Patents by Inventor Brant James Potter
Brant James Potter 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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Patent number: 11028993Abstract: A headlamp of a motor vehicle that uses individual light emitting diodes or LEDs to generate individual light beams, which collectively form a composite beam where some of the individual beams overlap neighboring beams because of manufacturing irregularities and form bright spots within the composite beam, which are not desirable. It is possible to de-focus the irregularities from individual beams to thereby spread out the bright spots, and reduce their intensities with another inventive goal to selectively defocus individual beams and soften the edges that apply glare to surrounding vehicles when individual beams are not adjacent individual beams or individual beams that are active and flank surrounding vehicles to be shut off.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.Inventors: John Steven Orisich, Brant James Potter
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Patent number: 10704753Abstract: An auxiliary lamp for a vehicle. Ordinary headlamps are restricted by law in the intensity that they direct towards oncoming drivers. This can cause inconveniently low illumination to a side of the vehicle, such as along a line 20 or 25 degrees left of center for a left-hand driver side vehicle. An auxiliary headlamp assembly is added to provide an auxiliary beam that supplements the primary beam. The auxiliary beam increases illumination along this line, yet maintains total illumination toward oncoming drivers below allowed limits.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.Inventors: Brant James Potter, Gavin Francis Warner, Patton Davis Baker, John Steven Orisich
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Publication number: 20200200354Abstract: A headlamp for a vehicle. The headlamp uses individual light emitting didoes or LEDs to generate individual light beams, which collectively form a composite beam. Because of manufacturing irregularities, some of the individual beams overlap neighboring beams, and form bright spots within the composite beam, which are not desirable. It is possible to de-focus the individual beams, to thereby spread out the bright spots, and reduce their intensities. However, that de-focusing would conflict with another goal. When the vehicle follows another vehicle, some individual beams which would apply glare to the other vehicle are shut off. But it is desirable that the remaining active individual beams which flank the other vehicle have sharply defined edges. De-focusing would soften the edges. Therefore, one form of the invention selectively de-focuses individual beams only when they are not adjacent individual beams which are active.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2020Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: Valeo North America, Inc.Inventors: John Steven ORISICH, Brant James POTTER
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Patent number: 10627069Abstract: A headlamp for a vehicle. The headlamp uses individual light emitting didoes or LEDs to generate individual light beams, which collectively form a composite beam. Because of manufacturing irregularities, some of the individual beams overlap neighboring beams, and form bright spots within the composite beam, which are not desirable. It is possible to de-focus the individual beams, to thereby spread out the bright spots, and reduce their intensities. However, that de-focusing would conflict with another goal. When the vehicle follows another vehicle, some individual beams which would apply glare to the other vehicle are shut off. But it is desirable that the remaining active individual beams which flank the other vehicle have sharply defined edges. De-focusing would soften the edges. Therefore, one form of the invention selectively de-focuses individual beams only when they are not adjacent individual beams which are active.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2016Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.Inventors: John Steven Orisich, Brant James Potter
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Patent number: 10234094Abstract: A vehicle lighting system that projects a primary beam and that comprises a supplemental or auxiliary beam that augments the primary beam that does not exceed any regulatory maximum intensity values. In one embodiment, the lighting system utilizes a multi-lobed lens adapted to distribute light to predetermined areas of the primary beam. A combined beam is created having no portion that exceeds the regulatory maximum intensity. In one illustrative embodiment, the primary beam is a high beam and the combined beam is an augmented primary beam that does not exceed the high beam regulatory limit of 75,000 candelas.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.Inventors: John Steven Orisich, Brant James Potter
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Publication number: 20180283645Abstract: An auxiliary lamp for a vehicle. Ordinary headlamps are restricted by law in the intensity that they direct towards oncoming drivers. This can cause inconveniently low illumination to a side of the vehicle, such as along a line 20 or 25 degrees left of center for a left-hand driver side vehicle. An auxiliary headlamp assembly is added to provide an auxiliary beam that supplements the primary beam. The auxiliary beam increases illumination along this line, yet maintains total illumination toward oncoming drivers below allowed limits.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Brant James Potter, Gavin Francis Warner, Patton Davis Baker, John Steven Orisich
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Publication number: 20180073698Abstract: A vehicle lighting system that projects a primary beam and that comprises a supplemental or auxiliary beam that augments the primary beam that does not exceed any regulatory maximum intensity values. In one embodiment, the lighting system utilizes a multi-lobed lens adapted to distribute light to predetermined areas of the primary beam. A combined beam is created having no portion that exceeds the regulatory maximum intensity. In one illustrative embodiment, the primary beam is a high beam and the combined beam is an augmented primary beam that does not exceed the high beam regulatory limit of 75,000 candelas.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2016Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: John Steven Orisich, Brant James Potter
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Publication number: 20180073700Abstract: A headlamp for a vehicle. The headlamp uses individual light emitting didoes or LEDs to generate individual light beams, which collectively form a composite beam. Because of manufacturing irregularities, some of the individual beams overlap neighboring beams, and form bright spots within the composite beam, which are not desirable. It is possible to de-focus the individual beams, to thereby spread out the bright spots, and reduce their intensities. However, that de-focusing would conflict with another goal. When the vehicle follows another vehicle, some individual beams which would apply glare to the other vehicle are shut off. But it is desirable that the remaining active individual beams which flank the other vehicle have sharply defined edges. De-focusing would soften the edges. Therefore, one form of the invention selectively de-focuses individual beams only when they are not adjacent individual beams which are active.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2016Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: John Steven Orisich, Brant James Potter
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Patent number: 9651211Abstract: A light for a vehicle. Two or more light guides each project a sheet of light to a common projection lens, but in different directions. Each light guide is selectively actuable by the driver. The projection lens receives the sheets of light, expands them in the horizontal direction, and projects them in the same general direction as received. Thus, the driver can selectively illuminate various regions of the terrain.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.Inventors: Brant James Potter, Matthew James Berry, John Steven Orisich
