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"During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet."
Al Gore ; The basis for the later misquote by US Republicans that Gore had "invented" the Internet. Gore was the leading political champion of the modern-day Internet.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8120211 | Timing-device equipped energy-saving socket A timing-device equipped energy-saving socket includes an enclosure, in which the enclosure is deposed a power plug on one side, and deposed a variety of power sockets on the sides without deposing the power plug. The enclosure is deposed a control device inside. Wh... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8106541 | Outlet power strip with remote control An electrical power strip with multiple outlets capable of being controlled by a wireless remote controller is herein disclosed. The handheld wireless controller is used to control the operation of the power strip via a radio frequency (RF). As such, the power strip... | 01/31/2012 |
| 7999416 | Module for controlling a switch in a high voltage electrical substation There is provided a method for operating a control module of a high voltage switch, the method comprising: interfacing with an external environment via an input/output unit that filters each electrical signal passing therethrough; analyzing incoming signals and trig... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7906875 | Touch switches and practical applications therefor A touch switch apparatus for detecting the presence of an object such as a human appendage, the apparatus having a touch pad, an electric field generated about the touch pad and also having a preferably integrated and local control circuit connected to the touch pad... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7863777 | Low power switching circuit A method and apparatus are provided for operating a wall switch module using leakage current. In one embodiment, the wall switch module may be operable using leakage current. The wall switch control module may be provided to include a microcontroller, wireless recei... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7847440 | Load control device for use with lighting circuits having three-way switches A smart dimmer for control of a lighting load from an AC power source can replace any switch in a three-way or four-way lighting control system. The smart dimmer can be connected on the line-side or the load-side of a three-way system with a standard three-way switc... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7772724 | Load control device for use with lighting circuits having three-way switches A smart switch for control of a lighting load from an AC voltage source can replace any switch in a three-way lighting control system. The smart switch can be connected on the line-side or the load-side of a three-way system with a standard three-way switch in the o... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7759825 | Rechargeable battery with a fuse In a rechargeable battery with a fuse for guarding against external short circuits, to make it possible to design the rechargeable battery independently of the possibly high normal continuous current, it is proposed that a signal connection existing between the rech... | 07/20/2010 |
| 7719142 | Audio and tactile switch feedback for motor vehicle An interface comprises a switch supported in relation to a motor vehicle interior trim component. The switch is operable to actuate and de-actuate an electrically operated device of the motor vehicle. A sensory feedback component is operatively connected to the swit... | 05/18/2010 |
| 7622829 | Rotating electric motor for operating an electric component A rotating electric motor for operating an electric component. The motor is arranged for an operating movement during a limited predetermined angular motion of the rotor of the motor. An electric drive circuit is arranged for the winding of the motor. The electric c... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7550879 | Erasing control circuit and method for erasing environment configuration memory in a computer system A computer system includes a power switch, a reset switch, environment configuration memory, and an erasing control circuit. The power switch is for starting the computer system as triggered. The reset switch is for resetting the computer system as triggered. The en... | 06/23/2009 |
| 7492065 | Circuit for initiating conductive liquid droplet motion in a switch A circuit for actuating a switch includes a conductive liquid switch comprising a conductive liquid droplet and a control processor configured to receive a switching signal and configured to provide at least one actuation pulse to the conductive liquid droplet to in... | 02/17/2009 |
| 7489053 | Electronic switch system with continuous design An electronic switch system comprising a circuit path that includes a first path that is formed by a substantially nonconductive composition and a second path that includes a nonconductive composition. The first and second paths are dispersed relative to each other ... | 02/10/2009 |
| 7466041 | Wireless powerless switch sensor A passenger door open request switch for use in a multi-passenger, mass-transit vehicle. A wireless, powerless switch sensor which includes an RFID reader, a circuit located remotely from the RFID reader that is formed by connecting an RFID antenna with a control/st... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7425781 | Electric power switching apparatus providing reduced degree of noise interference with radio communication In an electric power switching apparatus a control circuit generates a switching control signal, for controlling successive current switching operations, as a of succession of pulse period patterns with each pulse period pattern made up of one or more successive pul... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7400239 | Universal control apparatus and methods Apparatus and methods for control of one or more functions within a premises. In one embodiment, the control apparatus comprises a “universal” electronic switch which can be configured according to any number of different desired functional and/or aesthetic sche... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7398336 | Switching device for RS-232 serial port and USB serial port A switching device for RS-232 serial port and USB serial port is adapted to simultaneously provide a RS-232 serial port and a USB serial port for a micro-processor with a single USART. The switching device can automatically switch to select either of the RS-232 seri... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7382066 | Rotary switch with ratcheting feature A rotary switch (102) for an electronic device (100) includes a bump stop (104) that triggers a ratcheting feature when hit. The range of the rotary switch (102) is expanded via the ratcheting feature. The ratcheting feature inhibits scro... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7378762 | Electrical circuit for limiting switching-on current The invention concerns an electrical circuit for limiting the switching-on current through a load during a switching-on process, comprising an electrical component which is connected in series to the load. To ensure current limitation which is independent of the loa... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7367281 | Plasma antenna The plasma antenna is designed to allow connection between electric elements within the antenna to be varied without changing the construction of the antenna during a chemical vapor deposition process, thereby maximizing efficiency of a cleaning or deposition proces... