Abstract: An apparatus for providing power from a vehicle power source to at least one portable electrical device includes: (a) a power interface unit for coupling with the vehicle power source; (b) a power converter unit coupled with the power interface unit; (c) at least one first voltage output connection structure coupled with the power converter unit; the at least one first voltage connection structure presenting at least one first voltage output; the at least one first voltage output connection structure being configured for effecting universal serial bus coupling; and (d) first short-circuit protection circuitry coupled with the power converter unit and the at least one first voltage output connection structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing power from a vehicle power source to at least one portable electrical device includes: (a) a power interface unit for coupling with the vehicle power source; (b) a power converter unit coupled with the power interface unit; (c) at least one first voltage output connection structure coupled with the power converter unit; the at least one first voltage connection structure presenting at least one first voltage output; the at least one first voltage output connection structure being configured for effecting universal serial bus coupling; and (d) first short-circuit protection circuitry coupled with the power converter unit and the at least one first voltage output connection structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operation of a recording device with a telephone configured for orientation in a first state and a second state includes: (a) an information conveying section for conveying information from the telephone to a recording locus in the recording device; (b) an indicating section for receiving a monitor signal having a first value when the telephone is in the first state and having a second value when the telephone is in the second state; the indicating section employs a single fixed bias to generate a first indicating signal when the telephone is in the first state and to generate a second indicating signal when the telephone is in the second state; and (c) an engaging section; the engaging section responds to the first and second indicating signals to orient the recording device for recording the information or for not recording.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operation of a recording device with a telephone configured for orientation in a first state and a second state includes: (a) an information conveying section for conveying information from the telephone to a recording locus in the recording device; (b) an indicating section for receiving a monitor signal having a first value when the telephone is in the first state and having a second value when the telephone is in the second state; the indicating section employs a single fixed bias to generate a first indicating signal when the telephone is in the first state and to generate a second indicating signal when the telephone is in the second state; and (c) an engaging section; the engaging section responds to the first and second indicating signals to orient the recording device for recording the information or for not recording.