magnetic interference generated by the power conductors.

Shielded hybrid ribbon cable assembly

A plug presence sensor comprises an LED and a light sensor in the form of a photo-transistor which senses presence of a plug in a receptacle. The sensor is monitored by a microcontroller to control latching of a relay. The microcontroller de-energizes the relay, so that no power is present at the receptacle, when no plug is inserted. When the plug is inserted, then the microcontroller causes the relay to be energized to provide power to the receptacle. The microcontroller is preprogrammed to communicate with a remote master controller. In the event that a loss of communication occurs between the microcontroller and the master controller, the microcontroller automatically de-energizes the relay so that no power is present at the receptacle. A communication error output signal is connected to an override circuit including a capacitor which differentiates an edge of the communication error signal to inject a pulse onto the plug presence sensor signal which simulates removal and reinsertion of the plug. As such, the override circuit fools the microcontroller into thinking that a plug was removed and then inserted so that the relay remains energized to power the outlet receptacle.

Circuit for overriding the cripple mode so that the relay remains latched

A multi-terminal filtered electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passageways. A plurality of terminals are received in the passageways, with tail portions of the terminals projecting from the housing. A flexible capacitor filter circuit is mounted on the housing and through which the terminals extend. A ferrite block is provided with a plurality of through holes for receiving therethrough portions of the terminals. A terminal alignment plate may be provided for mounting the ferrite block. A second flexible capacitor filter circuit may be provided through which portions of the terminals extend. The ferrite block may be disposed between the two flexible capacitor filter circuits. The housing is constructed for mounting on a printed circuit board to provide either a right angle connector or a direct mounted connector.

Filtered electrical connector assembly

A switched receptacle includes a latching relay selectively providing power to an outlet receptacle. A drive circuit for the latching relay provides indirect feedback to a logic controller which follows or tracks each relay operation to ensure that the relay is in the commanded mode.

Feedback of relay status

A control circuit synchronizes operation of a latching relay to extend contact life. The relay is switched using an H-bridge drive circuit. The synchronization is done using a two-step delay. The first delay is provided by a phase shifter, which delays the timing signals used by a logic controller relative to a zero crossing. The second delay is provided by an adjustable timer circuit including a potentiometer. The two delays are used so that the latching relay is tripped at a selectable time coinciding with the second zero crossing after a switching command is received.

Method and circuit for synchronization of relay operation

A switched receptacle includes a latching relay selectively providing power to an outlet receptacle. The latching relay is controlled to insure that a flux density in the set mode is no greater than that which is needed to actuate the latching relay while allowing the latch to remain in the actuated position even if this power is terminated. Current limiting is provided for resetting so that zero flux density results when unlatching.

Switched receptacle circuit

A multi-terminal filtered electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passageways. A plurality of terminals are received in the passageways, with tail portions of the terminals projecting from the housing. A terminal alignment plate, independent of the housing, includes a plurality of through holes for receiving and aligning the tail portions of the terminals. First complementary interengaging latch devices are provided between the housing and the alignment plate for readily assembling the alignment plate on the housing. A ferrite block is mountable on the alignment plate and includes a plurality of through holes alignable with the holes in the alignment plate for receiving therethrough the tail portions of the terminals. Second complementary interengaging latch devices are provided between the alignment plate and the ferrite block for readily assembling the ferrite block on the alignment plate. Therefore, the alignment plate and the ferrite block can be assembled as a subassembly about the tail portions of the terminals, and the subassembly can be readily assembled to the housing. A flexible capacitor filter circuit is mounted on a rear face of the housing and through which filters the terminals extend.

A switched power circuit selectively connects an electrical load to any one of a plurality of branch power circuits. The switched power circuit includes a sensing circuit for sensing electrical loading on each of the branch circuits. A logic circuit is coupled to the sensing circuit for selecting one of the branch circuits to be connected to the load according to the sensed loading to provide balanced loading on each branch circuit.

Automatically switched power receptacle

An electrical connector assembly includes a pair of spaced receptacle modules mounted to a first printed circuit board which is electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board spaced from and generally parallel to the first printed circuit board. A conductive ground plate is electrically coupled between the printed circuit boards and mechanically supports the circuit boards in their spaced generally parallel relationship. The ground plate is disposed perpendicular to the first and second printed circuit boards forming two separate compartments between the first and second printed circuit boards to provide electromagnetic interference isolation between the compartments. An electrical component such as transformer may be mounted on one side of the ground plate between the spaced generally parallel printed circuit boards, and the ground plate provides a heat sink for the transformer. A third printed circuit board may be mounted on the side of the ground plate opposite the transformer and electrically coupled to the transformer through the ground plate.

Electrical connector assembly with printed circuit board layout

A sealing system is provided between an electrical connector assembly and another connector component, panel or the like. The connector assembly includes a housing having a mating end with a seal-receiving channel and a resilient seal received in the channel. The seal includes a sealing groove having a given width and a given depth. The connector component includes a sealing lip insertable into the sealing groove when the connector assembly and the connector component are mated along a mating axis. The sealing lip has a width greater than the width of the sealing groove and a length relative to the depth of the sealing groove such that the lip is spaced from the bottom of the groove when the connector assembly and the connector component are in mated condition. Therefore, only sealing forces normal to the mating axis are effected between the sealing lip and the sealing groove. A radio frequency seal is provided by point contacts between an edge of a flange of the connector assembly engaging an abutment surface of the connector component, the flange being overlapped with the sealing lip and another flange of the connector component, whereby a labyrinth path is defined through an interface area including the point contacts.

Sealing system for electrical connectors

A multi-conductor hybrid cable construction includes a plurality of inner signal conductors. A unitary dielectric member surrounds, insulates, spaces and joins the inner signal conductors in a circular array about the axis of the cable. An inner conductive shield is disposed about the unitary dielectric member and the surrounded inner conductors. A plurality of outer data conductors are arranged circumferentially about the inner conductive shield. An outer conductive shield is disposed about the outer data conductors. A central dielectric filler is disposed inside the unitary dielectric member, and an insulating jacket is disposed about the outer conductive shield forming the outside of the cable.

Hybrid shielded cable

A filter connector is provided with a housing and at least one electrically conductive terminal on the housing. A ground plate is provided on the housing in spaced relationship to the terminal. A capacitor is electrically connected to the ground plate. An electrically conductive spring is coupled between the terminal and the capacitor. The spring is mounted for free movement relative to the housing to isolate the capacitor from terminal vibrations or shocks.

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Lombard, IL, United States of America

Burke J Crane