Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8137142 | Connector assembly A connector assembly can include a first housing, a second housing and a connector position assurance insert. The second housing can be configured to mate with the first housing in a mated configuration such that a first electrical terminal and a second electrical t... | 03/20/2012 |
| D649017 | Cord wrap and charging cable assembly | 11/22/2011 |
| 8026827 | Virtual push button switch A user interface display system can include at least one user responsive element. The user responsive element can include an optical mechanism. A pulsed light source can produce a light beam. Apparatus are provided for causing the light beam to repeatedly scan acros... | 09/27/2011 |
| 7954965 | Method for multiple gauges in a scanning laser based display device A display for measured quantities can include a gauge with a set of indicia spaced around the gauge to indicate the measured quantities. A window can be formed in the gauge that extends along the set of indicia. An elliptical reflector can be positioned such that a ... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7932960 | Integrator array for HUD backlighting An system for providing uniform and focused backlighting to a liquid crystal display (LCD) can be provided. The system can include at least one light source that emits light rays. The system can include at least one column having a first end positioned adjacent to t... | 04/26/2011 |
| 7932818 | System for communicating diagnostic information and related method A method for transmitting diagnostic information that can include: selecting a frequency from a plurality of predetermined frequencies based on a first diagnostic condition; selecting a duty cycle from a plurality of predetermined duty cycles based on a second diagn... | 04/26/2011 |
| 7928859 | Full angle laser illuminate instrument cluster A display for measured quantities can include a dial plaque with at least one set of indicia spaced around the plaque to indicate the measured quantities. An optical device can be mounted on a shaft within a perimeter of the dial plaque at a location surrounded by t... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7887222 | Display device with changeable display background A vehicle display with a housing having a gauge port, an interior wall around the gauge port, and an appliqué port extending from an exterior side of the vehicle display and intersecting the gauge port. A light source provides light into the gauge port and directs ... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7799991 | Bus bar position assurance device A power distribution box has a holder with inner, deflectable lock arms for securing bus bars within the holder. When the bus bars are correctly and completely installed within the holder, engaging portions of the lock arms are received in apertures of the bus bars ... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7759826 | Smart connector wakeup and sleep control A connector state control module includes a sensing module that determines a state of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. A charge switching module selectively provides a voltage based on the state of the PWM signal. A charge storage module stores a charge based ... | 07/20/2010 |
| 7757159 | Method of determining the projected area of a 2-D view of a component A method of determining a projected area of a component can include acquiring an image file having a component drawing. The component drawing of the image file can be superimposed onto a workspace. One of a component area and a non-component area can be shaded with ... | 07/13/2010 |
| 7755293 | Method for protecting a lamp circuit and related wiring A method for controlling a lamp circuit that includes: setting a first voltage threshold and a first time window within a control circuit corresponding to a characteristic of a first lamp type; providing a first signal through the lamp circuit to start a first time ... | 07/13/2010 |
| 7750821 | System and method for instrument panel with color graphical display A message center that can comprise a liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided. The LCD can be divided into one or more zones, with each zone being designated for a specific message. The message center can also include a light guide system positioned behind the liqui... | 07/06/2010 |
| 7724540 | Spacer for circuit boards A spacer or retainer secures two circuit boards in a back-to-back configuration. The spacer has opposite first and second sides, each having a peripheral rim against which the circuit boards fit. Each side is recessed to a depth enabling any component terminals or c... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7684168 | Constant current relay driver with controlled sense resistor The present teachings generally include a method of controlling a relay. The method generally includes momentarily initiating a pull-in pulse when an input signal indicates a first state. A sense resistor controller is activated based on the pull-in pulse. A current... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7683585 | Trailer battery charge systems and methods A trailer battery charge system for an electrical connection device between a vehicle and a trailer. The trailer battery charge system generally includes a first switching device that allows current to flow to an electrical terminal associated with a trailer battery... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7679493 | Boat trailer submersion A method of controlling a surge brake mechanism and all lights on a trailer connected to a vehicle that can submerse the trailer to deploy a boat into water. The method generally includes monitoring the vehicle for vehicle conditions that include at least a speed of... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7663466 | Corner-mounted battery fuse A fuse device for fitting over and around a corner of a battery housing has a top wall and two side walls extending downward from the top wall. The side walls are joined at a corner. A battery terminal for mechanical and electrical attachment to a battery post is pr... | 02/16/2010 |
| 7612286 | Injection molded protective passageway for automotive wiring and the like and method of making same An improved bridge-shaped molded plastic passageway to carry an automotive wiring harness over a driveshaft tunnel in an automobile chassis is disclosed. The passageway is made up of conforming base and cover components joined by two parallel hinged connectors. The ... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7611365 | Connector A connector is provided. The connector can include a first housing, which can define a bore for receipt of at least one first electrical terminal. The first housing includes a first wall defining an aperture opposite a second wall. The connector can include a second... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7597580 | Connector with terminal motion reduction A connector assembly has a first part with an interior for receiving right-angle electrical terminals through an insertion end. Wire-connect segments of the terminals seat within cradle-like members aligned in sets of rows extending across the width of the interior.... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7594821 | Sealing gap formed by assembled connector parts A sealing system for a connector assembly used to house one-piece right-angle electrical terminals. The assembly has a first part for receiving the terminals and allowing the terminals to be turned such that wire-connect portions of the terminal are seated in the fi... | 09/29/2009 |
