Patents by Inventor Jean-François Le Bars

Jean-François Le Bars has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9200787
    Abstract: A lighting module comprising a light source of the LED type (not visible), a reflector with an elliptical reflective surface and a lens, the module being provided with means of quick-fastening to a mount. These means comprise a flange fitted with tabs (not visible) able to collaborate with corresponding notches of an orifice in the mount. This mounting allows the module to be fitted and removed very easily so that the light source or sources can be replaced, without disturbing the beam alignment. The invention also relates to the mount in question and to a corresponding headlamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Le Bars, Eric Moisy
  • Patent number: 9061628
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight comprising at least one lighting module mounted on a support. The module comprises a base with a mounting surface inclined backward and toward the top of the headlight. The support comprises a corresponding mounting surface. Positioning means with sliders are provided on these surfaces so as to be able to extract the module and fit it by a translational movement in a direction contained within the plane of the mounting surfaces. The housing comprises a removable portion positioned in the extension of the module in the direction of translation of the positioning means with sliders. The wall of the housing comprises precuts on the circumference of the removable portion. This arrangement makes is possible to easily replace a bulky lighting module such as that of a headlight with style functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Eric Moisy, Isidro Garcia, Jose-Antonio Aguilar Del Moral, Damien Cabanne, Antonio Contrelas-Luque, Jean-Francois Le Bars
  • Publication number: 20130141929
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight comprising at least one lighting module mounted on a support. The module comprises a base with a mounting surface inclined backward and toward the top of the headlight. The support comprises a corresponding mounting surface. Positioning means with sliders are provided on these surfaces so as to be able to extract the module and fit it by a translational movement in a direction contained within the plane of the mounting surfaces. The housing comprises a removable portion positioned in the extension of the module in the direction of translation of the positioning means with sliders. The wall of the housing comprises precuts on the circumference of the removable portion. This arrangement makes is possible to easily replace a bulky lighting module such as that of a headlight with style functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Eric Moisy, Isidro Garcia, Jose-Antonio Aguilar Del Moral, Damien Cabanne, Antonio Contrelas-Luque, Jean-Francois Le Bars
  • Publication number: 20130135888
    Abstract: A lighting module comprising a light source of the LED type (not visible), a reflector with an elliptical reflective surface and a lens, the module being provided with means of quick-fastening to a mount. These means comprise a flange fitted with tabs (not visible) able to collaborate with corresponding notches of an orifice in the mount. This mounting allows the module to be fitted and removed very easily so that the light source or sources can be replaced, without disturbing the beam alignment. The invention also relates to the mount in question and to a corresponding headlamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Le Bars, Eric Moisy
  • Patent number: 8410703
    Abstract: A process, system and procedure of controls of the supply of a vehicle headlamp suitable to supply lighting in high beam function and/or low beam function, comprising the following stages for at least one of the low beam function and high beam functions: determining at least one driving parameter pertinent to the lighting of the vehicle, defining several lighting modes characterized by the value of this at least one parameter, attributing a supply mode of the headlamp to each lighting mode, and storing in memory the supply mode associated with each of the lighting modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-François Le Bars, Boris Wiegand, Eric Blusseau
  • Patent number: 8348485
    Abstract: A headlamp for a motor vehicle, this headlamp comprising at least one optical module capable of emitting a plurality of light beams, including a low beam and at least one additional light beam. The optical module is equipped with a cover plate which can be moved between at least two positions, this movable cover plate being configured along a shaft mounted so as to rotate in the optical module and driven in rotation at least by a motor. The shaft comprises at least one first cut-off member configured as a double-edged cover plate providing an oblique cut-off for emission of the low beam, and at least one second cut-off member configured as a wall of substantially constant height, angularly offset relative to the first cut-off member and providing at least one substantially vertical cut-off line for emission of a high beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Pierre Albou, Jonathan Blandin, David Bourdin, Jean-François Le Bars, Boris Wiegand
  • Patent number: 8154208
    Abstract: A method and headlight adapted to supply power to a dual-mode automobile headlight light source able to provide either main beam mode lighting or dipped beam mode lighting, wherein the light source is supplied with electrical power at a first voltage when it is in main beam mode and at a second voltage when it is in dipped beam mode, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-François Le Bars, Etienne Pauty
  • Publication number: 20110050102
    Abstract: A process, system and procedure of controls of the supply of a vehicle headlamp suitable to supply lighting in high beam function and/or low beam function, comprising the following stages for at least one of the low beam function and high beam functions: determining at least one driving parameter pertinent to the lighting of the vehicle, defining several lighting modes characterized by the value of this at least one parameter, attributing a supply mode of the headlamp to each lighting mode, and storing in memory the supply mode associated with each of the lighting modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Jean-François LE BARS, Boris WIEGAND, Eric BLUSSEAU
  • Publication number: 20100091514
