Abstract: A watertight electrical connection system to flat-wire conductors of a flexible circuit is described including a watertight electrical connector that houses connector terminals within a cavity. A contact surface of the watertight electrical connector is configured to mate with a connection area on a surface of the flexible circuit. The connection area is of variable thickness. A seal surrounds an opening to the cavity to form a watertight connection between the connector terminals and one or more of the flat-wire conductors within the connection area on the surface of the flexible circuit. A retainer fits over the flexible circuit and onto the watertight electrical connector to compress the seal and form the watertight connection between the surface of the flexible circuit and the contact surface, which is of variable thickness.

Abstract: A radar sensor comprises a radar transmit and receive unit configured to transmit radar waves to an external environment of the vehicle and to receive radar waves from the external environment of the vehicle, and an interface unit attached to the radar transmit and receive unit. One or more design and/or material parameters of the interface unit are adjusted to fit a predetermined installation position at the vehicle with respect to desired characteristics of the transmitted and received radar waves. A corresponding method for integrating a radar sensor in a vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for detecting scratches and bumps applied to a vehicle uses an acceleration sensor. Signals of the sensor are analyzed and evaluated based on amplitude and frequency. Relationships between the amplitudes and frequencies provide a basis to classify a vehicle contact event as a bump or a scratch.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods for predicting road collisions between a host vehicle and one or more objects in the surroundings of the vehicle. In aspects, range rate and heading information is acquired regarding a moving object in the surroundings of the vehicle; possible vehicle trajectories of the vehicle are calculated; possible object trajectories are calculated from the range rate of the object, the heading of the object, and a possible turn and acceleration of the object; and a collision calculation is performed.

Abstract: A method is provided for validating annotations of objects. Spatial datapoints acquired by a sensor and annotation data are received. The annotation data is associated with the acquired spatial data points and includes an identification of each respective object. Via a processing unit, the annotations of the objects are validated by performing the steps of: determining a target range for at least one property of the objects, determining, from the acquired spatial datapoints and/or from the annotation data, a respective value of the at least one property for each respective object, and for each object, identifying the object as an erroneous object if the respective value of the at least one property is outside the target range for the at least one property. The erroneous object is selected for review regarding erroneous annotation.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems of a radar system with modified orthogonal linear antenna subarrays and an angle-finding module. The described radar system includes a first one-dimensional (1D) (e.g., linear) subarray; a second 1D subarray positioned orthogonal to the first 1D subarray; and a two-dimensional (2D) subarray. Using electromagnetic energy received by the first 1D subarray and the second 2D subarray, azimuth angles and elevation angles associated with one or more objects can be determined. The radar system associates, using electromagnetic energy received by the 2D subarray, pairs of an azimuth angle and an elevation angle to the respective objects. In this way, the described systems and techniques can reduce the number of antenna elements while maintaining the angular resolution of a rectangular 2D array with similar aperture sizing.

Abstract: The system has a processing unit that collects input data and a peripheral storage device, connected to the processing unit via an interface system, for recording event data in a non-volatile memory, wherein the event data are input data stored for a recording time period relative to a time zero representing a time when a trigger event occurs. The peripheral storage device has also a volatile memory, and the data logging system stores the input data in the volatile memory of the peripheral storage device, when input data are being collected, and, when a trigger event occurs, makes a copy of stored input data as a backup from the volatile memory of the peripheral storage device into the non-volatile memory of the peripheral storage device.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a location determining device includes a processor that is configured to determine an indicated distance between a first detector and a source based on a signal originating at the source and detected by the detector, determine a second distance between the source and a second detector that does not have a direct signal path to the source based on a signal originating at the source and detected by the second detector, and determine a reliability of the indicated distance for determining the location by determining whether the indicated distance corresponds to a direct signal path between the first detector and the source based on a difference between the indicated distance and the second distance.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods include detecting a device ultra-wideband (UWB) transceiver of a mobile device and a set of vehicle UWB transceivers of a vehicle, determining a defined driver zone within the vehicle, the defined driver zone indicating a set of relative positions within the vehicle, communicating between the device UWB transceiver and the set of vehicle UWB transceivers to determine a position of the mobile device within the vehicle, and automatically enabling a driver mode of the mobile device whereby operation of the mobile device is limited when the determined position of the mobile device is within the defined driver zone and the vehicle is moving.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for identifying hazard objects around a vehicle includes several steps carried out by computer hardware components. The method includes detecting an object in an environment of the vehicle; determining an orientation parameter of the object, which represents a difference between an orientation of the object and an orientation of the vehicle; determining, on the basis of the orientation parameter, whether the object satisfies at least one hazard condition; and identifying the object as a hazard object if the at least one hazard condition is satisfied.

Abstract: This document describes techniques, apparatuses, and systems for enabling multispectral object-detection with thermal imaging. A thermal sensor, a multispectral stereo camera system, and an illumination system are used in combination to provide a multispectral object-detection system for use with safety or driving systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles. The illumination system can provide illumination for the stereo camera system and serve as a range-finder that can determine a distance between the stereo camera system and an object in the system's field-of-view. The stereo camera system can include one or more of various camera or sensor technologies, including infrared or near-infrared, thermal imaging, or visible light. The system can be used to detect objects in the field-of-view, determine a distance to the object, and estimate the object's size and relative motion.

