Abstract: One aspect relates to a computer-implemented method for determining a skeleton of point cloud data in an automotive system for monitoring the environment of a vehicle. In order to determine the skeleton, a method of determining a central point of a point cloud data is performed multiple times, each time using different values for one or more starting parameters. The method may yield different central points depending on the selected values for the one or more starting parameters. The resulting plurality of central points is interpreted as the skeleton of the point cloud data.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a plurality of cylindrical electrical terminals connected to ends of a plurality of first electrical cables, a housing defining a plurality of housing terminal cavities in which the plurality of cylindrical electrical terminals is disposed, and a cover attached to the housing having a plurality of cover cavities that is axially aligned with the plurality of housing terminal cavities. The plurality of cover cavities is configured to receive the plurality of cylindrical electrical terminals as it is inserted within the plurality of housing terminal cavities.

Abstract: Disclosed are aspects of a camera assembly, including a sensor for sampling image data in a sampling step. A lens is provided for focussing light onto the sensor. A window is supported in front of the lens. The window includes a transparency changing material for varying the transmittance of light through the window in response to an input signal. The camera assembly is configured to thereby increase the transmittance of light through the window during the sampling step of the sensor.

Abstract: This document describes “Multi-domain Neighborhood Embedding and Weighting” (MNEW) for use in processing point cloud data, including sparsely populated data obtained from a lidar, a camera, a radar, or combination thereof. MNEW is a process based on a dilation architecture that captures pointwise and global features of the point cloud data involving multi-scale local semantics adopted from a hierarchical encoder-decoder structure. Neighborhood information is embedded in both static geometric and dynamic feature domains. A geometric distance, feature similarity, and local sparsity can be computed and transformed into adaptive weighting factors that are reapplied to the point cloud data. This enables an automotive system to obtain outstanding performance with sparse and dense point cloud data. Processing point cloud data via the MNEW techniques promotes greater adoption of sensor-based autonomous driving and perception-based systems.

Abstract: A heating device includes a housing, a primary induction coil, a controller circuit, and a secondary induction coil. The housing is configured to retain a camera lens. The primary induction coil is positioned proximate the housing and configured to generate a magnetic field in response to receiving electrical power from a power supply. The controller circuit is in electrical contact with the primary induction coil and is configured to control the electrical power delivered to the primary induction coil. The secondary induction coil overlays the primary induction coil and is configured to receive the magnetic field from the primary induction coil and generate heat. The secondary induction coil heats the camera lens when the primary induction coil receives the electrical power.

Abstract: A radiation pattern reconfigurable antenna includes an input port, a signal divider, a filter, and first and second radiators. The signal divider is connected to the input port and configured to divide a signal at the input port into a first output and a second output. The filter is connected to the second output, wherein the filter is configured to filter signal within a first frequency band and to pass signals within a second frequency band. The first radiator is configured to receive the signal from the first output of the signal divider, wherein the first radiator receives signals within the first frequency band and the second frequency band. The second radiator is connected to the filter to receive signals provided within the second frequency band.

Abstract: An electrical connector is presented herein. The electrical connector includes an insulator that is formed of a dielectric material and defines a cavity extending therethrough. The cavity has a plurality of cylindrical sections. A first cylindrical section of the plurality of cylindrical sections has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of adjoining second and third cylindrical sections of the plurality of cylindrical sections on each side of the first cylindrical section. The insulator is preferably formed using an additive manufacturing process, such as stereolithography, digital light processing, fused deposition modeling, fused filament fabrication, selective laser sintering, selecting heat sintering, multi-jet modeling, multi-jet fusion, electronic beam melting, laminated object manufacturing, or 3D printing.

Abstract: The techniques of this disclosure relate to a driver-monitoring system. The system includes a controller circuit that receives monitoring data from a driver-monitor sensor that is configured to monitor a driver of a vehicle while the vehicle operates in an autonomous-driving mode. The controller circuit determines a score of one or more driver-supervisory metrics based on the monitoring data, each of the driver-supervisory metrics being indicative of whether the driver is supervising the operation of the vehicle. The controller circuit determines a supervision score based on the score of the driver-supervisory metrics. The supervision score is indicative of whether the driver is ready to resume control of the vehicle. The controller circuit indicates a driver-awareness status on a display in a field of view of the driver based on the supervision score. The system can improve vehicle safety by alerting the driver when the driver exhibits reduced driver awareness behavior.

Abstract: A method to enable a vehicle's embedded USB Host system to connect to multiple mobile devices through a USB Hub, regardless of whether the mobile devices are configured to act as USB Hosts or USB Devices, without USB On the Go (OTG) controllers or additional vehicle wiring or inhibiting the functionality of any consumer devices connected to the same USB Hub. Preferably, the method is configured to provide that no additional cabling or hardware changes to accommodate this capability. The method can be employed between a vehicle's embedded USB Host, USB Hub and at least one consumer accessible USB port. When the consumer device is acting as a USB Host, signals between the consumer device and the vehicle's embedded USB Host are processed through a USB bridge, thereby rendering the consumer device compatible with the vehicle's embedded USB Host.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for a partitioned wireless communication system for a vehicle with redundant data links and power lines. In an embodiment, a system comprises: a communication gateway unit (CGU) located at a first location of the vehicle includes a communication processor, a first power supply, and a first data interface. A remote wireless transceiver unit (RWTU) located at a second location of the vehicle includes a second data interface coupled to the first data interface using redundant data links, a power interface coupled the first power supply to the RWTU using redundant power lines, and wireless transceiver(s) coupled to antenna(s) on the vehicle. The communication processor detects a loss of a first data link or a first power line, and in response to the detecting, selecting a second data link or second power line to transfer data or power, respectively, between the CGU and the RWTU.

