Abstract: A lamp for a vehicle or other object that includes multiple functions. In one aspect, the lamp includes a first circuit for emitting a first color light (such as red light), and at least a second circuit for emitting a second color of light (such as amber light). In another aspect, the lamp optionally includes a microcontroller that may be programmed to control the activation of the different colored lamp circuits based on lamp location information, and based on an operating mode.

Abstract: A cable system for a truck trailer with connectors having a main power connection, a ground connection, and one, two, or more communication cable connections. Connectors include at least a power and ground connection for electrically connecting an individual trailer to the cable system. A master control circuit may be included in the trailer nosebox, and the master control circuit configured to send commands to slave control circuits mounted within the connectors. The slave control circuits in the connectors are configured to receive a control command sent by the master control circuit that may include an address, mode identifiers, or other indications of which connectors in the cable system should take action, and what actions should be taken.

Abstract: A lamp or lens assembly for a motor vehicle that includes electrically conductive traces for defogging or deicing the lens. Aspects include a light transmissive lens coupled to a lamp housing. The light transmissive lens may define a curved cross-section with a curvature extending across the length and/or the width of the lens. The lens may include one or more electrically conductive traces positioned on a surface of the lens, the electrically conductive traces optionally extending across and curving with the curvature of the light transmissive lens. One or more coatings may optionally cover the conductive traces and a portion of the lens surface leaving portions uncovered. The electrically conductive traces may extend outwardly away from the surface of the lens with height that is greater than their width.

Abstract: An adapter for use with components of a truck trailer. The adapter may include multiple input terminals corresponding with multiple terminals of a trailer component socket of a trailer, and multiple output terminals configured to electrically connect with corresponding input terminals of a trailer component. The adapter may also include an adapter circuit configured to electrically connect at least four of the input terminals with at least four of the multiple output terminals. The multiple output terminals may include at least two mode selection output terminals configured to provide a mode selection to the trailer component, and the trailer component optionally includes control logic configured to activate and deactivate the trailer component according to the mode selection.

Abstract: A lamp or lens assembly for a motor vehicle that includes electrically conductive traces for defogging or deicing the lens. Aspects include a light transmissive lens coupled to a lamp housing. The light transmissive lens may define a curved cross-section with a curvature extending across the length and/or the width of the lens. The lens may include one or more electrically conductive traces positioned on a surface of the lens, the electrically conductive traces optionally extending across and curving with the curvature of the light transmissive lens. One or more coatings may optionally cover the conductive traces and a portion of the lens surface leaving portions uncovered. The electrically conductive traces may extend outwardly away from the surface of the lens with height that is greater than their width.

Abstract: A vehicle LED lighting outage detection circuit is disclosed for detecting a fault in the LED light and automatically increasing the power drawn from the light power supply in response to the fault. A complementary detection circuit is also disclosed for detecting the increased power draw and signaling a fault to an operator. The increased power draw can be selected to be in the form of a pulse that settles to a lower power draw state after a time to avoid excessive and wasteful power draw. The system can be mounted in a vehicle and, more particularly, to a semi-tractor truck.

Abstract: A cable system for a truck trailer with connectors having a main power connection, a ground connection, and one, two, or more communication cable connections. Connectors include at least a power and ground connection for electrically connecting an individual trailer to the cable system. A master control circuit may be included in the trailer nosebox, and the master control circuit configured to send commands to slave control circuits mounted within the connectors. The slave control circuits in the connectors are configured to receive a control command sent by the master control circuit that may include an address, mode identifiers, or other indications of which connectors in the cable system should take action, and what actions should be taken.

Abstract: A lamp for the rear of a vehicle is disclosed with a light transmissive cover having a red first illuminated surface area and a clear second illuminated surface area. It has a first LED light emitter located directly beneath the red first area, a second LED light emitter located directly beneath the clear second area, and a third LED light emitter, also located directly beneath said clear second area. The third red LED light emitter is for emitting red light through the clear second area simultaneously with light transmitted through the red first area, whereby the first and second areas are adapted to collectively form a contiguous red illuminated surface area.

Abstract: A cable system for a truck trailer for reducing the number and/or size of wiring in a commercial trailer cable system from seven to four, three, or two, while also facilitating bidirectional communication with all connected electronic devices in the trailer. The cable system has a ground cable, a power cable, and zero, one or two additional communication cables that may carry analog and/or digital communications between the control circuit and components of the trailer such as turn signal lamps, brake lamps, backup cameras, environmental sensors, and the like. A transformer for increasing the voltage on the power cable is disclosed, allowing the power and ground cables to be smaller without reducing power delivered to the trailer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to lenses for lamp assemblies, for example, for automotive lamps such as head lamps, or perhaps tail lamps, turn signals, brake lamps, cargo lamps, and the like. These lamps may use incandescent or High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps which generally create enough heat to reduce or eliminate fluid that may form on the lens such as in the case of condensation, rain, sleet, snow, ice, fog, and the like. Such a buildup of fluid may result in suboptimal light transmission and may degrade the performance of the lamp to a degree that renders it temporarily unusable, particularly in poor weather. This is especially concerning in the case of some types of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps where the lamp may not produce sufficient residual heat to effectively remove the fluid that may build up on the lens either in liquid or solid form, and especially in colder weather.

