Abstract: A sensor configured to determine a physical state of a vehicle occupant within a vehicle includes an electrode containing nanoscale metal fibers. The electrode is located within the vehicle to be in contact with the vehicle occupant. The sensor also includes a controller configured to determine the physical state of the vehicle occupant based on an output of the electrode.

Abstract: A sensor configured to determine a physical state of a vehicle occupant within a vehicle includes an electrode containing nanoscale metal fibers. The electrode is located within the vehicle to be in contact with the vehicle occupant. The sensor also includes a controller configured to determine the physical state of the vehicle occupant based on an output of the electrode.

Abstract: A system configured to generate electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior is described herein. The system includes a thermoelectric device containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes incorporated into an interior surface of the vehicle. The thermoelectric device has a first side in contact with the vehicle occupant and a second side opposite the first side in contact with the portion of the vehicle interior. The thermoelectric device is configured to supply electrical power to an electrical system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A sensor assembly configured for use in a motor vehicle is presented. The sensor assembly includes a sensor device such as a camera, LIDAR, RADAR, or ultrasonic transceiver, and a housing that is at least partially formed of an electrically conductive polymeric material. The housing has a pair of electrically conductive terminals connected to the electrically conductive polymeric material. The pair of electrically conductive terminals are configured to be interconnected with an electrical power supply. When the terminals are connected to the power supply, the housing heats to remove snow, ice, frost and/or condensation from the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is suitable for use with a back-up camera, blind spot warning system, lane departure warning system, adaptive cruise control system and/or autonomous driving control system.

Abstract: A system configured to generate electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior is described herein. The system includes a thermoelectric device containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes incorporated into an interior surface of the vehicle. The thermoelectric device has a first side in contact with the vehicle occupant and a second side opposite the first side in contact with the portion of the vehicle interior. The thermoelectric device is configured to supply electrical power to an electrical system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system configured to determine a physical state of a vehicle occupant within a vehicle is described herein. The system includes an electrode in contact with the vehicle occupant and containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes and a controller that determines the physical state of the vehicle occupant based on an output of the electrode. The controller initiates a countermeasure based on the physical state of the vehicle occupant. A system configured to generate electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior is also presented herein. This system includes a thermoelectric device containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes. The thermoelectric device has a first side in contact with a vehicle occupant and a second side in contact with a portion of the vehicle interior. The thermoelectric device supplies electrical power to an electrical system of the vehicle.

Abstract: An attachment device includes a central body formed of a plastic material and defining a cavity configured to receive a temperature probe and a plurality of straps extending from the central body. Each strap of the plurality of straps is configured to secure a cable to the central body. The central body defines a wall having a first side configured to be in contact with the temperature probe and a second side in contact with a cable. This attachment device may notably be used in an electrical connection assembly having a connector, a temperature sensor disposed within the device, and at least two cables.

Abstract: A multi-strand composite electrical conductor assembly includes a strand formed of carbon nanotubes and an elongated metallic strand having substantially the same length as the carbon nanotube strand. The assembly may further include a plurality of metallic strands that have substantially the same length as the carbon nanotube strand. The carbon nanotube strand may be located as a central strand and the plurality of metallic strands surround the carbon nanotube strand. The metallic strand may be formed of a material such as copper, silver, gold, or aluminum and may be plated with a material such as nickel, tin, copper, silver, and/or gold. Alternatively or additionally, the metallic strand may be clad with a material such as nickel, tin, copper, silver, and/or gold.

Abstract: A system configured to determine a physical state of a vehicle occupant within a vehicle is described herein. The system includes an electrode in contact with the vehicle occupant and containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes and a controller that determines the physical state of the vehicle occupant based on an output of the electrode. The controller initiates a countermeasure based on the physical state of the vehicle occupant. A system configured to generate electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior is also presented herein. This system includes a thermoelectric device containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes. The thermoelectric device has a first side in contact with a vehicle occupant and a second side in contact with a portion of the vehicle interior. The thermoelectric device supplies electrical power to an electrical system of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electrically conductive polymer film is presented. The electrically conductive polymer film includes a polymeric base material, a plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles randomly oriented within the polymeric base material, and a pair of electrodes electrically interconnected with the plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles. The electrodes are configured to be connected to an electrical power source. The polymeric base material may e.g. be polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyester, and/or polyamide. The plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles may be metallic nanowires, metal-plated nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoparticles, and/or graphene oxide nanoparticles. The plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles may also or alternatively include an inherently conductive polymer such as polylanine, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene polystyrene sulfonate, and/or 4,4-cyclopentadithiophene.

Abstract: A sensor assembly configured for use in a motor vehicle is presented. The sensor assembly includes a sensor device such as a camera, LIDAR, RADAR, or ultrasonic transceiver, and a housing that is at least partially formed of an electrically conductive polymeric material. The housing has a pair of electrically conductive terminals connected to the electrically conductive polymeric material. The pair of electrically conductive terminals are configured to be interconnected with an electrical power supply. When the terminals are connected to the power supply, the housing heats to remove snow, ice, frost and/or condensation from the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is suitable for use with a back-up camera, blind spot warning system, lane departure warning system, adaptive cruise control system and/or autonomous driving control system.

Abstract: An attachment device includes a central body formed of a plastic material and defining a cavity configured to receive a temperature probe and a plurality of straps extending from the central body. Each strap of the a plurality of straps configured to secure a cable to the central body. The central body defines a wall having a first side configured to be in contact with the temperature probe and a second side in contact with a cable. This attachment device may notably be used in an electrical connection assembly having a connector, a temperature sensor disposed within the device, and at least two cables.

Abstract: A multi-strand composite electrical conductor assembly includes a strand formed of carbon nanotubes and an elongated metallic strand having substantially the same length as the carbon nanotube strand. The assembly may further include a plurality of metallic strands that have substantially the same length as the carbon nanotube strand. The carbon nanotube strand may be located as a central strand and the plurality of metallic strands surround the carbon nanotube strand. The metallic strand may be formed of a material such as copper, silver, gold, or aluminum and may be plated with a material such as nickel, tin, copper, silver, and/or gold. Alternatively or additionally, the metallic strand may be clad with a material such as nickel, tin, copper, silver, and/or gold.

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: 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 electrically conductive hybrid polymer material is described herein. The hybrid polymer material includes 0.01% to 1% by weight of carbon nanoparticles, 1% to 10% by weight of a conductive polymeric material, 1% to 20% of electrically conductive fibers having a metallic surface and 69% or more by weight of a nonconductive polymeric base material. The carbon nanoparticles may be carbon nanotubes, graphite nanoparticles, graphene nanoparticles, and/or fullerene nanoparticles. The conductive polymeric material may be an inherently conductive polymer, a radical polymers, or an electroactive polymer. The electrically conductive fibers may be stainless steel fibers, metal plated carbon fibers, or metal nanowires. The nonconductive polymeric base material may be selected from materials that are pliable at temperatures between ?40° C. and 125° C. or materials that are rigid in this temperature range.