Abstract: A coaxial-cable-assembly includes a coaxial-cable and a tubular-ferrule. The coaxial-cable includes an outer-jacket and an exposed outer-shield conductor. The tubular-ferrule includes a crimp-zone, a skirt-zone, and a transition-zone therebetween. The tubular-ferrule defines a relief-slot having an open-end, a closed-end, and two parallel-edges that extend from the crimp-zone to the skirt-zone. The crimp-zone is brought into forcible contact with the exposed outer-shield conductor by drawing the two parallel-edges into close proximity, such that a crimp-zone-diameter is reduced to less than a skirt-zone-diameter. As a result, the closed-end of the relief-slot forms an aperture in a junction of the transition-zone and the skirt-zone.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is presented herein. The electrical connector includes a pair of connector blocks each defining a groove in an end surface that is configured to have an electrical conductor of an electrical cable partially disposed within it, e.g. a carbon nanotube conductor. The electrical connector also includes a housing configured to receive connector blocks, align the groove of one connector block with the groove of the other connector block, and hold the connector blocks together such that the electrical conductors within the grooves are in direct physical and electrical contact with the one another and are compressed. An electrical cable assembly incorporating such as connector and an method of manufacturing a cable assembly using such a connector is also presented.

Abstract: A crosswalk navigation system for operating an automated vehicle in an intersection includes an intersection-detector, a pedestrian-detector, and a controller. The intersection-detector is suitable for use on a host-vehicle. The intersection-detector is used to determine when the host-vehicle is proximate to an intersection and determine when the intersection includes a cross-walk. The pedestrian-detector is suitable for use on the host-vehicle. The pedestrian-detector is used to determine a motion-vector of a pedestrian relative to the cross-walk. The controller is in communication with the intersection-detector and the pedestrian-detector.

Abstract: A radar system suitable for an automated vehicle includes a radar sensor and a controller. The radar-sensor is mounted on a host-vehicle. The radar-sensor is operable to detect radar-signals reflected by scattering-points of a target-vehicle located proximate to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the radar-sensor. The controller is configured to determine a present-range-rate, a present-azimuth, and optionally a present-range, of each of the scattering-points at a present-time. The controller is also configured to recall a prior-range-rate, a prior-azimuth, and optionally a prior-range, of each of the scattering-points at a prior-time. The controller is also configured to calculate a yaw-rate of the target-vehicle at the present-time based on the present-range-rate, the present-azimuth, the prior-range-rate, and the prior-azimuth, and optionally the present-range and the prior-range, of each of the scattering-points.

Abstract: A conductor winding tool configured to stow a flexible electrical conductor, such as a conductor attached to an automotive battery charger. The tool includes a handle that is configured to be grasped by a human hand and a body defining an aperture through which the flexible electrical conductor passes. The tool is used to stow the flexible electrical conductor by winding the flexible electrical conductor into a storage device, such as a spool, reel, or storage bag.

Abstract: A wire cable assembly, such as those used in electric or hybrid electric vehicles, having a plurality of shielded wire cables that are spliced together is presented. The assembly. A resilient shield clip electrically interconnects the shield conductors of at least a portion of the plurality of shielded wire cables. The shield clip defines a first wire receiving portion that is characterized as being omega-shaped in cross section. A first shield conductor portion is received within the first wire receiving portion. The shield clip further defines second and third wire receiving portions in which the second and third shield conductor portions are received respectively. A conductive shield sleeve is in electrical contact with the shield clip and encloses the first, second, and third shield conductor portions. A method of splicing shielded wire cables using such a shield clip is also presented herein.

