Patents by Inventor Peter J. Whitehead
Peter J. Whitehead 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).
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Patent number: 11072286Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head having a mirror casing and a transflective reflective element. Individual user input elements of a plurality of user input elements are arranged in a row below the transflective reflective element. At least one of the individual user input elements is a user input element for an imaging system of the vehicle. Each individual display element of a plurality of display elements is associated with a respective user input element of the plurality of user input elements. Each individual display element of the plurality of display elements is selectively activated by activation of its respective user input element. Each individual display element and its respective user input element are located local to one another such that a cognitive relationship between actuation by a user of the respective user input element and activation of the associated individual display element is established.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2020Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: John O. Lindahl, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam, John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook
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Patent number: 10913401Abstract: A vehicular camera module includes a camera having a CMOS image sensor and a lens. The image sensor is disposed at a first printed circuit board, and circuitry of a second printed circuit board is in board-to-board electrical connection with circuitry of the first printed circuit board. Board-to-board electrical connection between the first and second printed circuit boards is via a multi-wire ribbon connection. A housing houses the first and second printed circuit boards. The housing is configured for mounting at a vehicle and, with the vehicular camera module mounted at the vehicle, the camera has a field of view external of the vehicle. With the vehicular camera module mounted at the vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by an image processor of image data captured by the image sensor, an object in the field of view of the camera is detected.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2020Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Robert L. Bingle, Joseph Camilleri, Peter J. Whitehead, Kenneth Schofield
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Publication number: 20200285331Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head having a mirror casing and a transflective reflective element. Individual user input elements of a plurality of user input elements are arranged in a row below the transflective reflective element. At least one of the individual user input elements is a user input element for an imaging system of the vehicle. Each individual display element of a plurality of display elements is associated with a respective user input element of the plurality of user input elements. Each individual display element of the plurality of display elements is selectively activated by activation of its respective user input element. Each individual display element and its respective user input element are located local to one another such that a cognitive relationship between actuation by a user of the respective user input element and activation of the associated individual display element is established.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: John O. Lindahl, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam, John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook
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Publication number: 20200215994Abstract: A vehicular camera module includes a camera having a CMOS image sensor and a lens. The image sensor is disposed at a first printed circuit board, and circuitry of a second printed circuit board is in board-to-board electrical connection with circuitry of the first printed circuit board. Board-to-board electrical connection between the first and second printed circuit boards is via a multi-wire ribbon connection. A housing houses the first and second printed circuit boards. The housing is configured for mounting at a vehicle and, with the vehicular camera module mounted at the vehicle, the camera has a field of view external of the vehicle. With the vehicular camera module mounted at the vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by an image processor of image data captured by the image sensor, an object in the field of view of the camera is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Robert L. Bingle, Joseph Camilleri, Peter J. Whitehead, Kenneth Schofield
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Patent number: 10664115Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a camera disposed at a vehicle having a field of view at least forward, rearward and/or exterior of the equipped vehicle. An image projection device is disposed in the vehicle and includes a biaxial microelectromechanical scanner and at least one light source operable to emit light. Light emitted by the at least one light source, when operated, is projected by the biaxial microelectromechanical scanner towards a windshield of the vehicle so as to form video images that are viewable by a driver of the vehicle viewing the windshield when driving the vehicle. The video images viewed by the driver viewing the windshield include video images derived from image data captured by the camera.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: John O. Lindahl, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam, John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook
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Patent number: 10596982Abstract: A vehicular camera module includes a camera having an image sensor and a lens. The image sensor is disposed at a first printed circuit board, and a second printed circuit board is in board-to-board electrical connection with the first printed circuit board. Board-to-board electrical connection between the first and second printed circuit boards is via a multi-wire ribbon connection. A housing houses the first and second printed circuit boards. The housing is configured for mounting at a windshield of a vehicle and, with the vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the vehicle, the camera has a field of view external of the vehicle. With the vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by an image processor of image data captured by the image sensor, an object in the field of view of the camera is detected.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2019Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Robert L. Bingle, Joseph Camilleri, Peter J. Whitehead, Kenneth Schofield
