Abstract: A back shell is described herein. The back shell is configured to be attached to a connector body defining a first attaching feature in its outer surface. The back shell has an attachment portion defining a second attaching feature and a generally tubular support portion extending from this attachment portion. The second attaching feature is configured to engage the first attaching feature of the connector body to secure the back shell to the connector body. An outer surface of the attachment portion of the back shell defines a third attaching feature that is identical in configuration and function to the first attaching feature.

Abstract: A locking retainer system configured to secure an automotive component within a motor vehicle includes a panel defining a T-shaped aperture and a retainer. The T-shaped aperture has a vertical aperture portion and a longitudinal aperture portion. The vertical aperture portion is defined by a first planar portion of the panel and the longitudinal aperture portion is defined by a second planar portion of the panel. The first planar portion is laterally offset from the second planar portion. The retainer has a vertical retainer portion and a longitudinal retainer portion and is attached to the automotive component by an elongated strut intermediate the vertical retainer portion and the automotive component. The panel is configured to receive the retainer within the aperture, thereby securing the automotive component to the panel and limiting motion of the automotive component relative to the panel along vertical, longitudinal, and lateral axes.

Abstract: A wire terminal assembly is disclosed in which a conductive terminal is connected to a conductive cable core along a conductive connection interface. A coating is disposed over the conductive connection interface that is the product of a free radical polymerization reaction of a coating composition applied over the conductive connection interface, the coating composition including: (1) an oligomer comprising at least two active unsaturated bonds, (2) a monomer comprising an unsaturated bond, and (3) a compound comprising a plurality of thiol groups.

Abstract: A meander-type, frequency-scanned antenna with reduced beam squint suitable for use on an automated vehicle radar system includes a plurality of parallel sub-arrays, each sub-array equipped with a plurality of radiators. The antenna is formed by a serpentine-arrangement of a continuous-strip of material. The serpentine-arrangement configured so a first sub-array characterized by a signal propagating in a first-direction is adjacent to a second sub-array characterized by the signal propagating in a second-direction opposite the first-direction. The first sub-array and the second sub-array are each further configured to define a plurality of radiators configured such that a radar-beam emitted by the antenna in response to the signal is characterized by a direction-angle that is substantially unchanged when a frequency of the signal is varied.

Abstract: A GDCI engine control system includes a fast electric heater located within a pocket in a cylinder head. The pocket is in fluid communication with multiple intake ports. A heater control system includes a capacitor that is configured to provide a voltage that is greater than battery voltage to more quickly heat the intake air during a cold start. Subsequently a lower voltage can be supplied to the heater.

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 fuel system includes a low-pressure fuel delivery unit; a high-pressure fuel delivery unit which has a drive region and a delivery region such that the drive region supplies fuel to the delivery region and such that the delivery region supplies fuel to a high-pressure fuel injector; a low-pressure fuel supply passage which supplies fuel from the low-pressure fuel delivery unit to the drive region of the high-pressure fuel delivery unit; a cooling passage which receives fuel from the drive region of the high-pressure fuel delivery unit; and a low-pressure fuel injector supply passage which is in direct fluid communication with the low-pressure fuel supply passage and which supplies fuel to a low-pressure fuel injector from the cooling passage.

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 camshaft phaser includes an input member and an output member defining an advance chamber and a retard chamber; a valve body having a valve bore which extends along an axis, an annular groove extending radially outward from the valve bore and having a first width in the direction of the axis, and a passage which opens into the annular groove and which extends from the valve bore through the valve body radially outward from the valve bore such that the passage has a second width in the direction of the axis that is greater than the first width of the annular groove. The camshaft phaser also includes a valve spool which moves along the axis within said valve bore, the valve spool having a land which varies a flow area between the valve bore and the annular groove and between the valve bore and the passage.

