Patents by Inventor George R. Hulse

George R. Hulse 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).

  • Optical waveguide structures for vehicle lighting
    Patent number: 6193399
    Abstract: An optical waveguide for illuminating the interior of a cup holder in a vehicle is disclosed. The waveguide includes a piece of solid material having a ring portion sized and shaped to be received within a cup holder and configured to release light into the cup holder. An input face receives light from a light source. An input portion extends between the input face and the ring portion. The input portion confines light through internal reflection to direct light from the input face to the ring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Cooper Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventor: George R. Hulse
  • Vehicle headlamp with beamforming waveguide
    Patent number: 6186650
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a beamforming waveguide having an input face, an output face, and a guide portion extending between the input face and the output face. A light source is positioned at the input face of the beamforming waveguide. A lens is positioned at the output face so that light output by the beamforming waveguide passes through the lens to provide vehicle forward illumination. The beamforming waveguide is shaped to generate a desired headlamp beam pattern and can be formed as a block of solid material, a bundle of plastic or glass fibers, or a solid molded wedge that can be moved between two positions to provide both high and low beam forward illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Cooper Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: George R. Hulse, Lloyd Keith Bucher
  • Hybrid distributed lighting system for a vehicle
    Patent number: 6168302
    Abstract: A hybrid headlamp subsystem for use in a distributed lighting system in a vehicle includes a light source. A focuses light from the light source to provide forward illumination for the vehicle. A collector element receives from the light source for use in providing an additional lighting function. An optical waveguide has a end positioned to receive light from the collector element and a second end positioned to direct light for use in providing the additional lighting function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Cooper Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventor: George R. Hulse
  • Illuminated door handle for a vehicle
    Patent number: 6164805
    Abstract: An illuminated door handle for a vehicle includes a handle having an inside surface in which a channel is defined. A handle waveguide that releases light along its length is positioned in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventor: George R. Hulse
  • Optical waveguide structure with raised or embedded waveguides
    Patent number: 6139176
    Abstract: An optical waveguide structure (1000) is configured to receive light from a light source (1020) and distribute the light to output ports. The structure includes a central portion having top and bottom surfaces, peripheral edges and an opening (1070) for receiving the light source (1020). A first waveguide (1010) extends above the top surface of the central portion. The first waveguide (1010) has an input face (1030) at an end nearest the opening (1070). The first waveguide (1010) extends from the opening (1070) toward a peripheral edge of the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: George R. Hulse, Ronald O. Woodward, Joe P. Young