3m Innovative Properties Company

Patrick Charles Howard

Sywong Ngin

Bryon J Cronk

Gordon Wiegand

Martin G Afflerbaugh

Ge Jiang

Charles Mitchell

Jeffrey A Lim

A flat flexible cable with electrical conductors is disclosed for use in a vehicle. One or more of the conductors is configured to be attached to an external electrical device at an attachment point. The cable includes a region free from electrical conductors and an aperture formed through the conductor free region. The aperture is configured to be engaged with a cable engagement member to secure the cable to the electrical device and provide strain relief to the attachment point. The flat flexible cable can include a plurality of conductor free regions and a plurality of apertures in each of the one or more conductor free regions.

Strain relief for a flat flexible cable

A sensor assembly has a plurality of sensing elements configured to be positioned within a seat of a vehicle. Each of the sensing elements include an output signal indicating the presence or absence of an occupant. The sensor assembly includes a cable with a plurality of conductors that are in electrical communication with the output signals of the sensing elements. The sensor assembly further provides a non-conductive spacer positioned between the cable and the plurality of sensing elements. A method for providing a sensor assembly having a spacer between sensing elements and conductors attached thereto to reduce unwanted coupling of signals onto the conductors is also disclosed.

Insulation barrier for unshielded wire

A filament organizer, for attaching an accessory to a section of filament, comprises a frame including a plurality of filament guides. The frame accommodates an accessory positioner adapted for sliding engagement therewith. A pair of spools, attached to the accessory positioner, has a section of filament extending from one to the other so that the filament passes around the plurality of filament guides of the frame to selectively position the section of filament. The accessory positioner includes an accessory cradle that moves from a retracted position to a proximate position. In its retracted position the accessory cradle receives an accessory to be placed in axial alignment with the section of filament. The accessory cradle then moves into the proximate position to attach the accessory to the filament section. Preferably, the filament is an optical fiber that includes a refractive index grating, and the accessory provides temperature compensation to stabilize the wavelength and facilitate wavelength tuning of the grating.

Filament organizer with accessory positioner

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Patrick Charles Howard