Abstract: An alarm for protecting automobile or motor vehicle hood ornaments from theft or vandalism. The alarm comprises a hollow conductive body section having a spring loaded assembly positioned within the body section. One end of the spring loaded assembly is connected to the hood ornament and the other end of the assembly supports a conductive contact spaced apart from the body section whereby upon displacement of the hood ornament beyond a predetermined distance the contact is brought into engagement with the conductive body section completing the electrical circuit and sounding the vehicle's horn.

Abstract: An electronic turn signal and hazard warning flasher of the kind generally used in automobiles. The flasher is composed of a lamp outage sense resistor, a pulse generator, and an outage sense deactivation circuit which deactivates the lamp outage feature of the pulse generator. The lamp outage deactivation circuit, which receives feedback signals from the turn signal lamps, can be installed in a variety of flashers to deactivate the lamp outage feature, and also can take on a multiplicity of forms. In one form, the outage sense deactivation circuit consists of a resistor and a switch control in parallel between the sense resistor and the pulse generator. In another form, the circuit consists of first and second resistors and a switch control.

Abstract: Optical system for detecting and signaling a ball out-of-bounds condition on a tennis court. An optical shape plane interfered by a tennis player disables an underlying optical timed plane. The timed plane discriminates between an interference caused by a player's foot or a tennis ball. The optical planes are produced by emitter and receptor sensor units which surround the tennis court. The sensor units may be configured around the tennis court in sets of units referred to as optical lattices. Each optical lattice provides intersecting light beams allowing for continuity in court coverage when a player disables a timed plane. An out-of-bounds ball is signalled by an audiovisual device.

Abstract: A remote alarm module and an alarm system. The remote alarm module has a base which defines a passage. A transient generator is joined to the base. The transient generator is generally non-conducting of electricity after transmission of a single electric transient following the connection of the transient generator to an electrical circuit. A switch has a body and a lever. The body is joined in rigid relationship to the base. The switch has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is connected electrically in series with the transient generator. The lever has an inner end and an outer end. The inner end is pivotably connected to the body. The outer end has a line receiver. The line receiver adjoins the passage. The lever pivots between a second position, in which the terminals are electrically isolated from each other and a first position, in which the terminals are in electrically conductive relationship.

Abstract: A system for transmitting data between a rotating part and a stationary part, such as is suitable for use in a computer tomography apparatus, has a wiper ring assembly and a number of electronic components disposed on the rotating part from which data is to be transmitted with a minimum of disturbance to the stationary part. A common power supply is provided on one of the stationary part or the rotating part, which powers all components. This common power supply is connected to the components on the other part via a further wiper ring assembly, or via further wiper ring assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for warning of the abnormality of an engine including a magneto generating an a.c. voltage and an ignition coil which includes a first signal generation section for generating a first signal including an electric quantity corresponding to the insulation resistance of lubricating oil, a temperature detecting section for producing temperature signal, a reference signal generation section for generating a reference signal in response to the temperature signal, an oil-shortage judging section for comparing the first signal and the reference signal to determine that the engine has a shortage of oil when the first signal is larger than the reference signal and generating a shortage signal, a control section for performing a short-circuit of a primary side of the ignition coil to produce a short-circuit current in response to the shortage signal and an oil-shortage display section for displaying the warning of the shortage of oil in response to the short-circuit current.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling the movement of a golf cart relative to a selected restricted area on a golf course, such as a green. A signal transmitter having a transmitting antenna is postioned in the vicinity of the selected restricted area. A transmission signal is produced from the transmitting antenna at the selected restricted area. A signal receiver having a receiving antenna is positioned on the golf cart for receiving the transmission signal when the golf cart moves into the vicinity of the transmitting antenna. An alarm on the golf cart is activated when the transmission signal received by the receiving antenna reaches a predetetermined level for indicating to an operator of the golf cart that the cart has moved into the restricted area on the golf course. The activation period of the first alarm is timed so that a second alarm on the golf cart can be activated after the expiration of a predetermined time period of activation of the first alarm.

Abstract: A vehicular communication device includes a visual display panel comprising a matrix of LED light members operative through a controller and keyboard. The panel is mounted rearwardly of a vehicle forwardly of the trunk lid. The panel includes bracket members for securement of the panel to the vehicular trunk overlying a vehicular bumper. The panel may optionally include hydraulic cylinder to pivot the panel for enhanced visual positioning relative to a rearwardly positioned individual.

Abstract: A vehicle is equipped with a combination meter system including a plurality of gauges or meters, comprising a plurality of sensors for detecting various characteristics for the operation of a vehicle and a plurality of analog switches operatively connected to the sensors, respectively. A pulse control circuit transmitting pulse signals is connected to the analog switches for selectively operating the analog switches and a decoder circuit is operated responsive to the pulse signals from the pulse control circuit for producing a signal indicating one of the analog switches to which the pulse signal is applied. A distribution circuit is connected to the analog switches and responsive to the signal from the decoder circuit for dividing a signal from the one of the analog switches into two kinds of signals based on the characteristic of one of the sensors corresponding to the one of the analog switches.

