Patents Assigned to Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
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Patent number: 12291150Abstract: A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head that accommodates a prismatic mirror reflective element. A camera is accommodated by the mirror head. The mirror reflective element is adhesively attached at a mirror back plate of the mirror head. An optically clear adhesive (OCA) and a neutral density (ND) filter are disposed between the mirror back plate and a mirror reflector coating disposed at a rear side of the mirror reflective element. The camera views through (i) the OCA, (ii) the ND filter, (iii) the mirror reflector coating of the mirror reflective element, and (iv) the glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. With the interior rearview mirror assembly attached at an interior portion of a vehicle, image data captured by the camera is processed at an electronic control unit (ECU) for a cabin monitoring function.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2023Date of Patent: May 6, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventor: Austen C. Peterson
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Patent number: 12286057Abstract: A vehicular video mirror system includes a display device having a video display screen accommodated by a mirror head of an interior rearview mirror assembly. The vehicular video mirror system is operable in a mirror mode or a display mode. A vehicle-mounted rearward-viewing digital camera is disposed at the vehicle and a trailer-mounted rearward-viewing analog camera is disposed at a trailer that is configured to be hitched to the vehicle. With no trailer hitched to the vehicle, and when the vehicular video mirror system operates in the display mode, the video display screen displays video images derived from image data captured by the vehicle-mounted rearward-viewing camera. With the trailer hitched to the vehicle, and when the vehicular video mirror system operates in the display mode, the video display screen displays rearward-view video images derived from image data captured by the trailer-mounted rearward-viewing camera.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2024Date of Patent: April 29, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Patrick M. Foley, IV
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Patent number: 12289564Abstract: A cabin monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a mirror head having a mirror reflective element that includes (i) a planar glass substrate, (ii) a transflective mirror reflector at the glass substrate and (iii) a light absorption film including a polarizer film. A camera accommodated by the mirror head views through the reflective element. A light emitter accommodated by the mirror head emits near infrared (NIR) light through the reflective element. The light absorption film attenuates greater than 60 percent of visible light and less than 30 percent of NIR light incident on the light absorption film and transmits less than 40 percent of visible light and greater than 70 percent of NIR light through the light absorption film. The camera captures image data representative of NIR light emitted through the reflective element and reflected from the interior cabin of the vehicle back through the reflective element.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2023Date of Patent: April 29, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Mark L. Larson, John T. Uken
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Patent number: 12281503Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion configured to mount at an exterior door handle region of a vehicular door, a handle portion, and a sensing device operable to sense presence of a person's fingers in a pocket region behind the lower portion of the handle. The handle portion is pivotable between a non-deployed orientation, where an outer surface of the handle portion is coplanar with an outer surface of the vehicular door at the exterior door handle region, and a deployed orientation, where the handle portion is pivoted inward into a door handle pocket within the vehicular door. With the handle in the deployed orientation and when a person's fingers are in the pocket region, the sensing device senses presence of the person's fingers at the pocket region and triggers an actuator of the vehicular exterior door handle assembly to unlatch the vehicular door.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2023Date of Patent: April 22, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Justin E. Sobecki
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Patent number: 12263788Abstract: A vehicular dual mode illumination module includes mounting structure configured for mounting at a vehicle, a first light emitting diode (LED) operable to emit visible white light when electrically powered, and a second near-infrared (near-IR) LED operable to emit non-visible near-IR light when electrically powered. When the vehicle is parked and the first LED is electrically powered, the first LED emits visible white light to provide visible illumination at a first region exterior the vehicle. Electrical powering of the first LED is locked-out during movement of the vehicle. When the second near-IR LED is electrically powered, the second near-IR LED emits non-visible near-IR light to illuminate a second region exterior the vehicle and to provide non-visible illumination for a camera viewing the second region. Electrical powering of the second near-IR LED is not locked-out during movement of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2024Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Eric Peterson
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Patent number: 12264526Abstract: A vehicular slider window assembly includes a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail, a fixed window panel, and a movable window panel that is movable along the rails between an opened position and a closed position. A drive system is operable to move the movable window panel between the opened position and the closed position. The drive system includes a single flexible drive element that, when the drive system is actuated to move the window panel in one direction, the flexible drive element pulls the movable window panel along the rails, and when the drive system is actuated to move the window panel in the opposite direction, the flexible drive element pushes the movable window panel along the rails. The lower rail includes guide structure that limits flexing of the flexible drive element when the flexible drive element pushes the movable window panel along the rails.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2023Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Darin J. Snider, Kyle S. Bowman
