Patents by Inventor Brant Potter

Brant 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).

  • Publication number: 20200174121
    Abstract: To determine spatial orientation of a vehicle, a set of illuminators is mechanically coupled to the vehicle so as to emit light toward a roadway. A set of sensors is mechanically coupled to the vehicle to receive the emitted light as reflected from the roadway. A timer determines times of flight between emission of the light by the set of illuminators and reception of the reflected light by the set of sensors. A processor determines the spatial orientation of the vehicle from a difference in the times of flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Valere Calais, John Orisich, Brant Potter
  • Patent number: 10670219
    Abstract: In an automotive lighting apparatus lighting components generate respective light fields. The lighting components are aligned one with the others such that the light fields combine in a lighting profile having cutoff regions meeting a predetermined cutoff criterion. An actuator is mechanically coupled to a corresponding one of the lighting components to aim that lighting component in a direction other than that in which the lighting component was aligned. A control component operate the actuator to aim the lighting component in the direction other than that in which the lighting component was aligned so that the light fields of the lighting components combine in another lighting profile having cutoff regions meeting another cutoff criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin Warner, Brant Potter, John Orisich
  • Patent number: 10674052
    Abstract: A compact digital camera and infrared (IR) illuminator apparatus, including IR illuminators arranged adjacent to the digital camera. The digital camera has a camera lens and each IR illuminator includes IR LEDs. A single cover lens is positioned to cover the at least one IR LED and the camera lens. A region of the single cover lens that covers the IR LEDs blocks visible light and a region of the single cover lens that covers the camera lens is a neutral lens that transmits visible light. The single cover lens is a two-shot molded lens or a three-shot molded lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Stein, Jon Beauchamp, John Orisich, Brant Potter
  • Publication number: 20200124244
    Abstract: In an automotive lighting apparatus lighting components generate respective light fields. The lighting components are aligned one with the others such that the light fields combine in a lighting profile having cutoff regions meeting a predetermined cutoff criterion. An actuator is mechanically coupled to a corresponding one of the lighting components to aim that lighting component in a direction other than that in which the lighting component was aligned. A control component operate the actuator to aim the lighting component in the direction other than that in which the lighting component was aligned so that the light fields of the lighting components combine in another lighting profile having cutoff regions meeting another cutoff criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin WARNER, Brant POTTER, John ORISICH
  • Patent number: 10611294
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly, an adaptive front-lighting system, and a method for generating a hybrid luminous intensity distribution are provided. The headlamp assembly includes a light module configured to emit a first luminous intensity distribution and a supplementary module configured to emit a second luminous intensity distribution which at least partially overlaps with the first luminous intensity distribution. The second luminous intensity distribution includes pluralities of independently controlled zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brant Potter
  • Publication number: 20200088370
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly includes a low beam assembly configured to generate a low beam distribution. The low beam assembly includes a first low beam solid state light source module having a first laser solid state light source optically configured to emit a first luminous intensity distribution and a second laser solid state light source optically configured to emit a second luminous intensity distribution, and a second low beam solid state light source module having a solid state light source 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 has a high beam assembly configured to generate a high beam distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brant POTTER, John ORISICH
  • Publication number: 20200001776
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly, an adaptive front-lighting system, and a method for generating a hybrid luminous intensity distribution are provided. The headlamp assembly includes a light module configured to emit a first luminous intensity distribution and a supplementary module configured to emit a second luminous intensity distribution which at least partially overlaps with the first luminous intensity distribution. The second luminous intensity distribution includes pluralities of independently controlled zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brant POTTER
  • Patent number: 10514145
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly, an optical system and a method for generating a hybrid luminous intensity are provided. The headlamp includes a low beam assembly and a high beam assembly. The low beam assembly is configured to generate a low beam distribution. The low beam assembly includes a plurality of low beam modules including at least one high luminance source optically configured to emit a first luminous intensity distribution and at least one light source optically configured to emit a second luminous intensity distribution. The high beam assembly includes one or more high beam modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John Orisich, Brant Potter, Ambroise Servantie
  • Patent number: 10501009
    Abstract: A light module, a light panel, and a method for transmitting light are provided. The light module includes a light source configured to generate a light and a fiber panel optically coupled to the light source. The fiber panel includes a plurality of optical fibers. The plurality of optical fibers are configured to define two illumination regions such that a controlled light is output from the two illumination regions in diametrically opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Patton Davis Baker, Kayla Greene, John Orisich, Brant Potter
  • Patent number: 10502378
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly includes a low beam assembly configured to generate a low beam distribution. The low beam assembly includes a first low beam solid state light source module having a first laser solid state light source optically configured to emit a first luminous intensity distribution and a second laser solid state light source optically configured to emit a second luminous intensity distribution, and a second low beam solid state light source module having a solid state light source 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 has a high beam assembly configured to generate a high beam distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brant Potter, John Orisich
  • Patent number: 10473489
