Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Koetje
Christopher R. Koetje 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: 10442360Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a reflective element. A display device is disposed in the mirror head and behind the reflective element. The display device, when actuated, is viewable through the reflective element. The mirror head is adjustable between a mirror mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views rearward of the vehicle via the reflective element, and a display mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views images displayed by the display device through the reflective element. When in the display mode orientation, the reflective element is angled upward or downward relative to the orientation of the reflective element when in the mirror mode orientation. An actuator is pivotally mounted at the mirror head and includes a pivot element that adjustably mounts the mirror head at a mirror mount that attaches at the interior surface of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: 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: 10421404Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle 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 a polymer reflector layer is disposed in front of the video display device. 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 polymer reflector layer and the mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by a driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element. Linearly polarized light emitted by the video display device is circularly polarized as it passes through the polymer reflector layer, such that the displayed video images comprise circularly polarized light.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Christopher R. Koetje, Anthony J. LaCross, Eric Peterson
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Publication number: 20190258131Abstract: An electro-optic rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a caseless electro-optic rearview mirror reflective element and a plate attached at the rear of the reflective element. The mirror reflective element connected to and pivotal about a windshield electronics module via a ball and socket pivot joint. Control circuitry may be disposed in a windshield electronics module for automatically controlling dimming of the electro-optic medium or alternatively, dimming of the electro-optic medium is automatically controlled via a multifunctional rear backup camera system of the equipped vehicle. Optionally, the control circuitry controls dimming of the electro-optic medium of the mirror reflective element via wiring that passes through the ball and socket pivot joint. Optionally, image data captured by the multifunctional rear backup camera may be used for ambient light determination and to provide video image display at the interior rearview mirror assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Niall R. Lynam, Hamid Habibi, Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Mark L. Larson, Patrick M. Foley, IV, Michael L. Gallas
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Publication number: 20190152398Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, and a mirror mounting structure configured to adjustably mount the mirror head at an interior portion of a vehicle. A receiving portion of the mirror head is configured for receiving a portable self-contained garage door opening module at least partially thereat. The module is operable to wirelessly transmit a radio frequency signal responsive to actuation of a user input of the module. With the module at the receiving portion of the mirror head, the user input is accessible by the vehicle driver. A cover element is configured to detachably attach at the mirror casing at the receiving portion to releasably secure the module at the mirror head, with the module being releasable from the mirror head when the cover element is detached from the mirror casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Craig Kendall, Christopher R. Koetje, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20190146297Abstract: An electro-optic rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a caseless electro-optic rearview mirror reflective element and a plate attached at the rear of the reflective element. The mirror reflective element connected to and pivotal about a windshield electronics module via a ball and socket pivot joint. Control circuitry may be disposed in a windshield electronics module for automatically controlling dimming of the electro-optic medium or alternatively, dimming of the electro-optic medium is automatically controlled via a multifunctional rear backup camera system of the equipped vehicle. Optionally, the control circuitry controls dimming of the electro-optic medium of the mirror reflective element via wiring that passes through the ball and socket pivot joint. Optionally, image data captured by the multifunctional rear backup camera may be used for ambient light determination and to provide video image display at the interior rearview mirror assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Niall R. Lynam, Hamid Habibi, Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Mark L. Larson, Patrick M. Foley, IV, Michael L. Gallas
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Publication number: 20190118717Abstract: A video mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly and a video display screen disposed in a mirror head and behind a reflective element of the mirror assembly. When the video mirror system is operating in a mirror mode, the video display screen is deactivated and the reflective element provides a reflected rearward view for the driver of the vehicle. When the video mirror system is in a display mode, the video display screen is activated and displays video images viewable through the reflective element. The video display screen, when activated, displays video images derived from image data captured by a vehicle-mounted rear viewing camera or, with a trailer hitched to the vehicle, a trailer-mounted rear viewing camera. The displayed video images may correspond to a rearward view similar to the field of view provided by the reflective element when in the mirror mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Patrick M. Foley, IV
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Patent number: 10189411Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, and a mirror mounting structure configured to adjustably mount the mirror head at an interior portion of a vehicle. A receiving portion is configured for receiving a portable self-contained garage door opening module at least partially thereat. The module includes a user input and a housing that houses (i) circuitry, (ii) a transmitter and (iii) a battery. The module is operable to wirelessly transmit responsive to actuation of the user input. With the module at the receiving portion of the mirror assembly, the user input is accessible by the vehicle driver. The module is configured to cooperate with the receiving portion to releasably secure the module at the interior rearview mirror assembly, with the module being releasable from the interior rearview mirror assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Craig Kendall, Christopher R. Koetje, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20180370440Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head pivotable about a mirror support. An electro-optic mirror reflective element includes a transflective mirror reflector that at least partially reflects light incident thereon and at least partially transmits incident light therethrough. A video display device is disposed rearward of a reflective region of the mirror reflective element and includes a display screen that occupies at least 75 percent of the reflective region. A light sensor is disposed at an overhang region and is integrated with a user input that is configured to actuate at the overhang region of the mirror reflective element. The video display device is operated responsive at least in part to actuation by a user of the user input. Electro-optic dimming of the mirror reflective element and/or display intensity of the video display device is variable responsive to a light level detected by the light sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Mark L. Larson, John T. Uken, Christopher R. Koetje
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Publication number: 20180297527Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head, a mounting member configured to mount at an interior portion of a vehicle, and an attachment member having a connecting portion, a flange, a neck and a pivot element. The attachment member includes a conical portion that tapers from the flange portion toward the neck of the attachment member. The pivot element is disposed at an opposite end of the neck from the conical portion. With the attachment member disposed at a lower portion of the mounting member, and with the connecting portion received in and secured at a receiving portion of the mounting member, the flange abuts an end of the lower portion of the mounting member and an outer surface of the conical portion corresponds with an outer surface of the lower portion of the mounting member. The mirror head is adjustably attached at the pivot element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventor: Christopher R. Koetje