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Patent number: 12258797Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion disposed at a handle region of a vehicle door, a handle, and an actuator. The actuator includes an electrically-operable motor, an output element mechanically coupled to the handle, and a variable drive element coupled to the output element. When the motor is operated, the actuator causes the drive element to move the output element and move the handle from a recessed position to a deployed position. When moving the handle from the recessed position, the drive element moves the output element at a first speed to move the handle. When the motor is operated to further move the handle, the drive element moves the output element at a second speed to more rapidly move the handle from a partially deployed position toward a deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2022Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Connor G. Cervone
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Patent number: 12252072Abstract: A vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting portion. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing. The mirror reflective element includes a glass substrate having a planar front side and a planar rear side. No portion of the mirror casing overlaps the planar front side of the glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. A camera is disposed within the mirror casing. With the mounting portion of the mirror assembly mounted at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle, the camera views a driver of the vehicle, and when the mirror head is moved by the driver of the vehicle to adjust the rearward view provided by the mirror reflective element to the driver, the camera moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head. The camera is part of a driver monitoring system of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2023Date of Patent: March 18, 2025Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Donald S. Rawlings, John T. Uken
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Patent number: 12246647Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head that accommodates an electronic component and a heatsink assembly. The heatsink assembly includes (i) a first portion that is thermally coupled to the electronic component and draws heat from the electronic component, (ii) a second portion that extends from the first portion, (iii) a chamber extending between the first and second portions and (iv) a phase-changing refrigerant within the chamber. With the refrigerant in a liquid phase and responsive to heating of the first portion, the refrigerant draws heat from the first portion and changes to a gaseous phase. With the refrigerant in the gaseous phase, the refrigerant flows within the chamber and along the second portion and condenses at an inner surface of the second portion to transfer heat to the second portion. The heat is dissipated from the second portion to exterior the mirror head.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2024Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Austen C. Peterson, Anthony J. LaCross, Jason A. Durfee, Joel W. Stiverson
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Patent number: 12246648Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head movably mounted at a mounting arm via a pivot link. A locking mechanism includes a driving link, a receiver attached to the driving link, and a locking arm. The receiver receives a portion of the pivot link therein and includes a biasing element disposed at each end of the receiver and engaging respective sides of the portion of the pivot link. When the mirror head is moved relative to the mounting arm, the receiver moves to pivot the pivot link and swing the mirror head between retracted and extended positions. When the mirror head is moved to either position, the driving link is pivoted and causes a portion of the locking mechanism to engage the locking arm to move the locking arm into engagement with the mirror head to retain the mirror head in the respective position.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2022Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventor: Matthew V. Steffes
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Patent number: 12246649Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 25, 2024Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 12240384Abstract: A vehicular dual-state interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head that accommodates an electrochromic mirror reflective element. A video display device is disposed behind a viewable reflective region of the mirror reflective element. With the mirror assembly operating in a first state, the video display device does not display video images at the display screen and the driver of the vehicle views rearward via reflection at the viewable reflective region. With the mirror assembly operating in a second state, the video display device displays video images at the display screen for viewing by the driver. A touch sensor is disposed at an overhang region of the reflective element behind the front substrate and below the video display device. The video display device is operated responsive at least in part to a touch event at the first surface of the front substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2023Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Mark L. Larson, John T. Uken, Christopher R. Koetje
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Patent number: 12240380Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting structure configured for mounting at an interior portion of a vehicle. The mounting structure includes a mounting arm that has (i) a proximal end portion and (ii) a distal end portion distal from the proximal end portion. With the mounting structure mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, the proximal end portion of the mounting arm is attached at the interior portion of the vehicle. A motorized actuator is disposed within a mirror housing that accommodates a reflective element. The motorized actuator is electrically operable to adjust the reflective element and the mirror housing together and in tandem relative to the mounting structure to provide a desired rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle when the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and operated in the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2023Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Jake A. Mohan
