Patents by Inventor Cornel Lewis Gardner

Cornel Lewis Gardner 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).

  • Proximity switch and method of adjusting sensitivity therefor
    Patent number: 9337832
    Abstract: A vehicle proximity switch and method are provided having sensitivity control. The switch includes a proximity sensor, such as a capacitive sensor, installed in a vehicle and providing a sense activation field. Control circuitry processes the activation field to sense user activation of the switch by comparing the activation field to a threshold. The threshold is adjusted down when a substantially stable sensor signal is detected below the threshold for a minimum time period, and the threshold is adjusted up when a sensor signal greater than the threshold by a predetermined value is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Thomas Lee Goodson, James Stewart Rankin
  • Vehicle puddle lamp assembly generating animated image and method
    Patent number: 9321395
    Abstract: A vehicle puddle lamp assembly is provided and includes a plurality of light projectors located on a vehicle and configured to illuminate different lighted image patterns on a ground surface adjacent to the vehicle. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly also includes a controller for sequentially activating the plurality of light projectors to generate an animated lighted image on the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Ammar, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Stuart C. Salter
  • Photoluminescent tailgate and step
    Patent number: 9315145
    Abstract: A vehicle illumination apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a retractable step in connection with a panel of the vehicle. The retractable step comprises a tread portion. A light source is disposed proximate the panel and is configured to emit a first emission having a first wavelength. A first photoluminescent portion is disposed on the tread portion and is configured to emit a second emission having a second wavelength in response to receiving the first emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Michael James Whitens
  • Vehicle lighting apparatus with multizone proximity control
    Patent number: 9302616
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system is disclosed. The lighting system comprises a group of light sources having a plurality of portions. Each of the portions has a proximity sensor configured to communicate a signal to control a portion of the plurality of portions. A controller is in communication with the light sources and the proximity sensors. The controller is operable to selectively activate a first portion of the grouping of light sources in response to a first proximity detection, and activate the plurality of portions in response to a second proximity detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Scott Holmes Dunham, Ali Ammar, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTE ACTIVATION OF VEHICLE LIGHTING
    Publication number: 20160075275
    Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises a controller in communication with at least one light source and an occupancy sensor. The controller is configured to control an activation emission output from the light source configured to charge a persistent luminescent portion. The controller is further configured to detect an occupancy of the vehicle and charge the luminescent portion by periodically outputting the activation emission. The controller determines the periodicity of the output based on the occupancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Annette Lynn Huebner, Pietro Buttolo, Scott Holmes Dunham
  • Vehicle wheel assembly external illumination lamp
    Patent number: 9283819
    Abstract: A vehicle tire pressure indicator and tire illumination assembly is provided. The assembly includes a light source located on the body of a vehicle near the wheel well and oriented to direct light onto a wheel assembly having a tire. A tire pressure indicator detects air inflation pressure of the tire. The light source illuminates the wheel assembly with a desired color to indicate a tire pressure status based on the detected tire pressure. In addition, the light source may be illuminated to provide puddle lamp and area lighting and turn signal indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Ali Ammar
  • SUN VISOR WITH PHOTOLUMINESCENT STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20160068100
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system is provided. The system includes a sun visor having a visor body movable between a stored position and a use position. A photoluminescent structure is coupled to a surface of the visor body and a light source is coupled to a headliner and oriented to excite the photoluminescent structure when the visor body is in the use position. A switch is included for activating the light source in response to a signal change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Carol Kordich
  • AMBIENT FUNCTIONAL LIGHTING OF A SEAT
    Publication number: 20160052447
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat having a base including peripheral side ledges disposed on first and second sides of the seat. A seat cushion is disposed on the base and includes first and second independent thigh supports that extend forwardly over the base and define a forward ledge. A seatback is operably coupled to the seat and includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion includes a seatback cushion and a seatback support. A peripheral seatback cavity is located on first and second sides of the lower portion between the seatback cushion and the seatback support. At least one light source is disposed proximate the peripheral side ledges, the forward ledge, and the peripheral seatback cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • ILLUMINATED SEATBELT ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20160031367
    Abstract: An illuminated vehicle seatbelt assembly is provided herein. The vehicle seatbelt assembly includes a buckle having a housing and a latch mechanism. A light source is disposed within the housing. A light guide directs light from the light source to a top portion of the housing. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed within the buckle and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Edward Joseph DeSmet, JR.
