Abstract: A lighting engine, system and method of fabrication are described. The system contains a flexible printed circuit (FPC) shaped as a loop. LEDs are mounted on the FPC to emit light toward a center of the loop. A light guide positioned in an interior of the loop receives light emitted by the LEDs through an edge of the light guide. The light guide has slots formed therein that receive locator pins to limit thermal displacement of the light guide towards the LEDs. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A lighting engine, system and method of fabrication are described. The system contains a flexible printed circuit (FPC) shaped as a loop. LEDs are mounted on the FPC to emit light toward a center of the loop. A light guide positioned in an interior of the loop receives light emitted by the LEDs through an edge of the light guide. The light guide has slots formed therein that receive locator pins to limit thermal displacement of the light guide towards the LEDs. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A lighting engine, system and method of fabrication are described. The engine contains a chassis having a side wall and bottom surface that define a cavity. A recess is formed in the bottom surface. A flexible printed circuit (FPC) is on the side wall and LEDs are mounted on the FPC to emit light toward a center of the cavity. A light guide positioned within the cavity receives light emitted by the LEDs through an edge of the light guide. A gasket disposed within the recess is in contact with a first surface of the light guide. A reflector within the cavity is adjacent to a second surface of the light guide opposite the first surface of the light guide. A backplate is attached to the chassis and configured to seal the cavity. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising: a light guide having an opening formed thereon; an illumination source at least partially disposed in the opening, the illumination source including a plurality of LEDs disposed on a flexible circuit that is wrapped around a base, which may be thermally conductive, the base having a central opening, and the flexible circuit including a plurality of legs, each leg including electrical wiring for independently operating a different one of the LEDs, each leg being wrapped around a bottom edge of the base, and into the central opening, to come above the illumination source and connect to a control board that is situated above the illumination source; and a heat-dissipating element disposed over the illumination source, the heat-dissipating element being thermally coupled to the base to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs that is supplied to the heat dissipating element via the base.

Abstract: A light engine is disclosed in which the light engine contains a core comprising an opening extending completely through the core and independently addressable LED segments. The opening defines an inner surface of the core. Each segment has multiple LEDs. A PCB contains a body adjacent to one of an inner or outer surface of the core and to which the LED segments are attached and legs extending from the body and bent to be adjacent and traverse to the other of the inner or outer surface. Each leg is associated with a different LED segment. Control circuitry is connected with the legs of the flexible PCB and independently controls parameters of the LED segments to provide a preset illumination distribution and intensity based on user input.

Abstract: A light engine is disclosed in which the light engine contains a core having an opening extending completely therethrough and independently addressable LED segments. The opening defines an inner surface of the core. Each segment has LEDs and is attached to a flexible PCB. The PCB has a flexible body attached to one of an inner or outer surface of the core and to which the segments are mounted, and flexible legs extending from the body, along the core, and traverse and adjacent to the other of the inner or outer surface. A light guide plate (LGP) receives and guides light from the segments so that the light exits to provide illumination. The segments emit light in all directions of a plane created by the LGP. A reflector opposes and covers a top surface of the LGP and the segments and reflects light from the LGP back into the LGP.

Abstract: A splice terminal for connecting a magnet wire to a lead wire. The splice terminal includes a first closed section and a second open section. The first closed section has a first section bottom wall, first section side walls and a first section top wall. An opening is provided between the first section bottom wall, the first section side walls and the first section top wall. The opening is configured to receive the magnet wire therein. The opening has a height between the first section bottom wall and the first section top wall which is larger than the diameter of the magnet wire. The second open section has a second section bottom wall and second section side walls. The second section is configured to receive the magnet wire and the lead wire therein.

Abstract: A light engine is disclosed in which the light engine contains a core having an opening extending completely therethrough and independently addressable LED segments. The opening defines an inner surface of the core. Each segment has LEDs and is attached to a flexible PCB. The PCB has a flexible body attached to one of an inner or outer surface of the core and to which the segments are mounted, and flexible legs extending from the body, along the core, and traverse and adjacent to the other of the inner or outer surface. A light guide plate (LGP) receives and guides light from the segments so that the light exits to provide illumination. The segments emit light in all directions of a plane created by the LGP. A reflector opposes and covers a top surface of the LGP and the segments and reflects light from the LGP back into the LGP.

Abstract: A light engine system is disclosed in which the light engine system comprises a light engine. The light engine comprises independently addressable LED segments, each LED segment comprising LEDs and a flexible PCB to which the segments are attached. A light guide plate (LGP) is provided into which light from the segments is introduced, in which the light is guided, and from which the light exits to provide illumination. The segments emit light in all directions of a plane created by the LGP. A diffuser opposes a first surface of the LGP over substantially the entirety of the LGP. The diffuser diffuses light exiting the LGP into the environment away from the light engine.

Abstract: A splice terminal for connecting a magnet wire to a lead wire. The splice terminal includes a first closed section and a second open section. The first closed section has a first section bottom wall, first section side walls and a first section top wall. An opening is provided between the first section bottom wall, the first section side walls and the first section top wall. The opening is configured to receive the magnet wire therein. The opening has a height between the first section bottom wall and the first section top wall which is larger than the diameter of the magnet wire. The second open section has a second section bottom wall and second section side walls. The second section is configured to receive the magnet wire and the lead wire therein.