Abstract: A system and method for shaping a flexible circuit (FC) having a set of conductive traces disposed within a set of insulation layers and a shaped FC, each involve using a non-conductive tool defining complimentary first and second tool portions and a shape therebetween, the tool being configured to receive a portion of the FC therebetween the first and second tool portions, a set of conductive heating elements arranged substantially in parallel with each other and disposed within the first and second tool portions, and a power source configured to provide power to the conductive heating elements causing the conductive heating elements to generate heat energy to shape the FC portion without removing any of the FC portion.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems directed at slow-time modulation for multiple radar channels. A set of transmit channels are modulated using code sequences to phase-modulate transmission signals. A second set of transmit channels are modulated using the same codes for phase modulation as well as using a frequency phase shift. Demodulation is achieved by multiplying received signals by the code sequences. Fast Fourier transforms (FFT) are applied to the received signals to generate a range-Doppler map for each receive channel. A non-coherent integration is performed on the range-Doppler maps to form a range-Doppler average map. The range-Doppler average map is shifted by the frequency phase shift, and the minimal of the range-Doppler average map and the shifted range-Doppler average map is retained. These techniques may reduce the impact of signal residue and increase angular resolution by enabling multiple transmit channels to be utilized.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an electronic device includes an integrated circuit component having a plurality of solder balls on one side. The substrate includes a first side adjacent the one side of the integrated circuit component. The substrate includes a plurality of openings. At least some of those openings are aligned with the solder balls. A cooling plate is situated toward a second side of the substrate. A thermally conductive material within the plurality of openings is thermally coupled with the cooling plate. At least some of the thermally conductive material is thermally coupled with the solder balls. The cooling plate comprises the thermally conductive material and the thermally conductive material within the plurality of openings forms extensions from the cooling plate.

Abstract: A method for detecting potential pinches caused by at least one powered movable panel between a closed position and an open position, by: measuring a physical quantity at a plurality of panel positions when the panel is moved towards the open position so as to get a first profile, measuring said physical quantity in a reference position, when the panel is moved towards the closed position, and determining an offset value, determining a second profile by shifting the first profile of a shifting value, measuring said physical quantity in a repetitive manner when the panel is moved towards the closed position so as to get a third profile, and detecting a potential pinch if the third profile crosses the second profile.

Abstract: This document describes a waveguide with a zigzag for suppressing grating lobes. An apparatus may include a waveguide with a zigzag waveguide channel to suppress grating lobes in diagonal planes of a three-dimensional radiation pattern. The waveguide includes a hollow channel containing a dielectric and an array of radiation slots through a surface that is operably connected with the dielectric. The hollow channel has a zigzag shape along a longitudinal direction through the waveguide. The zigzag waveguide channel and radiation slots configure the described waveguide to suppress grating lobes in an antenna radiation pattern. This document also describes a waveguide formed in part by a printed circuit board to improve the manufacturing process.

Abstract: This document describes techniques, apparatuses, and systems for a grid-based road model with multiple layers. An example road-perception system generates a roadway grid representation that includes multiple cells. The road-perception system uses data from multiple information sources to generate a road model that includes multiple layers. Each layer represents a roadway attribute of each cell in the grid and includes one or more layer hypotheses. In this way, the described techniques and systems can provide an accurate and reliable road model and quantify uncertainty therein.

Abstract: The techniques of this disclosure relate to a vehicle occupancy-monitoring system. The system includes a controller circuit that receives occupant data from an occupancy-monitoring sensor of a vehicle. The controller circuit determines an occupancy status of respective seats in a cabin of the vehicle based on the occupancy-monitoring sensor. The controller circuit indicates the occupancy status of the respective seats on a display located in a field of view of occupants of the vehicle. The display is integral to one of a roof light module, a door panel, or a headliner of the cabin. The system can improve passenger safety by alerting the operator and other occupants about the occupancy status of the passengers.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising an image capture electronic circuit, a lens holder and a heating element. The lens holder extends along the optical axis of the optical device from its top to bottom extremities and comprises a top optical element arranged on its top extremity. The lens holder is mounted on the PCB so as to align, along the optical axis, the image capture electronic circuit and the top optical element. The heating element comprises a heating part arranged in contact with the top optical element and first and second electrical conductive wires. Each wire extends from the heating part to their bottom extremity which is directly attached in electrical contact with the PCB. The optical device also comprises first and second wire insertion guide elements. The first and second wires are respectively arranged in the first and second guide elements.

Abstract: A busbar connection system comprises a plate member formed of a first material having a higher tensile strength than second and third materials of first and second busbars, respectively, and defining first and second apertures and first and second stud members securely inserted through the first and second apertures of the plate member, respectively, the first and second stud members being configured to be securely inserted through first and second apertures, respectively, in each of the first and second busbars, wherein the first and second stud members mitigate rotational movement between the first and second busbars when connected.