Patents by Inventor Anthony J. LaCross
Anthony J. LaCross 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).
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Publication number: 20240092267Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head pivotally adjustable about a mirror support. The mirror head includes a video display device disposed rearward of a prismatic mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector. A touch sensor is disposed at the prismatic mirror reflective element and is associated with circuitry at a flexible printed circuit of the video display device. The video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle. Light emitted by the video display device passes through the transflective mirror reflector for viewing of displayed video images by the driver of the vehicle viewing the prismatic mirror reflective element. The reflective region of the transflective mirror reflector of the prismatic mirror reflective element reflects at least 40 percent of visible light incident at the front side of the prismatic mirror reflective element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Christopher R. Koetje, Anthony J. LaCross, Eric Peterson
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Publication number: 20240076915Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base, a handle, and a deployment mechanism operable to move the handle between a recessed position and a deployed position. The deployment mechanism includes a return cam biased in a first direction relative to the base. The deployment mechanism, with the handle in the recessed position, secures the return cam relative to the base. The handle is manually movable beyond the recessed position away from the deployed position to actuate the deployment mechanism. The deployment mechanism, responsive to being actuated, releases the return cam and the return cam moves in the first direction to move the handle toward the deployed position. The handle is manually movable beyond the deployed position away from the recessed position to actuate a latch of the door. The deployment mechanism, responsive to the handle actuating the latch, moves the handle toward the recessed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Connor G. Cervone, Justin E. Sobecki, Nathan C. Shipaila
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Patent number: 11912204Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes a camera device disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle. The camera device includes a pivotable arm that accommodates a camera. The pivotable arm is pivotally mounted at a mounting base at the vehicle and is pivotable between at least a drive position and a folded position. An actuator includes a pivot post structure attached to the mounting base and an output gear disposed at the pivot post structure, the actuator operable to pivot the pivotable arm about the output gear. The actuator includes a primary detent that is engaged to maintain the pivotable arm at the drive position when the pivotable arm is pivoted to the drive position. The actuator includes a secondary detent that is disengaged when the pivotable arm is manually pivoted between the folded position and the drive position.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Anthony J. LaCross, Mitchell J. Wesley
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Patent number: 11833971Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head pivotally adjustable about a mirror support. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector. A video display device is disposed rearward of the mirror reflective element. A touch sensor is disposed at the mirror reflective element and is associated with circuitry at a flexible printed circuit of the video display device. The video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle. Light emitted by the video display device passes through the transflective mirror reflector for viewing of displayed video images by the driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element. The mirror reflective element, at the reflective region of the transflective mirror reflector, reflects at least 40 percent of visible light incident at the front side of the mirror reflective element.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Christopher R. Koetje, Anthony J. LaCross, Eric Peterson
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Patent number: 11708035Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and a camera device disposed at a body portion of the vehicle. The camera device includes structure that supports a camera and that is movable between a stowed position, where the structure and camera are within the body portion, and an extended position, where the structure and camera are extended outward from the body portion so that the camera is positioned with a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The structure includes a plurality of individually movable elements that are disposed adjacent one another and that cooperate to form the outer surface. The individually movable elements, when moved relative to the body portion of the vehicle, cooperate to extend and retract the camera. The camera, when the structure is in the extended position, captures image data and provides captured image data to the ECU.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Inventor: Anthony J. LaCross
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Patent number: 11702010Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a display device disposed in the mirror head and behind a reflective element. An actuator is operable to adjust the mirror head between a mirror mode orientation and a display mode orientation. Operation of the actuator moves a cam follower to cause a pin at the mirror head to travel along the groove to adjust orientation of the mirror head. With the mirror head in the mirror mode orientation, a first voltage is applied to adjust the mirror head out of the mirror mode orientation. A second voltage that is lower than the first voltage is then applied to adjust the mirror head toward the display mode orientation. A third voltage that is higher than the second voltage is then applied to adjust the mirror head into the display mode orientation.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Gregory A. Huizen, Eric Peterson