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Patent number: 10543786Abstract: A vehicular camera system includes a black-out layer disposed at an upper central region of a windshield as installed in a vehicle, an attachment member configured for attachment at the upper central region of the windshield where the black-out layer is disposed, and an accessory module including a camera. The accessory module is configured to detachably mount at the attachment member at the windshield such that the lens of the camera is spaced from the windshield, and such that the camera views forward of the vehicle through an aperture in the black-out layer via a tapered structure that is widest at the windshield and that tapers from the windshield towards where the lens of the camera is located. The tapered structure is at an acute angle relative to the vehicle windshield. The camera captures image data for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Kenneth Schofield, Joshua L. DeWard, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20190291658Abstract: A vehicular camera module includes a camera having an image sensor and a lens. The image sensor is disposed at a first printed circuit board, and a second printed circuit board is in board-to-board electrical connection with the first printed circuit board. Board-to-board electrical connection between the first and second printed circuit boards is via a multi-wire ribbon connection. A housing houses the first and second printed circuit boards. The housing is configured for mounting at a windshield of a vehicle and, with the vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the vehicle, the camera has a field of view external of the vehicle. With the vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by an image processor of image data captured by the image sensor, an object in the field of view of the camera is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Robert L. Bingle, Joseph Camilleri, Peter J. Whitehead, Kenneth Schofield
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Patent number: 10300866Abstract: A method for assembling a camera for a vehicle includes providing a camera housing portion, disposing an imaging sensor at a base portion of the camera housing portion, and disposing a lens system at a first portion of the camera housing portion. A first circuit board is provided that includes circuitry associated with the imaging sensor, which is disposed at a second circuit board that is in board-to-board electrical connection with the first circuit board. The camera housing portion and a connector portion are joined together to encase the first and second circuit boards. The connector portion includes a multi-pin connector having terminals that include (i) a first terminal portion for electrically connecting with a connector of the vehicle and (ii) a second terminal portion that electrically connects with circuitry disposed at the first circuit board when the camera housing portion and the connector portion are joined together.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2018Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Robert L. Bingle, Joseph Camilleri, Peter J. Whitehead, Kenneth Schofield
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Publication number: 20190095011Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a camera disposed at a vehicle having a field of view at least forward, rearward and/or exterior of the equipped vehicle. An image projection device is disposed in the vehicle and includes a biaxial microelectromechanical scanner and at least one light source operable to emit light. Light emitted by the at least one light source, when operated, is projected by the biaxial microelectromechanical scanner towards a windshield of the vehicle so as to form video images that are viewable by a driver of the vehicle viewing the windshield when driving the vehicle. The video images viewed by the driver viewing the windshield include video images derived from image data captured by the camera.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: John O. Lindahl, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam, John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook
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Patent number: 10139978Abstract: A head up display system for a vehicle includes an image projection device disposed in the vehicle and having a biaxial microelectromechanical scanner and at least one light source operable to emit light. Light emitted by the at least one light source is projected by the biaxial microelectromechanical scanner towards a windshield of the vehicle so as to form an image that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle viewing the windshield when driving the vehicle. The image projection device is disposed at one of (i) an accessory module disposed in the vehicle, (ii) an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in the vehicle, and (iii) a dashboard of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: John O. Lindahl, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam, John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook
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Patent number: 10131280Abstract: A video mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a mirror case and a reflective element, and a video display device disposed in the mirror case and operable to display video images that are viewable by the driver of the vehicle. The reflective element includes a transflective mirror reflector and the video display device is fixedly disposed to the rear of the reflective element. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes an on-screen display controller operable to receive a video signal from a camera disposed at the vehicle. The on-screen display controller is operable to overlay a graphic overlay onto a video signal received from the camera such that a video feed generated by the on-screen display controller includes the graphic overlay. The video display device comprises a metallic enclosure that is electrically grounded when the interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2017Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Mark E. Kramer, Andrew D. Weller, Peter J. Whitehead, Rodney K. Blank, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20180222402Abstract: A method for assembling a camera for a vehicle includes providing a camera housing portion, disposing an imaging sensor at a base portion of the camera housing portion, and disposing a lens system at a first portion of the camera housing portion. A first circuit board is provided that includes circuitry associated with the imaging sensor, which is disposed at a second circuit board that is in board-to-board electrical connection with the first circuit board. The camera housing portion and a connector portion are joined together to encase the first and second circuit boards. The connector portion includes a multi-pin connector having terminals that include (i) a first terminal portion for electrically connecting with a connector of the vehicle and (ii) a second terminal portion that electrically connects with circuitry disposed at the first circuit board when the camera housing portion and the connector portion are joined together.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Robert L. Bingle, Joseph Camilleri, Peter J. Whitehead, Kenneth Schofield