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Patent number: 9541248Abstract: An automotive lightguide includes a main guide portion with a light entrance surface and a reflective rear edge surface; and an exit lens joined to the main guide portion, the exit lens having an exit surface with an arcuate exit profile. In use, light rays from a light source enter the main guide portion through an entrance surface, travel through the main guide portion and reflect off the rear edge surface to the exit lens which images the reflected light rays as a light beam pattern having a predetermined sharp horizontal cutoff and a predetermined horizontal spread, the arcuate profile of the rear edge surface determining the horizontal cutoff and vertical spread of the light beam pattern with respect to the horizontal optical axis H-H, and the exit profile of the exit lens determining the horizontal spread of the light beam pattern.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.Inventor: Brant James Potter
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Publication number: 20160109084Abstract: A light for a vehicle. Two or more light guides each project a sheet of light to a common projection lens, but in different directions. Each light guide is selectively actuable by the driver. The projection lens receives the sheets of light, expands them in the horizontal direction, and projects them in the same general direction as received. Thus, the driver can selectively illuminate various regions of the terrain.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2014Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Brant James Potter, Matthew James Berry, John Steven Orisich
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Patent number: 9316376Abstract: An apparatus for producing light signals in a vehicle. The same physical apparatus produces light signals of two different colors. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) of two different colors produce diverging light rays. These rays are captured by a transparent plate and conducted to an edge of the plate, which reflects and collimates the light into parallel beams. The parallel beams then reach an elongated lens running along another edge of the plate, which focuses, or de-focuses, the light and transmits it externally as a signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2014Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.Inventors: John Steven Orisich, Brant James Potter, Matthew James Berry
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Publication number: 20160084463Abstract: An automotive lightguide includes a main guide portion with a light entrance surface and a reflective rear edge surface; and an exit lens joined to the main guide portion, the exit lens having an exit surface with an arcuate exit profile. In use, light rays from a light source enter the main guide portion through an entrance surface, travel through the main guide portion and reflect off the rear edge surface to the exit lens which images the reflected light rays as a light beam pattern having a predetermined sharp horizontal cutoff and a predetermined horizontal spread, the arcuate profile of the rear edge surface determining the horizontal cutoff and vertical spread of the light beam pattern with respect to the horizontal optical axis H-H, and the exit profile of the exit lens determining the horizontal spread of the light beam pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventor: Brant James Potter
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Publication number: 20160040850Abstract: An apparatus for producing light signals in a vehicle. The same physical apparatus produces light signals of two different colors. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) of two different colors produce diverging light rays. These rays are captured by a transparent plate and conducted to an edge of the plate, which reflects and collimates the light into parallel beams. The parallel beams then reach an elongated lens running along another edge of the plate, which focuses, or de-focuses, the light and transmits it externally as a signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2014Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: John Steven Orisich, Brant James Potter, Matthew James Berry
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Patent number: 8277062Abstract: A lamp assembly 10 has a housing 12 that preferably is non-rotationally symmetrical. In a particular embodiment the housing 12 can be rectangular; however, other non-rotationally symmetrical housings can also be employed. The housing 12 includes a base 14 and an upstanding wall 16 surrounding the base 14. The space between the cover 24 and the base 14 defines a light-conducting channel 34. A light-receiving aperture 36 is defined in the housing 12 and in one instance is formed to receive light from a light source 22. A first light-receiving conduit 38 is defined in the light-conducting channel 34 and is formed to receive light from the light source 22 that is fitted into the light-receiving aperture 36 and conduct light to a second light-receiving conduit 40 defined in the light-conducting channel 34.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Valeo Sylvania L.L.C.Inventor: Brant James Potter
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Publication number: 20120075849Abstract: A lamp assembly 10 has a housing 12 that preferably is non-rotationally symmetrical. In a particular embodiment the housing 12 can be rectangular; however, other non-rotationally symmetrical housings can also be employed. The housing 12 includes a base 14 and an upstanding wall 16 surrounding the base 14. The space between the cover 24 and the base 14 defines a light-conducting channel 34. A light-receiving aperture 36 is defined in the housing 12 and in one instance is formed to receive light from a light source 22. A first light-receiving conduit 38 is defined in the light-conducting channel 34 and is formed to receive light from the light source 22 that is fitted into the light-receiving aperture 36 and conduct light to a second light-receiving conduit 40 defined in the light-conducting channel 34.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.Inventor: Brant James Potter
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Patent number: 6659629Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle running board. The lighting device includes an enclosure and a light source coupling mechanism. A light source is coupled to the light source coupling mechanism. A first lens has a plurality of optical elements. The first lens is coupled to the lighting device enclosure. A second lens having optical elements may be provided. Light emanating from the light source is directed by the plurality of optical elements and substantially along the vehicle running board.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2001Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: North American Lighting, Inc.Inventors: Brant James Potter, Dianna Lynn Stadtherr
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Publication number: 20030189837Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle running board. The lighting device includes an enclosure and a light source coupling mechanism. A light source is coupled to the light source coupling mechanism. A first lens has a plurality of optical elements. The first lens is coupled to the lighting device enclosure. A second lens having optical elements may be provided. Light emanating from the light source is directed by the plurality of optical elements and substantially along the vehicle running board.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2001Publication date: October 9, 2003Inventors: Brant James Potter, Dianna Lynn Stadtherr