Abstract: A device for automatically mounting a connector-housing with a contact-part attached to an electrical line includes a holder, a movable-gripper, an alignment-station, a camera, and a control-device. The holder fixes the connector-housing. The movable-gripper holds the contact-part and inserts the contact-part into a cavity of the connector-housing. The alignment-station includes an alignment-gripper that holds the contact-part and rotates the contact-part about a rotation-axis parallel to an insertion-direction. The camera determines an actual-rotational-position of the contact-part held by the alignment-gripper in relation to the rotation-axis. The control-device compares the actual-rotational-position with a predetermined-rotational-position based on the characteristics and arrangement of the connector-housing. The control-device further controls the alignment-gripper to perform a corrective rotational movement based on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a connector housing having a housing frame and a housing core. A housing core can be inserted in a housing frame. The housing core includes a latch protruding from the outer wall of the housing core and the housing frame includes locking means. The housing frame includes locking means. The locking means includes first and second guiding ramps. The first guiding ramp is configured to guide the latch upon insertion parallel to the extension direction of the interior wall of the housing frame onto the second guiding ramp. The second guiding ramp is configured to deflect the latch inwardly towards the interior of the housing frame.

Abstract: A method for determining the temperature of a sensor that comprises a heater is provided. The method includes the steps of applying a voltage to the heater and measuring the voltage applied to the heater and the current through the heater during a first time interval, and removing the applied voltage from the heater and leaving the heater unpowered for a second time interval. The method further includes the steps of calculating the resistance of the heater using the measured voltage and current, and determining the temperature of the sensor from the resistance using a predetermined relationship. The first time interval is selected to be sufficiently short in duration and the second time interval is selected to be sufficiently long so as to not significantly raise the temperature of the heater. The sensor temperature so determined can be used to perform diagnostic functions for a system that includes the sensor.

Abstract: A control device intended for a user to choose and select functions in a vehicle includes a knob that can be manipulated in rotation about a main axis with respect to a fixed support. The knob comprises a neutral position in which the main axis coincides with a neutral axis that is fixed with respect to the support. The control device also comprises a printed circuit board on which the knob and at least one direction sensor are fixed. The printed circuit board is mounted with the ability to pivot with respect to the support about an axis transverse overall to the neutral axis so as to come to occupy at least a first activated position in which the main axis is inclined with respect to the neutral axis when the knob is moved in a direction orthogonal to the neutral axis. The direction sensor is intended to detect the activated position.

Abstract: A seal that is configured to engage an elongate element, such as a wire cable, and a cavity wall is presented. The seal includes a seal body that is formed of a compliant material such as a silicone rubber. The seal has an outer surface that engages the cavity surface. The seal body defines a gallery extending therethrough and surrounded by an inner surface of the seal body. The seal body has a forward surface extending from a forward edge of the outer surface to a forward edge of the inner surface and a rearward surface extending from a rearward edge of the outer surface to a rearward edge of the inner surface. The seal further includes a support element formed of a rigid material, such as glass filled polyester or NYLON, extending through the seal body in a direction substantially parallel to the inner surface.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a radar system with auto-alignment suitable for use in an automated vehicle is provided. The system includes a radar-sensor, a speed-sensor, and a controller. The radar-sensor is used to detect objects present in a field-of-view proximate to a host-vehicle on which the radar-sensor is mounted. The radar-sensor is operable to determine a measured-range-rate (dRm), a measured-azimuth-angle (Am), and a measured-elevation-angle (Em) to each of at least three objects present in the field-of-view. The speed-sensor is used to determine a measured-speed (Sm) of the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the radar-sensor and the speed-sensor.

Abstract: An electrical terminal connection system includes a first-housing and a second-housing. The first-housing has a first-electrical-terminal and a terminal-hood. The first-electrical-terminal has a first-planar-section having a rectangular cross-section. The terminal-hood encapsulates an inner-surface and edges of the first-electrical-terminal. The second-housing is configured to mate with the first-housing and has a second-electrical-terminal and a sliding-block. The second-electrical-terminal has a second-planar-section having a rectangular cross-section and overlays an outer-surface of the first-electrical-terminal. The second-housing includes a first-fastener element operable to engage a second-fastener element disposed within the first-housing. The second-housing is drawn into the first-housing when the first-fastener element and the second-fastener element are joined.

Abstract: A method for lane detection for a camera-based driver assistance system includes the following steps: image regions in images that are recorded by a camera are identified as detected lane markings if the image regions meet a specified detection criterion. At least two detected lane markings are subjected to a tracking process as lane markings to be tracked. By means of a recursive state estimator, separate progressions are estimated for at least two of the lane markings to be tracked. Furthermore, for each of a plurality of the detected lane markings, a particular offset value is determined, which indicates a transverse offset of the detected lane marking in relation to a reference axis. By means of an additional estimation method, the determined offset values are each associated with one of the separate progressions of the lane markings to be tracked.

