Patents Assigned to Valeo North America, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12235390
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing defining a chamber. The sensor assembly includes a sensor supported by the housing. The sensor assembly includes a duct extending from a first end to a second end, the first end of the duct being open to an environment external to the chamber and the second end being fluidly connected to the chamber. The duct includes a first portion at the first end, a second portion at the second end, and a middle portion between the first portion and the second portion. The middle portion extends downward from the first portion, and the second portion extends upward to the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rashaun Phinisee, Raghuraman Surineedi, Venkatesh Krishnan, Michael Whitney, Victoria Bos, Luis Angel Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 12181114
    Abstract: An IR illuminator provides infrared radiation for a digital camera that includes a camera lens including a camera field of view; also including equidistant mounting substrates arranged adjacent to the digital camera with IR LEDs mounted to each mounting substrates and a cover lens positioned over the IR LEDs. The free-form cover lens shape facilitates an emitted radiation emission pattern but prevents visible light reflectivity into the camera lens such that the IR radiation emission pattern has an asymmetric field of view. Two IR illuminators near the camera are angled away from the camera optical direction. The cover lens may be a Fresnel lens, may include a diffractive layer or a collimator to shift radiation emitted from the LED towards an asymmetric distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brant Potter
  • Patent number: 12123561
    Abstract: An illuminated vehicle component including a substrate; a first coating on the substrate; a second coating on the substrate; and light sources of a first color arranged to project light into the substrate. At least one of the first coating, or the second coating form one or more patterns. Light from the light source is received by the first coating to produce light with a second color that is different from the first color, and received by the second coating to provide light with a third color that is different from the first color and the second color. The pattern formed by the first coating and the second coating is visible when the one or more light sources are illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Colby Darlage, Robert Fraizer, Jean Sebastien Delfosse
  • Patent number: 12092761
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes an upper housing. The sensor assembly includes a monolithic lower housing fixed to the upper housing and defining a chamber therebetween. The monolithic lower housing defines a drain channel that slopes downward and outward in the chamber. The sensor assembly may be mounted to a roof of a vehicle. Specifically, the monolithic lower housing may be fixed to the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rashaun Phinisee, Venkatesh Krishnan, Sunil Reddy Patil, Joseph Wlodyka, Ravi Surampudi, Timothy Wiesner, Yifu Xiao, Luis Angel Gonzalez, Paul True
  • Publication number: 20240286545
    Abstract: A vehicle light module, a headlight assembly, and a method for communicating information at a panel having transparent and opaque states; a projector device projects light functions or visual representations on the panel when in a partially opaque state and through the panel when in a transparent state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Shivi SINGH, John ORISICH
  • Publication number: 20240190347
    Abstract: A driver assistance system and driver assistance method for a combination of a motor vehicle and a trailer, which includes a first camera located on the motor vehicle configured to generate a first image, and a second camera located on the trailer configured to generate a second image, and a computer processing device configured to determine a first distance and a second distance by a sensor or a user input, determine a bowl view responsive to the first distance and the second distance in relation to a threshold distance, and generate a combined image from the second image and the first image responsive to the bowl view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Sangita PONNURAJ, Veerendra DASARI, Anand KATHIRESAN, Kirk BILLINGS
  • Patent number: 11987094
    Abstract: A method for servicing a heater core installed in a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly for a motor vehicle includes removing a sealing attachment from an interfacing connection interfacing with the heater core. The method includes sliding the heater core in a direction of insertion. The method includes disconnecting, from the heater core, the interfacing connection. The method includes removing the heater core in a direction of extraction, the direction of extraction being orthogonal to the direction of insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Rademacher, Jason Kreucher, Heather Hartman
  • Patent number: 11981253
    Abstract: A vehicle light module, a headlight assembly, and a method for communicating information at a panel having transparent and opaque states; a projector device projects visual representations toward the panel where visual representations are displayed on the panel when in an opaque state and through the panel when in a transparent state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shivi Singh, John Orisich
  • Publication number: 20240145989
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a spring-induced locking feature applied to an electrical connector that includes the associated connector's body and a flexible element that interfaces against the connector's body to supplement a means of secured retention. The connector is configured to be coupled with a wiring harness and connector receptacle to ensure a maintained electrical contact in during operation with vibrational exposure. The supplemental locking feature is configured to secure the electrical connector in-place to an assembly and maintain electrical interfaces by preventing detachment of the electrical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel Alejandro BERTADILLO, Jazmin Amalinalli AGUILAR
  • Publication number: 20240140438
    Abstract: Method for perception blockage prediction and supervision for performing information cloud localization in an ego vehicle based on an information cloud map and a sensor information cloud generated based on sensor information provided by at least one environment sensor of the ego vehicle. The method comprises perceiving a surrounding of the ego vehicle. The method comprises detecting and localizing at least one object in the surrounding of the ego vehicle, which is not contained in the information cloud map. The method comprises determining a future obstruction of at least one part of the information cloud map for the at least one environment sensor of the ego vehicle based on the localization of the at least one object detected in the surrounding of the ego vehicle. The method comprises generating a warning in case the future obstruction of the at least one part of the information cloud map has been determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas HEITZMANN, Romain DEMARETS
