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: A GDCI engine has a piston arranged within a cylinder to provide a combustion chamber. According to one embodiment, the GDCI engine operates using a method that includes the steps of supplying a hydrocarbon fuel to the combustion chamber with a research octane number in the range of about 30-65. The hydrocarbon fuel is injected in completely stratified, multiple fuel injections before a start of combustion and supplying a naturally aspirated air charge to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An electrical plug includes a first, second, and third plug terminal, and a terminal retainer configured to secure the first, second, and third plug terminals within the electrical plug. The first, second, and third plug terminal are attached to a first, second, and third electrical wire respectively. The terminal retainer defines a flexible structure in which the first plug terminal is secured, thereby allowing the first plug terminal to move independently of the second and third plug terminals. The flexible structure may be in the form of a cantilever beam, wherein the first plug terminal is secured in a location proximate a free end of the cantilever beam. The terminal retainer consists of a single piece of injection molded plastic. The electrical plug may be part of an electrical vehicle battery charger.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) 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 EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection. The major components and subassemblies self-ground by establishing an interference fit with exposed, resilient, embossed portions of wire mesh.

Abstract: A fuel injector for supplying fuel to a fuel consuming devise includes a fuel inlet for receiving the fuel, a nozzle tip for dispensing the fuel from the fuel injector, a conduit for communicating the fuel from the fuel inlet to the nozzle tip, a valve seat, and a valve selectively seatable and unseatable with the valve seat for selectively preventing and permitting fuel flow out of the nozzle tip. The nozzle tip includes a non-circular recess on a downstream side thereof and a metering hole on an upstream side thereof opening into the non-circular recess to allow fuel to exit the nozzle tip, the metering hole having a smaller area than the non-circular recess.

Abstract: A radar antenna assembly suitable to mount atop a vehicle as part of a radar system for the vehicle includes a horizontal array and a vertical array. The horizontal array is configured to preferentially detect objects in a forward area and a rearward area about the vehicle. The vertical array is configured to preferentially detect objects in a leftward area and a rightward area about the vehicle. The horizontal array and the vertical array cooperate to detect an object in a panoramic area that surrounds the vehicle.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a method is for controlling a switch. The switch is used to charge a capacitor that provides an output voltage. The switch has an inductor on an input side between a power source and the switch. The method includes: initiating a switching cycle including turning on the switch, sensing a voltage representing current through the inductor, using a reference voltage as a basis for turning off the switch during the switching cycle when the sensed voltage exceeds the reference voltage, and setting an initial value of the reference voltage at a beginning of the switching cycle based on at least one feature of an activation of the switch during at least one previous switching cycle.

Abstract: A warning system for an automated vehicle includes an object-detector, a location-detector, a transceiver, and a controller. The object-detector is used to determine a separation-distance to a target-vehicle from a host-vehicle. The location-detector is used to provide global-positioning-system-coordinates (GPS-coordinates) of the target-vehicle. The transceiver is used to transmit a proximity-warning to the target-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detector, the location-detector, and the transceiver. The controller is configured to operate the transceiver to transmit the proximity-warning when the separation-distance between the host-vehicle and the target-vehicle is less than a distance-threshold. The proximity-warning includes the GPS-coordinates of the target-vehicle and the separation-distance.

Abstract: A human-machine interface (HMI) system used to indicate a vehicle-feature based on glance-direction of an occupant of the vehicle includes a camera and a controller. The camera is used to capture a sequence-of-images of an occupant of a vehicle. The controller is configured to determine a plurality of glance-directions from the sequence-of-images, define a plurality of glance-zones based on the plurality of glance-directions, one glance-zone for each glance-direction, define an intersection-zone based on an intersection of two or more of the glance-zones, determine an outlier-count based on how many of the plurality of glance-zones do not intersect with the intersection-zone, and select a vehicle-feature in the vehicle indicated by the occupant, said vehicle-feature located at a location inside the vehicle that corresponds to the intersection-zone, said vehicle-feature indicated by the operator when the outlier-count during the pause-interval is less than a paused-threshold.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a device for detecting rain or a substance on a windshield includes at least one radiation source, an internal reflection sensor situated to detect at least some of a first portion of the radiation that reflects from the windshield. The internal reflection sensor provides a first output that has a characteristic that differs based on whether at least one raindrop is on the windshield. A scattered reflection sensor is situated to detect at least some of a second portion of the radiation reflecting from rain near the windshield or a substance on the windshield. The scattered reflection sensor provides a second output indicative of an amount of radiation incident on the scattered reflection sensor. A processor is configured to determine a condition of the windshield based on the first output and the second output.

