Abstract: A system and component for generating a drive signal suitable to operate a fuel injector. The drive signal includes one or more injector pulses. Each injector pulse is characterized by a desired pulse profile. The system includes an injector driver and a controller. The injector driver is operable to apply a supply voltage to the fuel injector. The controller is configured to store a plurality of state definitions that determine an operation state of the injector driver when a selected definition of the plurality of state definitions is communicated to the injector driver. The controller is further configured to receive a sequence of state values that determine an order that the state definitions are communicated to the injector driver to generate piecewise an injector pulse exhibiting the pulse profile, and thereby generate the drive signal.

Abstract: A non-contact charging device for charging a battery in a vehicle includes a source resonator, and a foreign object detector. The source resonator is configured to transfer electrical energy to a capture resonator in a vehicle. The foreign object detector is configured to detect a foreign object proximate to the source resonator. The foreign object detector includes a vertical antenna configured to detect a foreign object above the source resonator, and a horizontal antenna configured to detect a foreign object beside the source resonator.

Abstract: A non-contact charging device for charging a battery includes a source resonator, a reference antenna, and a variable gain amplifier. The source resonator is configured to transfer electrical energy to a capture resonator in a vehicle. The reference antenna is configured to detect a reference signal originating from the source resonator. The reference antenna is configured to be less sensitive to a presence of a foreign object than a foreign object detection (FOD) antenna proximate to the reference antenna. The variable gain amplifier is configured to amplify a reference signal from the reference antenna.

Abstract: A connector system having a first connector and a second connector. The first and the second connector are moveable relative to one another along an axis in order to connect and disconnect the contacts of the first connector and the second connector. The first connector has a lever mounted at the pivot point and is pivotal around an angle. The lever has a surface extending in the circumferential direction and which extends substantially through the essentially along the same angle. The surface has a first planar section and a second section having a radially extending tooth system. The lever is movable from a first, second, and third position. The housing of the second connector has a complementary tooth system. The tooth systems become engaged when the lever is moved from the second to third position, thus moving the first connector and the second connector toward one another along the axis.

Abstract: A bending support having a planar bracing member with a length (L) that is substantially equal to that of the inner diameter (I.D.) of the manifold header that the bending support is ultimately inserted in. Extending perpendicularly from a surface of the bracing member is a pair of bracketing members. The pair of bracketing member and the portion of the planar bracing member therebetween defines a refrigerant conduit clip. The interior surface of the refrigerant conduit clip includes a skived pattern defining a plurality of teeth or protrusions that aids in the attachment of the refrigerant conduit clip onto an internal refrigerant conduit. An aperture located on the planar bracing member between the pair of bracketing member provides an unobstructed path for refrigerant flow to the refrigerant conduit.

Abstract: An occupant detection system is configured to classify an object that resides on a seat of a vehicle. The system includes a first bladder, a second bladder, and a differential pressure sensor. The first bladder is configured to be disposed in a central area of a seat. The second bladder is configured to be disposed in a peripheral area of the seat. The differential pressure sensor is fluidicly coupled to the first bladder and the second bladder in a manner effective to determine a pressure difference between a first pressure of the first bladder and a second pressure of the second bladder. In one configuration, the first bladder and the second bladder are configured so the pressure difference when a person sits on the seat is greater than the pressure difference when a child-seat occupies the seat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly comprising a plug connector and a spring operated secondary lock, being arranged movable on the plug connector housing between an open position and a locked position. The connector is further provided with tension springs, which are tensioned when the secondary lock is moved from the locked to the open position.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is configured for use in a vehicle. A first air moving device blowing air through a heat exchanger provides a first airstream having a first temperature to a second air moving device configured to generate a second airstream having a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The second airstream is a mixture of the first airstream and cabin air that is drawn from a rear portion of the vehicle cabin. The second air moving device may be disposed in the rear portion of the vehicle. The HVAC system further includes a nozzle that is configured to direct the second airstream toward an occupant in the rear portion of the vehicle cabin to provide spot conditioning.

Abstract: The invention relates to a strain relief/bending protection apparatus for a cable, in particular a high speed cable, connected to a plug connector, comprising a base section which can be fastened to a housing of the plug connector and a sleeve section projecting from the base section for surrounding the cable in a region disposed outside the housing, wherein the sleeve section continuously has a round cross-section and the cross-sectional area of the sleeve section reduces as the spacing from the base section increases.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material molded to provide details to accept audio devices and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture is bifurcated into a first board carrying common circuit components in a surface mount configuration suitable for high volume production, and a second board carrying application specific circuit components in a wave soldered stick mount configuration.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell stack having an electrically conductive interconnect, including the steps of: (a) providing a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell, (b) providing a substrate having an iron-chromium alloy, (c) depositing a layer of metallic cobalt over a portion of substrate surface, (d) subjecting the layer of metallic cobalt to reducing conditions, (e) then exposing the remaining portion of the layer of metallic cobalt to oxidizing conditions for a predetermined time and temperature, such that the surface portion of the layer of metallic cobalt is oxidized to cobalt oxide, thereby forming the electrically conductive interconnect having a layer of metallic cobalt sandwiched between a surface layer of cobalt oxide and the layer of cobalt-iron-chromium alloy, and (f) sandwiching the substrate between the first and second fuel cells.

