Abstract: A cable assembly includes coaxially arranged inner and outer barrels. The outer barrel overlaps a portion of the inner barrel. The inner and outer barrels respectively include first and second features that cooperate with one another to form a retention feature. The cable assembly has a cable that has at least one wire surrounded by an inner insulator that is covered in a metallic shield. The metallic shield is arranged in between the inner and outer barrels. The first feature is arranged beneath the metallic shield, and the second feature is arranged over the metallic shield. At least one of the first and second features extends in a radial direction relative to the other of the first and second features to capture the metallic shield with the retention feature.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical cable assembly includes providing a multiconductor flat cable comprising wires arranged in a coplanar fashion with each other and encased within a planar dielectric structure, cutting a slot in the planar dielectric structure intermediate the wires, thereby forming wing features in the dielectric structure extending from the wires, removing portions of the dielectric structure from ends of the wires, wherein portions of wing features remain, attaching the exposed wires to terminals, wherein the terminals define prongs, and attaching the portions of the wing features to by inserting the prongs within holes defined in the portions of the wing features, thereby retaining the wires to the terminals.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an extruding device configured to dispense a dielectric material though an orifice, a wire feed device configured to feed a conductive wire through the orifice, and a cutting device configured to sever the wire. It also includes an electronic controller configured to control the extruding device, the wire feed device, and the cutting device. The electronic controller commands the extruding device to dispense the dielectric material though the orifice, the wire feed device to feed the wire through the orifice, and the cutting device to sever the wire, thereby forming a dielectric substrate encasing a plurality of wires. The electronic controller further commands the extruding device to form an opening defined in the substrate in which plurality of electrically conductive wires is exposed and a location feature on the substrate located with a positional tolerance less than or equal to 1 mm relative to the opening.

Abstract: Electrified vehicle electrical systems and formatting methods include arranging a first layer including one or more first electrical transmission lines each configured to carry electrical power at a first voltage to one or more electrical powertrain components of the electrified vehicle, arranging a second layer above at least a portion of the first electrical connection layer, wherein the second layer includes one or more second electrical transmission lines each configured to carry electrical power at a second voltage to one or more electrical power distribution components of the electrified vehicle, and arranging a third layer above at least a portion of the first and second layers, wherein the third layer includes one or more third electrical transmission lines each configured to carry electrical power at a third voltage to one or more input/output device components of the electrified vehicle.

Abstract: A flexible planar wire cable includes a first flexible planar wire having first conductor segments contained in a first longitudinal plane and second conductor segments contained in a second longitudinal plane. First connection segments extend between the first conductor segments and the second conductor segments. The first conductor segments alternate with second conductor segments along a longitudinal axis of the wire harness assembly. The cable further includes a second flexible planar wire having third conductor segments contained in the second longitudinal plane and fourth conductor segments contained in the first longitudinal plane. Second connection segments extend between the third conductor segments and the fourth conductor segments. The third conductor segments alternate with the fourth conductor segments along the longitudinal axis of the flexible planar wire cable. The cable also includes an insulating layer separating and encasing the first and second flexible planar wires.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wiring harness assembly includes the steps of forming a plurality of electrically conductive wires encased within a substrate formed of a dielectric material, forming an opening in the substrate located and sized such that a section of the plurality of electrically conductive wires is exposed within the opening, disposing a support segment within the opening, securing a connector segment including a plurality of terminals to the support segment, and placing the plurality of terminals in mechanical and electrical contact with the plurality of electrically conductive wires.

Abstract: A wiring harness assembly includes a first flexible planar wire cable having a first plurality of separated conductors formed in a first insulating layer comprising a first substantially flat exterior surface, a second flexible planar wire cable having a second plurality of separated conductors formed in a second insulating layer comprising a second substantially flat exterior surface, and a first plurality of apertures formed in the first substantially flat exterior surface and a second plurality of apertures formed in the second substantially flat exterior surface. The first and second plurality of apertures are sized, shaped, and arranged such that an electrical connection is made between the first and second plurality of separated conductors through the first and second plurality of apertures.

Abstract: Electrified vehicle electrical systems and formatting methods include arranging a first layer including one or more first electrical transmission lines each configured to carry electrical power at a first voltage to one or more electrical powertrain components of the electrified vehicle, arranging a second layer above at least a portion of the first electrical connection layer, wherein the second layer includes one or more second electrical transmission lines each configured to carry electrical power at a second voltage to one or more electrical power distribution components of the electrified vehicle, and arranging a third layer above at least a portion of the first and second layers, wherein the third layer includes one or more third electrical transmission lines each configured to carry electrical power at a third voltage to one or more input/output device components of the electrified vehicle.

Abstract: A flexible circuit (FC) and a method of forming the FC each include providing a first dielectric layer, applying a plurality of conductive circuit traces that are substantially parallel to each other to the first dielectric layer, providing a second dielectric layer atop the first dielectric layer and the plurality of conductive circuit traces to form a third dielectric layer having the plurality of conductive traces disposed therein and being configured to support and insulate the plurality of conductive traces, and forming a plurality of channels extending at least partially through a thickness of the third dielectric layer, wherein the plurality of channels are arranged between the plurality of conductive circuit traces and substantially parallel thereto and are configured to provide increased flexibility of the FC.