Abstract: A wiring harness assembly is presented. The wiring harness assembly is formed by a method that includes the steps of crimping an electrical wire cable within a crimping feature of an electrical terminal having wire strands protruding from the crimping feature and fusing the wire strands of protruding portion, or “wire brush” so that the wire strands are in intimate contact, thereby eliminating voids between individual wire strands of the wire brush. The wires may be fused by laser welding, soldering, or brazing. The method may be especially beneficial for wire strands having an insulative oxide layer, such as aluminum. The bonding reduces the resistance between the wire strands due to insulating oxide layers on the surface of the wire strands and inhibiting of corrosion by eliminating inter-strand gaps where electrolytes in solution may enter and cause galvanic corrosion.

Abstract: An illustrative example method of operating a capacitive vehicle entry control device includes: determining a plurality of capacitance values of the vehicle entry control device during a measurement period; determining an average capacitance of the plurality of capacitance values; determining whether the determined average capacitance exceeds an average threshold; determining a range of the plurality of capacitance values; determining whether the determined range exceeds a range threshold; and initiating a vehicle entry process when the determined average capacitance exceeds the average threshold or when the determined range exceeds the range threshold.

Abstract: An electrical connector including electrical terminals along with a connector housing defining a first and second cavity, the first and second cavities configured to receive the terminals. The connector housing further defines a third cavity extending along a lateral axis. The electrical connector includes a terminal position assurance (TPA) device received within the third cavity. The TPA device is moveable from an terminal insertion position to a terminal locking position. The TPA device has flexible first and second primary locking features and rigid first and second secondary locking features configured to engage locking features of the terminals. Only the first primary and first secondary locking features engage the locking surface of the first electrical terminal and only the second primary and second secondary locking features engage the locking surface of the second electrical terminal when the TPA device is in the terminal locking position.

Abstract: An electrically conductive hybrid polymer material is described herein. The hybrid polymer material includes 0.01% to 1% by weight of carbon nanoparticles, 1% to 10% by weight of a conductive polymeric material, 1% to 20% of electrically conductive fibers having a metallic surface and 69% or more by weight of a nonconductive polymeric base material. The carbon nanoparticles may be carbon nanotubes, graphite nanoparticles, graphene nanoparticles, and/or fullerene nanoparticles. The conductive polymeric material may be an inherently conductive polymer, a radical polymers, or an electroactive polymer. The electrically conductive fibers may be stainless steel fibers, metal plated carbon fibers, or metal nanowires. The nonconductive polymeric base material may be selected from materials that are pliable at temperatures between ?40° C. and 125° C. or materials that are rigid in this temperature range.

Abstract: An electrical connector system including a first connector having a lock nib extending from a floor into a terminal cavity and a flexible member overlying the floor. The beam has two terminal hold down bumps extending into the terminal receiving cavity. The electrical connector system also includes a terminal having a lock edge. The terminal is received in the terminal cavity such that the hold down bumps engage a top surface of the terminal, applying a force that biases the terminal towards the rigid floor. The lock nib engages the lock edge, thereby preventing the terminal from being inadvertently withdrawn from the terminal cavity. A second connector defines a shroud into which a portion of the first connector is inserted, wherein the beam compressively contacts an inner surface of the second connector further increasing the force applied to the terminal. The connectors may be formed by an additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: A data transmission cable assembly includes an elongate first conductor, an elongate second conductor, and a sheath at least partially axially surrounding the first and second conductors. The sheath contains a plurality of electrically conductive particles interspersed within a matrix formed of an electrically insulative polymeric material. The conductive particles may be formed of a metallic material or and inherently conductive polymer material. The plurality conductive particles may be filaments that form a plurality of electrically interconnected networks. Each network is electrically isolated from every other network. Each network contains less than 125 filaments and/or has a length less than 13 millimeters. The bulk conductivity of the sheath is substantially equal to the conductivity of the electrically insulative polymeric material. The data transmission cable assembly does not include a terminal that is configured to connect the sheath to an electrical ground.

Abstract: A scenario aware perception system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes a traffic-scenario detector, an object-detection device, and a controller. The traffic-scenario detector is used to detect a present-scenario experienced by a host-vehicle. The object-detection device is used to detect an object proximate to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the traffic-scenario detector and the object-detection device. The controller configured to determine a preferred-algorithm used to identify the object. The preferred-algorithm is determined based on the present-scenario.

