Abstract: A steering system for an autonomous vehicle includes a steering mechanism having a pinion gear and a rack, the steering mechanism being configured to translate rotation of the pinion gear into movement of the rack which is configured to affect the position of a steer tire of the autonomous vehicle, thereby affecting the lateral position of the autonomous vehicle; a steering wheel which provides a mechanical input to the pinion gear from an operator of the autonomous vehicle; a steering actuator which rotates to apply torque to the steering mechanism, thereby inducing movement of the rack which affects the position of the steer tire of the autonomous vehicle; and a variable coupling member operatively between the steering actuator and the steering mechanism which is configured to vary the torque that can be transmitted from the steering actuator to the steering mechanism.

Abstract: An electronic assembly including a printed circuit board (PCB), a housing, and a shock absorbing device that is intermediate the printed circuit board and the housing. The shock absorbing device is formed of an insulative and compliant material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer material. The side walls of the shock absorbing device defines a groove surrounds and at least partially encloses the edges of the printed circuit board. The shock absorbing device defines an aperture through which a fastener is configured to pass to secure the shock absorbing device to the housing and thus securing the printed circuit board within the housing. The shock absorbing device is intermediate the fastener and the printed circuit board so that there is no direct contact between the fastener and the printed circuit board which could transmit impact shock directly from the housing to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An electronic assembly including a first connector having a first set of terminals physically and operationally compliant with a data transmission connector standard, such as USB 2.0, and a second set of terminals distinct from the first set of terminals physically compliant and operationally non-compliant with this data transmission connector standard. An electronic controller is connected to the first connector. The controller includes a memory device to store configuration data, such as a battery charging profile, used by the controller to control a first electronic device, such as a battery charging device. The second set of terminals receive new configuration data to update the configuration data stored in the memory device. The assembly may include a specially configured data cable to interconnect the assembly to a separate electronic device to transmit the updated configuration data. The assembly may reduce the current supplied for battery charging by monitoring a battery voltage.

Abstract: A heater includes a heater housing with a fuel cell stack assembly disposed therein. The fuel cell stack assembly includes a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent. The fuel cell stack assembly includes a fuel cell manifold for receiving the fuel within a fuel inlet and the oxidizing agent within an oxidizing agent inlet and distributing the fuel and oxidizing agent to the fuel cells. A fuel supply conduit supplies the fuel to the fuel inlet and an oxidizing agent supply conduit supplies the oxidizing agent to the oxidizing agent inlet. A sonic orifice is disposed between the fuel supply conduit and the fuel inlet or between the oxidizing agent supply conduit and the oxidizing agent inlet, thereby limiting the velocity of the fuel or the oxidizing agent through the sonic orifice.

Abstract: A cognitive-driver-assist system includes an object-detection device, an operator-detection device, and a controller. The object-detection device is operable to detect when an object is proximate to a host-vehicle. The operator-detection device is operable to determine when an operator of the host-vehicle is aware of the object. The controller is configured to output a warning-signal for the operator of the host-vehicle when the object-detection device detects the object. The warning-signal is characterized by a warning-intensity that is variable. The controller is configured to increase the warning-intensity when the operator is not aware of the object.

Abstract: An electrical adapter device includes an electrical receptacle defined by a first technical standard, e.g. NEMA 6-15R, NEMA 5-20R, or NEMA 6-20R, disposed within a first face of the electrical adapter device and configured to receive a first electrical plug defined by the same first technical standard. The adapter also includes a second electrical plug, e.g. NEMA 5-15P defined by a second technical standard projecting from a second face of the electrical adapter device. The adapter further includes a moveable locking tang projecting from the first face of the electrical adapter device and configured to be received within a complementary aperture defined by a first plug housing containing the first electrical plug. The locking tang is removable from the aperture when in a disengaged position and the locking tang is secured within the aperture when in an engaged position.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes an input member; an output member defining a phasing advance chamber and a phasing retard chamber with the input member; and a rotary valve spool coaxially disposed within the output member such that the rotary valve spool is rotatable relative to the output member and the input member, the valve spool defining a rotary valve spool advance chamber and a rotary valve spool retard chamber. Oil supplied to the rotary valve spool advance chamber causes the rotary valve spool to rotate relative to the output member and relative to the input member in a retard direction and oil supplied to the rotary valve spool retard chamber causes the rotary valve spool to rotate relative to the output member and relative to the input member in an advance direction.

