Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 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 |
| 7232494 | Stop start wash cycle for dishwashers A method of washing dishes in a dishwasher that includes a Start Stop sequence in a wash segment of one or more of the dishwashing cycles. The Stop Start sequence includes the steps of pausing the operation of the wash pump, operating the wash pump to circulate wash... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7196435 | Solid state relay and method of operating the same A solid state relay coupleable to first and second phase busses of an AC power source for switching power from the first and second phase busses to a load comprises: first and second power semiconductor switches connected in a series circuit configuration and couple... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7196436 | Solid state relay for switching AC power to a reactive load and method of operating the same A solid state relay coupleable to first and second phase busses of an AC power source for switching power from the first and second phase busses to a load including a reactive component comprises: first and second power semiconductor switches connected in a series c... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7061143 | Actuator unit with a base actuator an additional actuator and control unit An actuator unit includes a base actuator and an additional actuator, via which a useful circuit can be opened and closed. Given proper functioning, the base actuator can be activated by supplying electric energy and deactivated by not supplying electric energy. The... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7042117 | Power supply circuit for actuator of an on-board travel control device A power supply circuit for various actuators includes control lines associated with the actuators that receive power from a single voltage increasing circuit. The power supply circuit supplies power to the control lines by splitting or dividing power from a voltage ... | 05/09/2006 |
| 6999293 | Safety device for a delta-connected three-phase electric appliance A safety device for use in conjunction with a delta-connected three-phase electric appliance. The electric appliance is supplied in a delta connection so that the loads (100, 101, 102) of the appliance with their respective control switches (100a | 02/14/2006 |
| 6960844 | Electric switching device An electric switching device for alternating current comprises two branches (2, 3) connected in parallel in a current path and having each at least two contact members (4–7) connected in series. A semiconductor device (8) is adapted to interco... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6850402 | Circuit and method for controlling current flow through a solenoid A solenoid control circuit that includes two switching networks that are selectively opened and closed in a current limit cycle to control the magnitude of the current flowing through the solenoid. The configuration of the switching networks is such that current flo... | 02/01/2005 |
| 6825579 | Safety switching apparatus having a first and a second input switch and method of manufacturing the same The present invention relates to a safety switching apparatus having a first and a second input switch, whose respective switch settings define an input-side manipulated variable redundantly with respect to one another. The safety switching apparatus furthermore has... | 11/30/2004 |
| 6822344 | Determination of ac path states by floating controls An electronic control, with a floating ac power supply, that compares the digital signals produced by connections between ac circuit nodes and digital nodes to determine whether path(s) in ac circuits containing the ac nodes are intact or open. The connections are m... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6570272 | Safety switching device for connection and safe disconnection of an electrical load, in particular an electrically driven machine The present invention relates to a safety switching device for connecting and safely disconnecting an electrical load, in particular an electrically driven machine. The safety switching device includes first and second electromechanical switching elements... | 05/27/2003 |
| 6034449 | Load drive circuit The invention relates to a load drive circuit wherein an emergency shutdown switch for forcible interruption and a normal shutdown switch for normal current control are disposed in series in a load power supply circuit. An emergency shutdown switch (SW | 03/07/2000 |
| 6034445 | Power source transfer lockout circuit Electrical loads are powered by one of several different power sources through a selector switch. A monitoring circuit monitors the different power sources to sense a change of state, that is, power up or shut down. Such a change indicates that the select... | 03/07/2000 |
| 6011328 | Electric power lockout apparatus An electric power lockout apparatus is provided which includes an input terminal for electrically coupling the apparatus to an electric power source and an output terminal for electrically coupling the apparatus to a device requiring electric power. The e... | 01/04/2000 |
| 5982051 | Electronic two-way switching circuit A two-way switching circuit for connecting a supply power to a load comprises two electronic switches connected to each other. Each of the two electronic switches includes two electronic switch units connected to each other. Each of the two electronic swi... | 11/09/1999 |
| 5955796 | Programmable wall switch actuator/timer A self-contained programmable wall switch actuator/timer unit can easily be mounted directly onto the outside of the face plate of a standard wall switch. This actuator/timer unit can be programmed to operate the lever of the wall switch in accordance wit... | 09/21/1999 |
| 5912428 | Electronic circuitry for timing and delay circuits An electronic delay circuit (10) useful for the delayed initiation of detonators illustrates several novel features that may be combined, including a novel oscillator (34), a programmable timer circuit (32) and a run control circuit (46). The oscillator (... | 06/15/1999 |
| 5642001 | Overdrive circuit An overdrive circuit having a first current source which supplies an overdrive current and a second current source which supplies an ordinary current smaller than the overdrive current. A first circuit operates the first current source that supplies the o... | 06/24/1997 |
