Patents by Inventor Eric D. Sherriff

Eric D. Sherriff 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: 11548438
    Abstract: An integrated lighting insert is provided for multi-function automotive vehicle lighting that has minimal space requirements and provides different lighting functions in a single device with an electronic control module that can easily interface with vehicle electronics. The insert is a housing and a plurality of light transmission portions, a plurality of light sources integrated into the housing, each one configured for a different predetermined function associated with a particular use of, a condition of, or a state of the automobile. An electrical circuit is used along with a communications bus and individual controller circuits associated with the light sources for controlling the light functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Martin, Eric D. Sherriff, Srinivas Akkala
  • Publication number: 20220408529
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) circuit is disclosed having an LED having a plurality of current paths. A controller may be included for controlling the LEDs. The LED is connected to a first transistor and a first current sink to drive a constant current through the LED through a first current path. At least one cloning transistor can establish a parallel current path through the LED and parallel to the first current path and is connected such that the constant current in the first current sink is duplicated in the parallel current path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventor: Eric D. Sherriff
  • Patent number: 11464095
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) circuit is disclosed haying a plurality of LEDs each having a respective current path. A controller may be included for controlling the LEDs. A first set of LEDs of the plurality of LEDs are connected to respective first set transistors and a first current sink to drive a constant current through each of the first set of LEDs and the first set of LEDs includes one or more LEDs, and the LED circuit may include at least one second set of LEDs of the plurality of LEDs that are connected such that the constant current in the first set of LEDs is duplicated. in the at least one second set of LEDs and the second set of LEDs includes one or more LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric D. Sherriff
  • Publication number: 20220117060
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) circuit is disclosed haying a plurality of LEDs each having a respective current path. A controller may be included for controlling the LEDs. A first set of LEDs of the plurality of LEDs are connected to respective first set transistors and a first current sink to drive a constant current through each of the first set of LEDs and the first set of LEDs includes one or more LEDs, and the LED circuit may include at least one second set of LEDs of the plurality of LEDs that are connected such that the constant current in the first set of LEDs is duplicated. in the at least one second set of LEDs and the second set of LEDs includes one or more LEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventor: Eric D. Sherriff
  • Publication number: 20220105865
    Abstract: An integrated lighting insert is provided for multi-function automotive vehicle lighting that has minimal space requirements and provides different lighting functions in a single device with an electronic control module that can easily interface with vehicle electronics. The insert a housing and a plurality of light transmission portions, a plurality of light sources integrated into the housing, each one configured for a different predetermined function associated with a particular use of, a condition of, or a state of the automobile. An electrical circuit is used along with a communications bus and individual controller circuits associated with the light sources for controlling the light functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin M. Martin, Eric D. Sherriff, Srinivas Akkala
  • Patent number: 11254262
    Abstract: An integrated lighting insert is provided for multi-function automotive vehicle lighting that has minimal space requirements and provides different lighting functions in a single device with an electronic control module that can easily interface with vehicle electronics. The insert a housing and a plurality of light transmission portions, a plurality of light sources integrated into the housing, each one configured for a different predetermined function associated with a particular use of a condition of or a state of the automobile. An electrical circuit is used along with a communications bus and individual controller circuits associated with the light sources fix controlling the light functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Martin, Eric D. Sherriff, Srinivas Akkala
  • Publication number: 20220037100
    Abstract: A regulatory-compliant touch force detecting window lift switch for an automobile is described, in which a load cell, such as a strain gauge, a resistance bridge, or an amplifier, is used to detect a driver's or passenger's touch force, and software is used to assess whether to responsively send a control signal to a window lift motor controller to adjust the position of the automobile's windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventor: Eric D. Sherriff
  • Publication number: 20210380037
    Abstract: An integrated lighting insert is provided for multi-function automotive vehicle lighting that has minimal space requirements and provides different lighting functions in a single device with an electronic control module that can easily interface with vehicle electronics. The insert a housing and a plurality of light transmission portions, a plurality of light sources integrated into the housing, each one configured for a different predetermined function associated with a particular use of a condition of or a state of the automobile. An electrical circuit is used along with a communications bus and individual controller circuits associated with the light sources fix controlling the light functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin M. Martin, Eric D. Sherriff, Srinivas Akkala
  • Publication number: 20210112642
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for an illumination device for automotive and other applications is described. The hardware includes a printed circuit board having multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) each with its own current path; a controller having multiple driver outputs for controlling the LEDs such that the outputs outnumbers the number of LEDs; and a current regulator coupled to one of the controller's driver outputs and to the respective current path of each of the LEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventor: Eric D. Sherriff