Abstract: A heated fuel injector for supplying fuel to a fuel consuming device includes a fuel inlet for receiving fuel, a fuel outlet for dispensing fuel from the fuel injector, and a fuel injector body extending along an axis and fluidly connecting the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet such that fuel flows within the injector body. A cylindrical heating element radially surrounds the fuel injector body and operates to heat fuel flowing through the fuel injector body. An annular space is defined between the heating element and the fuel injector body sufficiently large to accommodate thermally caused radial differential expansion between the fuel injector body and the heating element. A conductive material fills the annular space and has a melting point sufficiently low to be a liquid as the heating element operates to thereby substantially prevent transfer of mechanical stress to the heating element due to the radial differential expansion.

Abstract: A geothermic heater system for heating a geological formation includes a fuel cell stack assembly disposed at the surface of the geological formation and includes a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent, thereby producing an anode exhaust and a cathode exhaust. The geothermic fuel cell system also includes a combustor disposed within a bore hole of the geological formation. The combustor combusts a mixture at least one of the anode exhaust and the cathode exhaust to produce a heated combustor exhaust. The combustor discharges the heated combustor exhaust to heat the geological formation.

Abstract: A system for silently communicating a horn-signal between vehicles is provided. The system includes a sending-vehicle equipped with a horn-button operable by a horn-operator, a transmitter configured to transmit, using electromagnetic-energy, a horn-signal in response to the horn-operator operating the horn-button, and a first location-device configured to determine a send-location of the sending-vehicle. The transmitter is configured to incorporate the send-location into the horn-signal. The system may also include a receiving-vehicle different from the sending-vehicle. The receiving-vehicle is equipped with a receiver configured to detect the horn-signal, and a second location-device configured to determine, based on the horn-signal, a relative-location of the sending-vehicle relative to the receiving-vehicle.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprising a wire attached to a terminal and a connector body. The terminal defines a pair of terminal wings protruding from opposite side surfaces of the terminal. A cavity within the connector body is configured to receive the terminal. Side walls of the cavity define terminal guides that have guide rails and a guide slots beneath the guide rails. As the terminal is pushed into the cavity, the guide rails urge the terminal wings toward a top wall of the cavity until the terminal wings reach an end of the guide rails. The terminal wings then enter open ends of the guide slots as the wire is pulled cavity and the terminal wings traverse the guide slots until the terminal wings engage closed ends of the guide slots and/or a terminal lock tab engages a lock surface within the cavity, thereby preventing the terminal from being inadvertently withdrawn from the cavity.

Abstract: A fluid pump includes a hollow housing, an electric motor having an armature with a commutator, a pump section rotationally coupled to the electric motor for receiving fuel at a relatively low pressure through a fuel inlet and pressurizing the fuel to a relatively high pressure, a motor brush is in electrical contact with the commutator and including a shunt wire extending therefrom, and an end cap that closes one end of the housing and defines a high pressure chamber with the housing. The end cap includes a hollow brush tower extending therefrom and defining a brush holder slidably receiving the motor brush therein such that the brush holder defines in part the high pressure chamber. The end cap also includes an aperture with the shunt wire extending therethrough such that the shunt wire is sealed with the aperture to prevent the fuel from passing therethrough.

Abstract: An electrical plug assembly including a plug housing having a first set of pins projecting from a first surface and a second set of pins projecting from an opposed second surface. The electrical plug assembly also includes an enclosure slideably attached to the plug housing. The enclosure slides to expose one set of pins while enclosing the other set of pins. The electrical plug assembly further includes a hood pivotally attached to the plug housing and slideably attached to the enclosure. The enclosure is rotatable from a first position to a second position. As the hood rotates, it slides the enclosure from a first location wherein the first set of pins is exposed to a second location wherein the second set of pins is exposed. The first set of pins conform to one technical standard, e.g. NEMA 6-20P while the second set of pins conform to another technical standard, e.g. NEMA 5-15P.

