Abstract: A power supply and an automotive topology that includes the power supply, the power supply having an integrated module, which includes in a common, shared module housing, a start-stop DC/DC converter, a DC/AC converter, and an auxiliary DC/DC converter, which bypasses stop/start during non-stop/start operation. A DC input port connected to the start-stop DC/DC converter, DC/AC converter, and the auxiliary DC/DC converter. A DC output port connected to the start-stop DC/DC converter to supply DC to critical loads of a motor vehicle, even during vehicle OFF mode. An AC output port connected to the DC/AC converter to supply AC to an external component.

Abstract: An inverter producing an alternating current from a direct current source has a primary stage coupled to the direct current source having a step-up transformer, a first switching circuit coupling the direct current to the transformer primary and a rectifier coupled to a secondary of the transformer for producing a DC voltage; a controller for the first switching circuit providing pulse drive signals to control switches of the first switching circuit to cause current to flow in the transformer primary and induce an alternating current in the transformer secondary; a secondary stage receiving the DC voltage having a second switching circuit and a controller for the second switching circuit for generating control signals to cause current through the second switching circuit to flow in alternate directions thorough the load.

Abstract: An electrical outlet has a conductive socket well for slidably receiving an electrical plug, the well having a transverse distal end having a center hole; an insulating connector housing adjacent the transverse distal end of the socket well having at least two electrical terminals for connection to an electrical supply; a first of the electrical terminals being coupled to a central fastener and a second of the electrical terminals terminating in a conductive element adjacent the transverse end of the socket well; a fuse member provided between the transverse end of the socket well and the conductive element, the fuse member in series electrical connection between the conductive element and the socket well; the fuse member providing compact integral over-current protection; an insulator disposed at the distal end of the socket well in the socket well, the central fastener holding the socket well, the insulator, the fuse member, insulating connector housing and first and second electrical terminals together as

Abstract: A power outlet/charger for a portable electronic device, the power outlet/charger comprising an electrically insulating housing having a proximal end having an opening and a distal end having a first electrical connector; an electronic converter circuit fixedly housed in the housing for receiving a first voltage from a vehicle electrical power source through the first connector and for converting the first voltage to a second voltage compatible with the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard; and a USB connector disposed through the proximal end opening and connected to receive the second voltage; the housing being sized to directly replace a standard vehicle electrical cigar lighter socket/power outlet and fit into an opening in a vehicle panel for the standard vehicle electrical cigar lighter socket/power outlet, the first electrical connector being connectable to an electrical wiring harness of the vehicle having a connector that releasably connects with the first connector.

Abstract: A cigar lighter has a heating element and a movable knob biased by a spring. The heating element has a first electrical terminal in contact with a first contact element disposed around the perimeter of the heating element and a second centrally located terminal in contact with a centrally disposed fastener. A bimetal element is in contact with the second terminal of the heating element and has two engaging clips. A movable contact moves with the knob and has a first position wherein it does not engage the clips and the heating element is unenergized and a second position wherein it engages the clips to energize the heating element.

Abstract: An electrical power socket comprising a well having an electrically conductive well portion having a proximal and a distal end; a connector part for receiving electrical connections to an electrical power supply disposed at the distal end of the well portion; a first electrical contact being provided in electrical isolation from the well portion at the distal end of the well portion, the first electrical contact being electrically connected to a first electrical connection of the connector part; the well portion being electrically connected to a second electrical connection of the connector part; and an electrically insulating sleeve portion being provided at the proximal end of the well portion forming an electrically insulating portion of the well, the sleeve portion adapted to be disposed in an opening in a receiving panel, whereby the insulating sleeve portion prevents an electrically conductive foreign object that is inserted in the well and electrically contacts the first electrical contact from simulta