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Publication number: 20230211740Abstract: A vehicular camera monitoring system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) at a vehicle and a support arm movably disposed at a side portion of the vehicle, with the support arm having a base end attached at the side portion of the vehicle and a distal end opposite the base end. A camera is disposed at the distal end of the support arm. The support arm is movable between a stowed position and an extended position. A cover element covers an aperture at the side portion at least when the support arm is in the extended position. The camera, when the support arm is in the extended position, captures image data and provides captured image data to the ECU, which processes the provided image data for (i) display of video images derived from provided image data and/or (ii) detection of an object in the field of view of the camera.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2021Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Timothy W. Condron, Darryl P. De Wind
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Publication number: 20220258672Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes a camera device disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle. The camera device includes a pivotable arm that accommodates a camera. The pivotable arm is pivotally mounted at a mounting base at the vehicle and is pivotable between at least a drive position and a folded position. An actuator includes a pivot post structure attached to the mounting base and an output gear disposed at the pivot post structure, the actuator operable to pivot the pivotable arm about the output gear. The actuator includes a primary detent that is engaged to maintain the pivotable arm at the drive position when the pivotable arm is pivoted to the drive position. The actuator includes a secondary detent that is disengaged when the pivotable arm is manually pivoted between the folded position and the drive position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Anthony J. LaCross, Mitchell J. Wesley
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Publication number: 20220203899Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head pivotally adjustable about a mirror support. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector. A video display device is disposed rearward of the mirror reflective element. A touch sensor is disposed at the mirror reflective element and is associated with circuitry at a flexible printed circuit of the video display device. The video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle. Light emitted by the video display device passes through the transflective mirror reflector for viewing of displayed video images by the driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element. The mirror reflective element, at the reflective region of the transflective mirror reflector, reflects at least 40 percent of visible light incident at the front side of the mirror reflective element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2022Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Christopher R. Koetje, Anthony J. LaCross, Eric Peterson
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Publication number: 20220161727Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a display device disposed in the mirror head and behind a reflective element. An actuator is operable to adjust the mirror head between a mirror mode orientation and a display mode orientation. Operation of the actuator moves a cam follower to cause a pin at the mirror head to travel along the groove to adjust orientation of the mirror head. With the mirror head in the mirror mode orientation, a first voltage is applied to adjust the mirror head out of the mirror mode orientation. A second voltage that is lower than the first voltage is then applied to adjust the mirror head toward the display mode orientation. A third voltage that is higher than the second voltage is then applied to adjust the mirror head into the display mode orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2021Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Gregory A. Huizen, Eric Peterson
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Patent number: 11292389Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 9, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Darryl P. De Wind, Mark L. Larson, Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Eric Peterson
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Patent number: 11279288Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head having a mirror reflective element with a transflective mirror reflector. A video display device is disposed rearward of the mirror reflective element and has a display screen that occupies at least 85 percent of a reflective region of the transflective mirror reflector that is visible to a driver of the vehicle when viewing the mirror reflective element. The video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle. When the video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by the video display device passes through the transflective mirror reflector of the mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by the driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element. Light emitted by the video display device may exit the mirror reflective element as circularly polarized light.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Christopher R. Koetje, Anthony J. LaCross, Eric Peterson
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Publication number: 20220032858Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and a camera device disposed at a body portion of the vehicle. The camera device includes structure that supports a camera and that is movable between a stowed position, where the structure and camera are within the body portion, and an extended position, where the structure and camera are extended outward from the body portion so that the camera is positioned with a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The structure includes a plurality of individually movable elements that are disposed adjacent one another and that cooperate to form the outer surface. The individually movable elements, when moved relative to the body portion of the vehicle, cooperate to extend and retract the camera. The camera, when the structure is in the extended position, captures image data and provides captured image data to the ECU.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventor: Anthony J. LaCross