  • Storage assembly for vehicle center console
    Patent number: 9238439
    Abstract: A storage assembly for positioning between vehicle seats, includes an enclosable compartment that has opposing longitudinal sidewalls and opposing lateral sidewalls that are connected to the opposing longitudinal sidewalls to define an interior volume. A plurality of retention features are spaced along an upper edge of the opposing longitudinal sidewalls and the opposing lateral sidewalls. A hanging storage module has a rigid panel suspended in the interior volume and a pair of support elements protrudes horizontally from opposing ends of the rigid panel to removably engage a corresponding pair of the plurality of retention features on a select one of the opposing longitudinal sidewalls and the opposing longitudinal sidewalls. The rigid panel has a side portion configured to vertically hold at least one object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Annette Lynn Huebner, Kristin Ann Hellman, Artur Sakarian, Ryan Welch, Scott H. Dunham, Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • VEHICLE HAVING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING ON TAILGATE
    Publication number: 20160001700
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a cabin defining a cargo space, and a tailgate operable between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position. The tailgate defines a license plate area on an exterior surface thereof. An illumination system is positioned within the tailgate, such that the illumination system illuminates at least one of the cargo space and the license plate area when the tailgate is in the closed position and illuminates a ground area behind the vehicle when the tailgate is in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Annette Lynn Huebner
  • ILLUMINATED STEERING ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20150375677
    Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle steering assembly is provided herein. The lighting system includes a steering wheel having a central hub and a rim connected to the hub through a spoke. A light source is disposed on the rim. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed on the steering wheel and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion of the light source. In some embodiments, the light source may implement a thin design, thereby helping to fit the light source into small package spaces of the vehicle where traditional light sources may not be practicable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Pietro Buttolo, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Annette Lynn Huebner
  • PRINTED LED TRIM PANEL LAMP
    Publication number: 20150343944
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a circuit disposed on a trim panel. The illumination apparatus comprises at least one light source formed by plurality of LEDs in a semiconductor ink. The illumination apparatus further comprises at least one proximity sensor disposed proximate a surface of the trim panel and configured to selectively activate the at least one circuit. The trim panel is configured to receive at least one edge of a window of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Annette Lynn Huebner, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • Proximity switch having differential contact surface
    Patent number: 9197206
    Abstract: A proximity switch assembly and method for activating a proximity switch is provided. The assembly includes a proximity sensor generating a signal, and a contact surface proximate to the proximity sensor and having a differential elevation change feature. The proximity switch also includes control circuitry processing the signal to detect a differential increase in the activation signal indicative of a hard press on the contact surface. The control circuitry detects activation of the switch based on the differential increase exceeding a differential threshold. Activation can further be determined based on a stable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • Proximity switch assembly and method of sensing user input based on signal rate of change
    Patent number: 9184745
    Abstract: A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation. The assembly and method detects a signal associated with each proximity switch, determines a rate of change of the signal associated with the first switch and a rate of change of the signal associated with a neighboring second switch and determines whether to activate the first switch based on at least one of the first rate of signal change and second rate of signal change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Thomas Lee Goodson
  • ESD PROTECTION FOR DYNAMIC LIGHTING
    Publication number: 20150319815
    Abstract: A lighting assembly including a circuit is disclosed. The circuit is configured to be disposed in a panel defining a cavity forming an opening. The circuit includes a light source in communication with a controller and an exposed conductive portion conductively connected to an isolation terminal. The exposed conductive portion is oriented proximate the opening and provides a path for an electrical discharge to protect the light source from the electrical discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Steven J. Antilla, Daniel Weckstein
  • Tilt switch and lighting assembly for a vehicle compartment
    Patent number: 9174571
    Abstract: A vehicle compartment has a housing defining a space and an access door pivotally coupled to the housing for pivoting between an open position and a closed position. Included is a light source for illuminating the space and a tilt switch provided on a circuit board coupled to the access door. The tilt switch is configured to have a first switch position when the access door is in the closed position and a second switch position when the access door is in the open position. The light source is activated when tilt switch is in the second switch position. The compartment may include a storage compartment, such as a glove box. The compartment may include an engine compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shannon Carloni, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Megan Lovejoy, Frederick A. Drapala, Latasha Nicole Smith
  • VEHICLE HYPERTHERMIA AVOIDANCE
    Publication number: 20150306940
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a passenger compartment, one or more movable body panels to expose the passenger compartment to an outside environment, and a motion sensor located in the passenger compartment. The vehicle also includes a temperature sensor located in the passenger compartment, and a controller operable to open the one or more movable body panels when the vehicle is turned off, movement is detected within the passenger compartment prior to opening any door of the vehicle, and temperature in the passenger compartment exceeds a temperature threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Lynn Adams, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • VEHICULAR CHARGING AND PROTECTION SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20150306963
    Abstract: A charging system for a vehicle. The charging system includes an on-board battery, a charger region and a wireless receiver for generating a charging signal in the charger region to charge a battery. The system also includes a plurality of sensors located to sense living beings and foreign objects in proximity to the charger region. The system further includes a controller for filtering transient conditions and terminating the charging signal when a being or a foreign object is near the charger region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Richard William Kautz, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Stuart C. Salter, Eric L. Reed, Don David Price
  • ILLUMINATED EXTERIOR STRIP
    Publication number: 20150307020
    Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle panel is provided herein. The lighting system includes an outer panel mated to an inner panel. An aperture is disposed in the outer panel. A light-producing assembly is arranged as a strip and includes a plurality of light sources. A photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the plurality of light sources. A retention feature is coupled to the light-producing assembly and insertable through the aperture for disposing the light-producing assembly on the outer panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Cornel Lewis Gardner