| 5543997 | Safety switching system for a working apparatus A safety switching arrangement for the switching on and off of the power supply (11) of two actors (12a, 12b) for example relays, which, in dependence on the switching on of the current, and in dependence on a sensor switching signal (13a, 13b) jointly se... | 08/06/1996 |
| 5508878 | Electronic timer using zero power while off An apparatus interrupts a circuit at a predetermined time. The circuit includes a load and a source of time-varying current. The apparatus includes a relay circuit including a latching relay switch, a first relay coil and a second relay coil, the relay sw... | 04/16/1996 |
| 5283475 | Television viewing control unit A lockable control box for a television is designed to have the television plug attached to a timer. A programmable control panel is used to regulate the hours the television is able to be turned on, and the control box comes equipped with three specially... | 02/01/1994 |
| 5266841 | Switch assembly for a timing module A timing device incorporates a timing module having a relatively low capacity for use in a heavier application than it could normally be used due to the low capacity of the timing module switch contacts. The timing module output is connected with a soleno... | 11/30/1993 |
| 5243232 | Start-up pulse suppression circuit for industrial controller output A flash-on reduction circuit for use in the binary state output circuitry of an industrial controller employs a current conductor to charge parasitic capacitances of the output circuitry when the industrial controller is first turned on and a current limi... | 09/07/1993 |
| 4811163 | Automatic power bus transfer equipment A circuit for protecting the power contacts (18, 20) of automatic bus transfer equipment, including high speed solid state switches (30, 32) connected across the respective contacts. A timing and steering circuit (36) is responsive to the electrical energ... | 03/07/1989 |
| 4797568 | Electronic switching system for controlling indoor and outdoor lights An electronic switching system, designed to automatically illuminate and delay in extinquishing 115 V 60 Hz outdoor/indoor lights and electrical wall receptacles. The system includes an automatic sensing circuit which detects open and closed circuits, at ... | 01/10/1989 |
| 4774418 | Method for setting a timer circuit and device in such a timer circuit The invention relates to a method and a device for setting a timer circuit, especially in a fuse (1b), there being used a setting unit (1a) for the transfer of setting signal to the timer circuit which is housed in the fuse (1b). For the purpose of simpli... | 09/27/1988 |
| 4769556 | Electronic clock timer for a kitchen range An electronic clock timer for a kitchen range; in which the timer includes a control circuit, a display area, with entry elements and with a switch arranged in the control circuit, through which the appliance or electrical consumer which is controlled by ... | 09/06/1988 |
| 4749874 | Electronic timer An electronic timer, preferably a kitchen range timer, which includes a control circuit, a display area, input elements, and a switching arrangement which selectively connects an appliance (auto mode) which is operable through the timer directly with a cu... | 06/07/1988 |
| 4712019 | Programmable electronic plug-in timer A plug-in timer has a set of input terminals and a set of output terminals as well as a contactor operable to make and/or break electrical connection between these sets of terminals in accordance with a pre-setable 24 hour program. The timer is powered fr... | 12/08/1987 |
| 4588901 | Timer control for television A device for regulating the maximum time a television or the like can be operated, comprising a first counter (19) that can be manually set by use of a key (24A) to set a switch (24) with a predetermined time period. A second counter (20) deducts the actu... | 05/13/1986 |
| 4580061 | Time switches A time switch (100) comprises terminals (110) spaced around a slip ring (108) connected to a voltage source (V). A motor (104) drives a brush (102) to sequentially connect the terminals (110) to the slip ring (108) to energize the terminals in sequence. E... | 04/01/1986 |
| 4570216 | Programmable switch A fully automatic programmable wall switch timer for controlling lighting circuits is described. The device provides user selected lighting circuit operation at predetermined event times, for predetermined event duration at said times, and at a selected l... | 02/11/1986 |
| 4564733 | Current limiting control circuit for induction range The provision in a range having an electrically energizable heating unit and a control for selectively causing energization of the heating unit from a power supply of an improved circuit for causing time-delayed initiation of energization of the heating u... | 01/14/1986 |
| 4533810 | Start circuit for microwave oven A start circuit arrangement for a microwave oven including a power control relay circuit which is independently responsive to a user actuable momentary start switch and to a programmed electronic controller to facilitate operation in a delay start mode. T... | 08/06/1985 |
| 4513365 | Function selector A function selector has an indicating unit which contains several identical groups of switches. All of the switches are connected with a control input of a microcomputer via a common control conductor. Each group of switches is connected to a different da... | 04/23/1985 |
| 4480195 | Automatic shut-off device of a recording apparatus An automatic shut-off device for a recording apparatus such as a copying machine has a commercial power source for powering the machine during an ON-state, charging means connected to the power source for charging a battery, control means for providing a ... | 10/30/1984 |
| 4375048 | Programmable time switch The invention relates to a time switch assembly of the type having an electric stepping motor, a pulse generator and a connecting drive therebetween for driving the motor at speeds corresponding to the frequency of the pulse generator. A time plate is dri... | 02/22/1983 |
| 4366366 | Electric iron stand with time delay safety switch arrangement A stand for an electric iron incorporates an automatic time delay safety switch arrangement which reduces the chances of fires being started by an unattended iron and serves to save a substantial amount of electric energy by cutting off the current to the... | 12/28/1982 |
| 4329596 | Dishwasher dispenser control A dishwasher dispenser control having a circuit including two single pole, double throw switches for actuating the heater of the dishwasher independently or in combination with dispenser elements of the dishwasher. The operators for the dispenser elements... | 05/11/1982 |
