Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes a stator; a rotor defining an advance chamber and a retard chamber with the stator; a valve spool that is rotatable about an axis and defining a supply chamber and a vent chamber with the rotor; an actuator which rotates the valve spool to change the position of the rotor relative to the stator by 1) supplying oil from the supply chamber to the advance chamber and venting oil from the retard chamber to the vent chamber and 2) supplying oil from the supply chamber to the retard chamber and venting oil from the advance chamber to the vent chamber; and a check valve which is displaceable axially between an open position which allows oil to flow from the vent chamber to the supply chamber and a closed position which prevents oil from flowing from the supply chamber to the vent chamber.

Abstract: An electrical connector system with adjusted impedance is described herein. The electrical connector system includes a cable having at least two conductors and a shell element provided at least partially around the cable. Further, the electrical connector system includes a connector housing assembly that is separate from the shell element and is configured to at least partially receive the two conductors and the shell element.

Abstract: An interior trim component configured for use in a vehicle including a housing formed of a dielectric material and an electrical conductor encased within the housing being surrounded by and in intimate contact with the dielectric material forming the housing. The electrical conductor defines two exposed contact points. An exterior surface of the housing has a desired trim color and desired trim texture. The trim component may be manufactured using a 3D printing process or an insert molding process.

Abstract: An integrated camera, ambient light detection, and rain sensor assembly suitable for installation behind a windshield of a driver operated vehicle or an automated vehicle includes an imager-device. The imager-device is formed of an array of pixels configured to define a central-portion and a periphery-portion of the imager-device. Each pixel of the array of pixels includes a plurality of sub-pixels. Each pixel in the central-portion is equipped with a red/visible/visible/visible filter (RVVV filter) arranged such that each pixel in the central-portion includes a red sub-pixel and three visible-light sub-pixels. Each pixel in the periphery-portion is equipped with a red/green/blue/near-infrared filter (RGBN filter) arranged such that each pixel in the periphery-portion includes a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, a blue sub-pixel, and a near-infrared sub-pixel.

Abstract: A connector includes a first housing, a second housing, a mate assist slider, and a cam gear. The first-housing has a first outer surface. The second housing is configured to mate with the first housing, and the second housing includes a pin extending from a second outer surface. The connector also includes a mate assist slider moveable from an unmated position to a mated position. The connector also includes a cam gear mounted to the first outer surface. The cam gear moves in response to a movement of the mate-assist-slider from the unmated position to the mated position. The cam gear has a cam slot with an inertial detent. A vibratory feedback is provided to an assembler indicative of a properly positioned connector housing when the pin is moved past the inertial detent.

Abstract: An electrochemical detection system for determining a concentration of a gas in exhaust gases of a combustion process. The system includes an electrolyte, a reference electrode, and a sense electrode that cooperate to form an electrochemical sensor that exposes both the reference electrode and the sense electrode to the exhaust gases. The electrochemical sensor is configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a species concentration of a species gas in the exhaust gases. The sensor signal exhibits a transient error in response to a change in a reference concentration of a reference gas in the exhaust gases. The processor is configured to determine the species concentration based on the sensor signal, and to determine an estimate of the transient error based on an operating condition of the combustion process.

Abstract: A pulsation damper is disposed within a fluid volume defined by a fluid volume wall such that the pulsation damper is exposed to pressure pulsations within the fluid volume. The pulsation damper includes a pulsation damper first half having a first damper wall which is flexible in response to the pressure pulsations; a pulsation damper second half having a second damper wall which is flexible in response to the pressure pulsations; and a damping volume defined between the pulsation damper first half and the pulsation damper second half such that the damping volume is fluidly segregated from the fluid volume. One of the pulsation damper first half and the pulsation damper second half defines a spacing member which maintains separation between the fluid volume wall and one of the first damper wall and the second damper wall.

Abstract: An electrical plug assembly including a plug housing, a ground pin and a first power blade projecting from the surface of the plug housing; and a power socket disposed within the plug housing. The surface defines an aperture surrounding the power socket. The assembly further includes an adapter plate including a second power blade having a first portion projecting from a first surface and a second portion projecting from an opposed second surface. Ground pin and first power blade apertures extend through the adapter plate. The second portion of the second power blade is received within the power socket and the ground pin and the first power blade are received within the ground pin and first power blade apertures respectively. The ground pin and the first power blade each project from the first surface of the adapter plate. The adapter plate allows the plug assembly to meet NEMA 5-15P or 6-20P standards.

Abstract: A valve train system for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust valve moveable between an exhaust closed position and an exhaust open position. A camshaft includes a main exhaust lobe for moving the exhaust valve between the exhaust closed position and the exhaust open position for expelling exhaust constituents from the combustion chamber and an exhaust rebreath lobe for moving the exhaust valve between the exhaust closed position and the exhaust open position for allowing exhaust constituents into the combustion chamber. A two-step device is provided for transmitting motion from the camshaft to the exhaust valve and is switchable between a motion transmitting position and a motion preventing position such that the motion transmitting position allows motion to be transmitted from the exhaust rebreath lobe to the exhaust valve and the motion preventing position prevents motion from being transmitted from the exhaust rebreath lobe to the exhaust valve.

Abstract: A skill-scoring system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes an accelerometer and a controller. The accelerometer is used to determine an acceleration-value experienced by an operator of a host-vehicle while the operator operates the host-vehicle in a manual-mode along a travel-path. The controller is in communication with the accelerometer. The controller is configured to determine a skill-score based on a comparison of the acceleration-value to an expected-acceleration that the operator would experience when the host-vehicle is operated in an automated-mode along the travel-path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network connector assembly for vehicles. The network communicates at data rates of 100 Mbit/s and/or 1 Gbit/s. The connector assembly includes a header having at least two pins forming a pin pair. The pins extend in a mating direction. The connector assembly also includes an electrically conductive shielding member shielding the pin pair on at least two sides. The shielding member has a front face that is oriented substantially normal to the mating direction. The connector assembly further includes a header shroud, wherein the header shroud is provided with a shielding cavity for receiving the shielding member. The front face of the shielding member is at least partly covered by the header shroud.