  • Publication number: 20240084990
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to automotive surface panel illumination with the objective of attaining the whitest diffusive appearance with maximized light intensity transmission features. An automotive luminous panel system includes a luminous unit arrangement as defined by an anti-mist diffusive coating applied to a light transmissive substrate with a corresponding masked cover lens patterned with bleed-gaps that are configured to convey incident light directly through the patterned optical arrangement and operate between the hidden until lit modes of the luminous unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Robert FRAIZER
  • Patent number: 11885475
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to lighting device systems or methods applicable to off-road utility vehicles. The concepts include light sources for light beam production, a housing enclosure that encompasses internal elements and includes opposing front and rear portions. Inventive concepts further include a heatsink arrangement along an outer surface of the rear portion via a fastening system that is configured to transfer generated heat from the light sources and includes a sealing member with fasteners for securing the heatsink through the housing such that the sealing member becomes positioned between the heatsink and interfacing housing structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexis Debiard, Fernando Javier Villanueva
  • Patent number: 11859790
    Abstract: A light guide has an elongated body that includes an entrance face at which light is admitted into the light guide and an exit face at which the light emanates from the light guide. The light guide has an inboard side wall and an outboard side wall extending between the entrance face and the exit face. The entrance face, the exit face, the inboard side wall and the outboard side wall enclose a medium containing a colorant by which the medium meets a color criterion while minimizing light absorption at a wavelength of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Leon Fraizer, Rebecca Stanley, Shivi Singh, Colby J. Darlage, Jose Alberto Gomez Ramirez
  • Patent number: 11851032
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a sensor including a sensor lens, a casing mounted to the sensor, and a fluid nozzle mounted to the casing. The casing at least partially defines a duct positioned to outlet airflow across the sensor lens, and the duct defines a direction of airflow. The fluid nozzle is aimed through the duct in the direction of airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Regalbuto, Raghuraman Surineedi, Kunal Singh, Venkatesh Krishnan, Rashaun Phinisee, Michael Whitney, Jose Alberto Gomez Ramirez, Benjamin Graham, Yifu Xiao
  • Publication number: 20230392767
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to lighting device systems or methods applicable to off-road utility vehicles. The concepts include light sources for light beam production, a housing enclosure that encompasses internal elements and includes opposing front and rear portions. Inventive concepts further include a heatsink arrangement along an outer surface of the rear portion via a fastening system that is configured to transfer generated heat from the light sources and includes a sealing member with fasteners for securing the heatsink through the housing such that the sealing member becomes positioned between the heatsink and interfacing housing structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexis DEBIARD, Fernando Javier VILLANUEVA
  • Patent number: 11821598
    Abstract: A light masking system for a vehicle includes: a printed circuit board (PCB); at least one infrared (IR) light source disposed on a first surface of the PCB and configured to emit a first predetermined wavelength range of light; at least one masking light source disposed on the first surface of the PCB proximal to the IR light source and configured to emit a second predetermined wavelength range of light, wherein a portion of the emitted first predetermined wavelength range of light of the IR light source includes visible light; and the emitted second predetermined wavelength range of light of the at least one masking light source masks the emitted visible light from the first predetermined wavelength range of the at least one IR light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Stein, Jonathan Beauchamp, Brant Potter, Nathan Montgomery, John Orisich
  • Publication number: 20230366522
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a lighting device for an automobile comprising a housing, a plurality of light sources arranged inside the housing and an optical element arranged in front of the plurality of light source. The optical element includes an input surface, an output surface and a transparent portion that is disposed between the input surface and the output surface. In addition, the optical element includes at least one part of the transparent portion having a blocking portion that is created using a laser treatment. The blocking portion is configured to block at least a part of the plurality of light beams from passing through the optical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian GUINN, Colby DARLAGE, Robert Leon FRAIZER
  • Patent number: 11772546
    Abstract: A light system of a vehicle comprising: a housing comprising: a glue bucket; a glue leg located partially or entirely within the glue bucket; and a light guide located between the glue bucket and the glue leg; wherein the light system is located proximate to a gap in the vehicle and the light guide guides light from the light guide into the glue leg and from the glue leg across the gap so that the light extends across the gap to illuminate the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Colby Darlage, Robert Fraizer, Jose Alberto Gomez Ramirez
  • Patent number: 11767929
    Abstract: An assembly includes an inlet tube. The assembly includes a first outlet tube. The assembly includes a solenoid assembly having a plunger movable between an open position in which fluid is permitted to flow from the inlet tube to the outlet tube and a closed position in which fluid is inhibited from flowing from the inlet tube to the outlet tube. The solenoid assembly has a spring urging the plunger to the closed position. The solenoid assembly has a strain gage fixed to the spring. A strain detected by the strain gage indicates whether the plunger is at the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Segundo Baldovino, Ashwin Arunmozhi, Venkatesh Krishnan, Charles Prain, Michael Whitney, William S. Smith, Theophile Jullien, Denis Thebault, Jean Baptiste Lahilaire
  • Publication number: 20230278416
    Abstract: A heat exchanger including a mounting portion for fixing to further structures. The mounting portion has an elastic element with a core and a plurality of contact arms attached to the core and protruding away from the core in the same protrusion plane. Protrusion path of each contact arm is at least partially curved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Raul WALLS