Abstract:
An antenna operable to transmit or receive radio frequency signals at a specified frequency, the antenna comprising a first printed circuit board comprising a first loop of conductive material having a capacitance and an inductance, the capacitance and the inductance forming a circuit being resonant at the specified frequency; and a second printed circuit board comprising a second loop of conductive material having two ends adapted to be electrically coupled to an electronic circuit, the second loop being substantially only magnetically coupled to the first loop and electrically insulated from the first loop; the antenna for use with a device for controlling the power delivered to an electrical load, further wherein the first loop of the conductive material comprises a break and the capacitance includes a capacitor bridging the break; wherein the first printed circuit board is disposed in a first plane, and the first loop is disposed in the plane perpendicular to the first plane whereby electrical current flows in the first loop in a plane perpendicular to the first plane.
Abstract:
An antenna operable to transmit or receive radio frequency signals at a specified frequency, the antenna comprising a first printed circuit board comprising a first loop of conductive material having a capacitance and an inductance, the capacitance and the inductance forming a circuit being resonant at the specified frequency; and a second printed circuit board comprising a second loop of conductive material having two ends adapted to be electrically coupled to an electronic circuit, the second loop being substantially only magnetically coupled to the first loop and electrically insulated from the first loop; the antenna for use with a device for controlling the power delivered to an electrical load, further wherein the first loop of the conductive material comprises a break and the capacitance includes a capacitor bridging the break; wherein the first loop comprises a first metal layer on a first side of the first printed circuit board and a second metal layer on a second, opposite side of the first printed circuit board, the first and second layers being electrically connected to each other and wherein the break is provided in one of layers.
Abstract:
A combination spoon-lid and a cap for a container includes a main container cap and a spoon-lid. The main container cap has a top and at least one sidewall and has a dispensing orifice located on the top. The cap also has a container attachment mechanism for removably attaching the cap to a container, and has a spoon-lid attachment mechanism on the top adapted to receive the spoon-lid and close the dispensing orifice. The spoon-lid has a first end with a dished spoon section and has a second end in the form of a handle, the spoon-lid adapted to removably connect to the attachment mechanism of the main cap to cover and seal dispensing orifice.
Abstract:
A fluid dispenser has an adjustable size dispensing orifice. It includes a fluid dispenser container having a hollow inside for storage of flowable material, the container having a top with a fluid outlet and having an adjustable size dispensing orifice unit connected to the outlet. It also includes the aforesaid adjustable size dispensing orifice unit which has a base member with a dispensing orifice connected to the containers at least one shutter, and a shutter movement ring connected to the shutter and rotatably connected to the base member. The shutter movement ring has a first position and a second position and adapted for rotation to open and close the shutters. The shutter(s) have travel pins that are either integrally formed as part of the shutters or are inserted into a leg of the shutters. The travel pins extend into the shutter movement ring and the base member. One of either the base member and the shutter movement ring has a radiant travel guide and the other has a non-radiant travel guide. Rotation of the ring moves the shutter(s) to open or close.
Abstract:
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 semiconductor switch is non-conductive. The control circuit continuously monitors the voltage on the input capacitor and automatically decreases the maximum allowable conduction time of the semiconductor switch when the voltage falls to a level that will not guarantee proper operation of the power supply. The dimmer of the present invention is able to provide the maximum possible conduction time of the semiconductor switch at high end (i.e., maximum light intensity) while simultaneously ensuring sufficient charging time for proper operation of the power supply, and hence, the dimmer.
Abstract:
An electrical control device for controlling the status of a controlled electrical device, the electrical control device comprising a power conducting semiconductor device for controlling the status of the controlled electrical device; a control circuit; a transmitter and/or receiver in communication with the control circuit; and an antenna coupled to the transmitter and/or receiver; the antenna adapted to receive a first signal at a specified frequency from a remote control device and/or transmit a second signal at a specified frequency to a remote control device; wherein the transmitter is operable to couple the first signal from the antenna to the control circuit for remotely controlling the controllably conductive device and/or couple the second signal from the control circuit for providing a status of said controlled electrical device, the antenna comprising a first loop of conductive material having a capacitance and an inductance; the capacitance and the inductance forming a circuit being resonant at the specified frequency; a second loop of conductive material having two ends adapted to be electrically coupled to a control circuit, the second loop being substantially only magnetically coupled to the first loop; the first and second loops each having a loop axis, the loop axes of the first and second loops being substantially parallel or coincident.
Abstract:
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 semiconductor switch is non-conductive. The control circuit continuously monitors the voltage on the input capacitor and automatically decreases the maximum allowable conduction time of the semiconductor switch when the voltage falls to a level that will not guarantee proper operation of the power supply. The dimmer of the present invention is able to provide the maximum possible conduction time of the semiconductor switch at high end (i.e., maximum light intensity) while simultaneously ensuring sufficient charging time for proper operation of the power supply, and hence, the dimmer.
Abstract:
A dimmer circuit for providing AC power from an AC voltage source to an inductive lighting load disposed in series with the dimmer circuit, comprising: a bidirectional semiconductor switch having at least one control electrode provided with a control signal for controlling the amount of power provided to the load, the switch in normal operation being able to be controlled to block voltage in first and second opposite polarity half-cycles of the AC voltage source but in a failure mode being able to block the AC voltage source in only one polarity half-cycle of the AC voltage source and not being able to block the AC voltage source in the second opposite polarity half-cycle; a controller for the switch for determining if said failure mode of the switch occurs which can cause an asymmetry between the half-cycles delivered to the load and thus a DC voltage component to be delivered to the load; a power supply for supplying power to the controller and provided with power across the dimmer circuit; the controller controlling the switch if such failure mode occurs so as to: drive the switch into substantially full conduction during most of the half-cycle which the switch is able to control; and drive the switch into non-conduction for a brief duration of time during that same half-cycle so as to prevent a DC voltage component supplied to the load from exceeding a predetermined level below which excessive transformer heating does not occur, thereby minimizing overheating of the inductive load and enabling the power supply for the controller to be provided with sufficient voltage from the AC voltage source to enable the controller to continue to operate.
Abstract:
A child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister packs includes a container with a bottom member, a top member, and a child resistant push and lift mechanism. The bottom and top members, once filled and assembled, cannot be separated. They work together with a locking mechanism to assure that a stack of blister packs are secured, and that, upon use of a peel away feature of a blister pack from the stack, the sealed medication of that pack is automatically opened (exposed) for use. A breakaway mechanism involving non-coincidental notches permits removal of the top and bottom members seperately and not as a closed pack. These important features prevent or discourage a user from removing multiple packages that might otherwise be unprotected (no longer child resistant) until used.
Abstract:
A child resistant blister pack container for stacked blister packs includes a bottom member, a top member, and a child resistant push and lift mechanism. The bottom and top members, once filled and assembled, cannot be separated. They work together with a locking mechanism to assure that a stack of blister packs are secured, and that, upon removal of a blister package from the pack, the sealed medication of that package is automatically opened (exposed) for use. This important feature prevents or discourages a user from removing multiple packages that might otherwise be unprotected (no longer child resistant) until used.