Abstract: An electrical distribution center includes a housing formed of an electrically nonconductive material, an electromagnetic housing shield formed of an electrically conductive material disposed within a cavity in the housing, a cover enclosing the cavity having an electromagnetic cover shield formed of the electrically conductive material and in electrical contact with the housing shield, and a plurality of shielded electrical connectors interconnected to one another through electrical components contained within the cavity. The electrical components are mounted on a plurality of standoffs defined by an inner surface of the housing. The plurality of standoffs extends through a plurality of apertures defined in the housing shield.

Abstract: A shielded cable assembly capable of transmitting signals at speeds of 3.5 Gigabits per second (Gb/s) or higher without modulation or encoding over a single pair of conductors. The cable has a characteristic impedance of 95 Ohms and can support transmission data according to either USB 3.0 or HDMI 1.4 performance specifications. The wire cable includes a pair of conductors, a shield surrounding the conductors, and a dielectric structure configured to maintain a first predetermined spacing between the conductors and a second predetermined spacing between said conductors and said shield. The shield includes an inner shield conductor enclosing the dielectric structure and an outer shield conductor enclosing the inner shield conductor.

Abstract: An electrical connection system configured to terminate electrical connectors and to transmit digital electrical signals having a data transfer rate of 5 Gigabits per second (Gb/s) or higher. The system includes a first parallel mirrored pair of terminals having a planar connection portion and a second pair of parallel mirrored terminals having a cantilever beam portion and a contact points configured to contact the first terminals. The cantilever beam portions are generally perpendicular to the planar connection portions. The terminals cooperate to provide consistent characteristic impedance. The connection system further includes an electromagnetic shield that longitudinally surrounds the terminals. The connection system is suited for terminating wire cables transmitting digital signals using data transfer protocols such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) 3.0 and High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) 1.4.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is presented herein. The electrical connector includes a pair of connector blocks each defining a groove in an end surface that is configured to have an electrical conductor of an electrical cable partially disposed within it, e.g. a carbon nanotube conductor. The electrical connector also includes a housing configured to receive connector blocks, align the groove of one connector block with the groove of the other connector block, and hold the connector blocks together such that the electrical conductors within the grooves are in direct physical and electrical contact with the one another and are compressed. An electrical cable assembly incorporating such as connector and an method of manufacturing a cable assembly using such a connector is also presented.

Abstract: An electrical connection system configured to terminate electrical connectors and to transmit digital electrical signals having a data transfer rate of 5 Gigabits per second (Gb/s) or higher. The system includes a first parallel mirrored pair of terminals having a planar connection portion and a second pair of parallel mirrored terminals having a cantilever beam portion and a contact points configured to contact the first terminals. The cantilever beam portions are generally perpendicular to the planar connection portions. The terminals cooperate to provide consistent characteristic impedance. The connection system further includes an electromagnetic shield that longitudinally surrounds the terminals. The connection system is suited for terminating wire cables transmitting digital signals using data transfer protocols such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) 3.0 and High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) 1.4.

Abstract: A data transmission cable assembly includes an elongate first conductor, an elongate second conductor, and a sheath at least partially axially surrounding the first and second conductors. The sheath contains a plurality of electrically conductive particles interspersed within a matrix formed of an electrically insulative polymeric material. The conductive particles may be formed of a metallic material or and inherently conductive polymer material. The plurality conductive particles may be filaments that form a plurality of electrically interconnected networks. Each network is electrically isolated from every other network. Each network contains less than 125 filaments and/or has a length less than 13 millimeters. The bulk conductivity of the sheath is substantially equal to the conductivity of the electrically insulative polymeric material. The data transmission cable assembly does not include a terminal that is configured to connect the sheath to an electrical ground.

Abstract: An electrical charging system configured to wirelessly charge an energy storage device, such as a battery. The charging system includes an off-transducer in electrical communication with an alternating power source and electromagnetically coupled to an on-vehicle transducer connected to the energy storage device. A controller adjusts a variable frequency oscillator within the power transmitter, thereby changing the frequency of the sourced electrical power. The charging system further includes a phase detection circuit in communication with the controller and the off-transducer and configured to determine a phase difference between the alternating voltage and the alternating current supplied by the power source. The controller is configured to adjust the variable frequency oscillator based on the phase difference such that the frequency of the sourced electrical power maintains the phase difference within a desired range.

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 Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable assembly is configured to interconnect a USB device, such as a smartphone or digital music player, disposed within a motor vehicle with a USB hub disposed within the motor vehicle, such as in the vehicle's infotainment system. The USB cable assembly includes a first connector configured to interface with the USB hub, a second connector configured to interface with the USB device, and a plurality of wire cables interconnecting the first connector and the second connector. The USB cable assembly further includes a signal conditioning circuit in communication with the first connector, the second connector and the plurality of wire cables. The signal conditioning circuit is disposed intermediate the first connector and the second connector.