Abstract: A radar system suitable for an automated vehicle includes a plurality of antennas configured to detect a reflected radar signal reflected by an object in a field-of-view of the system. Each antenna of the plurality of antennas is configured to output detected signals indicative of the reflected radar signal detected by each of the plurality of antennas. The system also includes a controller configured to receive the detected signals from the plurality of antennas, determine if the object is present in the field-of-view based on the detected signals, and determine a phase-difference between symmetrical-frequency-bins for each antenna. The symmetrical-frequency-bins are symmetrically offset from a maximum-amplitude non-coherent-integration detection-frequency-bin (max-NCI-bin). The controller is further configured to determine a classification of the object based on a time-domain-analysis of the phase differences across the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser is provided for varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an engine. The camshaft phaser includes a stator having lobes. A rotor disposed within the stator and rotatable between a full retard position to a full retard position includes vanes extending radially outward from a central hub and interspersed with the stator lobes to define alternating advance and retard chambers. A first portion of the central hub between adjacent vanes extends radially outward further than a second portion of the central hub between adjacent vanes.

Abstract: A safety system and a method configured to determine whether a passenger compartment of a vehicle is occupied whether the temperature of the passenger compartment is outside an acceptable temperature range, and to take a safety countermeasure if needed. An occupant is detected by sounds received by an audio transducer within the passenger compartment connected to an infotainment system. The temperature is detected by a temperature sensor connected to the heating, ventilation and air condition system of the vehicle. Example safety countermeasures include activating the horn, transmitting a wireless signal indicating that an unattended occupant is in the vehicle to a remote wireless receiver, and/or at least partially opening a vehicle window. A pair of high frequency speakers connected to the infotainment system may be used to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals so that an occupant may be detected using ultrasonic motion detection techniques.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system that transmits electrical power from an electrical power supply to an electrical load using a source transducer and a capture transducer. The wireless power transfer system may be part of a wireless charging system for an electric vehicle. The source resonator coil in the source transducer and the capture resonator coil in the capture transducer are substantially identical and are interchangeable. The structures that hold the resonators in the transducers and the plates that provide a ground plane for the resonators in the source transducer and the capture transducer are also substantially identical and are interchangeable. Each resonator is formed of a carrier-winder, or bobbin, that has two substantially identical and interchangeable halves enclosing a magnetic core and is wound with a wire coil.

Abstract: A system which is configured 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 the need to add or provide OTG controllers in the system or additional vehicle wiring, or inhibiting the functionality of any consumer devices operating in USB Device mode connected to a vehicle system Hub while another consumer device connected to the same Hub operates in USB Host mode. Preferably, the system is configured to provide that no additional cabling is required, and no hardware changes are required to be made to the HU. The system can be employed between a vehicle's embedded USB Host, USB Hub and at least one consumer accessible USB port.

Abstract: A fuel rail assembly for supplying pressurized fuel to at least one fuel injector of an engine includes a hollow fuel rail extending along a fuel rail axis. The fuel rail includes an inlet for introducing the pressurized fuel into the fuel rail and at least one outlet for dispensing the pressurized fuel from the fuel rail. The fuel rail assembly also includes a bracket for attaching the fuel rail assembly to the engine. The bracket includes a fuel rail portion defining a first passage extending therethrough in the same direction as the fuel rail axis for receiving the fuel rail therewithin. The bracket also includes a mounting portion adjacent to the fuel rail portion and defining a second passage extending therethrough in the same direction as the fuel rail axis. The mounting portion is configured to receive a fastener for securing the fuel rail assembly to the engine.

Abstract: A right angle connector assembly including a first connector having a mating assist slider configured to slide along a first axis defined by the first connector and a second connector having a second housing and an intermediate housing attached to the second housing that is configured to slide along a second axis defined by the second connector that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The intermediate housing is configured to receive the first connector along the first axis. When the mating assist slider is moved along the first axis from a starting position to and ending position, the mating assist slider moves intermediate housing along the second axis from an initial position to a final position, thereby mating a first terminal within the first connector to a second terminal within the second connector at a right angle or ninety degree orientation.