Abstract: A supplemental turn signal apparatus (10) is provided for use with a vehicle (82) having a conventional electrical turn signal system (12). Apparatus (10) includes activable connection structure (14), signal displays (16), (18), audible signal devices (20), (22) and dashboard flasher devices (24), (26). The signal displays (16), (18) are activated to indicate an immediate turn in the appropriate direction. When a turn is indicated as for example, at flasher (68) by depressing the turn signal lever downwardly, the signal display (16) may optionally be activated by depressing structure (38) so that signal display (16) receives a synchronous signal from flasher (68) via supplemental switch (56). Due to the closing of maintenance switch (48) by a coil (52), signal display (16) will remain activated as long as system switch (76) is maintained in a closed position, that is, normally until the left turn is completed.

Abstract: An electric horn having a diaphragm connected to a ferromagnetic plunger is driven by an electromagnetic coil to cause vibrations of the diaphragm at the resonant frequency of the diaphragm and plunger combination. A solid state driver has a timer tuned essentially to the frequency of the diaphragm assembly and controls the driver power output to effect coil energization to drive the diaphragm movement synchronously with the timer frequency. The driver output stage comprises a power MOSFET or a Darlington pair.

Abstract: An alarm or indicating system for indicating that an automotive appliance has been left in the vehicle. The system includes a circuit powered by the battery of the vehicle and a first switch which is closed by inserting the appliance into a predetermined position in the vehicle and opened by removing the appliance from the predetermined position. The circuit further includes a control switch that is operated by the door of the vehicle such that when the door is opened the control switch will be closed to energize the circuit of the appliance is in its predetermined position. When the operator removes the appliance it will open the first switch to de-energize the circuit and the alarm. When the door of the vehicle is closed the control switch will be opened and the alarm circuit will be de-energized.

Abstract: An improved actuator device is disclosed which comprises a combination of activators, switches, indicator lights and power outlets for providing an alarm to those persons of impaired hearing. The device comprises a housing which has electrical power supplied thereto and switches for transmitting the received electrical power therefrom. An indicator circuit is provided to signal the activation capability of the device. Associated with the device is a pneumatic pressure switch which is activated when increased pneumatic pressure is applied to the switch, pressure being applied through a squeeze bulb and tubular conduit connecting the squeeze bulb to the switch. Other indicators and sensor switches can be associated with the device to alert one of impaired hearing to multiple dangerous situations or events.

Abstract: A device for indicating the optimum idling time of an engine after ignition. A detector circuit senses the voltage drop caused by the load of the starter on the power line and starts the timer. The optimum idling time is determined from the ambient temperature. A LED is illuminated after ignition and is extinguished after the optimum idling time. The device is designed to fit in the receptacle of a standard cigarette lighter and requires no connections beyond those available there.

Abstract: A sensor communications network connects over a single-wire bus to smart sensors arranged in the latch mechanism of doors of a vehicle for lighting a courtesy light when the doors are open and for turning on an ajar indicator when the doors are ajar and/or open during the presence of the ignition voltage.

Abstract: A traffic control device for use on school buses which locates the traffic control sign in the normal field of view of oncoming traffic, yet is robust, can be extended and retracted automatically and rapidly, and substantially does not suffer wind, acceleration or deceleration damage during movement of the school bus. The traffic control device is comprised of a traffic control display such as a stop sign, apparatus for supporting the display in a horizontal plane adjacent the vehicle, and apparatus for thrusting the display outwardly from the side of the vehicle while rotating the display through 90.degree. to change the facing direction of the display to a plane visible to the traffic. The supporting apparatus is comprised of a beam, the display being fixed to the end of the beam. The rotating apparatus is comprised of the apparatus for thrusting the beam outwardly from the vehicle whereby the display is rotated through 90.degree.

Abstract: A releasing circuit for actuating a vehicular safety device includes a sensor arranged to provide an acceleration signal responsive to accelerations of the vehicle and an evaluating circuit for setting a predetermined condition for activating a release element of the safety device and responsive to the acceleration signal for effecting the activation of the release element when the predetermined condition has been satisfied by the acceleration signal.

Abstract: A simulated auto theft alarm in which a LED mounted in a vehicle instrument panel is coupled to a simple circuit that causes the LED to flash at a rate comparable to those of conventional auto alarm systems whenever the ignition is OFF and to remain OFF whenever the ignition is ON.

Abstract: A tire deflation monitoring system utilizes a device which attaches to the undercarriage of a vehicle adjacent each pneumatically inflated tire which is to be monitored. The device employs a component such as a wheel for rotationally contacting the road surface upon which the vehicle is disposed. When the road surface is contacted, the wheel is forced upwardly, causing contact to be made with an electrical switch that activates an indicator located in the driver's compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: A universal trailer lighting adapter permits connection of the lighting systems of American trailers to either American or foreign motor vehicles. Circuitry employing complementary metal oxide semiconductor logic elements in cooperation with solid state switches results in negligible current drain from the motor vehicle battery when the motor vehicle is not in use. The circuitry is powered directly from the battery of the motor vehicle, thereby eliminating additional loading of the motor vehicle electrical components and wiring and assuring full brightness of on both the motor vehicle and the trailer. The circuitry is fused or current limited to protect the electrical systems of both the motor vehicle and trailer from shorts that may occur in the trailer lighting system. A light emitting diode is provided to indicate a malfunction in either the adapter circuitry or the trailer lighting system to the driver of the motor vehicle.