Abstract: A cellular system access monitor for monitoring and reporting information relating to the operation of cellular telephone systems. The monitor features a cellular telephone of current design, responding to the expanded spectrum of 832 channels. The cellular telephone communicates with a controller using a self-clocking data transmission scheme to improve the reporting and displaying of cellular system parameters, such as cellsite control-channel identification numbers and textual cellsite identification information. Additionally, the monitor employes a calibration feature for measuring and displaying accurately signal strength in decibels. System parameters are shown on a bit-mapped display.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle which has a plastic housing defining a socket lined by a tubular sleeve contact for receiving a conventional electrical adapter plug. The adapter plug has a body supporting a contact tip which is either retractable or non-retractable. This contact tip projects from an end of the adapter-plug body to mate with a central contact located at one end of the receptacle socket. The adapter plug also has another contact which projects from the periphery of the adapter-plug body to mate with the sleeve contact of the receptacle. The central contact of the receptacle is carried on a support fixed to the housing which communicates with the receptacle socket to establish electrical circuit connection with the adapter-plug contact tip in response to the insertion of the adapter plug into the socket. The central contact is spring-loaded and movable relative to its support so as to provide a retracting movement in response to the force applied by an adapter-plug contact tip.

Abstract: An electrical offset adapter plug for accessing an electrically powered receptacle housed within an ash tray compartment having a restricted path by which the adapter plug is inserted into the receptacle. The offset plug comprising a composite structure including a first adapter-plug section having a generally tubular body which is relatively longer than its tubular diameter and which is adapted for insertion into the receptacle, a second enclosure section defining an internal chamber for housing optional electrical components and serving also as a gripping handle for manual insertion of the offset adapter plug into the receptacle, and a third section defining an offset elbow joining the adapter-plug section to the enclosure section with the enclosure section being disposed substantially offset relative to both the length and tubular diameter of the adapter-plug section.

Abstract: An electrical adapter plug having a body insertable into a mating socket sleeve of a vehicle lighter receptacle. The plug has a pair of ideally located circumferentially-spaced, retractable leaf-spring contacts projecting beyond the periphery of the plug body to establish improved retention and electrical contact between the adapter plug and the receptacle. The two contacts are preferably angularly spaced on the periphery of the plug at about 90.degree. and associated with projecting means located on the periphery of the plug body generally opposite the pair of contacts symetrically disposed on or about a line which bisects the space angle between the two contacts. An adapter plug fuse is retained in a socket defined by a fuse insert housed within a central cavity formed by the adapter plug. This fuse insert assists in holding two body halves together and also anchors the long leaf-spring contacts.

Abstract: A noise immune electronic switch is connectible between a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle and a plug-in accessory device. The electronic switch is turned on in response to the drop in B+ voltage at the lighter socket when the automobile starter is engaged for rapidly charging an integrating capacitor that is coupled to a comparator. The other comparator input is connected to a source of reference voltage. The output of the comparator, when switched, drives a transistor switch conductive to couple the B+ line between the cigarette lighter socket and an output connector. A filter passes alternator ripple voltage on the B+ line to an amplifier where the ripple is amplified and inverted. The negative half cycles of the ripple voltage charge the integrating capacitor to maintain the comparator output switched.

Abstract: An electrical adapter plug having a body insertable into a mating socket sleeve of a vehicle lighter receptacle. The plug features a pair of ideally located circumferentially-spaced, retractable contacts projecting beyond the periphery of the plug body to establish improved retention and electrical contact between the adapter plug and the receptacle. The two contacts are preferably angularly spaced on the periphery of the plug in the range of about 20.degree. to 150.degree.. Means are located on the periphery of the plug body generally opposite the pair of contacts symmetrically disposed on or about a line which bisects the space angle between the two contacts. Three different embodiments of these means are shown, namely, a groove, a flat surface, and an elongated deformation. All of these embodiments cooperate with the spaced contacts to improve retention.