Patents by Inventor Don Hodnett

Don Hodnett 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).

  • Configurable lighting system with shared lens and first and second internal optics forming a first and second module configuration for providing two different lighting functions
    Patent number: 11603974
    Abstract: A configurable vehicle lighting module system includes a shared lens that provides a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens includes a mounting axis as a reference for mounting on a vehicle. First internal optics direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern; second internal optics direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern. A coupling system joins the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for the first vehicle lighting function or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for the second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens conceals physical differences between internal optics configurations such that the first and second light module configurations appear the same when viewed along the shared lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chadwick Fritz, Don Hodnett, Greg Simons
  • CONFIGURABLE LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH SHARED LENS AND FIRST AND SECOND INTERNAL OPTICS FORMING A FIRST AND SECOND MODULE CONFIGURATION FOR PROVIDING TWO DIFFERENT LIGHTING FUNCTIONS
    Publication number: 20220034466
    Abstract: A configurable vehicle lighting module system includes a shared lens that provides a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens includes a mounting axis as a reference for mounting on a vehicle. First internal optics direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern; second internal optics direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern. A coupling system joins the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for the first vehicle lighting function or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for the second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens conceals physical differences between internal optics configurations such that the first and second light module configurations appear the same when viewed along the shared lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Chadwick FRITZ, Don HODNETT, Greg SIMONS
  • Configurable lighting system with shared lens and first and second internal optics forming a first and second module configuration for providing two different lighting functions
    Patent number: 11181246
    Abstract: A configurable vehicle lighting module system includes a shared lens that provides a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens includes a mounting axis as a reference for mounting on a vehicle. First internal optics direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern; second internal optics direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern. A coupling system joins the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for the first vehicle lighting function or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for the second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens conceals physical differences between internal optics configurations such that the first and second light module configurations appear the same when viewed along the shared lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chadwick Fritz, Don Hodnett, Greg Simons
  • CONFIGURABLE LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH SHARED LENS AND FIRST AND SECOND INTERNAL OPTICS FORMING A FIRST AND SECOND MODULE CONFIGURATION FOR PROVIDING TWO DIFFERENT LIGHTING FUNCTIONS
    Publication number: 20210108774
    Abstract: A configurable vehicle lighting module system includes a shared lens that provides a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens includes a mounting axis as a reference for mounting on a vehicle. First internal optics direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern; second internal optics direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern. A coupling system joins the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for the first vehicle lighting function or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for the second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens conceals physical differences between internal optics configurations such that the first and second light module configurations appear the same when viewed along the shared lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Chadwick FRITZ, Don HODNETT, Greg SIMONS
  • Configurable lighting system with shared lens and first and second internal optics forming a first and second module configuration for providing two different lighting functions
    Patent number: 10900632
    Abstract: A configurable vehicle lighting module system includes a shared lens configured to provide a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens includes a mounting axis which provides a reference for mounting the shared lens on a vehicle. First internal optics are configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern, and second internal optics are configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern. A coupling system is configured to join the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for providing the first vehicle lighting function, or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for providing the second vehicle lighting function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chadwick Fritz, Don Hodnett, Greg Simons
  • CONFIGURABLE LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH SHARED LENS AND FIRST AND SECOND INTERNAL OPTICS FORMING A FIRST AND SECOND MODULE CONFIGURATION FOR PROVIDING TWO DIFFERENT LIGHTING FUNCTIONS
    Publication number: 20200200352
    Abstract: A configurable vehicle lighting module system includes a shared lens configured to provide a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens includes a mounting axis which provides a reference for mounting the shared lens on a vehicle. First internal optics are configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern, and second internal optics are configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern. A coupling system is configured to join the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for providing the first vehicle lighting function, or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for providing the second vehicle lighting function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Chadwick FRITZ, Don HODNETT, Greg SIMONS
  • Configurable lighting system with shared lens and first and second internal optics forming a first and second module configuration for providing two different lighting functions
    Patent number: 10619814
    Abstract: A configurable vehicle lighting module system includes a shared lens configured to provide a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens includes a mounting axis which provides a reference for mounting the shared lens on a vehicle. First internal optics are configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern, and second internal optics are configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern. A coupling system is configured to join the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for providing the first vehicle lighting function, or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for providing the second vehicle lighting function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Chadwick Fritz, Don Hodnett, Greg Simons
  • CONFIGURABLE VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICE HAVING A CONSISTENT APPEARANCE
    Publication number: 20200003385
    Abstract: A configurable vehicle lighting module system includes a shared lens configured to provide a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens includes a mounting axis which provides a reference for mounting the shared lens on a vehicle. First internal optics are configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern, and second internal optics are configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern. A coupling system is configured to join the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for providing the first vehicle lighting function, or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for providing the second vehicle lighting function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Chadwick FRITZ, Don Hodnett, Greg Simons