Abstract: An electrical socket for powering an electrical/electronic accessory device having an electrical plug that is received in the socket, comprising: an electrically conductive socket well for slidably receiving the electrical plug of the electrical/electronic device; an electrical connector portion disposed distally on the socket well and comprising an insulator fastened to the socket well at a distal end thereof and having at least two electrical terminals for connecting to a vehicle electrical power source; a plurality of first electrical contacts disposed at a distal end of said socket well and extending radially and proximally from the center of said well and being electrically connected to a first of said electrical terminals of said electrical connector portion; a second of said electrical terminals of said electrical connector portion being electrically connected to said socket well; and said plurality of first electrical contacts being adapted to electrically slidably engage with an inner periphery of a

Abstract: An electrical socket comprising an electrical receptacle, a cover for the receptacle, a hinge coupling the cover to the receptacle so that the cover can pivot toward and away from an opening in the receptacle to allow insertion of an electrical plug into the receptacle. A paired combination is provided comprising a magnet and a magnet attractive region on ones of the cover and receptacle causing the cover to be attracted to the receptacle when the cover gets to a predetermined distance from the receptacle thereby causing the cover to be closed on the receptacle by magnetic attraction when the plug is not inserted.

Abstract: A cable retractor for paying out and retracting an electrical cable providing electrical power to an electrical load on a movable window element comprising a first assembly having a rotatable cable spool for receiving the electrical cable for winding on the cable spool, the first assembly including a first housing having an opening therein for paying out a first end of the electrical cable wound on the spool and at least one electrical terminal for connecting a second end of the electrical cable on the spool to one of an electrical power source or the electrical load; a second assembly having at least one electrical connection connected to the first end of the electrical cable and further being connected to the other one of the electrical load or the electrical power source; thereby to provide power to the electrical load from the electrical cable; one of the first and second assemblies being mounted for movement with the movable window element and the other of the first and second assemblies being fixed; and

Abstract: A cable retractor for paying out and retracting an electrical cable providing electrical power to an electrical load on a movable window element comprising a first assembly having a rotatable cable spool for receiving the electrical cable for winding on the cable spool, the first assembly including a first housing having an opening therein for paying out a first end of the electrical cable wound on the spool and at least one electrical terminal for connecting a second end of the electrical cable on the spool to one of an electrical power source or the electrical load; a second assembly having at least one electrical connection connected to the first end of the electrical cable and further being connected to the other one of the electrical load or the electrical power source; thereby to provide power to the electrical load from the electrical cable; one of the first and second assemblies being mounted for movement with the movable window element and the other of the first and second assemblies being fixed; and

Abstract: An electrical connector for supplying electrical power from a fixed member to a movable member that moves with respect to the fixed member, the movable member bearing an electrical load. The electrical connector has a first connector part fixed to the fixed member and connected to a source of electrical power. A second connector part is fixed to the movable member and is connected to the electrical load. The first connector part and second connector part are movable into electrical engagement when the movable member is moved adjacent the fixed member. The first connector part has a first housing, a movable enclosure in the housing, having first external electrical contacts, and a movable carriage bearing second electrical contacts. The movable carriage has first magnets or magnet attractive components, the second contacts being movable with the carriage by a first magnetic force into electrical engagement with the first contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connector for supplying electrical power from a fixed member to a movable member that moves with respect to the fixed member, the movable member bearing an electrical load. The electrical connector has a first connector part fixed to the fixed member and connected to a source of electrical power. A second connector part is fixed to the movable member and is connected to the electrical load. The first connector part and second connector part are movable into electrical engagement when the movable member is moved adjacent the fixed member. The first connector part has a first housing, a movable enclosure in the housing, having first external electrical contacts, and a movable carriage bearing second electrical contacts. The movable carriage has first magnets or magnet attractive components, the second contacts being movable with the carriage by a first magnetic force into electrical engagement with the first contacts and being retracted away from the first contacts by a second force.

