Patents by Inventor Curt Ollila

Curt Ollila 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: 11548388
    Abstract: A pointer for a gauge or an instrument cluster assembly is provided. The pointer is formed of a light conducting material. In one form, indicia are disposed about the axis of rotation and/or on a surface, the plurality of indicia configured to be selectively illuminated by the pointer. A second end of the pointer may be configured to be selectively rotated adjacent to each indicium of the plurality of indicia and to illuminate the indicia when the light guide pointer is disposed adjacent to the indicia. The second end may be wider than a first end of the pointer. In some variations, the pointer may have a fan shape, and the indicia may be configured as tick marks defining a bar graph. In some forms, opaque material may be disposed on the pointer, the opaque material defining a plurality of indicia on the pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Curt Ollila, Michael E Carrel, Vyacheslav B Birman
  • Patent number: 11226216
    Abstract: A gauge assembly includes a dial face with a scale indicative of a vehicle operating parameter. The dial face includes an opening proximate the scale and an illuminable tick mark that extends through the opening in the dial face with the tick mark being larger than the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Matthew Sherman, Curt Ollila
  • Publication number: 20210316610
    Abstract: A pointer for a gauge or an instrument cluster assembly is provided. The pointer is formed of a light conducting material. In one form, indicia are disposed about the axis of rotation and/or on a surface, the plurality of indicia configured to be selectively illuminated by the pointer. A second end of the pointer may be configured to be selectively rotated adjacent to each indicium of the plurality of indicia and to illuminate the indicia when the light guide pointer is disposed adjacent to the indicia. The second end may be wider than a first end of the pointer. In some variations, the pointer may have a fan shape, and the indicia may be configured as tick marks defining a bar graph. In some forms, opaque material may be disposed on the pointer, the opaque material defining a plurality of indicia on the pointer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2016
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Curt Ollila, Michael E. Carrel, Vyacheslav B. Birman
  • Patent number: 11035701
    Abstract: An illuminated pointer for a vehicle instrument cluster provides a more uniform light by propagating light from a source, through an elongate, light-transmitting prism formed to have multiple, inclined light-reflecting surfaces. Each surface being at a different angle, reflects light at a slightly different angle producing a corresponding number of refracted light maxima along the length of the prism. A more uniform refracted light is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Curt Ollila, Vyacheslav Birman
  • Publication number: 20200148103
    Abstract: Two separate and differently-colored light sources provide correspondingly-colored light into corresponding light guides that extend part way around the perimeter of a gauge, such as a tachometer dial and adjacent to numerals or digits that correspond to a measured quantity, such as a too-high engine speed range and an energy-saving or “eco” speed range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Curt Ollila, Vyacheslav Birman
  • Patent number: 10605979
    Abstract: A latitudinal color gradient light guide emits colored light having a color gradient that changes continuously from a base of the light guide to a top or apex of the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotiove Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Heath D. Zietz, Vyacheslav Birman, Curt Ollila
  • Patent number: 10576882
    Abstract: A gauge assembly includes a gauge surface including at least one graphic, which may be a plurality of graphics defining a scale in a generally circular pattern on the gauge surface. The gauge surface has a viewable side. A light guide has a main body portion disposed adjacent to the gauge surface and corresponding to the shape of the gauge surface. The light guide has a plurality of raised tick marks extending from the main body portion. Each tick mark is viewable via a viewing side of the gauge surface. The light guide includes ends that curve away from the gauge surface to receive light. The light guide is configured to provide illumination to the illuminable graphic(s) and the plurality of tick marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Curt Ollila
  • Publication number: 20190375293
    Abstract: A block of light-transmissive material having a substantially planar top surface and a stepped bottom surface provides uniform or at least substantially uniform luminance to both graphics and tickmarks on a dial face for a motor vehicle instrument panel dial. The tickmarks are embodied as light-transmissive protuberances from the top surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Curt Ollila, Ulises Mendoza de la Torre
  • Publication number: 20190346617
    Abstract: A latitudinal color gradient light guide emits colored light having a color gradient that changes continuously from a base of the light guide to a top or apex of the guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Heath D. Zietz, Vyacheslav Birman, Curt Ollila
  • Publication number: 20190323867
    Abstract: A gauge assembly includes a dial face with a scale indicative of a vehicle operating parameter. The dial face includes an opening proximate the scale and an illuminable tick mark that extends through the opening in the dial face with the tick mark being larger than the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Matthew Sherman, Curt Ollila
  • Publication number: 20180364078
    Abstract: An illuminated pointer for a vehicle instrument cluster provides a more uniform light by propagating light from a source, through an elongate, light-transmitting prism formed to have multiple, inclined light-reflecting surfaces. Each surface being at a different angle, reflects light at a slightly different angle producing a corresponding number of refracted light maxima along the length of the prism. A more uniform refracted light is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Curt OLLILA, Vyacheslav BIRMAN
  • Publication number: 20180361920
    Abstract: A gauge assembly includes a gauge surface including at least one graphic, which may be a plurality of graphics defining a scale in a generally circular pattern on the gauge surface. The gauge surface has a viewable side. A light guide has a main body portion disposed adjacent to the gauge surface and corresponding to the shape of the gauge surface. The light guide has a plurality of raised tick marks extending from the main body portion. Each tick mark is viewable via a viewing side of the gauge surface. The light guide includes ends that curve away from the gauge surface to receive light. The light guide is configured to provide illumination to the illuminable graphic(s) and the plurality of tick marks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Vyacheslav BIRMAN, Curt OLLILA
  • Patent number: 10031277
    Abstract: An assembly includes a light guide having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end has a light-emitting diode package coupled thereto. The assembly may include another light guide, also having a proximal end and a distal end, with a light-emitting diode package coupled to the proximal end. A light housing may be included that defines a cavity therein, wherein at least a portion of the first and second light guides including the distal ends are disposed in the cavity. Further, a dial face may be included that is disposed adjacent to the first and second light guides and the light housing, wherein each of the first and second light guides are configured to illuminate the dial face. In some variations, flexible printed circuit boards are attached to and electrically connected with the light-emitting diode packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav B Birman, Curt Ollila
  • Publication number: 20170153374
    Abstract: An assembly includes a light guide having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end has a light-emitting diode package coupled thereto. The assembly may include another light guide, also having a proximal end and a distal end, with a light-emitting diode package coupled to the proximal end. A light housing may be included that defines a cavity therein, wherein at least a portion of the first and second light guides including the distal ends are disposed in the cavity. Further, a dial face may be included that is disposed adjacent to the first and second light guides and the light housing, wherein each of the first and second light guides are configured to illuminate the dial face. In some variations, flexible printed circuit boards are attached to and electrically connected with the light-emitting diode packages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Vyacheslav B Birman, Curt Ollila
  • Patent number: 9360350
    Abstract: An example instrument cluster includes a light guide having a first end portion and a display located adjacent the first end portion of the light guide for emitting light into the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Curt Ollila, Taochuan Wang, Kevin Dyer
  • Patent number: 9200930
    Abstract: A dual colored pointer arm for an instrument gauge constructed of a clear material and having a coated bi-color top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Borisovich Birman, Tao-Chuan Wang, Curt Ollila
  • Publication number: 20140174335
    Abstract: A dual colored pointer arm for an instrument gauge constructed of a clear material and having a coated bi-color top surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Borisovich Birman, Tao-Chuan Wang, Curt Ollila
  • Publication number: 20140009957
    Abstract: An example instrument cluster includes a light guide having a first end portion and a display located adjacent the first end portion of the light guide for emitting light into the light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Curt Ollila, Taochuan Wang, Kevin Dyer