Qualcomm Incorporated

David C Stillinger

John P Oeth

Kip A Leggett

Charles Pedersen

Jeffrey Jay Rhine

Kenneth H Oertle

Richard R Ragland

John Cunningham

William Anthony Drennen

Paul James Knoll

David DeVinny

Thomas J Benacka

Mark Benton

A sensor device for detecting whether a tractor and a trailer of a truck are connected includes a container having a plurality of tabs extending radially outwardly to engage an inside surface of a bearing plate of the trailer when the container is located in a hole in the bearing plate. A spring extends from a base of the container away from the face surface to bear upon an interior wall of the trailer to bias the tabs into contact with the inside wall when the container is located in the hole to maintain a position of the container therein. A sensor is also provided for sensing proximity of a ferrous material and being located in the container. The sensor senses proximity of ferrous material of a coupler carried by the tractor without sensing ferrous material of the bearing plate.

Device for sensing tractor trailer connection

CDMA wireless untethered trailer tracking terminal

Structural portions of a CDMA wireless untethered trailer tracking terminal

Universal mount cargo status sensor device

A method and apparatus for determining whether cargo is present in a freight car. The freight car has a proximal (&ldquo;rear&rdquo;) end with a loading door and opposing, distal (&ldquo;front&rdquo;) end. One or more transmitters and receivers are mounted inside the freight car at the front end, toward the car's ceiling. The transmitters/receivers are operated by a controller, which also functions to analyze data from the transmitters/receivers and transmit related reports to a remote monitoring site. During a prescribed time period, a transmitter generates an ultrasonic signal pattern with a coverage area of prescribed radius that terminates before reaching the loading door. During the time period of transmission, or slightly later to account for signal reflection time, the controller operates the receiver to detect reflected signals originating from the transmitter. Then, the controller transmits a report of whether cargo is present in the freight car, based on whether any reflected signals were received.

Cargo sensing system and method

A thin, compliant, electrically and thermally conductive aluminum shim for providing minimum distance circuit path from a power amplifier (or transistor) to the underside of the circuit board (ground). The aluminum shim creates an interference fit between the underside of the circuit board and chassis, which guarantees an electrical connection with the bottom of amplifier and underside of the circuit board. Additionally, with the present invention, post-machining of the chassis during assembly of components is not required since the aluminum shim is sufficiently compliant to conform to both the bottom surface of the amplifier and the existent flatness and surface finish on the chassis produced from the initial machining step. This ensures superior electrical and thermal contact to the chassis regardless of slight imperfections in chassis flatness and surface finish at the seat location, thereby improving reliability and decreasing cost of manufacture and assembly.

Mounting arrangement for microwave power amplifier

A ball-compression grommet is disclosed which is used for mounting an object, such as an electrical or fiber optic cable, through a panel access hole. The ball-compression grommet allows the object to rotate to a wide variety of desired angles with respect to the panel surface, while maintaining an environmental seal against moisture and other contaminants found in outdoor environments. The ball-compression grommet comprises a spherical object having a passage formed substantially through its center. A threaded sleeve and nut are then used to capture the spherical object therebetween, while allowing rotation in relation to the nut and threaded sleeve. Both the threaded sleeve and the nut have an inside portion which is shaped to fit the contour of the spherical object. The spherical object is free to rotate in relation to the threaded sleeve/nut assembly, while at the same time forming an environmental seal from a compression fitting that results between the spherical object and the threaded sleeve. The sleeve/nut assembly may be mounted to an access hole using a retaining nut, securing the ball-compression grommet to the mounting surface.

Ball-compression grommet

A steerable antenna system for adjusting the elevation of an antenna for communication with a central facility via a satellite. The steerable antenna system includes a motor, a spindle drivingly engaged to the motor, and a chassis fixedly disposed on the spindle. The chassis has a stop disposed about its periphery. A first waveguide is fixedly disposed on the chassis and a second waveguide is disposed on an antenna. A ring cam is mounted on the chassis, and a grooved is formed in the ring cam. A first portion of a lever arm is pivotally mounted on the chassis and a second portion of the lever arm is disposed in the groove of the ring cam. An antenna is hingedly mounted on the chassis and to the lever arm. A solenoid, disposed on a base of the steerable antenna system, is configured to engage a portion of the ring cam. In use, when the solenoid is activated, power from the motor is used to adjust the elevation of the antenna. When the solenoid is deactivated, power from the motor is used to adjust the azimuth of the antenna to acquire a satellite.

Steerable antenna system

Growing community of inventors

Cardiff, CA, United States of America

David C Stillinger