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus is composed of optical fibers that are grouped at one end thereof in a bundle so as to optically couple to a common light source. A set of the optical fibers are configured to emit light transversely to the optical axis thereof to form an illumination region in a fiber optic panel. At least one sensor is coupled to at least one of the optical fibers in the bundle and generates an electrical signal in response to a physical phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brant Potter
  • Patent number: 10458616
    Abstract: A lighting device (10) for a vehicle comprising: an array of optical fibers (28), at least a portion of said array of optical fibers being arranged in at least one predetermined form (32); at least one light source (20) for generating light to be transmitted through said array of optical fibers (28); and at least one support or frame (16) comprising a receiving area adapted to receive said at least one predetermined form; said at least one support or frame (16) being adapted for use on the vehicle to provide a lighting function on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: VALEO NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: John Orisich, Brant Potter, Kayla Greene, Mark Madden
  • Patent number: 10393957
    Abstract: An optical fiber light emitting diode assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes an array of optical fibers that converge to a bundled portion at each end, each optical fiber having a core surrounded by a transparent cladding material with a lower index of refraction than the core. A first adhesive binds the optical fibers in the bundled portion at each end, an end of the first adhesive being adjacent to the end of the optical fibers. A second adhesive, having a different refractive index than the first adhesive, is applied to the end of the optical fibers and the end of the first adhesive. An end part is mounted to the second adhesive. A light emitting diode applies light into the end part through an air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Valco North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brant Potter
  • Publication number: 20190210514
    Abstract: A light module, a light panel, and a method for transmitting light are provided. The light module includes a light source configured to generate a light and a fiber panel optically coupled to the light source. The fiber panel includes a plurality of optical fibers. The plurality of optical fibers are configured to define two illumination regions such that a controlled light is output from the two illumination regions in diametrically opposite directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Patton Davis BAKER, Kayla Greene, John Orisich, Brant Potter
  • Patent number: 10343590
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a motor vehicle headlight assembly that includes a headlight module having a first luminous intensity distribution, a first additional headlight module having a second luminous intensity distribution different from the first luminous intensity distribution, and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to apply power to the headlight module based on one or more of a switch input and a light/dark input, and apply power to the first additional headlight module when a speed of the motor vehicle exceeds a first predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: John Orisich, Brant Potter, Emigdio Leon
  • Patent number: 10337685
    Abstract: Alighting device for a vehicle includes a light source for generating light, and a lighting panel having a light emitting side and a light reflecting side opposing the light emitting side. The lighting panel includes an optical fiber layer having a plurality of optical fibers each configured to emit the light along a length of the optical fiber. The plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a predetermined form such that the optical fiber layer has a first side facing the light emitting side of the lighting panel and a second side facing the light reflecting side of the lighting panel. A reflecting layer is provided on the second side of the optical fiber layer and is configured to reflect the light toward the first side of the optical fiber layer. At least one layer of the lighting panel is an aesthetic layer selected for aesthetic appeal and being visible from the light emitting side of the lighting panel in an unlit state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kayla Greene, John Orisich, Brant Potter
  • Patent number: 10295139
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly has a low beam assembly configured to generate a low-beam distribution including a plurality of flat luminous segments configured to produce a composite flat beam pattern when activated; a kink module having a first light source and a second light source; a near-field road-writing segment located about a central vertical position of the low-beam distribution; a far-field road-writing segment located above the near-field road-writing segment of the low-beam distribution; and circuitry configured to inactivate one or more of the flat luminous segments located within the near-field road-writing segment of the low-beam distribution and inactivate the first light source when the near-field road-writing segment and the far-field road-writing segment are activated. The headlamp assembly also has a high beam assembly configured to generate a high-beam distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brant Potter
  • Patent number: 10240745
    Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle includes a lighting module for a vehicle having a light source and a panel optically coupled to the light source. The panel includes a plurality of fibers, and a first illumination region of first light output for a first vehicle lighting function and a second illumination region of second light output for a second vehicle lighting function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brant Potter, John Orisich, Kayla Greene, P. Davis Baker, Christophe Dubosc
  • Patent number: 10240746
    Abstract: An optical mixer for a vehicle lighting device having a light source and an optical fiber panel that inputs light from the light source. The optical mixer includes a light input face configuration to input light from the light source, and a light output face configured to output light to the input to panel. A sidewall connects the light input face to the light output face. The optical mixer is configured to provide output light from the output face having greater spatial uniformity than input light entering the input face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kayla Greene, John Orisich, Brant Potter, Mark Madden
  • Patent number: 10222022
    Abstract: A fiber bundle includes a plurality of optical fibers, a light source, and a fiber cover. The light source is coupled to the plurality of optical fibers and operable to direct light into input ends of the plurality of optical fibers. The fiber cover has a predetermined cross-sectional shape configured to hold the plurality of optical fibers in a bundled position and to transmit light into an outer region of the plurality of optical fibers defining an illumination region for vehicle lighting functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brant Potter, Kayla Greene, Nate Montgomery