Abstract: A lamp for a vehicle or other object that includes multiple functions. In one aspect, the lamp includes a first circuit for emitting a first color light (such as red light), and at least a second circuit for emitting a second color of light (such as amber light). In another aspect, the lamp optionally includes a microcontroller that may be programmed to control the activation of the different colored lamp circuits based on lamp location information, and based on an operating mode.

Abstract: A system for detecting anomalies in electrical wiring in a truck trailer. The system measures and compares current drawn from the truck tractor with the current drawn by a circuit at a particular trailer component or other location in the trailer wiring. If the two current measurements differ in excess of a predetermined threshold, the system can report a wiring anomaly. The location of the anomaly can then be determined by performing the operation for different trailer components thus testing multiple different branches of the trailer power distribution circuit, and using the results of these tests to determine that an anomaly is present, and possibly the location of the issue. The system may then send a notification to a remote computing device, to the truck tractor, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A cable system for a truck trailer for reducing the number and/or size of wiring in a commercial trailer cable system from seven to four, three, or two, while also facilitating bidirectional communication with all connected electronic devices in the trailer. The cable system has a ground cable, a power cable, and zero, one or two additional communication cables that may carry analog and/or digital communications between the control circuit and components of the trailer such as turn signal lamps, brake lamps, backup cameras, environmental sensors, and the like. A transformer for increasing the voltage on the power cable is disclosed, allowing the power and ground cables to be smaller without reducing power delivered to the trailer.

Abstract: A lamp for the rear of a vehicle is disclosed with a light transmissive cover having a red first illuminated surface area and a clear second illuminated surface area. It has a first LED light emitter located directly beneath the red first area, a second LED light emitter located directly beneath the clear second area, and a third LED light emitter, also located directly beneath said clear second area. The third red LED light emitter is for emitting red light through the clear second area simultaneously with light transmitted through the red first area, whereby the first and second areas are adapted to collectively form a contiguous red illuminated surface area.

Abstract: An adapter for use with components of a truck trailer. The adapter may include multiple input terminals corresponding with multiple terminals of a trailer component socket of a trailer, and multiple output terminals configured to electrically connect with corresponding input terminals of a trailer component. The adapter may also include an adapter circuit configured to electrically connect at least four of the input terminals with at least four of the multiple output terminals. The multiple output terminals may include at least two mode selection output terminals configured to provide a mode selection to the trailer component, and the trailer component optionally includes control logic configured to activate and deactivate the trailer component according to the mode selection.

Abstract: A cable system for a truck trailer with connectors having a main power connection, a ground connection, and one, two, or more communication cable connections. Connectors include at least a power and ground connection for electrically connecting an individual trailer to the cable system. A master control circuit may be included in the trailer nosebox, and the master control circuit configured to send commands to slave control circuits mounted within the connectors. The slave control circuits in the connectors are configured to receive a control command sent by the master control circuit that may include an address, mode identifiers, or other indications of which connectors in the cable system should take action, and what actions should be taken.

Abstract: A communication system that utilizes a light strip to carry data using the power and ground connections of the light strip. When used in the context of a truck and trailer, the system may include a sensor node configured to obtain status information about trailer components, and a data hub for collecting the information. The data about the trailer components may be transferred from the sensor node to the data hub using the power and/or ground connections of the light strip. The sensor node may communicate using the light strip by changing the current level of the light strip power connection, and these changes in the current level may be used by the data hub as a signal by which the data may be received.

Abstract: A system for detecting anomalies in electrical wiring in a truck trailer. The system measures and compares current drawn from the truck tractor with the current drawn by a circuit at a particular trailer component or other location in the trailer wiring. If the two current measurements differ in excess of a predetermined threshold, the system can report a wiring anomaly. The location of the anomaly can then be determined by performing the operation for different trailer components thus testing multiple different branches of the trailer power distribution circuit, and using the results of these tests to determine that an anomaly is present, and possibly the location of the issue. The system may then send a notification to a remote computing device, to the truck tractor, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A cable system for a truck trailer with connectors having a main power connection, a ground connection, and one, two, or more communication cable connections. Connectors include at least a power and ground connection for electrically connecting an individual trailer to the cable system. A master control circuit may be included in the trailer nosebox, and the master control circuit configured to send commands to slave control circuits mounted within the connectors. The slave control circuits in the connectors are configured to receive a control command sent by the master control circuit that may include an address, mode identifiers, or other indications of which connectors in the cable system should take action, and what actions should be taken.

Abstract: A lamp for a vehicle or other object that includes multiple functions. In one aspect, the lamp includes a first circuit for emitting a first color light (such as red light), and at least a second circuit for emitting a second color of light (such as amber light). In another aspect, the lamp optionally includes a microcontroller that may be programmed to control the activation of the different colored lamp circuits based on lamp location information, and based on an operating mode.