Abstract: A right-angled electrical plug includes a first plug terminal and a second plug terminal longitudinally spaced apart from one another. First and second electrical wires are interconnected with the first and second plug terminals respectively. A housing configured to secure the first and second plug terminals has a generally planar surface from which the first and second plug terminals project and has a portal through which the first and second electrical wires exit the housing. The surface has a first lateral edge that is closer to the portal than a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge. A first distance between the first lateral edge and the first plug terminal is at least two times less, and is preferably is at least three time less, than a second distance between the second lateral edge and the second plug terminal. The right-angled electrical plug may conform to NEMA 5-15P standards.

Abstract: A wire harness having at least wire harness assembly having a splice of at least three shielded wire cables is presented. The assembly includes a flexible insulation layer wrapped about the joined core conductors of the three cables, a flexible conductive layer wrapped about the shield conductors of the cables, and a section of dual wall heat shrink tubing enclosing the flexible conductive layer and portions of the insulative jackets of the cables. The flexible conductive layer does not include any solder.

Abstract: An operator-evaluation system for an automated vehicle includes a traffic-detector and a controller. The traffic-detector is used to determine a complexity-ranking of a traffic-scenario approached by a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the traffic-detector and is configured to operate the host-vehicle in: an automated-mode where the controller steers the host-vehicle toward a desired-position of a travel-lane; a monitored-mode where an operator steers the host-vehicle and the controller assists the operator to steer the host-vehicle toward the desired-position when the host-vehicle is farther than a lateral-threshold from the desired-position; and a manual-mode where the operator steers the host-vehicle without assistance from the controller.

Abstract: A connector body configured to interconnect with a corresponding mating connector body includes a pair of longitudinal struts that extend from the connector body and are oriented substantially parallel to a mating axis of the connector body. The longitudinal struts each define an enclosed lateral slot having a closed end and a connector position assurance (CPA) device that is interlocked within the lateral slots and moveable from an initial position to a final position along the mating axis after the connector body is coupled to the corresponding mating connector body. The CPA device has a lateral cross bar extending into each of the lateral slots thereby retaining the cross bar in the lateral slots. The CPA device and the connector body are integrally formed by an additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical connector system comprising a contact terminal, a connector housing defining an aperture that receives the contact terminal therein, and a cable strain relief member separate from the connector housing. The cable strain relief member comprises a fastening feature for fastening the strain relief member to a cable for strain relief, and an integrated locking feature for locking the strain relief member to a corresponding counter connector.

Abstract: A steering-control system for an automated vehicle includes an object-detector and a controller. The object-detector is suitable for use on a host-vehicle. The object-detector is used to detect an other-vehicle approaching the host-vehicle, and to detect a stationary-object that defines a roadway traveled by the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detector and adapted to operate the host-vehicle. The controller is configured to steer the host-vehicle towards a centered-position of a travel-lane of the roadway when a projected-path of the other-vehicle approaches the host-vehicle to a minimum-distance between the other-vehicle and the host-vehicle greater than a distance-threshold. The controller is also configured to steer the host-vehicle towards a biased-position of the travel-lane to increase the minimum-distance when the projected-path approaches the host-vehicle to less than the distance-threshold if the host-vehicle remains in the centered-position.

Abstract: A command selector includes a scroll wheel mounted in a support and free to rotate about a main axis, a fixed printed circuit board, a detection wheel rotating about a secondary axis, a means of transmission rotationally connecting the scroll wheel to the detection wheel of which the rotations are detected by a rotation sensor arranged on the printed circuit board. The main axis and the secondary axis are non-parallel, the means of transmission defines an angle, and the detection wheel rotating in a plane parallel to the printed circuit board, the secondary axis being perpendicular to the printed circuit board, so as to minimize the circumscribed volume of the selector.