Abstract: An object-classification system for an automated vehicle includes an object-detector and a controller. The object-detector may be a camera, radar, lidar or any combination thereof. The object-detector detects an object proximate to a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detector. The controller is configured to determine a density of the object based on a motion-characteristic of the object caused by air-movement proximate to the object, and operate the host-vehicle to avoid striking the object with the host-vehicle when the density of the object is classified as dense.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a first-housing, a second-housing, and a connector-position-assurance (CPA) device. The first-housing has two parallel actuation-ribs extending from an outer-surface of the first-housing. The actuation-ribs are aligned parallel to a longitudinal mating-axis of the electrical connector. The second-housing is configured to mate with the first-housing and includes two opposing lugs projecting from a top-surface of the second-housing. The CPA device is slideably mounted to the second-housing and is moveable from a pre-stage-position to a latched-position. The CPA device includes two parallel latching-arms that engage the lugs. The latching-arms are in a relaxed-state when in the pre-stage-position. The actuation-ribs disengage the latching-arms from the lugs when the first-housing is mated with the second-housing. This enables the CPA device to be moved from the pre-stage-position to the latched-position.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector body defining a cylindrical terminal cavity, an elongate conductor, such as an electrical cable, having one end terminated within the first terminal cavity, and a cylindrical first seal axially surrounding a portion of the first conductor. The seal defines a compliant primary sealing ring that is in compressive contact with an inner wall of the terminal cavity. The first seal further defines an elongate frustoconical sleeve. The connector assembly also includes a seal retainer that is attached to the connector body. The seal retainer defines an elongate frustoconical retainer cavity configured to receive first sleeve. At least a portion of the sleeve is in compressive contact an inner surface of the retainer cavity.

Abstract: A plurality of heaters is provided where each of the plurality of heaters includes a fuel cell stack assembly having a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent. Each of the plurality of fuel cells also includes a conductor electrically connecting the fuel cell stack assembly to an electronic controller which monitors and controls electric current produced by the fuel cell stack assembly. The conductor of one of the plurality of heaters allows electric current produced by the fuel cell stack assembly of the one of the plurality of heaters to be monitored and controlled by the electronic controller independently of the fuel cell stack assembly of at least another one of the plurality of heaters.

Abstract: An attachment device includes a central body formed of a plastic material and defining a cavity configured to receive a temperature probe and a plurality of straps extending from the central body. Each strap of the plurality of straps is configured to secure a cable to the central body. The central body defines a wall having a first side configured to be in contact with the temperature probe and a second side in contact with a cable. This attachment device may notably be used in an electrical connection assembly having a connector, a temperature sensor disposed within the device, and at least two cables.

Abstract: A connector includes a first-housing and a second-housing. The first-housing includes a connector-lock. The second-housing is configured to receive the first-housing and includes a connector-latch configured to removably retain the connector-lock when the first-housing is mated with the second-housing. The second-housing includes a connector-position-assurance (CPA)-device slidably mounted to the second-housing and movable from a disengaged-position to an engaged-position. The CPA-device applies a retention-force to the connector-latch. The retention-force deflects the connector-latch thereby applying the retention-force to the first-housing when the first-housing is mated with the second-housing and the CPA-device is in the engaged-position.

Abstract: A multi-strand composite electrical conductor assembly includes a strand formed of carbon nanotubes and an elongated metallic strand having substantially the same length as the carbon nanotube strand. The assembly may further include a plurality of metallic strands that have substantially the same length as the carbon nanotube strand. The carbon nanotube strand may be located as a central strand and the plurality of metallic strands surround the carbon nanotube strand. The metallic strand may be formed of a material such as copper, silver, gold, or aluminum and may be plated with a material such as nickel, tin, copper, silver, and/or gold. Alternatively or additionally, the metallic strand may be clad with a material such as nickel, tin, copper, silver, and/or gold.

Abstract: An electrical connection system configured to terminate electrical connectors and to transmit digital electrical signals having a data transfer rate of 5 Gigabits per second (Gb/s) or higher. The system includes a first parallel mirrored pair of terminals having a planar connection portion and a second pair of parallel mirrored terminals having a cantilever beam portion and a contact point configured to contact the first terminals.

Abstract: An antenna device includes a plurality of conductive pads that are conductively coupled to each other. A first one of the pads is connected with a first conductive strip. The first conductive strip is not connected to an adjacent second pad. A second conductive strip and a third conductive strip connect the first pad to the second pad. A slot is aligned with the first conductive strip to direct energy from a transceiver at the first conductive strip. The first pad and others in series with it radiate energy based on the energy received by the first conductive strip. The second and third conductive strips conduct energy from the first pad to the second pad. The second pad and others in series with it radiate energy based on the energy received by the second pad. One example use of the antenna device is on an automated vehicle.

Abstract: A road-model-definition system suitable for an automated-vehicle includes a lidar-unit and a controller. The lidar-unit is suitable to mount on a host-vehicle. The lidar-unit is used to provide a point-cloud descriptive of an area proximate to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the lidar-unit. The controller is configured to: select ground-points from the point-cloud indicative of a travel-surface, tessellate a portion of the area that corresponds to the travel-surface to define a plurality of cells, determine an orientation of each cell based on the ground-points within each cell, define a road-model of the travel-surface based on the orientation of the cells, and operate the host-vehicle in accordance with the road-model.