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Patent number: 12240382Abstract: A vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting portion. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing. The mirror reflective element includes a glass substrate having a planar front side and a planar rear side. No portion of the mirror casing overlaps the planar front side of the glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. A camera is disposed within the mirror casing behind the mirror reflective element. With the mounting portion of the mirror assembly mounted at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle, the camera views a driver of the vehicle, and when the mirror head is moved by the driver to adjust a rearward view of the driver, the camera moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head. The camera is part of a driver monitoring system of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2024Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Donald S. Rawlings, John T. Uken
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Patent number: 12240381Abstract: A vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting portion. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing. The mirror reflective element includes a glass substrate having a planar front side and a planar rear side. No portion of the mirror casing overlaps the planar front side of the glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. A camera is disposed within the mirror casing behind the mirror reflective element. With the mounting portion of the mirror assembly mounted at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle, the camera views a driver of the vehicle, and when the mirror head is moved by the driver to adjust a rearward view of the driver, the camera moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head. The camera is part of a driver monitoring system of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2024Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Donald S. Rawlings, John T. Uken
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Patent number: 12214727Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle and a mirror head having a mirror reflective element. With the mounting arm attached at the side of the vehicle, the mirror reflective element is oriented to provide a driver of the vehicle a field of view rearward and sideward of the vehicle when the mirror head is in a retracted position and when the mirror head is in an extended position. With the mounting arm attached at the side of the vehicle, and when the mirror head is moved along the mounting arm, angle of the mirror head relative to the side of the vehicle at which the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached adjusts to provide the driver of the vehicle the field of view rearward and sideward of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
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Patent number: 12214720Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head accommodating a mirror reflective element and an illumination module, which includes a light source, a first mask, and a second mask. When the light source is powered, emitted light that passes through the first mask is a first color and emitted light that passes through the second mask is a second color. With the mirror assembly mounted at a vehicle, and when the light source is powered to emit light, light emitted by the light source passes through the first mask to project a first projected image onto a ground region and passes through the second mask to project a second projected image onto the ground region. The first projected image includes a first logo portion having the first color, and the second projected image includes a second logo portion having the second color.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Gregory A. Huizen
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Patent number: 12208737Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes a driver monitoring camera disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle. The driver monitoring camera views a driver of the vehicle when the driver is driving the vehicle. The driver monitoring camera captures image data. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the driver monitoring camera. The vehicular driver monitoring system determines driver performance based at least in part on (i) image processing by the image processor of image data captured by the driver monitoring camera, (ii) a vehicle characteristic and (iii) a condition exterior of the equipped vehicle. The vehicle characteristic includes at least one selected from the group consisting of (a) vehicle speed, (b) vehicle acceleration and (c) vehicle orientation.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2023Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Ian A. McCabe, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 12196012Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base, a handle movable relative to the base between recessed and deployed positions, an actuator that is operable to move the handle between the positions, and a connection mechanism that pivots relative to the base to move the handle between the positions. The actuator operates to pull and release a cable to pivot the connection mechanism to move the handle. The connection mechanism, when the actuator is operated to pull the cable, pivots in a first direction to move the handle from the recessed toward the deployed position. A biasing element of the connection mechanism biases the connection mechanism in a second direction to move the handle toward the recessed position when the actuator releases the cable. Responsive to cable tension being reduced by a threshold amount, the connection mechanism adjusts to increase tension.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2022Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventor: Connor G. Cervone
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Patent number: 12194921Abstract: A method for assembling a vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes providing a mirror mount and a mirror head. The mirror head includes a transparent mirror frame and a mirror reflective element accommodated at the transparent mirror frame. The transparent mirror frame has a patterned front side having a plurality of channels established thereat and a rear side opposite the patterned front side. An illumination source is provided at the mirror head. The patterned front side of the transparent mirror frame is patterned to reflect light emitted by the illumination source, when powered, so that an illumination pattern is visible to a person viewing the rear of the transparent mirror frame. The mirror head is pivotally mounted at the mirror mount.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2023Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Matthew V. Steffes, Peter Krebs