Patents Assigned to J. W. Speaker Corporation
  • Patent number: 11940109
    Abstract: A light assembly and method for steering a vehicle headlight illumination pattern. In one aspect, a method includes providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of: illuminating a subset of consecutive LEDs in the line including LEDs associated with the first and second edge illumination fields; as the direction of the vehicle wheels changes: (i) fading the LED associated with one of the first and second illumination fields off while simultaneously fading the LED associated with the other of the first and second illumination fields on thereby changing the illumination pattern; and (ii) repeating step (i) so that the illumination pattern tracks the direction of the vehicle wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley William Kay, Kevin Jay McWithey
  • Patent number: 11794632
    Abstract: A headlight system for a banking vehicle is provided. The headlight system includes a plurality of optical assemblies being arranged about an optical horizon and an optical vertical axis. Each of the plurality of optical assemblies includes an illumination source and an optical element. Each of the illumination sources is configured to direct light toward a corresponding one of the optical elements to produce an illumination region. The illumination regions combine to form an illumination pattern that includes at least one illumination region that is radial and is positioned relative an optical origin. The intersection between the optical horizon and the optical vertical axis defines the optical origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley William Kay, Dragan Popovic
  • Patent number: 11447062
    Abstract: A bank angle of a vehicle can be accurately calculated using yaw axis data and roll axis data, and based on the calculated bank angle, vehicle illumination optics can be controlled to maintain a pattern of distributed light from the illumination optics to be generally horizontal. The calculated bank angle may be zeroed when the yaw axis data equals zero. The improved pattern of distributed light from the illumination optics illuminates a more natural field of view for the vehicle driver during a bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Jay McWithey, Bradley William Kay, Dragolsav Popovic
  • Patent number: 11435050
    Abstract: A lamp for a vehicle is provided that can include a housing, an axial symmetric lens coupled to the housing and defining an optical axis and a focal point, an image shifting lens positioned within the housing behind the axial symmetric lens relative to the optical axis, and a light source positioned within the housing. The light source can be positioned behind the image shifting lens. The light source can be configured to emit light along an optical path that extends, from the light source, through the image shifting lens, towards the axial symmetric lens above the optical axis, and through the axial symmetric lens to define a high beam illumination pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bradley William Kay
  • Patent number: 11407354
    Abstract: A headlight system for a banking vehicle is provided. The headlight system includes a plurality of optical assemblies being arranged about an optical horizon and an optical vertical axis. Each of the plurality of optical assemblies includes an illumination source and an optical element. Each of the illumination sources is configured to direct light toward a corresponding one of the optical elements to produce an illumination region. The illumination regions combine to form an illumination pattern that includes at least one illumination region that is radial and is positioned relative an optical origin. The intersection between the optical horizon and the optical vertical axis defines the optical origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley William Kay, Dragan Popovic
  • Patent number: 11047540
    Abstract: A light assembly and method for steering a vehicle headlight illumination pattern. In one aspect, a method includes providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of: illuminating a subset of consecutive LEDs in the line including LEDs associated with the first and second edge illumination fields; as the direction of the vehicle wheels changes: (i) fading the LED associated with one of the first and second illumination fields off while simultaneously fading the LED associated with the other of the first and second illumination fields on thereby changing the illumination pattern; and (ii) repeating step (i) so that the illumination pattern tracks the direction of the vehicle wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley William Kay, Kevin Jay McWithey
  • Patent number: 11021095
    Abstract: A remotely controllable headlight assembly for use on a vehicle, the assembly comprising a circuit board including a plurality of LEDs including at least a first low beam LED, a first high beam LED and at least one additional LED, optic elements supported adjacent the LEDs on the circuit board, a processor and a remote communication module coupled to the processor, the remote communication module configured to receive commands from a wireless device, wherein the commands instruct the processor to illuminate the at least one additional LED, wherein the processor controls the at least one additional LED based on the received wireless commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Spenner, Dragan Popovic, Michael Herre, Sanjay Bora, Troy A. VerStrate
