IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,428,105
Granted Patent B2
US 9,428,105 · App. 14/840,812 · Granted Aug 30, 2016

Trailer signal converter

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,428,105
App. No.
14/840,812
Granted
Aug 30, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A trailer signal converter includes a plurality of inputs, including a first towing vehicle turn light signal, a second towing vehicle turn light signal, and a trailer brake signal. The trailer brake signal may be a pulse-width modulated signal. The trailer signal converter selectively drives the turn and stop light signals on the trailer based on the input signals. In a three-wire system, the signal converter may be configured to receive a brake signal input and a brake light input and selectively drive the trailer stop light signal.

Claims (20)

1. A trailer signal converter comprising:

at least one input signal;

a plurality of output signals, including a first trailer vehicle turn light signal output and a second trailer vehicle turn light signal output;

wherein the trailer signal converter turns on both first and second trailer vehicle turn lights when the at least one input signal is on and both the first and second towing vehicle turn light signal outputs are off; and

wherein the trailer signal converter turns on tail lights of a towing vehicle.

2. The trailer signal converter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input comprises a trailer brake signal.

3. The trailer signal converter of claim 2 , wherein the trailer brake signal is an output signal from a trailer brake controller.

4. The trailer signal converter of claim 2 , wherein the brake output signal is generated in response to activation of a manual control.

5. The trailer signal converter of claim 1 , wherein the output signal from the trailer brake controller is a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signal.

6. The trailer signal converter of claim 1 , wherein the trailer signal converter decodes the PWM signal.

7. The trailer signal converter of claim 6 , wherein the trailer signal converter determines a braking condition when the PWM signal duty cycle is between 7% and 97%.

8. A trailer signal converter comprising:

a plurality of input signals, including a trailer brake signal input and a brake light signal input;

a stop light output signal;

wherein the trailer signal converter turns on the stop light output signal when the trailer brake signal input or the brake light signal input are on, or when both the trailer brake signal input and the brake light signal input are on; and

wherein the trailer signal converter turns on tail lights of a towing vehicle.

9. The trailer signal converter of claim 8 , wherein the trailer brake signal input is a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signal.

10. The trailer signal converter of claim 9 , wherein the trailer signal converter is configured to decode the PWM signal.

11. The trailer signal converter of claim 9 , wherein the trailer signal converter is configured to determine a braking condition when the PWM signal duty cycle is between 7% and 97%.

12. The trailer signal converter of claim 9 , wherein the trailer brake signal input is generated in response to activation of a manual brake control.

Assignments (12)
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 18, 2025
From: AIRTEX INDUSTRIES, LLC; AIRTEX PRODUCTS, LP; APC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC; APC PARENT, LLC; ASC INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTOLITE OPERATIONS LLC; AVM EXPORT, INC.; BPI ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC; BPI EC, LLC; BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC CHINA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC INDIA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.; CARRAND COMPANIES, INC.; CARTER CARBURETOR HOLDINGS, LLC; CARTER CARBURETOR, LLC; CARTER FUEL EXPORT, INC.; CARTER FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.; CWD HOLDING, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II, LLC; CWD, LLC; DALTON CORPORATION; DALTON CORPORATION, KENDALLVILLE; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, ASHLAND; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, STRYKER MACHINING FACILITY CO.; DALTON CORPORATION, WARSAW MANUFACTURING FACILITY; EAGLE CASTING, LLC; EAGLE MACHINING, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP INTERMEDIATE, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP, LLC; FRAM GROUP IP LLC; FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC; FRAMAUTO HOLDINGS, LLC; FUEL FILTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GLOBAL REMAN VENTURES, LLC; HEATHERTON HOLDINGS, LLC; HOPKINS ACQUISITION, INC.; HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION; HORIZON EURO FINANCE LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL COMPANY LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; IBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; INTERNATIONAL BRAKE INDUSTRIES, INC.; JASPER ACQUISITION CORP.; JASPER RUBBER PRODUCTS, INC.; KTRI HOLDINGS, INC.; KTRI OFFSHORE HOLDINGS, LLC; LONGMAN ENTERPRISES, INC.; PHNX ACQUISITION CORP.; PREMIER MARKETING GROUP, LLC; PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.; PYLON SOUTH BEND, INC.; QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE, L.L.C.; QUALIS ENTERPRISES, LLC; QUALITOR ACQUISITION INC.; QUALITOR AUTOMOTIVE, LLC; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY H, INC.; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY S, INC.; QUALITOR, INC.; REMAN MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC; SDC TX, LLC; SMART CHOICE, LLC; SPECIALTY PUMPS GROUP, INC.; STRONGARM, LLC; TAE BRAKES, LLC; TAE CHINA HOLDINGS, INC.; TMD INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; TMD MEXICO LLC; TOLEDO MOLDING & DIE, LLC; TRANSPORTATION AFTERMARKET ENTERPRISE, LLC; TRICO HOLDING CORPORATION; TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION; TRICO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; TRIDONEX USA LLC; UCI ACQUISITION HOLDINGS (NO. 4) LLC; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS PARENT, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL, LLC; UCI PENNSYLVANIA, INC.; UCI-AIRTEX HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED COMPONENTS, LLC; UNIVERSAL AUTO FILTER LLC; VIPER ACQUISITION I, INC.; VIPER ACQUISITION, INC.; WALBRO LLC; WALBRO MIDCO LLC; WEM US CO.
To: GLAS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 071674/0688 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS COLLATERAL AGENT (AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.)
To: HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; WESTFALIA-AUTOMOTIVE GMBH; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055262/0842 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; C.P. WITTER LIMITED; WESTFALIA-AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: ATLANTIC PARK STRATEGIC CAPITAL FUND, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055262/0949 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2020
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 053453/0229 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2020
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
To: ENCINA BUSINESS CREDIT, LLC
Reel/Frame 052721/0614 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 052463/0091 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2020
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 052223/0849 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2019
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048648/0006 →
MERGER Recorded May 10, 2017
From: CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.
To: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 042435/0260 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2015
From: CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 037364/0291 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2015
From: CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037353/0127 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2015
From: MOTTS, DOUGLAS; ECCLESTON, LARRY; KULKARNI, CHANDRAKUMAR D
To: CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 036459/0915 →