In a method for automatically establishing a plug-in connection for charging electric vehicles, first the relative position between a free plug-in connector on a positioning head that can be moved in at least two spatial directions, and a permanently installed plug-in connector is determined by a position sensor. Then the free plug-in connector approaches the permanently installed plug-in connector until there is mechanical contact between interacting guide surfaces in an insertion position, and the free plug-in connector is moved into a plug-in position. The distance along a common plug-in axis between the guide surfaces decreases continuously during the plug-in process. The transverse forces occurring at the guide surfaces relative to the plug-in direction are detected by transverse-force sensors and the positioning head is moved transversely and/or about a transverse pivot axis, reducing these transverse forces.

In a method for automatically establishing a plug-in connection for charging electric vehicles, first the relative position between a free plug-in connector on a positioning head that can be moved in at least two spatial directions, and a permanently installed plug-in connector is determined by a position sensor. Then the free plug-in connector approaches the permanently installed plug-in connector until there is mechanical contact between interacting guide surfaces in an insertion position, and the free plug-in connector is moved into a plug-in position. The distance along a common plug-in axis between the guide surfaces decreases continuously during the plug-in process. The transverse forces occurring at the guide surfaces relative to the plug-in direction are detected by transverse-force sensors and the positioning head is moved transversely and/or about a transverse pivot axis, reducing these transverse forces.

A verification system or method for detecting whether a CPA device is in a pre-lock position or in a full-lock position relative to the housing based on a scan system’s detection that a portion of a predetermined word or character on the CPA device and another portion of the predetermined word or character are separated from each other or joined together to form the predetermined word or character. The CPA device is fully engaged or in full-lock position or status with the housing when the scan system has recognized or determined that the portion of the predetermined word or character on the CPA device and the another portion of the predetermined word or character on the housing within a scan window are joined together to form the complete or full predetermined word or character.

The present disclosure generally relates to a novel concept of forming an adapter for an automotive application to be used for connecting a breakout box in-between an electrical control unit (ECU) of a vehicle and an electrical wiring system comprised with the vehicle. The adapter is formed using a 3D printer based on a construction of an electrical connector design provided with the ECU. The present disclosure also relates to a corresponding system and a computer program product.

In an example, a device includes: a printed circuit board (PCB); at least one solid state drive (SSD) connected at a first side of the PCB via at least one SSD connector; at least one field programmable gate array (FPGA) mounted on the PCB at a second side of the PCB; and at least one connector attached to the PCB at a third side of the PCB, wherein the device is configured to operate in a first speed from a plurality of operating speeds based on a first input received via the at least one connector.

In an example, a device includes: a printed circuit board (PCB); at least one solid state drive (SSD) connected at a first side of the PCB via at least one SSD connector; at least one field programmable gate array (FPGA) mounted on the PCB at a second side of the PCB; and at least one connector attached to the PCB at a third side of the PCB, wherein the device is configured to operate in a first speed from a plurality of operating speeds based on a first input received via the at least one connector.

A connector includes a first connector housing including a first wall. The first connector housing is attachable to a second connector housing such that the first wall opposes a second wall of the second connector housing. The first connector housing includes: a fitting chamber defined at least by the first wall, the fitting chamber allowing a counterpart connector housing to be fitted therein; and an engaging arm provided on the first wall, the engaging arm being configured to engage an engaged arm provided on the second wall of the second connector housing when the first connector housing is completely attached to the second connector housing. The engaging arm serves as an attachment state detection mechanism configured to detect an incomplete attachment state in which the first connector housing is incompletely attached to the second connector housing.

A coupler couples a first connector with a second connector wherein each of the connectors is coupled to exactly two electrical conductors. Each coupler can be utilized in a shielded (e.g., metal) or non-shielded (e.g. non-metal) form as appropriate to a specific application. Each coupler includes exactly one pair of pin contacts, preferably with a square or rectangular cross- section. Each end of the pin contacts includes four tapered faces that join at a flattened apex and are configured to be received by the tuning fork contact of the connector. The pair of pin contacts are offset from one another and cross one another within the coupler to maintain electrical polarity as electricity travels from the tuning fork contacts of a first connector to the pin contacts of the coupler and onward to the tuning fork contacts of a second connector.

A coupler couples a first connector with a second connector wherein each of the connectors is coupled to exactly two electrical conductors. Each coupler can be utilized in a shielded (e.g., metal) or non-shielded (e.g. non-metal) form as appropriate to a specific application. Each coupler includes exactly one pair of pin contacts, preferably with a square or rectangular cross- section. Each end of the pin contacts includes four tapered faces that join at a flattened apex and are configured to be received by the tuning fork contact of the connector. The pair of pin contacts are offset from one another and cross one another within the coupler to maintain electrical polarity as electricity travels from the tuning fork contacts of a first connector to the pin contacts of the coupler and onward to the tuning fork contacts of a second connector.

The present invention is a system and method using a hand-mounted force sensor to verify installation of a CPA-enabled electrical connector. The system has at least one CPA-enabled electrical connector with a locking button; at least one hand-mounted force sensor; an interface board; a transmission channel; a system processor; a non-transitory computer readable memory element; a display; and an input. The hand-mounted force sensors have an electrical output that is proportional to the force. By interposing a force sensor between the locking button and the source of force, the force to close the locking tab can be read. The method is accomplished with the steps of mounting at least one force sensor so that it will record the force exerted when depressing a locking button of a CPA-enabled electrical connector; depressing the locking button; measuring the force; recording the force; comparing the force to a pre-determined threshold; passing the CPA-enabled electrical connector if the force was less than the pre-determined threshold and otherwise failing it.