Abstract: An inertial sensor of the type having an inertially responsive pendulum and a rigid support structure for operatively supporting the pendulum, includes an improved pendulum attitude adjustment assembly which allows precise adjustment of the verticality of the pendulum. The rigid support structure includes a base portion and a pendulum mount portion which is pivotally attached to the base portion. The base is secured at a fixed location and at a fixed attitude relative to the housing. The pendulum is attached at one end to the pendulum mount portion and another end of the pendulum is free to move in response to inertial forces. The attitude adjustment assembly includes an adjustment shaft which is operably coupled to the pendulum mount portion to achieve rotation of the pendulum mount portion with respect to the base portion through a first angle when the adjustment shaft is rotated through an angle greater than the first angle.

Abstract: An improved electronic controller for electrically actuated vehicle brakes includes a triple sloping integrator for providing a control signal to a pulse with modulator controller. The circuit further includes a protection circuit for protecting electrical devices in the electronic controller from an inadequate electrical ground. Where the electronic controller includes an inertial sensor, the electronic controller includes a current control device for controlling the current flow through the inertial sensor. The electronic controller also includes a device for disabling the inertial sensor.

Abstract: An electronic controller for outputting pulses of current to actuate towed vehicle brakes includes a trigger point inertial sensor for varying the gain thereof. The trigger point inertial sensor includes a switch connected to the controller for switching the gain between two levels. In the preferred embodiment, the inertial sensor and switch comprise a mercury switch supported on a platform which is rotatable to adjust the switching threshold of the inertial sensor, and to adjust for the mounting position of the brake control.

Abstract: A battery charger is disclosed for charging a battery from a vehicle electrical system. The battery charger includes switching devices and a storage element for providing a supply from the vehicle electrical system. The regulator is connected to the switching devices and the storage element for regulating a voltage applied to the battery. The regulated voltage is controlled to have a first value during charging and a second value after the battery is charged.

Abstract: A towed vehicle conversion and isolation circuit is disclosed for coupling dual stop and turn indicator lamps on a towed vehicle to towing vehicles having either dual stop and turn lamps or separate stop and turn lamps. Additionally, the circuit provides a small load to the towing vehicle signaling circuit and isolates the towed vehicle indicator lamps from the towing vehicle signal circuits. Furthermore, the circuit may be coupled to the towed vehicle brake coils to illuminate the towed vehicle lamps responsive to manual actuation of the towed vehicle brake for providing energizing current to the indicator lamps.

Abstract: A vehicle brake controller includes a variable pulse-width modulator operating at a constant frequency and with a variable pulse width to provide control pulses to a MOSFET element which actuates vehicle braking. The controller further includes a visual indicator which displays different colors to representatively indicate the amount of current applied to the brakes, and also to indicate whether an operable connection exists between the electronic controller and the vehicle brakes.

Abstract: A freely-flexing cantilever-type inertial sensor is suspended from one end so that its other end may move in response to inertial forces, for example, as a result of braking in a towing vehicle. The pendulum blade is secured to a rigid support structure in a manner whereby the opposite sides of the pendulum, which is preferably of multiple-layer construction and is elastically-deformable, may freely shift longitudinally with respect to one another upon lateral flexure of the pendulum in response to inertial forces. Preferably, this is accomplished by utilizing an adhesive connection directly between the rigid support and the adjacent side of the pendulum, whereby only that layer closest to the support is directly secured to it. The support for the pendulum preferably includes a self-hinge by which the position of the pendulum-supporting portion may be changed with respect to that of a base portion, in order to current for non-verticality in the actual operating environment.

Abstract: The specification relates to electronic controllers for braking systems, such as those used to actuate the brakes on towed vehicles in response to commands from the towing vehicle. The controller is responsive to an inertial sensor and/or manual control, and is completely independent of the towing vehicle brake light circuit. The controller includes a constant frequency variable pulse-width modulator which interacts with the towed vehicle braking system through a power MOSFET switch, which is preferably of N-channel configuration, that comprises the control element for the braking current supplied to the electromagnets that actuate the towed vehicle brakes. The controller advantageously includes a dual-slope integrator which provides a comparatively slow and gradually increasing control voltage to the variable pulse-width modulator, but discharges comparatively quickly to insure fast brake disengagement, in response to the inertial sensor or manual control.

Abstract: A simple and compact light interrupting inertial sensor for brake controls in which a dampening restraint is magnetic. A pendulum structure on a rigid arm is pivotal in a unidirectional or omnidirectional sense and the pendulum weight mass is magnetically attracted and is secured by magnetic attraction against premature movement. The magnet element provides an adjustable attraction by variation in proximity to the magnetically attracted member to provide a high initial resistance to movement and a fast decay of holding force at the threshold of force required for breakaway.

Abstract: A control for brakes in trailer vehicles comprising a circuit providing pulsed signals to the brakes. It is preferred that the time or width of each pulse is equal but the frequency of brake pulsing is increased in accord with inertially sensed stress. The frequency of the signal is directly related to the movement of a dampened cantilever beam which normally blocks the passage of light to a light sensitive target or monitor but wherein the passage of light increases and is attenuated by the beam as the beam moves, under inertial imbalance, to permit added light to be sensed. In addition, the control circuit, vulnerable to short circuits in the vehicle circuit from control element to brakes, is continuously monitored by a disconnect element which senses the existence of the short circuit and accomplishes a disabling of current through the control circuit at a threshold to avoid injury to the control circuit.

Abstract: A control for brakes in trailer vehicles comprising a circuit providing pulsed signals to the brakes. It is preferred that the time or width of each pulse is equal but the frequency of brake pulsing is increased in accord with inertially sensed stress. The frequency of signal is directly related to the movement of a dampened cantilever beam which normally blocks the passage of light to a light sensitive target or monitor but wherein the passage of light increases and is attenuated by the beam as the beam moves, under inertial imbalance, to permit added light to be sensed. In addition, the control circuit, vulnerable to short circuits in the vehicle circuit from control element to brakes, is continuously monitored by a disconnect element which senses the existence of the short circuit and accomplishes a disabling of current through the control circuit at a threshold to avoid injury to the control circuit.