Patents by Inventor Rodney K. Blank

Rodney K. Blank 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: 11634078
    Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror control system includes a plurality of rearview mirror assemblies having variable reflectance mirror reflective elements. An electronic control unit receives image data captured by a rear backup camera of the vehicle. The rearview mirror control system, responsive to processing a first subset of received image data captured by the rear backup camera, determines ambient light rearward of the vehicle. The rearview mirror control system, responsive to processing a second subset of received image data captured by the rear backup camera, determines glare light emanating from a headlight of another vehicle following the equipped vehicle. The first subset of received image data is different than the second subset of received image data. The rearview mirror control system generates an output to control dimming of respective ones of the mirror reflective elements of the plurality of rearview mirror assemblies based on location of the determined glare light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Darryl P. De Wind, Gregory A. Huizen, Rodney K. Blank
  • Publication number: 20230076687
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm and a mirror head at one end of the mounting arm distal from an attachment portion of the mounting arm that is configured for attachment at a vehicle. A mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at the mirror head. An innermost side of the mirror reflective element is attached at a front side of an attachment plate. The mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm when the driver of the vehicle operates an electrically-operable actuator. The attachment plate includes wall structure that extends from the front side of the attachment plate and circumscribes and spans the perimeter circumferential edge of the glass substrate and does not encroach onto and does not overlap the front surface of the glass substrate of the exterior mirror reflective element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Darryl P. De Wind, Keith D. Foote, Joseph M. Mambourg, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20230058584
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting assembly. The mirror casing includes a sidewall having an outer end region that circumscribes an open portion of the mirror casing. The outer end region includes a rounded outer surface curving between the open portion and a less-curved outer surface of the sidewall. The mirror reflective element is disposed at the open portion of the mirror casing. The mirror reflective element has a glass substrate having a rounded perimeter edge of at least 2.5 mm and a thickness of less than 2 mm. Curvature of the rounded outer surface of the outer end region of the sidewall matches curvature of the rounded perimeter edge of the glass substrate to provide a curved transition between a flat region at the front surface of the glass substrate and the less-curved outer surface of the sidewall of the mirror casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Mark L. Larson, Rodney K. Blank, Joseph D. Suchecki, Craig Kendall
  • Patent number: 11577652
    Abstract: A vehicular video camera display system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a casing and an electro-optic reflective element, with a video display device disposed in the casing behind the electro-optic reflective element. With the interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior cabin portion of the vehicle, a video display screen of the video display device is operable to display video images that are viewable through the electro-optic reflective element by a driver of the vehicle. A rearward-viewing video camera is disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle and views at least rearward of the vehicle. Control circuitry is disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly. Image data captured by the rearward-viewing video camera is communicated from the rearward-viewing video camera via a twisted pair wire to the control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20230022541
    Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror control system includes a plurality of rearview mirror assemblies having variable reflectance mirror reflective elements. An electronic control unit receives image data captured by a rear backup camera of the vehicle. The rearview mirror control system, responsive to processing a first subset of received image data captured by the rear backup camera, determines ambient light rearward of the vehicle. The rearview mirror control system, responsive to processing a second subset of received image data captured by the rear backup camera, determines glare light emanating from a headlight of another vehicle following the equipped vehicle. The first subset of received image data is different than the second subset of received image data. The rearview mirror control system generates an output to control dimming of respective ones of the mirror reflective elements of the plurality of rearview mirror assemblies based on location of the determined glare light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Darryl P. De Wind, Gregory A. Huizen, Rodney K. Blank
  • Publication number: 20230003058
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door system includes a door handle assembly configured for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle. The door handle assembly includes a pocket lighting module comprising at least one light emitting diode operable to emit light to illuminate a pocket region of the door handle region. The door handle assembly includes a plurality of touch sensors linearly arranged along a handle portion and generating sensor data based on detection of touch at the respective touch sensor. The vehicular exterior door system, with the door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region, and responsive to processing at the processor of the sensor data generated by individual touch sensors of the plurality of touch sensors, determines a touch event at the door handle assembly and, responsive to the determined touch event, unlocks the vehicle door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Eric Peterson, Nathan Z. Hellwig, Michael T. McNally, Gregory A. Huizen, Kenneth C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11543724
