Patents by Inventor Donald C. Byers
Donald C. Byers 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: 8558141Abstract: A variable reflectance mirror reflective element assembly for an exterior mirror assembly includes a heater pad disposed at the fourth surface of the rear substrate. The heater pad includes a first connector that electrically connects with the transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at the second surface of the front substrate, and a second connector that electrically connects with the metallic electrically conductive coating disposed at the third surface of the rear substrate. The heater pad includes third and fourth connectors that provide, at least in part, electrical conductive connection with a heating element. The connectors are part of a unitary multi-pin connector that is configured to connect with a corresponding wire harness connector to provide electrical power to the heating element and to the transparent electrically conductive coating and the metallic electrically conductive coating of the reflective element when the exterior minor assembly is mounted at the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2012Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Donald C. Byers, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam, Ian A. McCabe
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Publication number: 20120325794Abstract: A variable reflectance mirror reflective element assembly for an exterior mirror assembly includes a heater pad disposed at the fourth surface of the rear substrate. The heater pad includes a first connector that electrically connects with the transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at the second surface of the front substrate, and a second connector that electrically connects with the metallic electrically conductive coating disposed at the third surface of the rear substrate. The heater pad includes third and fourth connectors that provide, at least in part, electrical conductive connection with a heating element. The connectors are part of a unitary multi-pin connector that is configured to connect with a corresponding wire harness connector to provide electrical power to the heating element and to the transparent electrically conductive coating and the metallic electrically conductive coating of the reflective element when the exterior minor assembly is mounted at the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Donald C. Byers, Hamid Habibi, Ian A. McCabe, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 8258433Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes an electro-optic reflective element, a photo sensor and a light concentrator. The electro-optic reflective element has a front substrate with a first surface and a transparent second surface electrically conductive coating disposed on a second surface, and the electro-optic reflective element has a rear substrate with a third surface transflective metallic reflector disposed at a third surface thereof. The photo sensor is disposed behind a fourth surface of the rear substrate and operable to detect light passing through the transflective metallic reflector and the electro-optic reflective medium disposed between the second and third surfaces. The light concentrator is disposed between the photo sensor and the fourth surface of the rear substrate, and the light concentrator receives light passing through the transflective metallic reflector of the electro-optic reflective element and concentrates light onto a light sensing surface of the photo sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Donald C. Byers, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam, Ian A. McCabe
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Publication number: 20110170192Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes an electro-optic reflective element, a photo sensor and a light concentrator. The electro-optic reflective element has a front substrate with a first surface and a transparent second surface electrically conductive coating disposed on a second surface, and the electro-optic reflective element has a rear substrate with a third surface transflective metallic reflector disposed at a third surface thereof. The photo sensor is disposed behind a fourth surface of the rear substrate and operable to detect light passing through the transflective metallic reflector and the electro-optic reflective medium disposed between the second and third surfaces. The light concentrator is disposed between the photo sensor and the fourth surface of the rear substrate, and the light concentrator receives light passing through the transflective metallic reflector of the electro-optic reflective element and concentrates light onto a light sensing surface of the photo sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Donald C. Byers, Hamid Habibi, Ian A. McCabe, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 7910859Abstract: A heater pad for a variable reflectance mirror reflective element of a vehicular mirror assembly includes a flexible substrate, an electrically conductive heating element, and first and second electrically conducting elements. The first electrically conducting element is in electrical connection with a transparent second surface electrically conductive coating of the equipped mirror reflective element and the second electrically conducting element is in electrical connection with a third surface electrically conductive coating of the equipped mirror reflective element when the equipped mirror reflective element is normally equipped with the heater pad. The electrically conducting elements and the heating element are electrically isolated from one another.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Donald C. Byers, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam, Ian A. McCabe
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Publication number: 20110013280Abstract: A heater pad for a variable reflectance mirror reflective element of a vehicular mirror assembly includes a flexible substrate, an electrically conductive heating element, and first and second electrically conducting elements. The first electrically conducting element is in electrical connection with a transparent second surface electrically conductive coating of the equipped mirror reflective element and the second electrically conducting element is in electrical connection with a third surface electrically conductive coating of the equipped mirror reflective element when the equipped mirror reflective element is normally equipped with the heater pad. The electrically conducting elements and the heating element are electrically isolated from one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Donald C. Byers, Hamid Habibi, Ian A. McCabe, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 7800019Abstract: A mirror reflective element system has a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface having a transparent second surface electrically conductive coating disposed thereon, and a rear substrate that has a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface having a third surface electrically conductive coating disposed thereon. An attaching surface of a heating element is attached at the fourth surface. The heating element has an electrically conductive heating element established thereat and includes first and second electrically conductive traces. The electrically conductive heating element and the first and second electrically conductive traces are electrically isolated from one another.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2009Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Donald C. Byers, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam, Ian A. McCabe
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Publication number: 20100038352Abstract: A mirror reflective element system has a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface having a transparent second surface electrically conductive coating disposed thereon, and a rear substrate that has a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface having a third surface electrically conductive coating disposed thereon. An attaching surface of a heating element is attached at the fourth surface. The heating element has an electrically conductive heating element established thereat and includes first and second electrically conductive traces. The electrically conductive heating element and the first and second electrically conductive traces are electrically isolated from one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2009Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Donald C. Byers, Hamid Habibi, Ian A. McCabe, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 7605348Abstract: A mirror reflective element system has a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface having a transparent second surface electrically conductive coating disposed thereon, and a rear substrate that has a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface having a third surface electrically conductive coating disposed thereon. An attaching surface of a heating element is attached at the fourth surface. The heating element has an electrically conductive heating element established thereat and includes first and second electrically conductive traces. The electrically conductive heating element and the first and second electrically conductive traces are electrically isolated from one another.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2008Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Donnelly Corp.Inventors: Donald C. Byers, Hamid Habibi, Ian A. McCabe, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20080266685Abstract: A mirror reflective element system includes a fourth surface electrically conductive element disposed at the fourth surface and in conductive continuity with a second or third surface electrically conductive coating of the second or third surface, respectively. A heating element at the fourth surface comprises an electrically conductive heating element that generates heat to heat a portion of said heating element when powered. First and second electrically conductive contact elements connect to first and second electrically conductive elements at the fourth surface of the rear substrate such that electrically conductive continuity is established between the electrically conductive contact elements and the respective electrically conductive elements when the heating element is attached to the fourth surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Donald C. Byers, Hamid Habibi, Ian A. McCabe, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 7400435Abstract: A mirror reflective element system includes a fourth surface electrically conductive element disposed at the fourth surface and in conductive continuity with a second or third surface electrically conductive coating of the second or third surface, respectively. A heating element at the fourth surface comprises a heating element substrate, which has first and second electrically conductive elements established thereat, with the conductive elements being electrically isolated from one another. The first conductive element generates heat to heat a portion of the heating element when powered. The second conductive element connects to the fourth surface electrically conductive element at the fourth surface of the rear substrate to establish conductive continuity between the second electrically conductive element and the fourth surface electrically conductive element when the heating element is attached to the fourth surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Donald C. Byers, Hamid Habibi, Ian A. McCabe, Niall R. Lynam