Abstract: A camshaft phaser is provided for varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an engine. The camshaft phaser includes a stator having lobes. A rotor is disposed within the stator includes vanes interspersed with the stator lobes to define alternating advance and retard chambers. A lock pin is provided for selective engagement with a lock pin seat for preventing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator. Pressurized oil disengages the lock pin from the seat while oil is vented for engaging the lock pin with the seat. A phase relationship control valve is coaxial with the rotor and controls the flow of oil into and out of the chambers. A lock pin control valve is coaxial with the phase relationship control valve and controls the flow of oil to and from the lock pin. The control valves are operational independent of each other.

Abstract: A housing assembly for a lightweight electronic device for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a one-piece case formed of a layered composite structure including polymer based, electrically insulating sheet material and electrically conductive sheet material that is compression molded or hydroformed to provide three-dimensional case details to accept one or more electronic devices such as circuit boards required for electrical control and display of vehicle based systems. The conductive sheet material is preferably a wire mesh which provides shielding from electrical anomalies and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. Major components and subassemblies are self-fixturing during the final assembly process, eliminating the need for dedicated tools, fixtures and assembly equipment.

Abstract: A wire cable assembly includes a terminal having a termination segment attached to an end of a wire cable, a connection segment configured to attach to a mating terminal, and a transition segment intermediate the termination segment and the connection segment. The transition segment of the terminal has a generally rectangular cross section and a recess defined in at least one distal edge and preferably both distal edges of the transition segment. The recess may alternatively be characterized as a concavity, notch, hollow, or indentation. A sealant is applied to the transition segment and a sleeve encloses at least a portion of the termination segment, the end of the wire cable, and at least a portion of the transition segment. The sealant fills the recess(es) and blocks a leak path between the sleeve and the distal edge. The sleeve may be a section of dual wall heat shrink tubing.

Abstract: An occupant detection device for a vehicle seat is provided. The device includes a sensor and a spring. The sensor is configured to indicate a first state when a seat is not occupied and a second state when the seat is occupied. The spring is configured to urge the sensor toward the first state.

Abstract: A system for positioning a vehicle over a wireless charging station. The system includes a plurality of ultra wideband transceivers (UWBX) installed on the vehicle and the wireless charging station, and a controller configured to determine various distances between the various UWBXs.

Abstract: A low insertion force female terminal that is configured to make electrical contact with a male pin. The terminal includes a spring portion configured to be deflected by the pin as the pin is inserted into the terminal. The spring portion is also configured to urge a contact feature formed into the spring portion toward the pin to make electrical contact with the pin. The contact feature is characterized by an asymmetrical shape configured so a leading-edge ramp angle of the contact feature is less than a trailing-edge ramp angle of the contact feature. The asymmetrical shape reduces the peak insertion force for the terminal when compared to terminal designs that have symmetrically shaped contact features with similar dimensions.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material molded to provide details to accept audio devices 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 shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips.

Abstract: A variable disparity three-dimensional (3D) display system and method of processing a variable disparity three-dimensional (3D) image shown on a display to reduce motion sickness of a person viewing the display. The system includes a motion detector configured to determine a motion value that characterizes motion of a display, and an image processor configured to adjust incrementally a disparity amount of a 3D image shown by the display based on the motion value in order to reduce motion sickness of a person viewing the display. The method includes determining a motion value that characterizes motion of a display, and adjusting a disparity amount of a 3D image shown by the display incrementally based on the motion value in order to reduce motion sickness of a person viewing the display.

Abstract: An ignition coil 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 includes a left secondary winding section wound clockwise around the primary winding and a right winding section wound counterclockwise around the primary winding. The left secondary winding section has i) a first left winding end distal from the right winding section and ii) a second left winding end that is proximal to the right winding section. The right secondary winding section has i) a first right winding end distal from the left winding section and ii) a second right winding end that is proximal to the left winding section. The second left winding end and the second right winding end are connected to a terminal.

Abstract: A single machine configured to manufacture a wire cable assembly including an twisted wire pair and a drain wire having a conductive tape and an insulative tape spirally wrapped about said wire pair. The machine includes a first clamp that secures an end of the wire pair and a second clamp that secures the other end of the wire pair. The second clamp rotates while the first clamp is fixed thereby twisting the wires of the wire pair one about the other. The second clamp can also rotate synchronously with the first clamp thereby rotating the wire pair without twisting. The machine also has a tape reel configured to move parallel to the clamps as they rotate, wrapping tape around the wire pair. The apparatus can be configured to apply the tapes simultaneously to electromagnetically shield and insulate the cable assembly. A method of operating the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a unitary heat pump air conditioner (Unitary HPAC) having a plate type exchanger assembly, an electrically driven compressor, and coolant pumps. The plate heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of plates stacked and hermetically sealed between an upstream end plate and a downstream end plate. The stacked plates define a condenser/chiller portion adjacent the upstream end plate, an accumulator portion adjacent the downstream end plate, and an evaporator/chiller portion sandwiched between the condenser/chiller portion and the accumulator portion. A refrigerant passageway extends through the plate type heat exchanger assembly, a hot coolant passageway extends through the condenser/chiller portion, and a cold coolant passageway extends through the evaporator/chiller portion. The cold coolant passageway and the hot coolant passageway are in non-contact thermal communication with the refrigerant passageway.

