Patents by Inventor Carol L DeBoer

Carol L DeBoer 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).

  • Patent number: 10029623
    Abstract: A method of mounting a camera module at a vehicle windshield includes attaching an attaching portion of a bracket at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield and attaching a mirror mounting base at the bracket, and attaching a mirror head at the mirror mounting base. With the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the windshield, camera attaching structure of the bracket extends downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion. With the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera module is attached at the camera attaching structure of the bracket, whereby the lens of the camera module is below the attaching portion of the bracket and the camera module has a field of view through a portion of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Donald S. Rawlings, Carol L. DeBoer, Darryl P. De Wind
  • Publication number: 20170313261
    Abstract: A method of mounting a camera module at a vehicle windshield includes attaching an attaching portion of a bracket at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield and attaching a mirror mounting base at the bracket, and attaching a mirror head at the mirror mounting base. With the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the windshield, camera attaching structure of the bracket extends downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion. With the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera module is attached at the camera attaching structure of the bracket, whereby the lens of the camera module is below the attaching portion of the bracket and the camera module has a field of view through a portion of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Donald S. Rawlings, Carol L. DeBoer, Darryl P. De Wind
  • Patent number: 9707903
    Abstract: An accessory system for a vehicle includes a bracket having an attaching portion and a pair of attaching arms extending from the attaching portion. A mirror mounting base is configured for attachment at the attaching portion. With the attaching portion attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the attaching arms extend from a lower region of the attaching portion along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion, and a camera module is attached at the attaching arms so as to be located at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion and at least partially between the vehicle windshield and a mirror head pivotally attached at a pivot element of the mirror mounting base. A housing encases the bracket and the camera module, and encases a portion of the mirror mounting base with the pivot element protruding through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Donald S. Rawlings, Carol L. DeBoer, Darryl P. De Wind
  • Publication number: 20170050582
    Abstract: An accessory system for a vehicle includes a bracket having an attaching portion and a pair of attaching arms extending from the attaching portion. A mirror mounting base is configured for attachment at the attaching portion. With the attaching portion attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the attaching arms extend from a lower region of the attaching portion along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion, and a camera module is attached at the attaching arms so as to be located at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion and at least partially between the vehicle windshield and a mirror head pivotally attached at a pivot element of the mirror mounting base. A housing encases the bracket and the camera module, and encases a portion of the mirror mounting base with the pivot element protruding through the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Donald S. Rawlings, Carol L. DeBoer, Darryl P. De Wind
  • Patent number: 9487161
    Abstract: An accessory system for a vehicle includes a bracket configured for adhesive attachment at an in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield. The bracket includes an attaching portion having an aperture therethrough and includes a pair of attaching arms extending from the attaching portion. An interior rearview mirror assembly has a mounting base that is attached at the attaching portion of the bracket with the bracket adhesively attached at the windshield. With the mounting base attached at the attaching portion, a rain sensor is disposed at the in-cabin surface of the windshield and the aperture of the attaching portion circumscribes the rain sensor. With the bracket adhesively attached at the windshield, a forward camera module is attached at the attaching arms of the bracket and generally at the in-cabin surface of the windshield so that an imager of the forward camera module has a field of view through the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Donald S. Rawlings, Carol L. DeBoer, Darryl P. De Wind
  • Patent number: 9060216
    Abstract: A voice acquisition system for a vehicle includes a microphone having a first microphone element and a second microphone element. The system includes circuitry for processing signals output by the first and second microphone elements. The first microphone element is disposed at a first acoustic port and the second microphone element is disposed at a second acoustic port. The first acoustic port is at least partially isolated from the second acoustic port. When the microphone is normally mounted in an interior cabin of a vehicle, vocal signals emanating from an occupant of the vehicle pressurize the first microphone element at the first acoustic port ahead of pressurization by the vocal signals of the second microphone element at the second acoustic port. The voice acquisition system may include at least one of (i) discrimination of vocal signals from non-vocal signals, (ii) noise cancellation and (iii) filtering of noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Andrew D. Weller, Eric P. Bigoness, Timothy R. Lambrix, Carol L. DeBoer, Joseph P. McCaw
  • Publication number: 20150097013
    Abstract: An accessory system for a vehicle includes a bracket configured for adhesive attachment at an in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield. The bracket includes an attaching portion having an aperture therethrough and includes a pair of attaching arms extending from the attaching portion. An interior rearview mirror assembly has a mounting base that is attached at the attaching portion of the bracket with the bracket adhesively attached at the windshield. With the mounting base attached at the attaching portion, a rain sensor is disposed at the in-cabin surface of the windshield and the aperture of the attaching portion circumscribes the rain sensor. With the bracket adhesively attached at the windshield, a forward camera module is attached at the attaching arms of the bracket and generally at the in-cabin surface of the windshield so that an imager of the forward camera module has a field of view through the windshield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Donald S. Rawlings, Carol L. DeBoer, Darryl P. De Wind
  • Patent number: 8355521
    Abstract: A vehicle interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an accessory, a reflective element and a bezel. The mirror assembly may define portions of a pocket that at least partially receives and secures the accessory therebetween when the reflective element is at least partially received in the bezel. The mirror assembly may include a microphone and an acoustic cover positioned at least partially over one or more inlet ports of the microphone. The acoustic cover may include an outer air flow limiting layer that substantially limits air flow therethrough and a diffusing material that may space and support the outer layer from the inlet ports to substantially diffuse air flow that penetrates the outer layer. An acoustic barrier may be positioned between a pair of inlet ports of the microphone to enhance the directivity of the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Andrew D. Weller, Joshua L. Barr, Eric P. Bigoness, Timothy R. Lambrix, Carol L. DeBoer, Joseph P. McCaw
  • Publication number: 20100124348
    Abstract: A vehicle interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an accessory, a reflective element and a bezel. The mirror assembly may define portions of a pocket that at least partially receives and secures the accessory therebetween when the reflective element is at least partially received in the bezel. The mirror assembly may include a microphone and an acoustic cover positioned at least partially over one or more inlet ports of the microphone. The acoustic cover may include an outer air flow limiting layer that substantially limits air flow therethrough and a diffusing material that may space and support the outer layer from the inlet ports to substantially diffuse air flow that penetrates the outer layer. An acoustic barrier may be positioned between a pair of inlet ports of the microphone to enhance the directivity of the microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Andrew D. Weller, Joshua J. Barr, Eric P. Bigoness, Timothy R. Lambrix, Carol L. DeBoer, Joseph P. McCaw
  • Patent number: 7657052
    Abstract: A vehicle interior rearview mirror assembly (10) comprises an accessory (24), a reflective element (18) and a bezel (20). The mirror assembly may define portions of a pocket (23) that at least partially receives and secures the accessory therebetween when the reflective element is at least partially received in the bezel. The mirror assembly (11) may include a microphone (124) and an acoustic cover (126) positioned at least partially over one or more inlet ports (124j, 124k) of the microphone. The acoustic cover may include an outer air flow limiting layer (130b) that substantially limit air flow therethrough and a diffusing material (130a) that may space and support the outer layer from the inlet ports to substantially diffuse air flow that penetrates the outer layer. An acoustic barrier (132) may be positioned between a pair of inlet port of the microphone to enhance the directivity of the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L Larson, Andrew D Weller, Joshua L Barr, Eric P Bigoness, Timothy R Lambrix, Carol L DeBoer, Joseph P McCaw