Abstract: A safety system and a method configured to determine whether a passenger compartment of a vehicle is occupied whether the temperature of the passenger compartment is outside an acceptable temperature range, and to take a safety countermeasure if needed. An occupant is detected by sounds received by an audio transducer within the passenger compartment connected to an infotainment system. The temperature is detected by a temperature sensor connected to the heating, ventilation and air condition system of the vehicle. Example safety countermeasures include activating the horn, transmitting a wireless signal indicating that an unattended occupant is in the vehicle to a remote wireless receiver, and/or at least partially opening a vehicle window. A pair of high frequency speakers connected to the infotainment system may be used to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals so that an occupant may be detected using ultrasonic motion detection techniques.

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 safety system and a method configured to determine whether a passenger compartment of a vehicle is occupied whether the temperature of the passenger compartment is outside an acceptable temperature range, and to take a safety countermeasure if needed. An occupant is detected by sounds received by an audio transducer within the passenger compartment connected to an infotainment system. The temperature is detected by a temperature sensor connected to the heating, ventilation and air condition system of the vehicle. Example safety countermeasures include activating the horn, transmitting a wireless signal indicating that an unattended occupant is in the vehicle to a remote wireless receiver, and/or at least partially opening a vehicle window. A pair of high frequency speakers connected to the infotainment system may be used to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals so that an occupant may be detected using ultrasonic motion detection techniques.

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 wireless vehicle battery charging system includes an off-vehicle transducer connected to a power source and configured to wirelessly transmit and receive a first alternating current having a first frequency, an on-vehicle transducer configured to wirelessly transmit and receive the first alternating current, and a frequency converting circuit connected to the on-vehicle transducer. The frequency converting circuit is configured to change the first frequency of the first alternating current to a second alternating current having a second frequency. The system further includes a battery within the vehicle and a regenerative braking circuit connected to the frequency converting circuit and the battery. The regenerative braking circuit is configured to rectify the second alternating current to a direct current supplied to the battery and configured to convert the direct current from the battery to the second alternating current supplied to the frequency converting circuit.

Abstract: A system and method to detect a foreign object proximate to a source resonator that is part of a wireless energy transfer system. The wireless energy transfer system may be one used to wirelessly charge the batteries of an electric vehicle. Data from a visible light camera and a multiple zone temperature sensor are combined or fused to determine whether a foreign object, such a metallic object or an animal, is in the vicinity of, or in close proximity to, a source resonator. The system controls an electric current provided to the source resonator based on whether a foreign object is detected to reduce or inhibit energy emitted by the source resonator. The visible light camera may be a monochrome or color camera and the temperature sensor may be an infrared camera or a thermopile array.

Abstract: A method to construct a tape wrapped unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable is provided. The method includes the step of twisting a first wire and a second wire together to form a twisted pair. The method further includes the step of wrapping tape around the twisted pair with an effective amount of tension on the tape such that a separation distance between the first wire and second wire does not substantially vary along the length of the twisted pair.

Abstract: A system and method to mitigate electromagnetic interference generated by a source resonator of a wireless charging system is presented. The system includes a receiver that configured to receive a wireless charging signal transmitted by the source resonator, a phase shifter in communication with the receiver and configured to generate a canceling signal that is 180° out of phase with the wireless charging signal currently received by the receiver, and a transmitter in communication with the phase shifter and configured to electromagnetically transmit the canceling signal, thereby canceling at least a portion of the wireless charging signal. The canceling signal being at the same frequency and 180° out of phase interferes with the charging signal to reduce or eliminate electromagnetic interference in the vicinity of the vehicle being charged.

Abstract: A shielded cable assembly capable of transmitting signals at speeds of 3.5 Gigabits per second (Gb/s) or higher without modulation or encoding over a single pair of conductors. The cable has a characteristic impedance of 95 Ohms and can support transmission data according to either USB 3.0 or HDMI 1.4 performance specifications. The wire cable includes a pair of conductors, a shield surrounding the conductors, and a dielectric structure configured to maintain a first predetermined spacing between the conductors and a second predetermined spacing between said conductors and said shield. The shield includes an inner shield conductor enclosing the dielectric structure and an outer shield conductor enclosing the inner shield conductor.

Abstract: An electrical charging system configured to wirelessly charge an energy storage device, such as a battery. The charging system includes an off-transducer in electrical communication with an alternating power source and electromagnetically coupled to an on-vehicle transducer connected to the energy storage device. A controller adjusts a variable frequency oscillator within the power transmitter, thereby changing the frequency of the sourced electrical power. The charging system further includes a phase detection circuit in communication with the controller and the off-transducer and configured to determine a phase difference between the alternating voltage and the alternating current supplied by the power source. The controller is configured to adjust the variable frequency oscillator based on the phase difference such that the frequency of the sourced electrical power maintains the phase difference within a desired range.

Abstract: A system and method to detect a foreign object proximate to a source resonator that is part of a wireless energy transfer system. The wireless energy transfer system may be one used to wirelessly charge the batteries of an electric vehicle. Data from a visible light camera and a multiple zone temperature sensor are combined or fused to determine whether a foreign object, such a metallic object or an animal, is in the vicinity of, or in close proximity to, a source resonator. The system controls an electric current provided to the source resonator based on whether a foreign object is detected to reduce or inhibit energy emitted by the source resonator. The visible light camera may be a monochrome or color camera and the temperature sensor may be an infrared camera or a thermopile array.