Abstract: A battery connection system includes a conductor configured to connect with a battery that has a post. An inner clamp element has a wall that is shaped to mate with the post and that defines a hollow interior and an exterior. The wall has a notch defining a void in the wall. An outer clamp element mates with the exterior of the wall of the inner clamp element to reduce the size of the void to secure the conductor to the battery.

Abstract: A battery connection system includes a conductor configured to connect with a battery that has a post. An inner clamp element has a wall that is shaped to mate with the post and that defines a hollow interior and an exterior. The wall has a notch defining a void in the wall. An outer clamp element mates with the exterior of the wall of the inner clamp element to reduce the size of the void to secure the conductor to the battery.

Abstract: A system and method for determining that a male terminal and a female terminal are becoming disconnected in a connector as a result of the connector becoming loose or the terminals becoming corroded. The connector is a multi-terminal connector including a male terminal housing that houses a plurality of male terminals and a female terminal housing that houses a plurality of associated female terminals. One of the male terminals is a diagnostic terminal that is shorter than the other male terminals so that it is disconnected from its associated female terminal before the other male terminals when the terminal housing separate, which can be used to detect connector failure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring and detecting intrusions and authenticating messages on a communication network of a vehicle. A plurality of signals transmitted over communications network between an electronic control module and a remote electronic module are monitored. Reflectometry feature sets are extracted from the plurality of signals and compared to a repository of predetermined communication network feature sets to generate a mismatch value. The mismatch value is compared to a predetermined threshold range and an authenticated event occurs when the mismatch value is within the predetermined threshold range. When the mismatch value is outside the predetermined threshold range, a flagged event occurs and is recorded.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detection and analysis of abnormalities in a power line communication network of a vehicle. The vehicle includes various vehicle modules. The power line communication network includes power lines designed to carry electric power to the vehicle modules. Each vehicle module includes a power line communication module that is communicatively coupled to at least one of the power lines. The power line communication modules enable the power lines to communicate communication information to and from the vehicle modules. The power line communication modules can communicate pilot signals over the power line communication network. One or more of the power line communication modules includes a reflectometer module configured to perform reflectometry processing on the pilot signals to determine properties of the power line communication network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring and detecting intrusions and authenticating messages on a communication network of a vehicle. A plurality of signals transmitted over communications network between an electronic control module and a remote electronic module are monitored. Reflectometry feature sets are extracted from the plurality of signals and compared to a repository of predetermined communication network feature sets to generate a mismatch value. The mismatch value is compared to a predetermined threshold range and an authenticated event occurs when the mismatch value is within the predetermined threshold range. When the mismatch value is outside the predetermined threshold range, a flagged event occurs and is recorded.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detection and analysis of abnormalities in a power line communication network of a vehicle. The vehicle includes various vehicle modules. The power line communication network includes power lines designed to carry electric power to the vehicle modules. Each vehicle module includes a power line communication module that is communicatively coupled to at least one of the power lines. The power line communication modules enable the power lines to communicate communication information to and from the vehicle modules. The power line communication modules can communicate pilot signals over the power line communication network. One or more of the power line communication modules includes a reflectometer module configured to perform reflectometry processing on the pilot signals to determine properties of the power line communication network.

Abstract: A method for detecting and locating an open-wire fault within a vehicle subsystem, is provided. The method compares an output voltage of a low-pass filter circuit of the vehicle subsystem to a threshold voltage; detects that an open-wire fault exists in the vehicle subsystem when the output voltage is not less than the threshold voltage; determines a capacitance value of the low-pass filter circuit; and performs a lookup, using the capacitance value, to determine the location of the detected open wire fault.

Abstract: Modular wiring harness testing systems and apparatus are provided for testing wiring harnesses such as those used in the automotive industry. The testing apparatus is configurable (or re-configurable) to test a plurality of different types of wiring harnesses that have different configurations in terms of the number of wires, number of circuits and/or the number, size or type of connectors.

Abstract: A system and method for determining that a male terminal and a female terminal are becoming disconnected in a connector as a result of the connector becoming loose or the terminals becoming corroded. The connector is a multi-terminal connector including a male terminal housing that houses a plurality of male terminals and a female terminal housing that houses a plurality of associated female terminals. One of the male terminals is a diagnostic terminal that is shorter than the other male terminals so that it is disconnected from its associated female terminal before the other male terminals when the terminal housing separate, which can be used to detect connector failure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining an abnormal condition in an electrical system of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a memory for storing data relating to normal voltage transients. The apparatus also includes a computer electrically connectable to the electrical system and in communication with the memory. The computer is configured to sense voltage transients that occur in the electrical system of the vehicle, compare the sensed voltage transients to the stored normal voltage transients, and determine if the sensed voltage transient indicates an abnormal condition in the electrical system of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for sensing electrical faults. The system includes a current sensor disposed between a battery and at least one electrical load. The current sensor is capable of sensing electrical current flowing from the battery to the load at a sensitivity sufficient to detect a current transient. The system also includes a controller in communication with the current sensor. The controller is capable of comparing the sensed current transient to a predetermined current transient for the load and signaling a fault when the sensed current transient and the predetermined current transient vary by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A method for detecting and locating an open-wire fault within a vehicle subsystem, is provided. The method compares an output voltage of a low-pass filter circuit of the vehicle subsystem to a threshold voltage; detects that an open-wire fault exists in the vehicle subsystem when the output voltage is not less than the threshold voltage; determines a capacitance value of the low-pass filter circuit; and performs a lookup, using the capacitance value, to determine the location of the detected open wire fault.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for analyzing a fault in a communication system. The system includes a diagnostic module. The diagnostic module has first through fifth control logics. The first control logic is configured to determine a topology of the communication system. The second control logic is configured to request a response from at least one module that is in electronic communication with the communication system. The third control logic is configured to receive the response. The fourth control logic is configured to analyze a characteristic of the response. The fifth control logic is configured to determine a characteristic of the fault based on the characteristic of the response.

Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating a crimp procedure in a manufacturing process. In one embodiment, the method includes, but is not limited to, completing a crimp procedure on a single wire. The method further includes, but is not limited to, evaluating a quality of the crimp procedure based on time-domain reflectometry. The method still further includes, but is not limited to, generating reporting data based on the evaluating.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a vehicle specific configuration file. The method includes: determining a vehicle identification number; retrieving, based on the vehicle identification number, from at least one data storage device a bus topology, module information, at least one message identification number, and at least one message length; and generating a configuration file based on the vehicle identification number, the bus topology, the module information, the at least one message identification number, and the at least one message length.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for analyzing a fault in a communication system. The system includes a diagnostic module. The diagnostic module has first through fifth control logics. The first control logic is configured to determine a topology of the communication system. The second control logic is configured to request a response from at least one module that is in electronic communication with the communication system. The third control logic is configured to receive the response. The fourth control logic is configured to analyze a characteristic of the response. The fifth control logic is configured to determine a characteristic of the fault based on the characteristic of the response.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for sensing electrical faults. The system includes a current sensor disposed between a battery and at least one electrical load. The current sensor is capable of sensing electrical current flowing from the battery to the load at a sensitivity sufficient to detect a current transient. The system also includes a controller in communication with the current sensor. The controller is capable of comparing the sensed current transient to a predetermined current transient for the load and signaling a fault when the sensed current transient and the predetermined current transient vary by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating a crimp procedure in a manufacturing process. In one embodiment, the method includes, but is not limited to, completing a crimp procedure on a single wire. The method further includes, but is not limited to, evaluating a quality of the crimp procedure based on time-domain reflectometry. The method still further includes, but is not limited to, generating reporting data based on the evaluating.