Abstract: A locking mechanism comprising a socket and a body member slidably received in an opening in the socket; the socket or body member having an engageable member for exerting a bias against the other member when the body member is slidably received in the socket, the other member having a first set of channels comprising a first longitudinally disposed channel for receiving the engageable member when the body member is received in the socket, a second longitudinally disposed channel disposed parallel to the first channel spaced from the first channel, and a transverse channel connecting the first and second channels, the first channel terminating in a locking area having a depth greater than a depth of the first channel immediately adjacent the locking area and the locking area being contiguous with the transverse channel, whereby when the body member is slidably received in the socket with the engageable member received in the first channel, the engageable member will be prevented from further slidable movement

Abstract: A power data connection for a vehicle and one or more electronic devices is provided. The power data connection comprises a data communication connector and a terminal. The data communication connector includes a case ground and is adapted to enable data communication to and from the vehicle. The terminal is supported by the case ground and operable to supply electrical power from the vehicle to the electronic devices simultaneously with the data communication connector enabling data communication to and from the vehicle.

Abstract: A cigar lighter including a mounting ring, and a socket insertable into the mounting ring. The socket has at least one cantilevered lance extending in a longitudinal direction of the socket and directed radially inwardly. The mounting ring has a cylindrical body with an inner surface. A rib is provided on the inner surface of the housing so as to extend in a longitudinal direction. The rib is arranged in a vicinity of the lance of the socket so as to limit outward radial travel of the lance.

Abstract: A double-element assembly for a cigar lighter, having a bimetallic disk, and a metal disk that is not bimetallic, the disks being riveted to one another in a center region of each disk.

Abstract: A socket for providing electrical power, comprising a housing having an inner chamber, at least one electrically conductive terminal in said inner chamber, said at least one terminal being connectable to an electrical output of an electric power source, said at least one terminal being accessible through an opening in a wall of said housing to supply electrical power from said electric power source to an electrical connector being insertable through said opening, a socket enable switch operable to permit application of said electrical power to said at least one terminal, and said socket enable switch being electrically isolated from said electrical output of said electric power source; the socket enable switch comprising a plunger disposed to be moved by a portion of an electrical connector inserted through the opening, the plunger actuating the socket enable switch, the plunger being biased to return to a position to disable power to the socket when the connector is removed from the socket.

Abstract: A cigar lighter comprising heating unit and socket in which heating unit is slidably received; heating unit having housing and further comprising switch having a first switch contact connected to a second end of a heating element, the switch further having second switch contact electrically connected to second electrical power contact, and heating unit further comprising a bimetal element for opening the switch when the electrical heating element reaches predetermined temperature; the socket comprising housing having base at distal end thereof, the base being provided with contact cup comprising a plurality of axially projecting fingers each biased radially inwardly for electrically contacting said annular contact element of heating unit when heating unit is inserted in socket, and further comprising an insulating connector assembly at the distal end of socket housing comprising at least one electrical terminal for connection to source of electrical power, electrical terminal being connected to contact cup.

Abstract: A webbing tension sensing unit which includes a base and a cover and an elastically biasing element mounted within the base and cover. The webbing of, for example, a seat belt is operably connected to a sensor also housed within the base and cover. The sensor detects movement in relation to the elastically biasing element and generates electrical signals in proportion to the movement as a function of the tension in the webbing. The signals are used for analysis as part of a system to determine if devices such as an air bag or warning light should be triggered.

Abstract: A socket provides power to a mating connector plug when actuated by a switch integral with the socket. The switch can be actuated by insertion of the connector plug, by pivoting open a socket cover, by sliding a slide cover into an operational position, or by a combination of the above. The switch is isolated from the power supplied to the socket and acts as a power supply signal to enable socket power. The socket is powered only when needed as indicated by the actuation method, thereby reducing draw on a power supply connected to the socket. The switch actuation methods described also provide safety features by disabling power to the socket unless the socket is actually in use. The socket cover and slide cover also prevent access to the socket unless positioned to receive a connector.