Patent ID: 6130487
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: B60D,B60Q,B60R,H05B

Abstract:
An electrical interface for connecting a truck electrical system to a trailer electrical system, the interface comprising:a solid-state switching device for selectively connecting a power source in the truck electrical system to a circuit in the trailer electrical system to provide power to the circuit in the trailer electrical system;fault detection circuitry electrically connected to the solid-state switching device for detecting a fault in the provision of power to the circuit in the trailer electrical system, the solid-state switching device reducing the average flow of power or disconnecting the power source from the circuit in the trailer electrical system when a fault is detected by the fault detection circuitry; anda microcontroller system electrically connected to the truck electrical system and the solid-state switching device for receiving instruction signals from the truck electrical system and transmitting control signals to the solid-state switching device to control the flow of power from the power source to the circuit in the trailer electrical system in accordance with the instruction signals received from the truck electrical system.