Abstract: A self-aligning mechanical mount and electrical connection system for an electronic module comprises a mechanical mount assembly configured to be integrated into or attached to a base frame and defining a mount connection position assurance (CPA) feature for self-aligning and securing of the electronic module therein, and an electrical connection assembly configured to be integrated into or attached to the mechanical mount assembly and comprising a modular electrical connector (i) being electrically connected to an electrical backbone wire cable and (ii) defining a connector CPA feature for self-aligning the modular electrical connector with a corresponding electrical connector integrated into or attached to the electronic module when the electronic module is secured in the mechanical mount assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an electrical connector (e.g., of a vehicle) include a housing and a terminal at least partially disposed in the housing, defining a set of angled blade terminals, and configured to electrically connect to (i) an electrical system along a first axis and (ii) a set of exposed conductive circuit traces of a flexible circuit (FC) arranged along a second axis, wherein an acute angle is defined between the first and second axes and corresponds to the set of angled blade terminals.

Abstract: A flexible circuit (FC) and a method of forming the FC each include providing a first dielectric layer, applying a plurality of conductive circuit traces that are substantially parallel to each other to the first dielectric layer, providing a second dielectric layer atop the first dielectric layer and the plurality of conductive circuit traces to form a third dielectric layer having the plurality of conductive traces disposed therein and being configured to support and insulate the plurality of conductive traces, and forming a plurality of channels extending at least partially through a thickness of the third dielectric layer, wherein the plurality of channels are arranged between the plurality of conductive circuit traces and substantially parallel thereto and are configured to provide increased flexibility of the FC.

Abstract: A self-aligning mechanical mount and electrical connection system for an electronic module comprises a mechanical mount assembly configured to be integrated into or attached to a base frame and defining a mount connection position assurance (CPA) feature for self-aligning and securing of the electronic module therein, and an electrical connection assembly configured to be integrated into or attached to the mechanical mount assembly and comprising a modular electrical connector (i) being electrically connected to an electrical backbone wire cable and (ii) defining a connector CPA feature for self-aligning the modular electrical connector with a corresponding electrical connector integrated into or attached to the electronic module when the electronic module is secured in the mechanical mount assembly.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes coaxially arranged inner and outer barrels. The outer barrel overlaps a portion of the inner barrel. The cable assembly further includes a cable that has at least one wire surrounded by an inner insulator that is covered in a metallic shield. The metallic shield is arranged in between the inner and outer barrels. The inner barrel includes a retention feature that is arranged beneath the metallic shield. The retention feature protrudes radially outward from the inner barrel to an outermost diameter. The outer barrel includes a crimped portion that is arranged adjacent to the retention feature and has an innermost diameter that is less than the outermost diameter to capture the metallic shield therebetween and prevent the outer barrel from axial movement relative to the inner barrel.

Abstract: A wiring harness assembly includes a plurality of electrical conductors having wires enclosed within insulative sheaths that are integrally formed of an electrically insulative material. The assembly also includes a lattice support structure that is attached to the insulative sheaths at multiple locations. The lattice support structure is configured to maintain a desired shape of the assembly. The lattice support structure is formed of filaments that may be formed using an additive manufacturing process The filaments may be arranged such that lattice support structure defines a plurality of hexagonally shaped apertures. A process for manufacturing the wiring harness assembly and an apparatus configured to manufacture the wiring harness assembly is also presented.

Abstract: A flexible circuit (FC) comprises a primary dielectric layer having a plurality of substantially parallel conductive circuit traces disposed therein and a secondary dielectric layer extending from or attached to the primary dielectric layer, wherein the secondary dielectric layer does not have any conductive circuit traces disposed therein, and wherein at least one of the primary and secondary dielectric layers defines an alignment feature for wrapping and securing the FC about a central structure. A method of wrapping and securing the FC about a central stricture comprises wrapping the FC about the central structure while aligning each alignment feature with a respective complimentary alignment feature such that the FC fully encompasses the central structure and is secured thereabout.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wiring harness assembly includes the steps of forming a plurality of electrically conductive wires encased within a substrate formed of a dielectric material, forming an opening in the substrate located and sized such that a section of the plurality of electrically conductive wires is exposed within the opening, disposing a support segment within the opening, securing a connector segment including a plurality of terminals to the support segment, and placing the plurality of terminals in mechanical and electrical contact with the plurality of electrically conductive wires.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes coaxially arranged inner and outer barrels. The outer barrel overlaps a portion of the inner barrel. The cable assembly further includes a cable that has at least one wire surrounded by an inner insulator that is covered in a metallic shield. The metallic shield is arranged in between the inner and outer barrels. The inner barrel includes a retention feature that is arranged beneath the metallic shield. The retention feature protrudes radially outward from the inner barrel to an outermost diameter. The outer barrel includes a crimped portion that is arranged adjacent to the retention feature and has an innermost diameter that is less than the outermost diameter to capture the metallic shield therebetween and prevent the outer barrel from axial movement relative to the inner barrel.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes coaxially arranged inner and outer barrels. The outer barrel overlaps a portion of the inner barrel. The inner and outer barrels respectively include first and second features that cooperate with one another to form a retention feature. The cable assembly has a cable that has at least one wire surrounded by an inner insulator that is covered in a metallic shield. The metallic shield is arranged in between the inner and outer barrels. The first feature is arranged beneath the metallic shield, and the second feature is arranged over the metallic shield. At least one of the first and second features extends in a radial direction relative to the other of the first and second features to capture the metallic shield with the retention feature.

Abstract: A wiring harness assembly includes a plurality of electrical conductors having wires enclosed within insulative sheaths that are integrally formed of an electrically insulative material. The assembly also includes a lattice support structure that is attached to the insulative sheaths at multiple locations. The lattice support structure is configured to maintain a desired shape of the assembly. The lattice support structure is formed of filaments that may be formed using an additive manufacturing process The filaments may be arranged such that lattice support structure defines a plurality of hexagonally shaped apertures. A process for manufacturing the wiring harness assembly and an apparatus configured to manufacture the wiring harness assembly is also presented.