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7369921 | Power distribution expert system A power distribution expert system is provided to determine an optimal power distribution configuration, and also to determine an optimal transition path to reach said optimal configuration. An exemplary first set of rules is provided to determine an optimal power d... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7356494 | Robust wireless communications system architecture and asset management applications performed thereon A robust wireless communications system operable to provide communications for mobile wireless devices. The wireless communications system generally includes a management computing system, wireless infrastructure, and mobile wireless devices. The wireless infrastruc... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7352085 | Disconnection of electronic device from power source A mechanism of one embodiment of the invention is disclosed that disconnects an electronic device from a power source includes a user-actuable switch, an electronically controllable switch, and a feedback mechanism. The electronically controllable switch couples the... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7341481 | Power control circuit The present invention provides for a highly reliable circuit, suitable for controlling the delivery of electrical power to a second electrical outlet, based on the power consumption of a first outlet. This circuit has application in home, small workshops and on job-... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7318659 | Combination white light and colored LED light device with active ingredient emission A replacement device for a light bulb includes a translucent shell and a base. The base supports a plurality of LEDs positioned so as to emit a light show through the shell. The base is configured to be received in a conventional light socket. The base also includes... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7317264 | Method and apparatus to independently control contactors in a multiple contactor configuration A method and apparatus to independently control the closing or making of contactors in a modular contactor assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a contactor assembly having multiple contactors such that each contactor is separately controlled such that one c... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7315097 | Power saving control method and device in electronic device, and power saving electronic device A power saving control method includes providing a latch circuit that is supplied with current for operation from a power source even if a switch circuit is turned off, so that the switch circuit is controlled to be turned off when the latch circuit is in a latched ... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7312695 | Apparatus and method for displaying operating characteristics on status indicators A user interface for a load control device allows a user to control an operating characteristic of a load to a plurality of discrete levels. The user interface comprises an adjustment member for allowing the user to select one of the discrete levels and a linear arr... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7307360 | Uninterruptible power supplies Uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to fuel-cell-based UPSs used in conjunction with DC power supplies for improved operating efficiencies. With a wide voltage DC power supply, a DC-AC inverter ma... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7294997 | Electrical meter system with color coding features A communication system between a plurality of electrical loads and at least one electrical measurement device is configured with a plurality of wires grouped in pairs. Each pair of wires is uniquely color coded to facilitate installation of each electrical load.... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7291940 | Pressure sensitive switches including touch sensor structures An electronic circuit for use with an exhaustible power source and at least one load such as a light bulb, a radio or motor, includes a microchip with an input that transmits a signal to the microchip when the load is activated or deactivated. The input does not for... | 11/06/2007 |
| RE39855 | Power management strategy to support hot swapping of system blades during run time A hot swappable system is described. It included software controlled hot swapping operations which provided a graceful booting or power-down of the system. In the even of force insertion or extraction of the system blades, a set of hardware features (such as using d... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7273386 | Pin shroud A pin shroud for a circuit board having a raised pin platform and a pin array projecting from the raised pin platform. A spacer extending from a side wall of the shroud engages a side of the raised pin platform, thereby accurately aligning the pin shroud with the pi... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7271561 | Fan module and control device thereof Fan module and control device thereof. The fan module comprises a plurality of fans and the control device. The control device comprises a temperature sensing circuit, and a driving circuit. The temperature sensing circuit detects an ambient temperature of the fans ... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7272518 | Automated hierarchy classification in utility monitoring systems An auto-learned hierarchy algorithm that learns the hierarchical layout of a power monitoring system. Historical power data from each meter is received and placed into a data table. The main is assumed to be at the top of the hierarchy and is designated as the refer... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7259950 | Load-protection control circuit of power supply A load-protection control circuit of a power supply, which applies to the power supply that has a maximum power-limiting function. The power supply includes a power transformation circuit which outputs a direct current to drive loads and a control circuit which can ... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7242563 | Reverse phase control power switching circuit with overload protection In one embodiment of the invention, a reverse phase control power switching circuit for controlling the flow of current through a load from an AC source comprises a sensing bridge in series with the load and the AC source. The conductive state of the sensing bridge ... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7242150 | Dimmer having a power supply monitoring circuit A two-wire dimmer for control of a lighting load from an alternating-current (AC) power source includes a semiconductor switch, a power supply, and a control circuit. The power supply includes an energy storage input capacitor that is able to charge only when the se... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7233744 | Power feed arrangement using aggregate segments A power feed arrangement for aggregate segments of a communications system is disclosed. In embodiments of the invention, cables are used to communicatively connect a number of landmasses, where the cables also serve to carry electrical power to devices connected al... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7224087 | Circuit for the control of a triac without galvanic isolation A circuit for controlling a bidirectional switch referenced to a first reference voltage by a control circuit supplied by a first voltage and referenced to a second reference voltage. The supply voltage of the control circuit is connected by a diode to a coupling ci... | 05/29/2007 |
