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).
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Patent number: 11548388Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 17, 2016Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Curt Ollila, Michael E Carrel, Vyacheslav B Birman
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Patent number: 11226216Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 19, 2018Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Matthew Sherman, Curt Ollila
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Publication number: 20210316610Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2016Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Curt Ollila, Michael E. Carrel, Vyacheslav B. Birman
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Patent number: 11035701Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 27, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Curt Ollila, Vyacheslav Birman
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Publication number: 20200148103Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2018Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: Curt Ollila, Vyacheslav Birman
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Patent number: 10605979Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Continental Automotiove Systems, Inc.Inventors: Heath D. Zietz, Vyacheslav Birman, Curt Ollila
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Patent number: 10576882Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Curt Ollila
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Publication number: 20190375293Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2019Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Curt Ollila, Ulises Mendoza de la Torre
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Publication number: 20190346617Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Heath D. Zietz, Vyacheslav Birman, Curt Ollila
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Publication number: 20190323867Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2018Publication date: October 24, 2019Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Matthew Sherman, Curt Ollila
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Publication number: 20180364078Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Curt OLLILA, Vyacheslav BIRMAN
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Publication number: 20180361920Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Vyacheslav BIRMAN, Curt OLLILA
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Patent number: 10031277Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 28, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav B Birman, Curt Ollila
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Publication number: 20170153374Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2016Publication date: June 1, 2017Inventors: Vyacheslav B Birman, Curt Ollila
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Patent number: 9360350Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 6, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Curt Ollila, Taochuan Wang, Kevin Dyer
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Patent number: 9200930Abstract: A dual colored pointer arm for an instrument gauge constructed of a clear material and having a coated bi-color top surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav Borisovich Birman, Tao-Chuan Wang, Curt Ollila
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Publication number: 20140174335Abstract: A dual colored pointer arm for an instrument gauge constructed of a clear material and having a coated bi-color top surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav Borisovich Birman, Tao-Chuan Wang, Curt Ollila
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Publication number: 20140009957Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2012Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Curt Ollila, Taochuan Wang, Kevin Dyer