A connector has a case, a circuit board, a thermal diffusing unit, and a first heat sink. The circuit board is mounted in the case and has a heating source. The thermal diffusing unit abuts the inner surface of the case and the heating source of the circuit board. A heat transfer coefficient of the thermal diffusing unit is larger than a heat transfer coefficient of the case. The first heat sink abuts the thermal diffusing unit and is exposed from the case. A heat transfer coefficient of the first heat sink is larger than the heat transfer coefficient of the case. By the first heat sink abutting the thermal diffusing unit and exposed from the case, and the heat transfer coefficients of both the thermal diffusing unit and the first heat sink being larger than that of the case, the heat dissipation efficiency is improved.

A cable system for a truck trailer with connectors having a main power connection, a ground connection, and one, two, or more communication cable connections. Connectors include at least a power and ground connection for electrically connecting an individual trailer to the cable system. A master control circuit may be included in the trailer nosebox, and the master control circuit configured to send commands to slave control circuits mounted within the connectors. The slave control circuits in the connectors are configured to receive a control command sent by the master control circuit that may include an address, mode identifiers, or other indications of which connectors in the cable system should take action, and what actions should be taken.

Active cables and communication methods can provide data path redundancy with power sharing. In one illustrative cable implementation, the cable includes a first connector with contacts to supply power to circuitry in the first connector; a second connector with contacts to supply power to a component of the circuitry in the first connector via a first connection that prevents reverse current flow; and a third connector with contacts to supply power to the same component via a second connection that prevents reverse current flow. An illustrative method implementation includes: using contacts of a first connector to supply power to circuitry in the first connector; and using contacts in each of multiple redundant connectors to supply power to a component of said circuitry in the first connector via a corresponding diodic or switched connection that prevents reverse current flow.

A circuit connection module include a board, an electronic component mounted on the board, and an electrically conductive member connected to the electronic component so as to be thermally conductive. The electronic component includes a heat dissipation portion exposed on an outer surface of the electronic component. The electrically conductive member includes a plate-shaped portion connected to the heat dissipation portion so as to be thermally conductive, and a terminal portion in which one end is connected to the plate-shaped portion so as to be thermally conductive and electrically conductive and the other end is in contact with a mating terminal.

A plug connector includes a plug head, a plug terminal module, a locking member and a retaining body installed on one side of the plug connector. The plug terminal module includes a number of first plug terminals and a number of second plug terminals. The first plug terminals and the second plug terminals have a same structure and number. The first plug terminals and the second plug terminals are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the plug connector head.

A receptacle connector includes an insulating portion, a receptacle terminal module mounted to the insulating portion, a metal shell enclosing the insulating portion, and a receptacle circuit board. The insulating portion includes a receiving space and a mating space extending from the receiving space. The mating space extends through the insulating portion to form a mating port. The receptacle terminal module includes a first terminal module and a second terminal module. The first terminal module and the second terminal module have a same structure, and are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the mating space. The first terminal module and the second terminal module are electrically connected to the receptacle circuit board.

A device comprises a plurality of temperature sensing elements and a control module. The plurality of temperature sensing elements are each arranged proximal to a respective current carrying blade of an electrical plug. The control module receives, from the plurality of temperature sensing elements, a plurality of temperature signals that each indicate a temperature associated with the respective current carrying blades of the electrical plug. The control module also determines a temperature condition of the electrical plug based on the plurality of temperature signals. The control module also communicates an indication of the temperature condition of the electrical plug via an electrical power carrying conductor that supplies electrical power via the electrical plug.

An electrical power unit or electronic data unit includes an outer housing, a circuit board positioned inside the outer housing, a frame inserted inside the outer housing, and a face plate fitted over the outer housing. The circuit board supports, for example, a high voltage AC electrical receptacle, a low voltage DC electrical receptacle, and a switch, each of which is electrically connected to the circuit board. The frame defines a plurality of outlet openings for receiving respective one of the AC electrical receptacle, the DC electrical receptacle, and the switch. The face plate defines outer receptacle openings that align with respective outlet openings of the frame to provide access to the respective AC electrical receptacle, DC electrical receptacle, and switch.

A common point ground fault detector monitors an outlet. The detector includes a power connection having at least hot, neutral, and ground leads for connecting to the outlet, a bench ground connector, an earth ground, to which both the ground lead and the bench ground connector are electrically connection, and through which the bench ground connector discharges electrostatic charge, and a switch electrically coupled between the earth ground and the bench ground connector. The switch enables an electrical connection between the earth ground and the bench ground connector in response to a normal operating condition of the outlet, and the switch disables the electrical connection between the earth ground and the bench ground connector in response to an abnormal operating condition of the outlet.

A system for transferring electrical energy from a charging station to an electrical consumer including a charging plug connected to the charging station by a charging cable and a charging socket corresponding to the charging plug of the electrical consumer designed as a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle is designed to receive a battery voltage at the charging socket and relay it, unchanged, to a vehicle battery, wherein the charging station is configured to receive a network voltage from a power grid and to relay it via a charging cable to the charging plug, and the charging plug is configured to convert the network voltage into the battery voltage by means of power electronics.