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Patent number: 11214199Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mirror mount, and a display device disposed in the mirror head and behind the reflective element. An actuator is disposed at the mirror head and, when actuated, pivots the mirror head upward or downward to pivot the mirror head between a mirror mode orientation and a display mode orientation. The actuator includes at least one cam follower that is pivotable and that has an arcuate groove that receives a pin at the mirror head. Actuation of the actuator pivots the cam follower to move the pin along the groove and to pivot the mirror head relative to the mirror mount. The arcuate groove of the cam follower has a spiral form having a non-uniform radius of curvature at a middle region and a constant radius of curvature about the pivot axis at each end region.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Gregory A. Huizen, Eric Peterson
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Publication number: 20210323477Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mirror mount that attaches at the interior surface of the vehicle. The mirror head includes an actuator having a body portion attached at a back plate at the rear of the reflective element and an adapter plate attached at the mirror mount and pivotable relative to the body portion. The actuator includes a pair of arcuate gear elements that attach at one end to the adapter plate and that are movably received at the body portion. The actuator includes a pair of motors operable to rotatably drive respective gears that engage the respective arcuate gear elements. When the gears are rotably driven, the gears impart pivotal movement of the body portion and mirror head in tandem relative to the mirror mount to adjust the mirror head relative to provide a rearward view for a driver of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Robert L. Esser, Gregory A. Huizen
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Patent number: 11140301Abstract: A vehicular camera module configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle includes a housing, a camera disposed in the housing, and a transparent cover rotatably mounted at the housing. The camera views through the transparent cover. With the vehicular camera module mounted at the exterior portion of the vehicle, the camera views through the transparent cover in order to capture image data of a scene exterior of the vehicle. With the vehicular camera module mounted at the exterior portion of the vehicle, the transparent cover rotates relative to the camera and the housing at a rotational speed of at least 1,000 rotations per minute to at least partially remove water and/or debris from an outer surface of the transparent cover.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Timothy W. Condron, Anthony J. LaCross
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Publication number: 20210053493Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Darryl P. De Wind, Mark L. Larson, Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Eric Peterson
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Publication number: 20210031693Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head having a mirror reflective element with a transflective mirror reflector. A video display device is disposed rearward of the mirror reflective element and has a display screen that occupies at least 85 percent of a reflective region of the transflective mirror reflector that is visible to a driver of the vehicle when viewing the mirror reflective element. The video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle. When the video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by the video display device passes through the transflective mirror reflector of the mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by the driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element. Light emitted by the video display device may exit the mirror reflective element as circularly polarized light.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Christopher R. Koetje, Anthony J. LaCross, Eric Peterson
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Publication number: 20200377022Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mirror mount, and a display device disposed in the mirror head and behind the reflective element. An actuator is disposed at the mirror head and, when actuated, pivots the mirror head upward or downward to pivot the mirror head between a mirror mode orientation and a display mode orientation. The actuator includes at least one cam follower that is pivotable and that has an arcuate groove that receives a pin at the mirror head. Actuation of the actuator pivots the cam follower to move the pin along the groove and to pivot the mirror head relative to the mirror mount. The arcuate groove of the cam follower has a spiral form having a non-uniform radius of curvature at a middle region and a constant radius of curvature about the pivot axis at each end region.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Gregory A. Huizen, Eric Peterson
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Patent number: 10829051Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head accommodating a reflective element. A display device is accommodated in the mirror head and behind the reflective element. The reflective element is tiltable between a mirror mode orientation, where the vehicle driver views rearward of the vehicle via the reflective element, and a display mode orientation, where the display device is actuated and the vehicle driver views images displayed by the display device through the transflective mirror reflector of the reflective element. An actuator has an actuator body that is pivotally mounted at the reflective element and that has a pivot element of a pivot joint that pivotally mounts the mirror head at an interior portion of the vehicle. The actuator pivots the reflective element relative to the actuator body to tilt the reflective element between the mirror mode orientation and the display mode orientation.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Darryl P. De Wind, Mark L. Larson, Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Eric Peterson