Patents Assigned to Valeo North America, Inc.
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11746791
    Abstract: A method for servicing a blower motor installed in a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly for a motor vehicle may include rotating a scroll housing subassembly of the HVAC assembly from an installed position to an extraction position. The method may include detaching a first securing element, the first securing element being distributed on the scroll housing subassembly and an evaporator housing subassembly of the HVAC assembly. The method may include removing the scroll housing subassembly from the HVAC assembly in a direction of extraction. The method may include that the scroll housing subassembly reaches the extraction position by axial rotation in a direction orthogonal to the direction of extraction. The method may include that the extraction position is a position at which the scroll housing subassembly is cleared for moving in the direction of extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Rademacher, Jason Kreucher, Richard Sikorski
  • Patent number: 11745703
    Abstract: An assembly includes an inlet tube and an 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 assembly includes a first pressure sensor positioned to be compressed when the plunger is moved toward the open position. Pressure detected by the first pressure sensor indicates whether the plunger is at the open position. The assembly includes a second pressure sensor positioned to be compressed when the plunger is moved toward the closed position. Pressure detected by the second pressure sensor indicates whether the plunger is at the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino, Ashwin Arunmozhi, Charles Prain, Michael Whitney, William S. Smith, Theophile Jullien, Denis Thebault, Jean Baptiste Lahilaire
  • Patent number: 11718150
    Abstract: A HVAC system (100) includes a housing (10) with at least one first inlet (20) and at least one second inlet (30) formed thereon, at least one first door (20a), at least one second door (30a) and an intermediate door (40). The first inlet (20) and the second inlet (30) is for ingress of a first fluid stream and a second fluid stream inside the housing (10). The first door (20a) and the second door (30a) moves with respect to the first inlet (20) and the second inlet (30) respectively to define an open configuration, a closed configuration and a partially open configuration thereof. The intermediate door (40) is disposed between the first inlet (20) and the second inlet (30) and moves between a deployed and an un-deployed configuration to respectively disrupt and allow fluid flow there across. The intermediate door (40) is a sliding door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl Buckman, Darshan Parikh, Sally Dagher, Steven Marshall, Richard Sikorski
  • Patent number: 11686446
    Abstract: A thin aspect lighting system and method are shown. The system and method include at least one module having a reflector that is generally elliptical in one cross-section and generally parabolic in another cross-section. Each module is adapted to generate at least one of a flat beam pattern, a high beam pattern or a low beam pattern, such as a low beam pattern with a kink or elbow. Also shown is a headlamp assembly having a plurality of modules that generate the same or a different light beam pattern. Manipulation and variation of facets or positions of various components, such as at least one light source provides improved characteristics in one or more of the light beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brant Potter, John Orisich, Matthew Berry
  • Patent number: 11643052
    Abstract: A sensor-cleaning apparatus includes an upper piece, a lower piece fixed to the upper piece, a plurality of inserts inserted into the upper piece, and a plurality of nozzles. The upper piece and the lower piece form a tubular segment that is elongated along an arc of a circle and encloses a chamber. Each nozzle is formed of the upper piece and one of the inserts. Each nozzle includes a deflection surface and a tunnel from the chamber to the deflection surface, and each tunnel is partially formed of the upper piece and partially formed of the respective insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Sykula, Kunal Singh, Venkatesh Krishnan, Raghuraman Surineedi, Yoann Dolle, William Terrasse, Denis Thebault, Veeramanikandan Gopal, Gowtham Ilanthirayan, Michael Whitney
  • Patent number: 11644167
    Abstract: A light system comprising: (a) one or more bezels; (b) an internal lens located within and in communication with the one or more bezels, wherein the internal lens has a height; and (c) a light source that directs light from the light system to a location outside of a vehicle that is configured to house the light system, wherein some of the light is directed to the location outside of the vehicle directly through the internal lens; wherein the one or more bezels include a reflector surface located outside of the height of the internal lens and some of the light from the light source is redirected by the internal lens to the reflector surface of the one or more bezels so that the light is redirected outside of the height of the internal lens to the location outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Colby Darlage, Brant Potter, Damien Cabanne, Drew Haywood, Jean Sebastien Delfosse, Gaurav Bhutani
  • Patent number: 11628808
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wiper arm head adapted to be connected to a wiper arm body, the wiper arm head comprises: a base end section, a front-end section, and a body section having a pair of left and right side walls longitudinally extending from the base end section towards the front-end section. The wiper arm head comprises a first retainer connection assembly and a second retainer connection assembly formed integrally with the wiper arm head and configured to connect the wiper arm head to the wiper arm body, which comprises a first retainer and a second retainer to hold a first wiper blade and a second wiper blade respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo Ribeiro Santos, Roberto Arturo Lechuga, Dattashyam Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 11619360
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly includes a low beam assembly configured to generate a low beam distribution that includes a first low beam module having a first laser solid state light source that is optically configured to emit a first luminous intensity distribution and a second laser solid state light source that is optically configured to emit a second luminous intensity distribution, and a second low beam module having a solid state light source that is optically configured to emit a third luminous intensity distribution, which at least partially overlaps at least one of the first and second luminous intensity distributions; the headlamp assembly also having a high beam assembly configured to generate a high beam distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brant Potter, John Orisich
  • Patent number: 11609050
    Abstract: A tank for a heat exchanger is provided. The tank includes a foot portion, an internal wall, a sealing member and at least one first coupling member. The internal wall is formed along the foot portion at a first end of the foot portion. Further, the sealing member is disposed on the foot portion along an outer circumference of the internal wall to provide a fluid-tight sealing between the tank and a header, when the tank is placed on the header. The at least one first coupling member is provided on the foot portion, adjacent to the sealing member, to couple with the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Raul Walls
  • Patent number: 11603974
    Abstract: A configurable vehicle lighting module system includes a shared lens that provides a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens includes a mounting axis as a reference for mounting on a vehicle. First internal optics direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern; second internal optics direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern. A coupling system joins the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for the first vehicle lighting function or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for the second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens conceals physical differences between internal optics configurations such that the first and second light module configurations appear the same when viewed along the shared lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chadwick Fritz, Don Hodnett, Greg Simons