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Publication number: 20180251069Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a reflective element. A display device is disposed in the mirror head and behind the reflective element. The display device, when actuated, is viewable through the reflective element. The mirror head is adjustable between a mirror mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views rearward of the vehicle via the reflective element, and a display mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views images displayed by the display device through the reflective element. When in the display mode orientation, the reflective element is angled upward or downward relative to the orientation of the reflective element when in the mirror mode orientation. An actuator is pivotally mounted at the mirror head and includes a pivot element that adjustably mounts the mirror head at a mirror mount that attaches at the interior surface of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Darryl P. De Wind, Mark L. Larson, Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Eric Peterson
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Patent number: 10046706Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a mirror reflective element, and a video display device behind the mirror reflective element and viewable through the mirror reflective element when activated. The video display device includes a display screen that occupies at least 75 percent of a reflective region of the mirror reflective element. The video display device includes a backlighting array of light emitting diodes for backlighting the display screen, and the backlighting array of light emitting diodes includes a plurality of zones of light emitting diodes, with each zone having at least two light emitting diodes. The zones of light emitting diodes are independently controlled based on the video images being displayed by the video display device.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Mark L. Larson, John T. Uken, Christopher R. Koetje
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Patent number: 10000156Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head, a mounting member and an attachment member. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a reflective element. The mounting member includes an upper portion configured to mount at an interior structure of a vehicle. The attachment member includes a connection portion and a pivot element protruding from the connection portion. The attachment member is disposed at a lower portion of the mounting member. The mirror head is configured to adjustably attach at the pivot element. The mounting member is formed of a polymeric material, and at least the connection portion of the attachment member is formed of a metallic material. The connection portion of the attachment member may be insert molded in the lower portion of the mounting member.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2016Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Christopher R. Koetje
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Publication number: 20180086269Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror stay configured to attach at an in-cabin portion of a vehicle equipped with the mirror mounting system. The mirror stay is formed by injection molding a thermoplastic polymeric molding resin using a gas assist molding process. The thermoplastic polymeric molding resin includes a reinforced polyamide polymeric molding resin. A mirror head is pivotally mounted at a pivot element of the mirror stay. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: John T. Uken, Christopher R. Koetje, Craig Kendall
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Publication number: 20170297497Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, and a mirror mounting structure configured to adjustably mount the mirror head at an interior portion of a vehicle. A receiving portion is configured for receiving a portable self-contained garage door opening module at least partially thereat. The module includes a user input and a housing that houses (i) circuitry, (ii) a transmitter and (iii) a battery. The module is operable to wirelessly transmit responsive to actuation of the user input. With the module at the receiving portion of the mirror assembly, the user input is accessible by the vehicle driver. The module is configured to cooperate with the receiving portion to releasably secure the module at the interior rearview mirror assembly, with the module being releasable from the interior rearview mirror assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2015Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Craig Kendall, Christopher R. Koetje, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20170297498Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle 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 a polymer reflector layer is disposed in front of the video display device. 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 polymer reflector layer and the mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by a driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element. Linearly polarized light emitted by the video display device is circularly polarized as it passes through the polymer reflector layer, such that the displayed video images comprise circularly polarized light.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Christopher R. Koetje, Anthony J. LaCross, Eric Peterson
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Publication number: 20160375833Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a mirror reflective element, and a video display device behind the mirror reflective element and viewable through the mirror reflective element when activated. The video display device includes a display screen that occupies at least 75 percent of a reflective region of the mirror reflective element. The video display device includes a backlighting array of light emitting diodes for backlighting the display screen, and the backlighting array of light emitting diodes includes a plurality of zones of light emitting diodes, with each zone having at least two light emitting diodes. The zones of light emitting diodes are independently controlled based on the video images being displayed by the video display device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: Mark L. Larson, John T. Uken, Christopher R. Koetje
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Publication number: 20160355135Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head, a mounting member and an attachment member. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a reflective element. The mounting member includes an upper portion configured to mount at an interior structure of a vehicle. The attachment member includes a connection portion and a pivot element protruding from the connection portion. The attachment member is disposed at a lower portion of the mounting member. The mirror head is configured to adjustably attach at the pivot element. The mounting member is formed of a polymeric material, and at least the connection portion of the attachment member is formed of a metallic material. The connection portion of the attachment member may be insert molded in the lower portion of the mounting member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventor: Christopher R. Koetje
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Publication number: 20160267911Abstract: A voice acquisition system for a vehicle includes an optical sensor disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle and having a sensing field that encompasses a driver's head region in the vehicle cabin typically occupied by a driver's head. An optical sensor processor is provided for processing an output of the optical sensor to determine optically-derived vocal signals emanating from the driver. A microphone is provided and is operable to receive audible signals from in the vehicle cabin. A microphone processor is provided for processing an output of the microphone to determine audio-derived vocal signals emanating from the driver. A control, responsive to processing of the output of the optical sensor by the optical sensor processor and processing of the output of the microphone by the microphone processor, isolates the driver's voice from other acoustic noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventor: Christopher R. Koetje