Abstract: A wire harness assembly and a method of forming such a wire harness assembly is presented. The wire harness assembly includes a plurality of wire cables and a wire support defining elongate slots having open and closed ends. The cables are disposed within the slots. Retaining teeth are defined by side walls of the slots and are configured to separate one wire cable from another wire cable in the same slot. The wire harness assembly also includes a slug formed of a moldable material that encases the wire support. The slug also encases a portion of each of the wire cables. The wire harness assembly further includes a grommet encircling the slug. The slug may be formed by disposing the cables within the slots of the wire support, arranging the wire support and the cables in a mold, injecting a moldable material into the mold, and curing the moldable material.

Abstract: A right angled coaxial electrical connector is provided and includes a housing having a first and second opening and a first terminal disposed within the internal cavity that is configured to be connected to a center conductor of a coaxial cable inserted in the first opening. The connector also includes a center contact disposed within the internal cavity, accessible through the second opening, and defining a corresponding second terminal configured to receive a tip of the first terminal. The connector additionally includes a conductive shield surrounding the center contact and disposed within the internal cavity and an insulator intermediate the shield and the center contact. The insulator defines a portal extending from the second opening to the location of the tip of the first terminal when fully seated within the second terminal. Methods of verifying proper assembly of the right angled coaxial electrical connector are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical outlet wall plate includes a plate having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a peripheral edge. The outlet wall plate defines a socket opening configured to receive an electrical outlet socket and defining a fastener opening configured to receive a fastener configured to secure the outlet wall plate to the outlet socket. The outlet wall plate further includes a plug stabilizing feature having an inner wall, an outer wall, and a top wall. The plug stabilizing feature projects from the outer surface of the plate and at least partially surrounding a perimeter of the socket opening. The outlet wall plate limits lateral and vertical movement of the plug terminals in the socket and protects the operator from inadvertent contact with plug terminals the as the plug is inserted into the socket.

Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes an electric fuel pump; a conduit which defines a flow path through which fuel flows from the electric fuel pump to the internal combustion engine; a fuel pump control module with electronics which drive the electric fuel pump, the fuel pump control module being disposed within a compartment defined by a wall; and a heat sink in thermal contact with the fuel pump control module and extending out of the compartment through an aperture of the wall and into the flow path such that the heat sink is sealed to the wall, thereby preventing fluid communication through the aperture.

Abstract: An electromechanical assembly includes a generally planar printed circuit board (PCB), an electrical terminal electrically and mechanically connected to the PCB and projecting from a major surface of the PCB, and a housing formed of a dielectric material having a base portion and a terminal portion. The terminal portion defines a cavity and the electrical terminal is disposed within this cavity. The terminal portion is disposed within a aperture that is defined by the base portion. The electromechanical assembly defines a gap between the base portion and the terminal portion. The terminal portion is connected to the base portion by a pair of flexible beams which may have a serpentine or ogee curve shape, each of which is attached between one of two opposed sides of the base portion and the terminal portion.

Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator includes a housing defining a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet; a valve seat located between the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet, the valve seat being centered about a valve seat axis; a valve member centered about a valve member axis, the valve member being moveable between 1) a closed position where the valve member engages the valve seat to prevent fuel flow from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet and 2) an open position where the valve member is disengaged from the valve seat to permit fuel flow from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet; and a grounding member grounded to the housing which engages the valve member to cause the valve member axis to tip relative to the valve seat axis when the valve member moves from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: An electrical charging system configured to wirelessly charge an energy storage device, such as a battery. The charging system includes an off-transducer in electrical communication with an alternating power source and electromagnetically coupled to an on-vehicle transducer connected to the energy storage device. A controller adjusts a variable frequency oscillator within the power transmitter, thereby changing the frequency of the sourced electrical power. The charging system further includes a phase detection circuit in communication with the controller and the off-transducer and configured to determine a phase difference between the alternating voltage and the alternating current supplied by the power source. The controller is configured to adjust the variable frequency oscillator based on the phase difference such that the frequency of the sourced electrical power maintains the phase difference within a desired range.

Abstract: A system for changing a control-mode of an automated vehicle from automated-control to manual-control includes an operator-detection device and a controller. The operator-detection device is operable to detect a readiness-state of an operator of a vehicle while a control-mode of the vehicle is automated-control. The controller is configured to forecast a future-time when the control-mode of the vehicle should change from automated-control to manual-control and determine a take-over-interval for an operator to assume manual-control of the vehicle once notified. The take-over-interval is determined based on the readiness-state. The controller is also configured to notify the operator that the control-mode of the vehicle should change from automated-control to manual-control no later than the take-over-interval prior to the future-time.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising a cover, a mating assist lever pivotally mounted to the cover and configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position, and a connector positioning assurance (CPA) member slideably mounted to the cover and configured to slide between an inoperative position and a locked position. The CPA member comprises a flexible locking arm that is bendable between a bent position and a rest position. The flexible locking arm comprises a blocking ramp that cooperates with a blocking shoulder on the cover to generate a first threshold force resisting the CPA member from sliding from the inoperative position to the locked position and a locking ramp that cooperates with the locking shoulder on the mate assist lever to bend the flexible locking arm from the rest position to the bent position to prevent the blocking ramp and the blocking shoulder from cooperating.