Abstract: A trailer tow connector including: at least one set of terminals for coupling to corresponding terminals of a trailer connector; a cover having a closed position for covering the terminals and an open position for providing access to the terminals for connecting corresponding terminals of the trailer connector thereto; a magnet coupled to the cover; and a magnetic field sensor, the magnetic field sensor being configured to provide a first output when the cover is in the closed position and a second output different from the first output when the cover is in an open position.

Abstract: A trailer tow connector including: at least one set of terminals for coupling to corresponding terminals of a trailer connector; a cover having a closed position for covering the terminals and an open position for providing access to the terminals for connecting corresponding terminals of the trailer connector thereto; a magnet coupled to the cover; and a magnetic field sensor, the magnetic field sensor being configured to provide a first output when the cover is in the closed position and a second output different from the first output when the cover is in an open position.

Abstract: A trailer tow connector including: at least one set of terminals for coupling to corresponding terminals of a trailer connector; a cover having a closed position for covering the terminals and an open position for providing access to the terminals for connecting corresponding terminals of the trailer connector thereto; a magnet coupled to the cover; and a magnetic field sensor, the magnetic field sensor being configured to provide a first output when the cover is in the closed position and a second output different from the first output when the cover is in an open position.

Abstract: An interactive data transfer system and method is provided. In embodiments of the invention, the data transfer system includes a computing device, and a data well for interfacing with an elongate instrument, the elongate instrument having a data transfer end with a data transfer tip. The data well has a housing with an opening for receiving the data transfer tip of the elongate instrument. The data well also has a communications port operatively coupled to the computing device to provide data to the computing device, and the data well has a data communication device contained in the housing for interfacing with the data transfer tip when the data transfer end of the elongate instrument is received in the opening The computing device is programmed to receive data from the data well. The received data includes data indicative of at least one address on a global communications network.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor is shown having a substrate (16, 16', 16", 16'") on which a capacitor detect plate (24) and source plate mounting portion (28c) are disposed. An electrically conductive blade member (40, 44) having an attachment portion (40a, 44h), a source plate portion (40i, 44a) and integrally attached beams (40b, 40c; 44b) extending along opposite sides of the blade member is mounted on the substrate by welding the attachment portion to a mounting element (36, 36', 36", 36'") which is closely received in a bore (32, 32', 32", 32'") formed through the substrate at the source plate mounting portion. The mounting element or the bore is formed with a surface suitable for forming an interference fit and for making electrical engagement with a conductive layer received in the bore. The mounting element has one end (36b, 36b', 36b") which extends above the top surface (26, 26") an adjustable selected amount(s) to provide desired spacing between the source plate portion and the detect plate.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor is shown having a substrate (16, 16', 16", 16'") on which a capacitor detect plate (24) and source plate mounting portion (28c) are disposed. An electrically conductive blade member (40, 44) having an attachment portion (40a, 44h), a source plate portion (40i, 44a) and integrally attached beams (40b, 40c; 44b) extending along opposite sides of the blade member is mounted on the substrate by welding the attachment portion to a mounting element (36, 36', 36", 36'") which is closely received in a bore (32, 32', 32", 32'") formed through the substrate at the source plate mounting portion. The mounting element or the bore is formed with a surface suitable for forming an interference fit and for making electrical engagement with a conductive layer received in the bore. The mounting element has one end (36b, 36b', 36b") which extends above the top surface (26, 26") an adjustable selected amount(s) to provide desired spacing between the source plate portion and the detect plate.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor (10, 10', 10") in which a metal blade member (24) having a source plate portion (24a), attachment portion (24p) and integral resilient beams (24b) extending between the source plate portion and the attachment portion is attached to a pin (22) received in turn in a bore (18a) of a substrate (18). The metal blade member (24) is mounted on the substrate (18) so that the source plate portion is a selected distance from a detect plate (18b) mounted on the substrate. The sensor is disposed in a cylindrical housing (12, 12', 12") which can be directly mounted to a circuit board (50) through terminal pins (18g, 18h, 18i) or can be provided with a threaded fastener (12"d). In one embodiment first and second sensor modules are received in a housing (42) to sense acceleration forces in two perpendicular directions.

Abstract: A monolithic capacitive differential pressure transducer (10, 44,) is shown composed of ceramic material having first and second cavities formed adjacent to opposed face surfaces to form first and second flexible diaphragms (12, 14; 50, 52) and a motion transfer pin (24, 58) attached to and extending between the diaphragms. Capacitor plates are disposed on a surface of at least one flexible diaphragm and a stationary member to form a capacitive gap. Component parts are first pressed from ceramic powder and assembled into a unit using one of several methods including relatively high pressure to press them together or using a combination of low pressure along with raising the temperature of the material to soften the binder in the ceramic material at surfaces of the parts which are to be joined together.

Abstract: An accelerometer unit has a capacitor detect plate and a source place connector preferably defined respectively inside and outside a groove in one surface of a ceramic substrate. A flat metal member has an attachment portion secured in electrically conductive relation to the connector, has a source plate portion spaced over the detect plate to form a capacitor, and has integral resilient beams extending from the attachment portion to support the source plate portion spaced from the detect plate to be movable relative to the detect plate in response to acceleration force to provide an electrical signal. Preferably glass rods between the attachment member portion and source place connector facilitate the spacing.