Abstract: A connector having a connector body defining a first protrusion and a connector position assurance (CPA) device in the form of a sleeve axially surrounding the connector body that is moveable along a mating axis. The sleeve defines a second protrusion configured to engage the first protrusion when a first force is applied to the sleeve as the connector is mated with a corresponding mating connector. The second protrusion is configured to slide over the first protrusion and then disengage the first protrusion when a second force is applied to the sleeve, thereby producing a vibratory response in the sleeve. The vibratory response is a tactile vibration or an audible vibration. The second force applied to the sleeve is greater than the first force and the second force may be applied to the sleeve in the same direction as the first force or in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A connector that is configured to be inserted within a cavity of a shroud defined by a mating connector along a longitudinal axis, including a connector body which defines a first resilient member and a first wedge member that is configured to urge the first resilient member into compressive contact with the shroud of the mating connector along a vertical or longitudinal axis. The connector may include a plurality of pairs of resilient members and wedge members to provide compressive contact along more than one axis. The wedge members may be incorporated into a connector position assurance device (CPA).

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 communication plate extends along and is sandwiched between cylindrical communication manifolds of a first heat exchanger assembly and a second heat exchanger assembly. The communication plate includes a saddling surface arcuate in one direction and a saddling surface arcuate in the opposite direction for engaging in saddle-like fashion the cylindrical shape of the manifolds. The communication plate defines a plurality of communication plate orifices disposed along the communication plate and aligned co-axial with a plurality of communication orifices disposed along the manifolds to seal the communication orifices of the manifolds and establish distributed and sealed fluid communication between the heat exchanger assemblies.

Abstract: An electrical distribution center having a base connected to one or several wiring harnesses and a connector body that is configured to be electrically and mechanically connected to the base. The connector body houses electrical devices such as relays, fuses, and control modules. The connector body is secured to the base by a pair of slides having dog-leg shaped slots that engage studs on the base. A single slide lever having two arms attached to each of the slides is pivotably attached to the connector body and the slides and is configured to simultaneously move the dog-leg shaped slots relative to the studs on the base, thereby securing the connector body to the base.

Abstract: A method is provided for attaching a termination arrangement to a shielded cable which includes a conductive core, a core insulation layer, a conductive shield layer, and an outer insulation layer. A length of the outer insulation layer is removed to expose an end portion of the conductive shield layer and a length of the core insulation layer is removed to expose a portion of the conductive core. The termination assembly is provided having a terminal, a core crimp section in electrical communication with the terminal, and an inner ferrule section connected to the core crimp section. The core crimp section is positioned adjacent to the exposed conductive core and crimped around said conductive core in electrical contact therewith. The inner ferrule section is positioned adjacent to the exposed conductive shield layer and crimped around the core insulation layer. The core crimp section is separated from the inner ferrule section.

Abstract: An electrical terminal for automotive vehicle connectors comprising a cage extending in a terminal insertion direction between a front opening and a tail. A locking lance extends longitudinally substantially in the insertion direction above the top wall from a joint to a free end. The locking lance is astride an intermediate bar which extends substantially along the insertion direction from a front portion to a rear portion respectively linked to the front end and the rear end of the cage.

Abstract: A ceramic short circuit resistant capacitor that is bendable and/or shapeable to provide a multiple layer capacitor that is extremely compact and amenable to desirable geometries. The capacitor that exhibits a benign failure mode in which a multitude of discrete failure events result in a gradual loss of capacitance. Each event is a localized event in which localized heating causes an adjacent portion of one or both of the electrodes to vaporize, physically cleaning away electrode material from the failure site. A first metal electrode, a second metal electrode, and a ceramic dielectric layer between the electrodes are thin enough to be formed in a serpentine-arrangement with gaps between the first electrode and the second electrode that allow venting of vaporized electrode material in the event of a benign failure.

Abstract: An electrical connector system having a male and female connector. The male connector includes a U-shaped shroud axially surrounding a male terminal having an opening generally perpendicular to the male terminal's longitudinal axis. The female connector includes a female terminal having two openings, one generally parallel with the female terminal's longitudinal axis and another generally perpendicular to that axis. The male and female terminals mate in a parallel configuration having the male terminal axis generally parallel to the female terminal axis or in a perpendicular configuration having the male terminal axis generally perpendicular to the female terminal axis. A connector body holds the female terminal. The connector body defines a locking means that releasably secures the connector body to the shroud in both the parallel and perpendicular mating configurations. The locking means may include a triangular shaped lock tab that engages a similarly shaped lock aperture.