Abstract: This document includes techniques, apparatuses, and systems related to a waveguide with squint alteration, which can improve electromagnetic wave operation. In aspects, squint of electromagnetic waves pertaining to waveguides may be altered and improved. In this example, the techniques also enable the waveguide to direct electromagnetic waves according to respective chambers and one or more apertures, improving the quality of signals transmitted and received. The chambers may be divided according to a divider extending toward an opening of the waveguide, directing electromagnetic waves between the opening and the one or more apertures.

Abstract: A wire assembly includes a cable and a contact. The wire includes at least an inner conductor and an insulating jacket surrounding the inner conductor, wherein a tip of the inner conductor is exposed at a first end. The contact is welded to the tip of the inner conductor at the first end.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for determining an attribute of an object at a pre-determined time point. Data representing a respective property of the object and a plurality of further objects at a plurality of time points different from the pre-determined time point are determined, and the data is arranged in an image-like data structure. The image-like data structure has a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows. The data is arranged in the image-like data structure such that each of one of the rows or the columns corresponds to respective properties of the object or of one of the plurality of further objects and each of the other of the rows or the columns corresponds to respective properties at one of the plurality of time points. The attribute is then determined using a pre-determined rule based on the image-like data structure.

Abstract: An articulated stand including a first part and a second part. The first part is configured for holding an electronic device. The first part includes a ball pivot with a chamber and a connector. The chamber defined through the ball pivot. The connector accommodated at least partially in the chamber. The connector configured to electrically connect with a cable connector. The second part including a ball housing portion receiving the ball pivot to form a ball joint.

Abstract: A radar assembly includes a rectangular-waveguide (RWG) and a printed-circuit-board. The rectangular-waveguide (RWG) propagates electromagnetic energy in a transverse electric mode (TE10) and in a first direction. The printed-circuit-board includes a plurality of conductor-layers oriented parallel to each other. The printed-circuit-board defines a substrate-integrated-waveguide (SIW) that propagates the electromagnetic energy in a transverse electric mode (TE10) and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and defines a transition that propagates the electromagnetic energy between the rectangular-wave-guide and the substrate-integrated-waveguide. The transition includes apertures defined by at least three of the plurality of conductor-layers.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes wiring with multiple wires. Each wire has a conductor covered in insulation. Each wire has a stripped portion that exposes the conductors. The stripped portions are stacked on top of one another. A housing has first and second housing portions that provide a cavity. The first housing portion receives the stripped portions. The second housing portion includes a spring that has a closed portion that extends into the cavity and is configured to urge the stripped portions into engagement with one another when the first and second housing portions are secured to another in an assembled connector condition.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are described that enable evasive steering assist (ESA) with a pre-active phase. An ESA system predicts that a collision with an object is imminent and enters a pre-active phase. The pre-active phase causes a required drop in steering force to occur prior to determining that the collision is imminent. At a later time, the ESA system determines that the collision is imminent and enacts an active phase. The active phase causes a steering force effective to avoid the collision. By enacting the pre-active phase prior to the determination of the imminent collision, the ESA system may provide the additional steering force needed to avoid the collision without delay while simultaneously shielding a driver of vehicle from feeling the drop in steering force.

Abstract: A simulation method for predicting a false positive for a predefined region outside a desired field of view of a radar sensor. Calculated primary rays having a respective primary energy level represent the radar signal. Reflected rays are calculated based on the primary rays or other reflected rays and based on geometrical data for at least one item within the predefined region. An energy level is determined for each reflected ray based on an estimated reflectivity of the at least one item and based on the primary energy level of the respective primary ray, and a clustering level for the reflected rays is determined based on distances of the respective reflection points. A probability for an occurrence of a false positive is estimated based on the energy level and the clustering level.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wiring harness assembly includes the steps of forming a plurality of electrically conductive wires encased within a substrate formed of a dielectric material, forming an opening in the substrate located and sized such that a section of the plurality of electrically conductive wires is exposed within the opening, disposing a support segment within the opening, securing a connector segment including a plurality of terminals to the support segment, and placing the plurality of terminals in mechanical and electrical contact with the plurality of electrically conductive wires.

Abstract: A fiber enclosure with an integrated enclosure mounting system includes a base, a cover, and a clamp for securing the cover to the base. The base has an end wall with through openings extending therethrough and has a fiber management mounting frame provided on an inner side of the end wall. The mounting frame is configured to receive fiber management trays and the cover is engageable over the mounting frame and into abutment with the base and is securable to the base by the clamp to fully enclose the mounting frame and fiber management trays within a cavity formed between the cover and the base. The base also includes enclosure mounting sockets formed on an outer side surface thereof. The enclosure mounting sockets are releasably engageable with complementary shaped mounting post provided on a mounting arm to releasably secure the base to the mounting arm.