| 7593124 | System and method for managing devices A system or method for managing devices (collectively “device management system”) is disclosed. The device management system uses a matrix, table or other data structure technique (collectively “data structure”) to configure the input parameter(s) for one or... | 09/22/2009 |
| 7571696 | System and method for analog vehicle gauge with embedded driver information A gauge is provided. The gauge includes a housing and a bearing plate that can be coupled to the housing. The bearing plate defines a first aperture. The gauge includes a pointer coupled to the bearing plate that has a proximal and a distal end. The pointer end can ... | 08/11/2009 |
| 7568669 | Docking station for electronic module An apparatus for securing a module in a fixed position is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least two guidance mechanisms, which are used to direct the module into the proper position during its insertion into the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a securing... | 08/04/2009 |
| 7549887 | Connector A connector is provided. The connector can include a first housing that can define a bore for receipt of a first electrical terminal. The first housing can have an outer housing and an inner housing. The inner housing can include a housing lock, and can be moveable ... | 06/23/2009 |
| 7534000 | Incorporation of telltale warning indicators into driver information center A vehicle display having an LCD display that is employed to communicate a first type of vehicle information and a second set of vehicle information in which the information that is to be communicated can include or consist of symbols. A display light guide is employ... | 05/19/2009 |
| 7531914 | Dual path output current level control A current control system for an electrical connection device generally includes a first output having a first current rating and a second output having a second current rating. A transistor provides current to the first output and the second output. A sensor is elec... | 05/12/2009 |
| 7530843 | Sealed electrical terminal An electrical terminal is sealed for use in high voltage vehicle systems. The terminal has a cylindrical section positioned between a contact section for mating with another electrical contact or terminal and a crimp section for mechanically and electrically securin... | 05/12/2009 |
| 7527386 | Spring-mounted light guide A light guide has a series of light channels passing through the guide between an outer planar surface and a base. Two resilient arms extend from opposite ends of the guide. The arms have free ends with cap elements for fitting over bosses within an instrument clust... | 05/05/2009 |
| 7521934 | Battery current measurement with real time pre-gain adjust and programmable excitation source A current measurement control system for a power supply system is provided. The current measurement control system includes a load module that estimates a total load of the power supply system. An amplification module selectively determines an amplification factor b... | 04/21/2009 |
| 7503813 | Electrical terminal with contoured contact element An electrical terminal has a frame with an inner spring element for making electrical contact. The spring element has a base section near a wire connect portion of the terminal and an elevated section extending from the base section toward a mating end of the termin... | 03/17/2009 |
| 7501939 | Display device with dimmable segments The present invention generally includes a display device having a plurality of indicia indicative of a vehicle parameter. The display device includes a plurality of dimmable segments. Each dimmable segment has a lower end point associated with a first value of the ... | 03/10/2009 |
| 7498804 | Resonance current sensing A current measurement system includes a magnetic core having an inside area through which a conductor carrying current to be measured extends. A measurement winding is wound on the magnetic core. A voltage source couples to the measurement winding to generate curren... | 03/03/2009 |
| 7494256 | Illuminated instrument cluster with perceived 3-D display segments A vehicle instrument cluster for indicating a value of a vehicle parameter. The vehicle instrument cluster includes a display member formed of a transparent material and display segments integrally formed within the display member. The display segments are configure... | 02/24/2009 |
| 7468874 | Protection circuit for digital power module A sensorless protection circuit comprises a detection module. The detection module receives a reference voltage signal and receives a load voltage signal from a MOSFET. The detection module generates a detection signal having a first state and a second state accordi... | 12/23/2008 |
| 7443049 | Bi-directional inverter control for high voltage charge/discharge for automobiles A charging system for a battery of a vehicle comprises an electrical interface module that includes first and second electrical interfaces. An inverter module communicates with the electrical interface module and the battery and has a first state and a second state.... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7431484 | Embroidered instrument cluster An instrument cluster generally including a backing material and a plurality of fibers forming indicia that indicate a vehicle parameter. The plurality of fibers is coupled to the backing material. The instrument cluster also includes an illumination device that ill... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7427143 | Instrument cluster with three-dimensional display A vehicle display having a housing, a pointer that is rotatably coupled to the housing, a first appliqué that is coupled to the housing, a second appliqué coupled to the housing, a first graphics set coupled to a surface of the first appliqué and a second graphic... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7405918 | Inductive load control A method is provide for controlling an inductive load device (ILD). The method includes providing a voltage potential across ILD and disabling a flow of current through the ILD resulting from the voltage potential across the ILD when a voltage across a sensing devic... | 07/29/2008 |
