Abstract: An energy storage device for storing energy for starting an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes a DC-DC converter, a plurality of capacitors connected electrically to the DC-DC converter, and a housing for containing the DC-DC converter and the capacitors. The DC-DC converter converts a voltage provided by the motor vehicle's battery to a second voltage stored by the capacitors. During an engine start cycle, energy discharges from the capacitors to the starter motor of the engine, wherein the stored voltage of the capacitors provides energy to start the engine. The capacitors are recharged by the vehicle's battery. A thermally insulated barrier separates the DC-DC converter and the capacitors. The housing may be sized and shaped substantially as that of a standard motor vehicle battery, enabling the energy storage device to be installed within the motor vehicle as a substitute for one or more of the vehicle's batteries.

Abstract: An energy storage device for storing energy for starting an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes a DC-DC converter, a plurality of capacitors connected electrically to the DC-DC converter, and a housing for containing the DC-DC converter and the capacitors. The DC-DC converter converts a voltage provided by the motor vehicle's battery to a second voltage stored by the capacitors. During an engine start cycle, energy discharges from the capacitors to the starter motor of the engine, wherein the stored voltage of the capacitors provides energy to start the engine. The capacitors are recharged by the vehicle's battery. A thermally insulated barrier separates the DC-DC converter and the capacitors. The housing may be sized and shaped substantially as that of a standard motor vehicle battery, enabling the energy storage device to be installed within the motor vehicle as a substitute for one or more of the vehicle's batteries.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to male to female contact terminals, particularly those in use with associated wire harnesses or cables involved in higher voltage and current carrying vehicle applications. More specifically, the present invention discloses an improved female terminal design for interengaging with a projecting blade of a male terminal and which in particular provides the combined features of improved contact area and controlled blade insertion. Additional features of the present design include the female terminal exhibiting one or more initial (sacrificial) contact points at the blade insertion end and which functions, with or without the application of a magnetic field inducing Lorentz force, to provide a controlled location at which voltage induced arcing will occur along the female terminal and without compromising the electrical interface created between the male terminal blade and the female terminal beams.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to male to female contact terminals, particularly those in use with associated wire harnesses or cables involved in higher voltage and current carrying vehicle applications. More specifically, the present invention discloses an improved female terminal design for interengaging with a projecting blade of a male terminal and which in particular provides the combined features of improved contact area and controlled blade insertion. Additional features of the present design include the female terminal exhibiting one or more initial (sacrificial) contact points at the blade insertion end and which functions, with or without the application of a magnetic field inducing Lorentz force, to provide a controlled location at which voltage induced arcing will occur along the female terminal and without compromising the electrical interface created between the male terminal blade and the female terminal beams.

Abstract: A power management and distribution assembly for use with a battery. A housing is secured to a face of the battery and includes a first terminal engaging the negative battery terminal, and a second terminal engaging the positive battery terminal. An energy management subassembly is in operative commnication with the negative terminal; a cut-off switch subassembly likewise being in operative communication with the positive terminal. Electrical components, such as fuses, relays and controllers, are arranged upon a circuit board mounted within the housing in electrical communication with both the energy management and cut-off switch subassemblies. A cover secures over an exposed face of the housing and an access door is defined in the cover and is openable to reveal the electrical components. Power feed output connectors and wire harness output connectors are associated with the energy management subassembly and are accessible from locations exterior the housing.

Abstract: A bussed electrical center for providing customizable current flow to electrical output components. An upper insulating layer has a first and second faces and exhibits a plurality of apertures through which are engaged male terminals pins, these further in operative communication with the electrical output components. A lower insulating layer has first and second faces exhibiting an apertured pattern according to a first specified configuration. A conductive grid overlays the first face of the lower insulating layer, an apertured pattern being defined in the grid according to a second specified configuration and further defined by interconnecting web portions, exposed by the apertured pattern in the lower insulating layer. Upon assembly of the insulating layers, with the grid stacked together, exposed web portions of the grid capable of being sectioned through the apertured pattern in the lower insulating layer and to establish a selected current flow direction across the grid.

Abstract: A terminal socket assembly for electrically connecting a male input blade with an output cable. The socket assembly includes a spring cage exhibiting a three dimensional rectangular and arcuate cross sectional shape having a plurality of angled and torsioned beams. A sleeve exhibits a similar rectangular configuration and receives the configured spring cage in axially inserting and interference fitting fashion and so that the assembled sleeve and spring cage is capable of biasingly receiving and engaging the male blade. Gripping portions are integrally secured to the rectangular sleeve and fixedly engage an extending end of a cable to electrically communicate the cable to the blade. A sealed connector housing encases the terminal socket assembly and extending connector cables and encloses the assembled spring cage and sleeve. Other elements of the housing including a seating terminal position assurance element, seals and retainer elements engageable with opposite open ends of the housing.

Abstract: A terminal socket assembly for electrically connecting a male input blade with an output cable. The socket assembly includes a spring cage exhibiting a three dimensional rectangular and arcuate cross sectional shape having a plurality of angled and torsioned beams. A sleeve exhibits a similar rectangular configuration and receives the configured spring cage in axially inserting and interference fitting fashion and so that the assembled sleeve and spring cage is capable of biasingly receiving and engaging the male blade. Gripping portions are integrally secured to the rectangular sleeve and fixedly engage an extending end of a cable to electrically communicate the cable to the blade. A sealed connector housing encases the terminal socket assembly and extending connector cables and encloses the assembled spring cage and sleeve. Other elements of the housing including a seating terminal position assurance element, seals and retainer elements engageable with opposite open ends of the housing.

Abstract: A view control prism display system in which the viewable angle of an informational display (15) is controlled and limited to certain desired areas (17) by utilizing the reflective and refractive properties of an optical prism element (10) used in association with the informational display. In the exemplary application of a button (6B) in an instrument cluster in an automotive environment (5), the informational display is included as an applique (15) on a flat surface provided adjacent to but spaced from the optical prism by an air gap (14). A further, "decorated" surface (13) which can be painted black or be frosted, is provided on an adjacent, bottom surface of the optical prism. Within the desired viewing angle in front (11) of the button, the viewer will see the refracted image of the information contained on the applique, while those outside (18) of the desired viewing angle will "see" the reflected image of the non-informational "decorated" surface.

Abstract: An inter-locked button actuated matrix switch system for automotive instrumentation with button cluster switching, in which the switches form a 2.times.2 matrix switch circuit free of diode feedback protection in its input lines, the button structures being rocker mounted preventing the concurrent actuation of their associated switches. One button structure integrally includes two, closely spaced button elements having the look and feel of two independent buttons, with the other button structure having a relatively wide, single, continuous button actuation surface, the three "buttons" being located in line forming a button cluster for the automobile's information center.

Abstract: A button set and switch particularly useful for an automotive power seat switch are disclosed. The button set is a single one-piece, molded set of buttons each connecting by living hinge to a frame such that each button may be displaced independently but are physically arranged to simulate a preselected design. A printed circuit board may be mounted to the button set and may include a series a clicket switches appropriately positioned to be engaged by each botton for providing appropriate signals to obtain the desired output controlled by the switch.