United Technologies Automotive Inc.

James A Wright

Nathaniel Webb

Frank Buccinna

Harry F Olmstead

A magnetic automotive lamp current sensor has a coil 12 connected in series with an automotive lamp 14 (FIG. 2). The coil is mounted on a core 15 having a channel 16 through which the turns of the coil pass an has an opening 18 in which a magnetic flux sensor 20 is inserted. Whenever the lamp is powered and functioning, a current flows through the coil inducing a magnetic field in the core which concentrates in the opening. The flux sensor detects the magnetic field and generates an output which is regulated by a transistor 50 to drive an automotive circuit 53 that monitors the operation of the lamp.

Magnetic automotive lamp current sensor

An electrical, multi-wire interconnection between the hinged, movable door (3) of a vehicle and its main body (7) across the hinge gap in the form of a planar cable array (10) having a flat, laterally extended cross-section (FIG. 3), provided with a modular trim panel (3A). It includes at its distal, 'A' pillar end an end connector (5A), which mates with an electrical connector (5B) in the 'A' pillar. The cable fits in an embossed channel, to which it is like configured, in the door frame. When the door is closed, it is sealingly sandwiched between the metal door frame member (3B) and the rubber door seal on the vehicle body. The door may include a remote multiplexing (remux) unit (30), allowing the use of, for example, as few as about eight wires (11), even though the door is fully powered. The planar cable array can be pre-manufactured as, for example, flat ribbon cable, or made on site using a hardenable plastic (FIG. 5A) or tape-type (FIG. 5B) material during a pre-assembly, modular door panel operation off from the regular main assembly line of the final, automotive manufacturing operation. In its extent between the door and the vehicle body, the plane of the cable is vertically aligned and folds back unto itself when the door is closed (FIG. 2A) and has no significant, excess slack when the door is fully open (FIG. 2B). The wires can be included in the same plane or in up to about three, parallel layers.

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Dearborn Heights, MI, United States of America

James A Wright