    Abstract: A headlamp for a motor vehicle, this headlamp comprising at least one optical module capable of emitting a plurality of light beams, including a low beam and at least one additional light beam. The optical module is equipped with a cover plate which can be moved between at least two positions, this movable cover plate being configured along a shaft mounted so as to rotate in the optical module and driven in rotation at least by a motor. The shaft comprises at least one first cut-off member configured as a double-edged cover plate providing an oblique cut-off for emission of the low beam, and at least one second cut-off member configured as a wall of substantially constant height, angularly offset relative to the first cut-off member and providing at least one substantially vertical cut-off line for emission of a high beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Pierre Albou, Jonathan Blandin, David Bourdin, Jean-Francois Le Bars, Boris Wiegand
  • Patent number: 7693302
    Abstract: An obstacle detection device comprising an imaging system for a motor vehicle, including at least one optical sensor, integrated in a lighting or signaling device of this vehicle. A field of vision of this at least one optical sensor can be oriented substantially along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle or substantially along a transverse axis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Ravier, Jean-François Le Bars, Benoit Reiss, Joël Leleve, Pierre Albou
  • Publication number: 20090212705
    Abstract: A method and headlight adapted to supply power to a dual-mode automobile headlight light source able to provide either main beam mode lighting or dipped beam mode lighting, wherein the light source is supplied with electrical power at a first voltage when it is in main beam mode and at a second voltage when it is in dipped beam mode, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Jean-Francois LE BARS, Etienne PAUTY
  • Publication number: 20070025596
    Abstract: An obstacle detection device comprising an imaging system for a motor vehicle, including at least one optical sensor, integrated in a lighting or signaling device of this vehicle. A field of vision of this at least one optical sensor can be oriented substantially along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle or substantially along a transverse axis of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Ravier, Jean-Francois Le Bars, Benoit Reiss, Joel Leleve, Pierre Albou
  • Patent number: 6942369
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is a device for the automatic adjustment of the position of at least one headlight of a motor vehicle in relation to the bodywork by pivoting around at least one axis which is essentially parallel to the road surface, the said device comprising at least one actuator capable of making the said headlight(s) pivot, at least one sensor integral with the vehicle, and more particularly fixed to the chassis close to one of the vehicle wheels, and at least one electronic system to control the actuator with the aid of information provided by the sensor(s). The said electronic control system, or at least the essential part of its components, is fixed to or implanted in the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-François Le Bars, Robert Phan Van Ho, Ludovic Toulisse
  • Publication number: 20040022063
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is a device for the automatic adjustment of the position of at least one headlight of a motor vehicle in relation to the bodywork by pivoting around at least one axis which is essentially parallel to the road surface, the said device comprising at least one actuator capable of making the said headlight(s) pivot, at least one sensor integral with the vehicle, and more particularly fixed to the chassis close to one of the vehicle wheels, and at least one electronic system to control the actuator with the aid of information provided by the sensor(s). The said electronic control system, or at least the essential part of its components, is fixed to or implanted in the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Le Bars, Robert Phan Van Ho, Ludovic Toulisse
  • Patent number: 5118943
    Abstract: A device for correcting the faults of a sequence of images analyzed by an integrating matrix infrared sensor has a first part that determines a correction signal that is variable as a function of the temperature of the background of the images, equal to the product of a value representing the mean luminance of an image preceding the image undergoing correction, and a signal representing approximately the sensitivity of each cell of the sensor, constituted by the values of a video signal corresponding to an image analyzed in the course of a pre-calibration period; and a second part to determine a second correction signal, in storing the values of the first corrected video signal during a calibration period. An application of this device could be for the infrared cameras used in weapons systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Le Bars, Jean-Marie Deler, Laurent Baron
  • Patent number: 5082201
    Abstract: The disclosed device can be used to determine coordinates expressing the angular deviation between the direction in which a missile is located and a line of sight in which a target is located. The device comprises means to project and shift an image on a linear senor, in such a way that the field of acquisition of the homing device has a section, by a plane perpendicular to the line of sight, that is ring-shaped having a diameter corresponding to a wide field aperture at the moment when the missile is launched, so that the missile is definitely intercepted in the field of acquisition, and then having a diameter that is variable as a function of time in such a way that the ring follows the missile as and when it approaches the line of sight through the action of a remote control system or a directive beam system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Thomson CSF
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Le Bars, Vincent Vilbois, Oliver Dez
  • Patent number: 4420688
    Abstract: A detector device for limiting background noise detected by a cooled infrared detector. In order to delimit the angle of view of the detector, the device comprises a reflecting deposit formed externally of the cooling device on one face of a transparent element interposed on the receiving path. The deposit can be located on the outer face of the window of the cooling device within which the detector is mounted on a cold table forming a spherical mirror. The complete assembly is optically combined so as to ensure that the radiation issuing from the detector outside the angle of view is returned to the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Le Bars