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 ceramic-capacitor includes a first electrically-conductive-layer, a second electrically-conductive-layer arranged proximate to the first electrically-conductive-layer, and a dielectric-layer interposed between the first electrically-conductive-layer and the second electrically-conductive-layer. The dielectric-layer is formed of a lead-lanthanum-zirconium-titanate material (PLZT), wherein the PLZT is characterized by a dielectric-constant greater than 125, when measured at 25 degrees Celsius and zero Volts bias, and an excitation frequency of ten-thousand Hertz (10 kHz). A method for increasing a dielectric constant of the lead-lanthanum-zirconium-titanate material (PLZT) includes the steps of depositing PLZT to form a dielectric-layer of a ceramic-capacitor, and heating the ceramic-capacitor to a temperature not greater than 300° C.

Abstract: An environmental sensing system relating to vehicle lane position includes first and second sensors respectively configured to provide first and second signals indicative of a vehicle lane position. A steering system achieves a desired lane position in response to a command from a controller to keep the vehicle in its lane, for example, during autonomous control of the vehicle. The controller uses the first signal if the first sensor provides a desired lane marker confidence. The controller switches to the second sensor and uses the second signal if the first sensor cannot provide the desired lane marker confidence and the second sensor can provide the desired lane marker confidence.

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 control panel designed to be placed in a vertical plane, the control panel comprising the layered assembly of a flat base, of an elastomer sheet mounted against the base, the sheet being provided with openings and optionally with domes, and of a decorative fascia. The control panel is in addition provided with a means for protection against liquids made in one piece with the sheet, the protection means comprising elements projecting from the main surface of the sheet, the said elements being so arranged that when the control panel is in the substantially vertical plane and the liquid penetrates between the sheet and the decorative fascia, the liquid is guided along a determined course and re-emerges from the panel having avoided critical zones leading in particular to detectors.

Abstract: An NO2 sensor comprises a sensing electrode material that includes a compound consisting essentially of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Co, and Fe; an element selected from the group consisting of Si and Ti; and oxygen. In an alternate embodiment, the sensing electrode material includes a compound consisting essentially of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Co, and Fe; an element selected from the group consisting of Si and Ti; an element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, Li, Na, and K; and oxygen. Sensors made with these sensing electrode materials demonstrate good NO2 sensitivity and reduced sensitivity to cross-interference from NO and NH3.

Abstract: An ignition coil system is configured for use with a spark ignition internal combustion engine. The system includes a first switching circuit electrically connected to the primary coil that provides electrical power to the primary coil. The system includes a second switching circuit connected to the primary coil that is configured to short the terminals of the primary coil after the secondary current has been induced in the secondary coil, whereby the secondary coil induces a current in the primary coil, thereby reducing the secondary current in the secondary wire coil. A controller in communication with the first and second switching circuits is configured to receive a single electronic spark timing (EST) signal and to control the conductive states and the non-conductive states of the first and second switching circuits based on this single EST signal.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a metallic shell extending along a shell axis and defining a shell attaching surface that is substantially perpendicular to the shell axis; a metallic shield extending along a shield axis and defining a shield attaching surface that is substantially perpendicular to the shield axis; and a ceramic sensing element extending along a sensing element axis, the sensing element being rigidly fixed at a first axial location of the sensing element to the shell and the sensing element being laterally supported by the shield at a second axial location of the sensing element that is axially spaced apart from the first axial location. The shield is attached to the shell at an interface formed between the shield attaching surface and the shell attaching surface, thereby accommodating misalignment between the shield axis and the shell axis. A method of making the gas sensor is also provided.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes an input member an output member defining an advance chamber and a retard chamber; a valve spool having a valve spool bore; a first recirculation check valve and a second recirculation check valve disposed within the valve spool bore; and a biasing member which biases the first recirculation check valve and the second recirculation check valve away from each other. The first recirculation check valve allows oil to pass from the advance chamber to the retard chamber and prevents oil from passing from the retard chamber to the advance chamber when the valve spool is in a retard position. The second recirculation check valve allows oil to pass from the retard chamber to the advance chamber and prevents oil from passing from the advance chamber to the retard chamber when the valve spool is in an advance position.