Abstract: A control panel comprising a cover that is equipped with at least one zone for detecting tactile contact forming a control button, in which a force sensor comprising a pressure-sensitive zone is arranged between the cover and the support so as to detect actuation of the control button, the force of the tactile contact being transmitted axially to the sensitive zone via a spacer plate made of an elastically compressible material that is inserted between the sensor and the cap, characterized in that the internal surface of the cap comprises a series of protruding elements that are distributed over the internal surface of the cap opposite the sensitive zone so as to form a number of regularly distributed zones of localized overpressure.

Abstract: A ground vehicle radar system includes a windshield of the ground vehicle and a radar device installed behind the windshield. The windshield includes a metallization layer configured to inhibit propagation of infrared radiation through the windshield that also inhibits the propagation of radar signals. The metallization layer defines an opening in the metallization layer for radar signals emitted and detected by a radar device to pass through. An antenna of the radar device is installed behind the windshield and aligned with the opening. A lower portion of the antenna has a first field of view through the opening characterized as being directed horizontal toward a horizon forward of the vehicle. An upper portion of the antenna has a second field of view through the opening characterized as being directed downward toward an area of the ground forward of the vehicle.

Abstract: A multi-stack fuel cell system is disclosed where multiple fuel cell stacks can be efficiently connected together. The fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell modules include a sealed planar fuel cell stack that has internal manifold channels for transport of fuel and air to fuel cells within the stack and transport of tail gas and spent air away from fuel cells within the stack. Each of the fuel cell stacks is mounted on a base manifold, and the base manifold has side openings in fluid communication with the stack internal manifold channels. The side openings on the base manifold are configured so that the modules can be efficiently connected together.

Abstract: An electrical connector having one or more pairs of opposing contact arms extending from a body portion and configured to receive a mating connector. A spring clamp member is positioned over the opposing contact arms to increase a compressive force of the contact arms on the mating connector. The contact arms include stabilizing features to limit lateral, longitudinal, and/or rotational movement of the spring clamp member relative to the contact arms. The contact arms may be formed of a material having a high electrical connectivity and the spring clamp member may be formed of a different material having a higher relaxation temperature than the contact arm material. The mating connector may include be a male blade type terminal.

Abstract: A low insertion force female terminal that is configured to make electrical contact with a male pin. The terminal includes a spring portion configured to be deflected by the pin as the pin is inserted into the terminal. The spring portion is also configured to urge a contact feature formed into the spring portion toward the pin to make electrical contact with the pin. The contact feature is characterized by an asymmetrical shape configured so a leading-edge ramp angle of the contact feature is less than a trailing-edge ramp angle of the contact feature. The asymmetrical shape reduces the peak insertion force for the terminal when compared to terminal designs that have symmetrically shaped contact features with similar dimensions.

Abstract: A vehicle seat occupant detection device configured to indicate if a seat of a vehicle is occupied based on a weight of an occupant occupying the seat is provided. The device includes a spring and a sensor. The spring is configured to urge the device toward an unoccupied state. The sensor is configured to cooperate with the spring in order to determine an amount of deflection of the spring. In this way, the spring operates both as a return spring and an object that the sensor can detect and thereby determine the relative proximity of the spring.

Abstract: An electronics module that includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a connector, a housing with a shroud, and an interposer. The PCB defines a plane of the PCB. The connector is coupled to the PCB to form a circuit board assembly (CBA). The connector includes a plurality of header pins oriented perpendicular to the plane. The housing is configured to receive the CBA. The housing is configured to define an opening in a wall of the housing proximate to the connector when the CBA is installed. The wall is characterized as perpendicular to the plane. The interposer is configured to couple to the housing. The interposer includes a plurality of mating pins oriented parallel to the plane. Each of the mating pins defines a forked end configured to make electrical contact with each of the header pins when the interposer is inserted into the opening.

Abstract: A connector system including a first connector having a longitudinally extending lock arm defining a lock nib and attached to the first connector. The lock nib is configured to engage a primary lock tab of a second connector when the first and second connectors are in a fully mated position and the lock arm is in a resting position. The lock nib is configured to disengage the primary lock tab and engage a secondary lock tab of the second connector when the lock arm is moved from a resting to an activated position and the first and second connectors are moved to a partially mated position while the lock arm is in the activated position. The connector system generates an audible or tactile click only when the first connector is fully mated with the second connector. The connectors can be disconnected with bare hands, no tools are required.

Abstract: A shielded electrical header assembly is provided. The header is configured to be coupled to a first connector connected to a shielded electrical cable and second connector. The header is also configured to be attached to an electrically conductive panel, such as an aluminum battery pack in a hybrid or electric vehicle. The header includes a conductive shield contact that connects the outer conductor of the shielded cable to the panel and a conductive outer connector body that is also connected to the panel and surrounds the terminals and the shield contact of the header, thus providing electromagnetic shielding to the terminals of the header and the connectors. The shield contact is formed of a sheet metal to provide a lower resistance connection between the outer conductor and the panel. A method of manufacturing such a header is also provided.