    Abstract: A multifunctional rear camera system includes a rear camera and a processor. Responsive to processing of captured image data, the processor generates respective outputs for (i) a rear backup assist function, (ii) a mirror dimming control for at least an electro-optic interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle and (iii) ambient light detection. The processor processes a mirror zone of captured image data for mirror dimming control and processes upper corner regions of captured image data for ambient light detection. The processor processes at least lower regions of captured image data for the rear backup assist function. The generated output for the mirror dimming control is provided to the electro-optic interior rearview mirror assembly to control dimming of the electro-optic reflective element. The generated output for the rear backup assist function provides (i) object detection and/or (ii) video display of video images derived from captured image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Niall R. Lynam, Hamid Habibi, Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Mark L. Larson, Patrick M. Foley, IV, Michael L. Gallas
  • Patent number: 11498486
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm and a mirror head at one end of the mounting arm distal from an attachment portion of the mounting arm that is configured for attachment at a vehicle. A mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at the mirror head. An innermost side of the mirror reflective element is attached at a front side of an attachment plate. The mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm when the driver of the vehicle operates an electrically-operable actuator. The attachment plate includes wall structure that extends from the front side of the attachment plate and circumscribes and spans the perimeter circumferential edge of the glass substrate and does not encroach onto and does not overlap the front surface of the glass substrate of the exterior mirror reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Darryl P. De Wind, Keith D. Foote, Joseph M. Mambourg, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11479178
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head and a mounting structure attached at a central region of the mirror back plate. A circuit board is disposed at the mirror back plate to one side of the central region, and first and second electrical connectors are disposed at the rear of the reflective element to the other side of the central region, with the first and second electrical connectors being in electrically conductive continuity with electrically conductive coatings at respective surfaces of the front and rear glass substrates. The electrical conductors are electrically connected between the respective electrical connector and reflectance control circuitry at the circuit board. A wire harness is electrically connected to the circuit board, and a portion of the wire harness passes through the mounting structure and has a connector end for electrically connecting to a vehicle wire harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Mark L. Larson, Rodney K. Blank, Joseph D. Suchecki, Craig Kendall
  • Publication number: 20220297604
    Abstract: A vehicular video mirror system includes a video display screen disposed in a mirror head. The system includes a vehicle-mounted rear backup camera and a trailer-mounted rearward viewing camera. The trailer-mounted camera includes an imaging array with a first subset of pixels representative of an upper rearward-view region of the field of view and a second subset of pixels that represents a lower rearward-view region of the field of view. With the trailer hitched to the vehicle and responsive to the vehicle being set for forward propulsion, the video display screen displays images derived from the first subset of pixels and not from the second subset of pixels. With the trailer hitched to the vehicle and responsive to the vehicle being set for rearward propulsion, the video display screen displays images derived from the second subset of pixels and not from the first subset of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Patrick M. Foley, IV
  • Patent number: 11441338
    Abstract: A door handle assembly includes a handle portion disposed at a pocket region of the door handle region. The door handle assembly includes a plurality of touch sensors disposed at the handle portion that are linearly arranged along the handle portion. Each touch sensor has a respective touch sensitivity and generates sensor data based on the respective touch sensitivity and detection of a touch. The plurality of touch sensors includes at least two touch sensors having different respective touch sensitivities. A processor is operable to process the sensor data generated by the plurality of touch sensors. A controller, responsive to processing at the processor of the sensor data generated by the plurality of touch sensors, determines a touch event at the door handle assembly. The determined touch event includes a user touching the handle portion. The controller, responsive to detecting the touch event, locks or unlocks the vehicle door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Eric Peterson, Nathan Z. Hellwig, Michael T. McNally, Gregory A. Huizen, Kenneth C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11427127
    Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror control system includes a rearview mirror assembly having a variable reflectance electro-optic mirror reflective element. An electronic control unit receives image data captured by a rear backup camera of the vehicle. The electronic control unit, responsive to processing a first subset of received image data captured by the rear backup camera, determines ambient light rearward of the equipped vehicle. The electronic control unit, responsive to processing a second subset of received image data captured by the rear backup camera, determines glare light emanating from a headlight of another vehicle following the equipped vehicle. The first subset of received image data is different than the second subset of received image data. The electronic control unit generates an output to control dimming of the mirror reflective element of the rearview mirror assembly responsive to a determined location of the determined glare light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Darryl P. De Wind, Gregory A. Huizen, Rodney K. Blank
  • Publication number: 20220203897
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a video display screen and a video processor operable to process captured video image data captured by a rearward-viewing color video camera at the vehicle. The video display screen includes a left display region at a left portion, a right display region at a right portion, and a middle display region that spans between the left and right display regions. The video display screen (i) displays at the left display region video images derived from captured image data to display a scene occurring in a left side lane, (ii) displays at the right display region video images derived from captured image data to display a scene occurring in a right side lane and (iii) displays at the middle display region video images derived from captured image data to display a scene occurring rearward of the vehicle in the lane the equipped vehicle is travelling in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20220153663