  • Patent number: 11019689
    Abstract: Systems and methods for lighting system lens heating are described. The systems and methods include a substantially clear thermoplastic substrate; and a conductive ink or film circuit on the thermoplastic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Deering, Peter Andrew Zagar, Bradley William Kay, Dragoslav Popovic
  • Patent number: 10919437
    Abstract: A headlight system for a banking vehicle is provided. The headlight system includes a plurality of optical assemblies being arranged about an optical horizon and an optical vertical axis. Each of the plurality of optical assemblies includes an illumination source and an optical element. Each of the illumination sources is configured to direct light toward a corresponding one of the optical elements to produce an illumination region. The illumination regions combine to form an illumination pattern that includes at least one illumination region that is radial and is positioned relative an optical origin. The intersection between the optical horizon and the optical vertical axis defines the optical origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley William Kay, Dragan Popovic
  • Publication number: 20200307443
    Abstract: A bank angle of a vehicle can be accurately calculated using yaw axis data and roll axis data, and based on the calculated bank angle, vehicle illumination optics can be controlled to maintain a pattern of distributed light from the illumination optics to be generally horizontal. The calculated bank angle may be zeroed when the yaw axis data equals zero. The improved pattern of distributed light from the illumination optics illuminates a more natural field of view for the vehicle driver during a bank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Jay McWithey, Bradley William Kay, Dragolsav Popovic
  • Patent number: 10676018
    Abstract: A bank angle of a vehicle can be accurately calculated using yaw axis data and roll axis data, and based on the calculated bank angle, vehicle illumination optics can be controlled to maintain a pattern of distributed light from the illumination optics to be generally horizontal. The calculated bank angle may be zeroed when the yaw axis data equals zero. The improved pattern of distributed light from the illumination optics illuminates a more natural field of view for the vehicle driver during a bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER, CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Jay McWithey, Bradley William Kay, Dragolsav Popovic
  • Patent number: 10433386
    Abstract: Systems and methods for illuminating and tracking a work area (21) is provided. Systems can include at least one lamp (14) to couple to an object, the at least one lamp (14, 24) to illuminate the work area (21), and a height module (50), the height module (50) in communication with the at least one lamp (14, 24) to provide an indication of a height of the work area. Methods can include the steps of determining a height data of the movable portion of the vehicle to be illuminated; communicating the determined height data of the movable portion to a stationary lamp (14, 24), the lamp including a microprocessor and plurality of light sources (20), each light source (20) controllable to illuminate an area at a predetermined height; and illuminating at least one of the plurality of light sources to correspond to the determined height data to illuminate the movable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charissa Quinlan, Bradley William Kay
  • Patent number: 10427591
    Abstract: A light assembly for generating a light pattern comprising LEDs; a first lens positioned in front of the LEDs to direct light from each LED into an illumination field, the illumination fields of energized LEDs create an illumination pattern and a first edge illumination field and a second edge illumination field; a processor controlling the LED duty cycles to move the illumination pattern in a first direction to the side of the first edge illumination field by (i) increasing an LED duty cycle associated with the first edge illumination field while decreasing an LED duty cycle associated with the second edge illumination field; and (ii) repeating step (i) with the illumination field adjacent the first edge illumination field in the first direction as the first edge illumination field and with the illumination field adjacent the second edge illumination field in the first direction as the second edge illumination field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley William Kay, Kevin Jay McWithey
  • Patent number: D869065
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Spenner, Jeffrey M. Cottrill
  • Patent number: D876692
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brandon L. Yahr, Jeffrey L. Spenner
  • Patent number: D884933
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Herre, Jeffrey L. Spenner
  • Patent number: D884934
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Herre, Jeffrey L. Spenner
  • Patent number: D884935
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Herre, Jeffrey L. Spenner
  • Patent number: D910227
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric J. Deering, Bradley W. Kay
  • Patent number: D1014803
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: J.W. SPEAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley W. Kay, Thomas S. Albee