Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) imaging system configured to display an autostereoscopic image of a scene toward a viewing area, and detect gestures occurring in the viewing area. The system includes an imaging device configured to project a plurality of projected images in distinct directions, and each projected image is characterized as a distinct perspective view of the scene. The imaging device is also configured to detect a plurality of received images for the purpose of detecting gestures. The system also includes a holographic diffuser, and a mirror arrangement configured to reflect the plurality of projected images from the imaging device toward the holographic diffuser to display an autostereoscopic image of the scene in the holographic diffuser, and reflect a plurality of perspective images from the viewing area toward the imaging device such that each received image corresponds to a distinct perspective view of the viewing area.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and system is described for diagnosing an operating condition of a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate with electrical resistance that varies with temperature and two electrodes on the substrate adapted to collect particulate matter between the electrodes, thereby establishing an electrically conductive path through collected particulate matter between the electrodes that can be detected by measuring electrical resistance between the electrodes, Relect. The diagnosis is performed by heating the substrate in the area between the electrodes and using the resistance between the electrodes to determine detecting whether contamination is present on the surface of the sensor. Heat may be maintained on the sensor to attempt to burn off a detected contaminant, and a subsequent resistance reading may be used to determine if the contaminant was successfully burned off.

Abstract: A system to align a vehicle in a parking location includes a plurality of heat generating devices, such as infrared LEDs, arranged in a surface of the parking location to produce a distinctive thermal pattern. A multiple zone temperature sensor is mounted to view the heat generating devices and is configured to output thermal data for each of the zones. A controller is configured to receive the thermal data and determine a thermal map of the plurality of heat generating devices. A display provides a graphic indication of the thermal map and a thermal alignment target. The system may be used to align a vehicle having a capture resonator of a wireless power transfer system to a parking location having a source resonator of a wireless power transfer system.

Abstract: A particulate matter sensor includes a first pair of sensing electrodes with a gap therebetween and a second pair of sensing electrodes with a gap therebetween. A method for determining an amount of soot on the particulate matter sensor includes determining the electrical resistance between the first pair of electrodes and the electrical resistance between the second pair of electrodes. The amount of soot deposited on the particulate matter sensor is determined based on the electrical resistance values. The time rate of change of resistance between the first pair of electrodes and the time rate of change of resistance between the second pair of electrodes are determined. The first and second rates of change are compared to each other and to threshold values, and the determination of soot amount may be modified depending on the results of these comparisons.

Abstract: A wire connector assembly configured to provide a hermetic seal between two distinct environments and a method of constructing same is presented. The assembly includes insulated wire cables having ends that are spaced apart and joined by a wire splice element within a connector body, thereby interrupting a fluid leak path through the strands of the wire cables. The connector body formed of a fiberglass filled epoxide epoxy material may be over-molded the wire splice elements having a matte tin plated finish. A portion of connector body or the wire splice element may be disposed intermediate to the ends of the wire cables, providing an additional physical barrier to the fluid leak path. The materials selected and the shape of the wire splice elements are selected to mitigate the formation of microcracks between the connector body and splice elements that could allow the infiltration of gases through the connector assembly.

Abstract: Pressure sensitive transducer assembly that includes a force sensing resistor. The force sensing resistor includes: first and second substrates; at least a first and a second electrically conductive traces on the inner surface of the first substrate including interdigitated fingers defining a sensitive area; and a resistive layer facing the sensitive area. The force sensing resistor includes an auxiliary trace on the inner surface of the first substrate connecting the first trace to the second trace through a constant resistance that is not dependent on the force applied to the substrates. The constant resistance being of a value largely greater than the value of the variable resistance which can be measured indirectly between the fingers when an external force is applied to the substrates. A system and a control method are also proposed.

Abstract: Manual control interface including: a movable part, a photo-detector, a movable holographic element including a first series of holograms forming coding motifs of the selection position of the movable part, characterized by the fact that the movable holographic element includes a second series of holograms forming figurative motifs representing the functions of the apparatus, the position of the movable holographic element relative to the support determining the figurative motif which is illuminated by a suitable light beam, so as to project the figurative motif corresponding to the selected function towards a display zone visible to the user.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a component failure in a saddle-type fuel tank assembly is provided. The method includes a) updating a maximum amount to a subsequent amount of fuel if the subsequent amount of fuel is greater than the maximum amount, b) updating a minimum amount to the subsequent amount of fuel if the subsequent amount of fuel is less than the minimum amount, c) determining a fuel consumption amount, and d) determining that one or more of a first fuel level sender and a second fuel level sender have failed if the difference between the maximum amount and minimum amount is less than a first threshold, and the fuel consumption amount is greater than a second threshold.

Abstract: A device for attaching a line or wire cable to a connecting element includes an upper and a lower die that each has a press surface. At least one recess outside of the press surfaces is provided between the upper and the lower die that decreases the risk of damage to the dies should an erroneous attachment of the wire cable to the connecting element occur.

Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) includes a sense coil to determine a current flow in a power circuit coupled between a power source and a load. The GFCI also includes a switching device configured to disconnect the power source from the load. The GFCI further includes a controller that controls the switching device based on the current flow in the power circuit. The GFCI additionally includes an electrical power supply that provides electrical power to the switching device. The power supply is electrically separate and isolated from the power circuit. The GFCI may be used to monitor a power circuit connected to a tuned resonant circuit, such as a source or capture resonator of a wireless power transfer system, since inductive elements in the switching device, such as solenoids, are isolated from the power circuit and therefore cannot unbalance a tuned resonant circuit connected to the power circuit.

