Abstract: An electrical system comprises a flexible circuit (FC) comprising at least one conductive circuit trace disposed within or between one or more dielectric layers and defining at least one exposed conductive circuit trace portion, an electrical device system comprising an electrical device disposed within a housing and at least one conductive terminal electrically connected to the electrical device and that extend substantially to an end of the housing, and an electrical connector configured to physically secure and electrically connect the at least one exposed conductive circuit trace portion to the at least one conductive terminal of the electrical device system, wherein the electrical connector and the housing of the electrical device system define at least one connection feature for physically securing to each other.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a housing defining an outer surface, a wire cable at least partially disposed in the housing, and a robotic installation feature at least temporarily attached to or defined in the outer surface of the housing, wherein the robotic installation feature defines a slot that is configured to be interacted with by an end effector of a robotic installer during robotic installation of the electrical connector with a corresponding electrical connector. A method of robotic installation of the electrical connector comprises identifying the robotic installation feature, inserting at least two members of the end effector into the slot, expanding the at least two members of the end effector along at least one of two axes to thereby fix the at least two members therein and obtain movable control of the electrical connector, and installing the electrical connector with the corresponding electrical connector.

Abstract: An electrical system comprises a flexible circuit (FC) comprising at least one conductive circuit trace disposed within or between one or more dielectric layers and defining at least one exposed conductive circuit trace portion, an electrical device system comprising an electrical device disposed within a housing and at least one conductive terminal electrically connected to the electrical device and that extend substantially to an end of the housing, and an electrical connector configured to physically secure and electrically connect the at least one exposed conductive circuit trace portion to the at least one conductive terminal of the electrical device system, wherein the electrical connector and the housing of the electrical device system define at least one connection feature for physically securing to each other.

Abstract: An electrical conductor assembly includes a planar first conductor, a planar second conductor overlaying the first conductor, and a first electrically insulative layer between the first and second conductors. The first electrically insulative layer and the first conductor define a first aperture though which a portion of the second conductor is exposed. A process of forming the electrical conductor assembly is also contained herein.

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 method of forming a flexible circuit, including providing a flexible flat cable with a first surface and a second surface. The first surface of the flexible flat cable is diametrically opposed to the second surface. A dispensing apparatus including a nozzle is further provided, and an extruded material is dispensed through the nozzle onto the first surface of the flexible flat cable. The extruded material is shaped into a pattern and cured onto the first surface of the flexible flat cable.

Abstract: A wiring assembly including a flex circuit including a plastic laminate layer and a mount location configured to receive a fastener secured to a substrate. The wiring assembly further includes a flex circuit attachment feature, the flex circuit attachment feature including an extruded material bonded to the plastic laminate layer at the mount location. The flex circuit attachment feature provides a structural strength at the mount location and provides a cushion between the flex circuit and the substrate.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes wiring with multiple wires. Each wire has a conductor covered in insulation. Each wire has a stripped portion that exposes the conductors. The stripped portions are stacked on top of one another. A housing has first and second housing portions that provide a cavity. The first housing portion receives the stripped portions. The second housing portion includes a spring that has a closed portion that extends into the cavity and is configured to urge the stripped portions into engagement with one another when the first and second housing portions are secured to another in an assembled connector condition.

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 staging system for robotic installation of a conductor assembly comprises a base member defining a base identifier that is identifiable by a robotic installer, a set of receptacles attached to the base member and defining respective receptacle identifiers, wherein each receptacle is configured to receive and temporarily secure one or more of a set of connectors of the conductor assembly, which also comprises respective sets of wire cables for the set of connectors, and a set of robotic installation features at least temporally attached to or defined by the set of connectors, respectively, and defining respective installation identifiers, wherein each robotic installation feature is configured to be temporarily interacted with by an end effector of the robotic installer such that the robotic installer obtains movable control of the connector to remove it from its respective receptacle and to install it with a corresponding electrical connector.

Abstract: The shielded electrical conductor assembly described herein includes an electrical conductor having a rectangular cross-section, a first insulative layer surrounding the electrical conductor, a conductive layer surrounding the first insulative layer, and a second insulative layer encasing the conductive layer.

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 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: Flexible circuits are described including markings that indicate connections between their flat-wire conductors and specific circuits of a vehicle electrical system. Wire conductors within the flexible circuit share connections with different circuits of the vehicle electrical system. To indicate a connection between a wire conductor and a vehicle circuit, the flexible circuit includes one or more human or machine-readable marks specifically indicating the connection, in some cases, at a position where the connection is to be made. The marks can include etchings or printings on the wire conductors or printings on or otherwise visible from the insulating body that protects the wire conductors.

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: An electrical connector for connecting to flat-wire conductors of a flexible circuit (FC) is described. The electrical connector includes an elongated body, a split-blade terminal, and a spring terminal. The elongated body has a longitudinal axis. The split-blade terminal has two prongs separated by a distance and is configured to interface with an electrical terminal of an electrical device. The spring terminal is configured to mate with one or more of the flat-wire conductors within a connection area of the FC. The spring terminal and the split-blade terminal are positioned on the longitudinal axis at opposing ends of the electrical connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes wiring with first and second wires. Each of the first and second wires have a conductor covered in insulation. The insulation includes webbing that interconnects the first and second wires to one another. The first and second wires have a stripped portion that exposes the conductors. A housing has first and second housing portions. The first housing portion receives the stripped portions. The second housing portion includes first and second spring features respectively configured to engage the stripped portions of the first and second wires when the first and second housing portions are secured to another in an assembled connector condition.

Abstract: A single-piece high voltage (HV) terminal frame includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall. The top wall includes a first top wall layer and an adjacently located second top wall layer. The side wall includes a first side wall layer and an adjacently located second side wall layer. The bottom wall includes a first bottom wall layer and an adjacently located second bottom wall layer. A single-layer contact spring extends from the first top wall layer, wherein the single-layer contact spring is bent to extend into a space located between the top wall and the bottom wall.

Abstract: A clip includes first and second portions that are joined to one another by a living hinge. A snap includes first and second coupling elements that are respectively provided on the first and second portions. The first and second coupling elements are decoupled from one another in an open clip position and are coupled to one another in a closed clip position. Each of the first and second portions define an elongated slot that extends through a width of the clip that has an open end and a closed end. The open ends face a same direction. Each of the first and second portions include a first and second spring respectively. The first and second springs face one another. The first and second springs are configured to clamp about a wiring in the closed clip position.