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Publication number: 20180118116Abstract: A vehicular camera system includes a black-out layer disposed at an upper central region of a windshield as installed in a vehicle, an attachment member configured for attachment at the upper central region of the windshield where the black-out layer is disposed, and an accessory module including a camera. The accessory module is configured to detachably mount at the attachment member at the windshield such that the lens of the camera is spaced from the windshield, and such that the camera views forward of the vehicle through an aperture in the black-out layer via a tapered structure that is widest at the windshield and that tapers from the windshield towards where the lens of the camera is located. The tapered structure is at an acute angle relative to the vehicle windshield. The camera captures image data for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2018Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Kenneth Schofield, Joshua L. DeWard, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 9937876Abstract: A camera assembly for a vehicle includes a camera housing portion, an imaging sensor disposed at a base portion of the camera housing portion, and a lens system disposed at a first portion of the camera housing portion. A first circuit board includes circuitry associated with the imaging sensor, which is disposed at a second circuit board that is in board-to-board electrical connection with the first circuit board. The camera housing portion and a connector portion are configured to join together to encase the first and second circuit boards. The connector portion includes a multi-pin connector having terminals that include (i) a first terminal portion for electrically connecting with a connector of the vehicle and (ii) a second terminal portion for electrically connecting with circuitry disposed at the first circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2017Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Robert L. Bingle, Joseph Camilleri, Peter J. Whitehead, Kenneth Schofield
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Publication number: 20180029534Abstract: A video mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a mirror case and a reflective element, and a video display device disposed in the mirror case and operable to display video images that are viewable by the driver of the vehicle. The reflective element includes a transflective mirror reflector and the video display device is fixedly disposed to the rear of the reflective element. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes an on-screen display controller operable to receive a video signal from a camera disposed at the vehicle. The on-screen display controller is operable to overlay a graphic overlay onto a video signal received from the camera such that a video feed generated by the on-screen display controller includes the graphic overlay. The video display device comprises a metallic enclosure that is electrically grounded when the interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2017Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Mark E. Kramer, Andrew D. Weller, Peter J. Whitehead, Rodney K. Blank, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 9862323Abstract: An accessory system for a vehicle includes an attachment member attached at an interior surface of a vehicle windshield and an accessory module configured to detachably mount to the attachment member. The accessory module and attachment member are configured so that when the accessory module mounts to the attachment member, an electrical element of the accessory module is biased toward and against the inner surface of the windshield. The electrical element includes a camera and, with the accessory module mounted to the attachment member, the camera has a forward field of view through the windshield. The camera may be associated with at least one of (i) a headlamp control system, (ii) a lane departure warning system, (iii) an adaptive cruise control system, (iv) a sign recognition system, (v) a night vision system, (vi) a pedestrian detection system and (vii) a pre-crash avoidance system.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2014Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Kenneth Schofield, Joshua L. DeWard, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 9783114Abstract: A video mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle and includes a mirror case and a reflective element. A video display device disposed at the mirror case. The video display device is operable to display video images that are viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes an on-screen display controller operable to receive a video signal from a camera and, responsive to receipt of the video signal, the on-screen display controller is operable to generate a video feed to the video display device. The video feed generated by the on-screen display controller may include a graphic overlay.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Mark E. Kramer, Andrew D. Weller, Peter J. Whitehead, Rodney K. Blank, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20170255300Abstract: A head up display system for a vehicle includes an image projection device disposed in the vehicle and having a biaxial microelectromechanical scanner and at least one light source operable to emit light. Light emitted by the at least one light source is projected by the biaxial microelectromechanical scanner towards a windshield of the vehicle so as to form an image that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle viewing the windshield when driving the vehicle. The image projection device is disposed at one of (i) an accessory module disposed in the vehicle, (ii) an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in the vehicle, and (iii) a dashboard of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: John O. Lindahl, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam, John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook
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Patent number: D875810Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: VELVAC INCORPORATEDInventors: Gary Hohnl, Peter J. Whitehead, Tim Strandell, Bernard Krauska