    Abstract: A vehicular display system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and a plurality of cameras disposed at the vehicle. The cameras capture image data and provide captured image data to the ECU. The system includes a video display screen and a video mirror display screen that are operable to display video images derived from video images provided by the ECU. When the vehicle is traveling forward at a speed below a threshold speed, the ECU generates rearward view video images derived from image data captured by a rearward viewing camera and provides the rearward view video images to the video display screen. When the vehicle is traveling forward at a speed at or above the threshold speed, the ECU generates rearward view video images derived from image data captured by a rearward viewing camera and provides the rearward view video images to the video mirror display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje
  • Patent number: 11292389
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head that is pivotally attached via a pivot joint at a mounting structure and that accommodates a reflective element. A display device is disposed within the mirror head. An actuator is disposed within the mirror head and includes an actuator base attached at a rear portion of the reflective element, an actuator body that is pivotally attached at the actuator base, and an electrically operable motor. When the motor is electrically operated, the actuator body pivots relative to the actuator base to pivot the mirror head relative to a socket element of the pivot joint. Pivotal movement of the mirror head relative to the socket element adjusts the reflective element between a mirror mode orientation and a display mode orientation. When the reflective element is in the display mode orientation, the display device is actuated to display video images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Darryl P. De Wind, Mark L. Larson, Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Eric Peterson
  • Patent number: 11285877
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a video display screen and a video processor operable to process captured video image data captured by a rearward-viewing camera at the vehicle. The video display screen includes a left display region at a left portion, a right display region at a right portion, and a middle display region that spans between the left and right display regions. The video display screen displays at the left display region video images derived from image data captured by the rearward-viewing video camera to display a scene occurring at a left side lane at a left side of the equipped vehicle and does not display video images of the scene occurring at the left side lane at the left side of the equipped vehicle at the middle display region of the video display screen or at the right display region of the video display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11242008
    Abstract: A vehicular display system includes an electronic control unit (ECU), a plurality of bird's eye surround view cameras and a plurality of camera monitoring system (CMS) cameras disposed at the vehicle. The cameras capture image data and provide captured image data to the ECU. The system includes a video display screen and a video mirror display screen that are operable to display video images derived from video images provided by the ECU. When the vehicle is traveling forward at a speed below a threshold speed, the ECU generates rearward view video images derived from image data captured by the CMS cameras and provides the rearward view video images to the video display screen. When the vehicle is traveling forward at a speed at or above the threshold speed, the ECU generates rearward view video images and provides the rearward view video images to the video mirror display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje
  • Publication number: 20220001804
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a forward-viewing camera located behind and viewing through a vehicle windshield, a rearward-viewing camera located at a rear of the vehicle, and a common image processor operable for processing captured image data. A video display screen is located within the interior cabin of the vehicle viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The common image processor processes first image data captured by the forward-viewing camera to detect at least one vehicle present exterior the equipped vehicle. Responsive to the vehicle being shifted into a reverse gear and while the driver is executing a reversing maneuver, video images derived from image data captured by at least the rearward-viewing camera are displayed by the video display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew D. Weller, Mark L. Larson, Ian A. McCabe, Niall R. Lynam, Rodney K. Blank, Joseph P. McCaw, John T. Uken
  • Publication number: 20210316663
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head adjustably mounted at a mounting structure. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and an electro-optic variable reflectance mirror reflective element. A glare light sensor senses glare light emanating from headlights of another vehicle rearward of the equipped vehicle. An ambient light sensor senses ambient light at the vehicle. The ambient light sensor comprises part of a rain sensing device disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of the vehicle. Mirror control circuitry is operable to adjust dimming of the mirror reflective element responsive to an output from the glare light sensor and an output from the ambient light sensor. Responsive to the output from the glare light sensor and the output from the ambient light sensor, the mirror control circuitry controls dimming of the mirror reflective element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Austin T. Buerkle, Rodney K. Blank, John T. Uken
  • Publication number: 20210300263
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed at a vehicle, a rear camera disposed at the vehicle and having a field of view at least rearward of the vehicle. The rear camera captures image data and provides captured image data to the ECU. A video display screen is disposed in the vehicle and is viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The video display screen is operable to display video images derived from a video signal provided by the ECU during a forward maneuver of the vehicle. The rear camera is mounted at a camera mounting bracket that is attached at a spare tire mounting bracket at a rear of the vehicle. A height of the rear camera is adjustable to position the rear camera above a spare tire mounted at the spare tire mounting bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Vernon R. Nise, John T. Uken, Rodney K. Blank