Abstract: An instrument panel assembly for displaying vehicle information includes a pointer and a magnetic device. The pointer is operable to move about an axis to point at indicia defined by the assembly. The pointer is also operable to vary a length of the pointer in response to a magnetic field proximate to the pointer. The magnetic is device configured to cooperate with the pointer to vary the length of the pointer.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly having a connector body and a conductive terminal disposed within a cavity in the connector body. The terminal is held within the cavity by a rigid stop tab and a flexible lock tab that engage the ends of the connector body. A flexible bias tab having a fixed end attached to the body of the terminal and a free end extending outward laterally from the body of the terminal is configured to engage an inner wall of the cavity and urge the body of the terminal into contact with an opposite inner wall of the cavity, thereby inhibiting lateral movement of the terminal within the cavity. The bias tab may further limit rotational movement of the terminal within the cavity. The bias tab and/or any other feature of the terminal do not engage a locking feature located within the cavity.

Abstract: An electrical connector including an electrical terminal, a connector housing and a terminal position assurance (TPA) device. The connector housing defines a longitudinal cavity configured to receive the electrical terminal and a lateral cavity lateral cavity is in communication with the longitudinal cavity. The TPA device is received within the lateral cavity and is moveable from an initial position within the lateral cavity to a final position. The TPA device includes a flexible primary locking feature configured to cooperate with a corresponding locking feature of the electrical terminal to lock the electrical terminal in the longitudinal cavity when the TPA device is in the initial position. The TPA device further includes a rigid secondary locking feature configured to cooperate with the corresponding locking feature to lock the electrical terminal in the longitudinal cavity when the TPA device is in the final position.

Abstract: An imager assembly adapted to capture an image proximate to a vehicle includes a camera and a heater element. The camera is configured to capture an image of a field-of-view about a vehicle through a window of the vehicle. The heater element is configured to direct heat toward a portion of the window that intersects the field-of-view for defogging the portion of the window. The heater element is located outside of the field-of-view.

Abstract: An electrical distribution center, such as those used in a motor vehicle to provide and manage electrical power from a battery to electrical modules such as headlights, taillights, wiper motors, etc. is presented herein. The electrical distribution center includes a housing containing electrical switching devices, such as relays to control the flow of electrical power. The housing also contains fuses to protect various circuits connected to the electrical distribution center. The fuses are arranged on the exterior walls of the housing and are accessible for service and replacement without requiring a cover to be removed to access an internal cavity containing the relays. There are no fuses within the internal cavity of the electrical distribution center. The electrical distribution center is connected to a number of wiring harnesses via electrical connectors terminating the wiring harnesses and interconnecting the electrical distribution center to the power supply and electrical modules.

Abstract: A connector backshell assembly configured to interconnect a cable to a connector. The connector backshell assembly has multiple cable portals at exit angles, such as straight, 90 degree, and 45 degree relative to the connector. The connector backshell assembly is separable into two halves to allow easy access to the rear portion of the connector for connecting and servicing the cable/connector interface. Unused cable portals may be sealed with a plug. The connector backshell assembly may be used with various Military specification (Mil Spec) types including M38999, M28840, M28876, M5015, and M64266.

Abstract: An electrical charging system configured to charge a battery includes a power transmitter, an energy coupling arrangement, an electrical signal shaping device including a controller, and an alignment means. The arrangement includes a first inductive coil disposed external to the vehicle and a second inductive coil attached with the vehicle. The alignment means communicates with the vehicle to ensure repeatable vehicle positioning so that the second inductive coil is positioned relative to the first inductive coil so that the second inductive coil receives the energy produced by the power transmitter wirelessly transmitted from the first inductive coil. The energy received by the second inductive coil is electrically shaped by the electrical signal shaping device and further transmitted through the electrical signal shaping device as controlled by the controller to charge the battery. Methods for transmitting energy through the electrical charging system to charge the battery are also presented.

Abstract: A non-contact charging device for charging a battery in a vehicle includes a source resonator, and a foreign object detector. The source resonator is configured to transfer electrical energy to a capture resonator in a vehicle. The foreign object detector is configured to detect a foreign object proximate to the source resonator. The foreign object detector includes a vertical antenna configured to detect a foreign object above the source resonator, and a horizontal antenna configured to detect a foreign object beside the source resonator.

Abstract: An internal combustion includes a crankshaft and a camshaft rotatable by the crankshaft. The internal combustion engine also includes an oil source, an engine cover, and a drive member disposed within the engine cover for transferring rotational motion from the crankshaft to the camshaft. A camshaft phaser actuated by an electric motor is disposed within the engine cover for controllably varying the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft. A supply passage communicates oil from the oil source to the camshaft phaser in order to lubricate the camshaft phaser and a drain passage drains oil from the camshaft phaser to the oil source. A sealing arrangement defines a dry zone within the engine cover to isolate the drive member from oil used to lubricate the camshaft phaser. The sealing arrangement includes an electric motor to camshaft phaser seal to seal between the electric motor and the camshaft phaser.

Abstract: A connector assembly including a first and second connector configured to be connected to the first connector. The first connector has a slide including a cam groove for receiving a latch pin defined by the second connector. The slide is moved by a lever such that the cam groove and the latch pin cooperate to draw the first and second connectors from an uncoupled position to a fully coupled position when moved from an initial to final position. A ratcheting mechanism couples the lever to the slide allowing the lever to return from the final position to the initial position without disconnecting the first and second connectors. The lever is configured to move through more than one stroke from the initial position to the final position to bring the first and second connectors from the uncoupled position to the fully coupled position.