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 camshaft phaser includes a stator having an inner wall with lobes extending radially inward and a stator flange extending radially outward, the stator flange having a plurality of apertures; a rotor coaxially disposed within the stator, the rotor having vanes interspersed with the lobes defining alternating advance chambers and retard chambers; a plurality of compression limiters extending through the apertures; a front cover which closes one end of the advance and retard chambers; a back cover which closes the other end of the advance and retard chambers; and a plurality of fasteners which extend through the apertures such that the fasteners apply a clamping load which clamps the stator between the front cover and the back cover such that the clamping load is transmitted through the compression limiters.

Abstract: A circuit-board-assembly includes a printed-circuit-board, an integrated-circuit-die, a ball-grid-array, a barrier-material, and an adhesive-material. The printed-circuit-board includes a mounting-surface that defines a plurality of contact-pads and a continuous-trace that interconnects a selected-group of the contact-pads. The integrated-circuit-die includes an electrical-circuit having a plurality of solder-pads. The ball-grid-array includes a plurality of solder-balls interposed between the contact-pads and the solder-pads. The plurality of solder-balls establish electrical communication between the electrical-circuit and the contact-pads. The barrier-material is located between a string of solder-balls that are attached to the selected-group of the contact-pads to create a barrier. The barrier segregates an underfill-region from a non-underfill-region between the printed-circuit-board and the integrated-circuit-die.

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 system for testing electromagnetic compatibility of electrical devices includes a plurality of mobile-ground-planes and a fixed-ground-plane. Each of the plurality of mobile-ground-planes is individually customizable to provide a test-fixture for testing a selected instance of an electrical device. The fixed-ground-plane is configured to receive an instance of the plurality of mobile-ground-planes to overlay the fixed-ground plane and form a direct electrical contact between a bottom-side of the instance of the plurality of mobile-ground-planes and a top-side of the fixed-ground-plane. Optionally, the system includes an air-nozzle used to generate an air-gap between the instance of the plurality of mobile-ground-planes and the fixed-ground-plane while the instance of the plurality of mobile-ground-planes is being placed onto the fixed-ground-plane when gas passes through the air-nozzle.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes an input member and an output member defining an advance chamber and a retard chamber; a valve spool moveable along an axis between an advance position and a retard position and having a valve spool bore with a phasing volume and a venting volume defined therein such that the phasing volume is fluidly segregated from the venting volume, the valve spool having a first spool recirculation passage and a second spool recirculation passage which is diametrically opposed to the first spool recirculation passage. The first spool recirculation passage and the second spool recirculation passage provide paths for oil to flow from the advance chamber or the retard chamber to the phasing volume depending on the position of the valve spool.

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 cylinder deactivation system includes an intake cam follower assembly, an exhaust cam follower assembly, an exhaust cam, and a controller. The intake cam follower assembly is used to open an intake engine valve and is switchable to operate in one of an active state and a deactive state. The exhaust cam follower assembly is used to open an exhaust engine valve and is switchable to operate in one of a primary lift state and a secondary lift state. The exhaust cam includes a primary lift cam lobe and a secondary lift cam lobe and is used to actuate the exhaust cam follower assembly in the primary lift state and in the secondary lift state. The controller is used to open the exhaust engine valve during the deactive combustion cycle in advance of the opening of the intake engine valve that occurs during the subsequent active combustion cycle.

Abstract: An engine control system includes a fuel injector and a sensor that is configured to provide a signal indicative of a temperature. A controller is in communication with the sensor. The controller includes a fuel injector driver in communication with the fuel injector. The fuel injector driver includes a saturated mode and a peak and hold mode. The controller is configured to command the fuel injector driver to control the fuel injector with one of the saturated mode or the peak and hold mode based upon the signal. For a high resistance injector, the peak and hold mode is used in cold weather conditions to break free an injector seal, and then the fuel injector driver reverts to the saturated mode.

Abstract: An inlet valve assembly for a high-pressure fuel pump is disclosed. The inlet valve assembly comprises an inlet valve member moveable between open and closed positions to control the fuel flow from a source of low-pressure fuel to a pumping chamber of the fuel pump, a first biasing spring arranged to apply a first force to the valve member in an opening direction, a second biasing spring arranged to apply a second force to the valve member in a closing direction, and an actuator arrangement operable to remove the first force from the valve member, thereby to allow the valve member to move into its closed position.