Abstract: A light engine and system are disclosed in which the light engine contains a core comprising an opening extending through opposing surfaces and a flexible printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB includes a flexible body disposed on an outside of the core and having independently addressable sets of illumination sources mounted thereto, and flexible legs extending from the body and through the opening. The legs are bent such that a terminal portion of each leg is substantially parallel to the opposing surfaces of the core. Independent control of the sets of illumination sources is provided via the legs. The body is separated into segments, each on a different section of the outside and containing body contacts electrically independent of the body contacts of each other segment. Each leg is associated with a different segment, and contains leg contacts on the terminal portion in electrical contact with the associated body contacts.

Abstract: A light engine is disclosed in which the light engine contains a core having an opening extending completely therethrough and independently addressable LED segments. The opening defines an inner surface of the core. Each segment has LEDs and is attached to a flexible PCB. The PCB has a flexible body attached to one of an inner or outer surface of the core and to which the segments are mounted, and flexible legs extending from the body, along the core, and traverse and adjacent to the other of the inner or outer surface. A light guide plate (LGP) receives and guides light from the segments so that the light exits to provide illumination. The segments emit light in all directions of a plane created by the LGP. A reflector opposes and covers a top surface of the LGP and the segments and reflects light from the LGP back into the LGP.

Abstract: A light engine is disclosed in which the light engine contains a core comprising an opening extending completely through the core and independently addressable LED segments. The opening defines an inner surface of the core. Each segment has multiple LEDs. A PCB contains a body adjacent to one of an inner or outer surface of the core and to which the LED segments are attached and legs extending from the body and bent to be adjacent and traverse to the other of the inner or outer surface. Each leg is associated with a different LED segment. Control circuitry is connected with the legs of the flexible PCB and independently controls parameters of the LED segments to provide a preset illumination distribution and intensity based on user input.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board and method of fabrication are disclosed. The flexible printed circuit board has a flexible body with multiple segments. Each segment has multiple body contacts that are electrically isolated from body contacts of each other segment. The flexible printed circuit further has multiple flexible legs in which each leg extends from a different segment and contains multiple leg contacts disposed proximate to a distal end of the leg from the body. Each leg contact is connected with a different body contact of the leg. The flexible printed circuit board is formed from a multilayer structure that includes: a dielectric layer, a metal layer adjacent to the dielectric layer, and a solder mask layer adjacent to the metal layer, the solder mask layer exposing portions of the metal layer to form the body contacts.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising: a light guide having an opening formed thereon; an illumination source at least partially disposed in the opening, the illumination source including a plurality of LEDs disposed on a flexible circuit that is wrapped around a base, which may be thermally conductive, the base having a central opening, and the flexible circuit including a plurality of legs, each leg including electrical wiring for independently operating a different one of the LEDs, each leg being wrapped around a bottom edge of the base, and into the central opening, to come above the illumination source and connect to a control board that is situated above the illumination source; and a heat-dissipating element disposed over the illumination source, the heat-dissipating element being thermally coupled to the base to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs that is supplied to the heat dissipating element via the base.

Abstract: A light engine and system using the light engine are disclosed. The light engine includes a core and independently addressable LED segments. Each LED segment has multiple LEDs. A flexible PCB contains a body to which the LED segments are attached and legs. Each leg provides electrical contact for a different LED segment. The body is attached to the core. A light guide plate (LGP) is disposed such that light from the LED segments is introduced thereto, guided, and from which the light exits to provide illumination. The LED segments emit light in all directions of a plane created by the LGP.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed and include a vehicle interior lighting system comprising that includes a light engine with a plurality of independently addressable light emitting diode (LED) segments, each independently addressable LED segment including at least one LED, a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) having a base and plurality of legs extending from the base, each leg supporting an independently addressable LED segment, and a light guide plate configured to provide illumination from the plurality of independently addressable LED segments inside the vehicle. A processor may be configured to receive information from a o vehicle sensing system, a vehicle communication system, or a detection system, and may generate a signal. A controller may be configured to provide one or more light control signals to modify at least one light characteristic of at least one of the plurality of independently addressable LED segments based on the signal.

Abstract: A wire stop assembly is provided for a terminal crimping machine that crimps a terminal to a wire. The terminal crimping machine includes a crimping zone. The wire stop assembly includes a wire stop member having a stop surface configured to engage the wire to limit an amount of travel of the wire in the crimping zone. The wire stop member is movable relative to the crimping zone in a floating direction. A biasing mechanism is configured to exert a biasing force on the wire stop. The biasing force provides a resistance to the movement of the wire stop member in the floating direction.

Abstract: A wire stop assembly is provided for a terminal crimping machine that crimps a terminal to a wire. The terminal crimping machine includes a crimping zone. The wire stop assembly includes a wire stop member having a stop surface configured to engage the wire to limit an amount of travel of the wire in the crimping zone. The wire stop member is movable relative to the crimping zone in a floating direction. A biasing mechanism is configured to exert a biasing force on the wire stop. The biasing force provides a resistance to the movement of the wire stop member in the floating direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting terminals carried on a carrier strip into cavities in a housing having a slide assembly with a cam track movable between a first and a second position, and a pivoting lever with a cam follower. The cam follower is positioned in and cooperates with the cam track. The lever is movable between an open and closed position and has first and second shearing blades. An eccentric pin extends through the lever and is attached to a rotary actuator. The eccentric pin is positioned to act as the pivot point for the lever. The rotary actuator is movable between an engaged and disengaged position. As the lever is moved to the closed position, the first shearing blades engage and shear a first portion of the carrier strip. As the rotary actuator moves to an engaged position, the second shearing blade engages and shears a second portion of the carrier strip.