Abstract: A heater includes a heater housing extending along a heater axis. A fuel cell stack assembly is disposed within the heater housing and includes a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel cell fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with a fuel cell oxidizing agent. A combustor disposed within the heater housing includes a combustor fuel inlet for introducing the combustor fuel into the combustor, a combustor oxidizing agent inlet for introducing a combustor oxidizing agent into the combustor, and combustor exhaust outlet for discharging a heated combustor exhaust from the combustor. An anode exhaust conduit is connected to the anode exhaust outlet and extends out of the heater housing for selectively communicating a first quantity of the anode exhaust out of the heater housing. The heater housing is heated by the fuel cell stack assembly and the heated combustor exhaust.

Abstract: An ignition coil for an internal combustion engine includes a magnetically-permeable core a primary winding disposed outward of the core, and a secondary winding disposed outward of the primary winding and inductively coupled to the primary winding. The secondary winding has a left secondary winding section and right secondary winding section. A first end of the left secondary winding section is in electrical contact with a first terminal for delivering a first spark-generating current to a first spark plug. A first end of the right secondary winding section is in electrical contact with a second terminal for delivering a second spark-generating current to a second spark plug. A second end of the first secondary winding and a second end of a the second secondary winding is connected to a third terminal for delivering a third spark-generating current to a third spark plug.

Abstract: A flexible grommet with a grommet spreader mounting and alignment feature is provided. The grommet is configured to attach an object to a support structure. A body of the grommet defines an opening configured to clamp around the object. The opening defines a plurality of channels configured to facilitate mounting of the grommet onto the spreader. The channels may also be configured to correctly orient a mating feature of the grommet relative to the spreader.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes a stator having a plurality of lobes; a rotor coaxially disposed within the stator and having a plurality of vanes interspersed with the lobes defining advance chambers and retard chambers; a camshaft phaser attachment bolt for attaching the camshaft phaser to a camshaft, the camshaft phaser attachment bolt defining a valve bore that is coaxial with the stator. A supply passage extends radially outward from the valve bore and includes a downstream end that is proximal to the valve bore and an upstream end that is distal from the valve bore and separated from the downstream end by a check valve seat. A check valve member in the supply passage is biased toward the check valve seat by centrifugal force. A valve spool is moveable within the valve bore such that the valve spool directs oil that has passed through the supply passage.

Abstract: A housing with a self-mounting feature is provided. The housing includes a base that is configured to define a hook that cooperates with a back side of a panel and a first edge of an opening of the panel to secure the housing to a front side of the panel. The housing further includes a retainer that is operable to an un-engaged position and an engaged position. The retainer is configured to define a blocker portion that cooperates with a second edge of the opening to keep the hook adjacent to the first edge when the retainer is in the engaged position.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes an input member; an output member defining an advance chamber and a retard chamber with the input member; a valve spool coaxially disposed within the output member such that the valve spool is rotatable relative to the output member and the input member, the valve spool defining a supply chamber and a vent chamber with the output member; an actuator which rotates the valve spool in order to change the position of the output member relative to the input member by supplying pressurized oil from the supply chamber to one of the advance chamber and the retard chamber and venting oil to the vent chamber from the other of the supply chamber and the advance chamber; and a check valve which allows oil to flow from the vent chamber to the supply chamber and prevents oil from flowing from the supply chamber to the vent chamber.

Abstract: A wireless power receiver configured to control an electrical connection between a capture resonator of a wireless power transfer system and an electrical load, such as a battery pack or electric motor. The circuitry of the wireless power receiver is powered directly by the power output from the capture resonator, automatically powering up the wireless power receiver as soon as the capture resonator begins producing power. The wireless power receiver 16 does not require stand-by power provided by an external source, such as a vehicle battery. Since the wireless power receiver does not require power from an external source, it can initiate charging of a vehicle battery even if the state of charge of the battery in the vehicle is too low to operate the controller.

Abstract: A mechanically assisted electrical connector including a lever and a slider. The slider is coupled to the lever such that movement of the lever moves the slider. The slider defines a slot that is configured to cooperate with a post of a mating connector in a manner effective to urge the electrical connector and the mating connector together when the lever is moved from a first position to a second position. A ramp angle of the slot is varied to reduce a peak value of an applied force to advance the lever from the first position to the second position when connecting the electrical connector to the mating connector.

Abstract: A connector assembly including a first connector having a primary locking lever that is configured to mate with a second connector having a primary striker. The primary locking lever includes a beam extending along a mating axis and a primary latch configured to engage the primary striker. The connector assembly includes a connector position assurance (CPA) device slideably mounted to the first connector. The primary latch blocks movement of the CPA device from an initial position to a final position until the first connector and the second connector are fully mated. The CPA device defines a lateral flange that inhibits movement of a secondary latch of the CPA device under the primary latch that would allow the CPA device to move from the initial position prior to the full mating of the first connector and the second connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector shield configured to be attached to a shielded wire cable having a conductive wire cable and a shield conductor surrounding the wire cable that is separated from the wire cable by an inner insulator. The shielded wire cable further has an insulative jacket surrounding the outer shield. The electrical shield connector includes a connection portion for connection with a corresponding mating electrical connector shield and an attachment portion having a conductor crimp wing for attachment to the outer shield and an insulator crimp wing for attachment to the insulative jacket. The insulator crimp wing defines a prong having a pointed end to penetrate the insulative jacket. The end of the prong penetrates the insulative jacket but does not penetrate the inner insulator. The connector shield may define a protruding triangular lock tang to engage a lock edge within a cavity of an electrical connector body.