Abstract: A method of operating an engine in a vehicle equipped with an evaporative emissions system is described. The engine is configured to perform automatically an engine stop and an engine restart when the vehicle stops moving to increase fuel economy of the vehicle. The method includes the steps of determining if an engine stop is allowed while a diagnostic test of the of the evaporative emissions system is being performed if an engine stop is requested, and preventing the engine stop if the engine stop is not allowed.

Abstract: A communication system configured to communicate receiver-specific information from a transmitter to a plurality of receivers. Each of the receivers is assigned to one of a plurality of groups based on a group identification value stored in each receiver. A first receiver group is configured to operate during a first information-expected time interval. The first information-expected time interval is determined based on a reception time of a time-reference signal and a first group identification value. A second receiver group is configured to operate during a second information-expected time interval distinct from the first information-expected time interval. The second information-expected time interval is determined based on the reception time of the time-reference signal and a second group identification value.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes a housing with a harmonic gear drive unit disposed therein. The harmonic gear drive unit includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. A coupling adapter is disposed coaxially within the housing bore and fixed to the wave generator and supported in the housing by a bearing which is press fit onto a bearing surface of the coupling adapter. The coupling adapter has a coupling adapter bore with opposing drive lugs extending radially inward therefrom which are axially coincident with the bearing surface. A coupling of the rotational actuator is disposed within the coupling adapter bore and has opposing drive slots which receive the opposing drive lugs, thereby transmitting motion from the coupling to the coupling adapter.

Abstract: A variable disparity three-dimensional (3D) display system and method of processing a variable disparity three-dimensional (3D) image shown on a display to reduce motion sickness of a person viewing the display. The system includes a motion detector configured to determine a motion value that characterizes motion of a display, and an image processor configured to adjust incrementally a disparity amount of a 3D image shown by the display based on the motion value in order to reduce motion sickness of a person viewing the display. The method includes determining a motion value that characterizes motion of a display, and adjusting a disparity amount of a 3D image shown by the display incrementally based on the motion value in order to reduce motion sickness of a person viewing the display.

Abstract: A self-circulating heat exchanger apparatus for dissipating heat from an electronic assembly. An enclosure defines a closed-loop circulation path for coolant. An electronic assembly capable of generating heat is installed into a vertical portion of the enclosure such that heat from the electronic assembly causes coolant in the vertical portion to rise, thereby inducing self-circulation of the coolant in the enclosure. The electronic assembly is coated with a combination of silicon nitride and PARYLENE® in order to protect electronic components from water based coolants such as a mixture of ethylene glycol and water.

Abstract: A fluid pump includes an inlet for introducing fluid into the fluid pump and an outlet for discharging fluid from the fluid pump. The fluid pump also includes a motor having a shaft that rotates about an axis. An impeller includes an array of blades radially surrounding the axis. The impeller is rotatable by the shaft of the motor such that rotation of the impeller pumps fluid from the inlet to the outlet. A vibration isolation member applies a force on the shaft such that the force has a component that is perpendicular to the axis.

Abstract: An electrical distribution center, bussed electrical center, or power distribution box includes a housing containing a plurality of electronic devices including a plurality of removable electronic devices. The housing further defines a plurality of openings on opposite side of the housing so that the removable electronic devices are accessible through at least one of the openings. The housing receivably couples at least one wire cable that is in electrical communication with the removable electronic devices. When the wire cable is coupled to the housing, the removable electronic device is accessed through one of the openings while the coupled wire cable remains attached to the housing. A relay and fuse electronic circuit arrangement and a fuse electronic circuit arrangement each effectively utilize the allotted packaging space within the housing while also conserving the use of circuit board traces.

Abstract: A connector system including a first connector having a longitudinally extending lock arm defining a lock nib and attached to the first connector. The lock nib is configured to engage a primary lock tab of a second connector when the first and second connectors are in a fully mated position and the lock arm is in a resting position. The lock nib is configured to disengage the primary lock tab and engage a secondary lock tab of the second connector when the lock arm is moved from a resting to an activated position and the first and second connectors are moved to a partially mated position while the lock arm is in the activated position. The connector system generates an audible or tactile click only when the first connector is fully mated with the second connector. The connectors can be disconnected with bare hands, no tools are required.

Abstract: A system and method to detect a foreign object proximate to a source resonator that is part of a wireless energy transfer system. The wireless energy transfer system may be one used to wirelessly charge the batteries of an electric vehicle. Data from a visible light camera and a multiple zone temperature sensor are combined or fused to determine whether a foreign object, such a metallic object or an animal, is in the vicinity of, or in close proximity to, a source resonator. The system controls an electric current provided to the source resonator based on whether a foreign object is detected to reduce or inhibit energy emitted by the source resonator. The visible light camera may be a monochrome or color camera and the temperature sensor may be an infrared camera or a thermopile array.

Abstract: An electrical connection system and method includes a first connector housing matable to a second connector housing along a mating axis. The first connector housing contains a mating assist lever (MAL) that rotationally pivots between an INOPERATIVE position and a CLOSED position and includes a locking means. When the MAL is positionally rotatable to the CLOSED position the first connector housing and the second connector housing are mated together such that the locking means is disposed adjacent an external surface of the second connector housing. A sufficiently applied force against the locking means actuates the locking means so that the locking means latchingly secures the first connector housing to the second connector housing. A CPA member, also disposed on the MAL, slidingly communicates with the latched locking means transverse to the mating axis and ensures the latched locking means does not become unlatched so that electrical connection system remains mated.