Hubbell Limited

Thomas James Batko

John R Baldwin

David Philip Eckel

David F Ellison

Joseph Vincent DeBartolo

Joseph Michael Meady

Mark Richard Walter

Daming Yu

Christopher C Primous

Nelson Bonilla

David A Zeichner

Gaetano Bonasia

Kenny Padro

Stephen Paul Simonin

William J Rose

Robert William Youle

Brian Patrick Donlon

Christopher Alan Carbone

Ward E Strang

Thomas M McDonald

Carol Z Howard

Robert Fanzutti

David D Yu

Thomas M Mcdonald

Joseph Vincent Debartolo

John Richard Baldwin

A method of operating an auto-monitoring circuit of a circuit interrupting device. The method including monitoring one or more signals to determine an operating state of said circuit interrupting device; outputting a first signal having a first voltage level based on the operating state, wherein the first voltage level is greater than zero volts; and outputting, after outputting the first signal, a second signal having a second voltage level based on the operating state, wherein the second voltage level is greater than the first voltage level.

Self-test auto monitor ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) with power denial

A wiring device including one or more line terminals and a controller. The controller is configured to, determine a frequency of an input voltage at the one or more line terminals, determine whether the frequency is within a predetermined range, and when the frequency is within the predetermined range, perform a test of the wiring device.

Ground fault circuit interrupter using frequency recognition and measurement

A circuit interrupting device including one or more line terminals for connecting to an external power supply, one or more load terminals for connecting to an external load, one or more contacts electrically connecting one or more line terminals to one or more load terminals, and an auto-monitoring circuit. The auto-monitoring circuit configured to monitor one or more signals to determine an operating state of said circuit interrupting device, output a first signal having a first voltage level based on the operating state, wherein the first voltage level is greater than zero volts, and output a second signal having a second voltage level based on the operating state, wherein the second voltage level is greater than the first voltage level.

A wiring device including an interrupting device and a controller. The interrupting device electrically connects one or more line terminals to one or more load terminals when the interrupting device is in a reset condition and disconnects the line terminals from the load terminals when the interrupting device is in a tripped condition. The controller is configured to, determine a frequency of an input voltage at the one or more line terminals, determine whether the frequency is within a predetermined range, and when the frequency is within the predetermined range, perform a test of the wiring device.

A wiring device including an interrupting device, a fault detection circuit, and a testing circuit. The interrupting device is electrically connecting one or more line terminals to one or more load terminals. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect a fault condition and generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting the fault condition. The fault detection signal being provided to the interrupting device to place the interrupting device in a tripped condition. The testing circuit is configured to determine a frequency of an input voltage at the one or more line terminals, filter the frequency of the input voltage, determine whether the filtered frequency is within a predetermined range, and when the filtered frequency is within the predetermined range, perform a test of the wiring device.

A circuit interrupting device including one or more line terminals for connecting to an external power supply, one or more load terminals for connecting to an external load, one or more contacts electrically connecting one or more line terminals to one or more load terminals; and an auto-monitoring circuit. The auto-monitoring circuit continuously monitoring one or more signals to determine an operating state of said circuit interrupting device. Wherein if said auto-monitoring circuit determines that said circuit interrupting device has reached its end-of-life and it is determined that the contacts have not failed, then a signal is driven to a first level to actuate a switch and open the contacts. Wherein said signal is further driven to a second level to inhibit said circuit interrupting device from resetting when it is determined that contacts of said interrupting device have failed. Wherein the second level has a voltage greater than zero volts.

A wiring device including an interrupting device, a fault detection circuit, and a testing circuit. The interrupting device electrically connects a line terminal to a load terminal when the interrupting device is in a reset condition and disconnects the line terminal from the load terminal when the interrupting device is in a tripped condition. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect a fault condition and generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting the fault condition, the fault detection signal is provided to the interrupting device to place the interrupting device in the tripped condition. The testing circuit is configured to determine a frequency of an input voltage at the one or more line terminals, perform a first test of the interrupting device at a first period of the frequency, and perform a second test of the fault detection circuit at a second period of the frequency.

A circuit interrupting device including one or more line terminals for connecting to an external power supply, one or more load terminals for connecting to an external load, an interrupting device, a fault detection circuit, and an auto-monitoring circuit. When the auto-monitoring circuit determines that the circuit interrupting device has reached its end-of-life, and it is determined that contacts of said interrupting device have not failed, then a signal is driven to a first level to actuate a switch and open the contacts. Additionally, said signal may further be driven to a second level to inhibit said circuit interrupting device from resetting when it is determined that contacts of said interrupting device have failed.

Self-testing auto monitor ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) with power denial

System and method are provided where an occupancy sensor with a time delay function designed to dim the lights, for example as a warning, after a first period of time has expired without detecting room occupancy. The lights remain dimmed for a second period of time, and then are turned off after a third period of time has expired without detecting room occupancy. If occupancy is detected during the first period of time, the lights will remain on. If occupancy is detected during the second or third period of time, the lights will be turned on to, for example, previous brightness. A night light can be added to, and/or incorporated in, an occupancy sensor which includes the dimmer feature.

Occupancy sensor with dimmer feature and night light and method of lighting control using the same

A self-testing fault detector having a line side and a load side and a conductive path there between is provided. The self-testing fault detector includes an auto-monitoring circuit electrically coupled to a fault detection circuit and an interrupting device and it continuously monitors one or more signals to determine an operating state of the fault detector. At least one of the monitored signals includes a fault detection signal, wherein if said automonitoring circuit determines that the fault detection circuit is not properly driving the interrupting device, the automonitoring device converts an input-output port receiving the fault detection signal from an input to an output and drives the interrupting device into a tripped condition using the input-output port.

A ground fault circuit interrupting device detects an end-of-life condition. A ground fault detecting circuit detects a fault condition and controllably operates a switching device to energize a circuit interrupting device. An end-of-life detecting circuit detects a failure of the circuit interrupting device to open after detection of the fault condition, and activates a secondary circuit to energize the circuit interrupting device.

Ground fault circuit interruptor (GFCI) device having safe contact end-of-life condition and method of detecting same in a GFCI device

A self test (ST) ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) provides a half wave rectifier for powering circuitry for determining and annunciating end of life (EOL) of the GFCI regardless of a shorted diode bridge or opening of a printed circuit board (PCB) trace. A fuse resistor is provided to open before an open PCB trace can occur. A microprocessor-controlled heat-conducting circuit is provided adjacent to a thermal fuse to controllably open the thermal fuse and remove power from face receptacle contacts and load terminals when EOL occurs.

Self testing ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) with end of life (EOL) indicator, secondary power supply for EOL and self test circuitry, and device for opening line hot when EOL occurs

A fault interrupter having a microcontroller is provided to detect actual faults. The fault interrupter initiates a periodic self-test and provides external notification to the user upon successful or unsuccessful completion of the test. The fault interrupter generates the test signal at a selected time to substantially coincide with the zero-crossing of the AC power source. A manual test can also be performed using a manual test switch provided as a direct input to the microcontroller.

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Wallingford, CT, United States of America

Thomas James Batko