Patents by Inventor Gregory Huizen

Gregory Huizen 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).

  • Publication number: 20200331395
    Abstract: A vehicular lighted exterior rearview mirror system includes a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly and a light module disposed thereat. The light module includes at least three illumination sources that, with the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the vehicle, are arranged spaced apart at the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly. With the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the equipped vehicle, the at least three illumination sources, when powered, emit light at least in a forward direction with respect to the vehicle. Responsive to activation by the driver of the user input of the equipped vehicle, any one or more of said illumination sources is electrically powered. Responsive to adjustment of the user input by the driver of the equipped vehicle, an intensity of illumination forward of the equipped vehicle provided by said light module is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Keith D. Foote
  • Patent number: 10744930
    Abstract: An illumination module for a vehicle includes first, second and third LEDs, and first, second and third masks aligned in with respective ones of the first, second and third LEDs. Light emitted by the first LED that passes through the first mask is a first color and light emitted by the second LED that passes through the second mask is a second color and light emitted by the third LED that passes through the third mask is a third color. When the LEDs are electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the LEDs passes through the respective masks to project first, second and third projected images at a ground area adjacent the vehicle, each projected image having the respective color. The projected images overlap at the ground area and, combined, establish a multi-color logo or indicia at the ground area adjacent the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Gregory A. Huizen
  • Patent number: 10744931
    Abstract: A vehicular ground illumination light module includes at least one light emitting diode and a freeform optic disposed in front of the emitting diode. The vehicular ground illumination light module, when disposed at a side of a vehicle, and when the light emitting diode is electrically powered so as to emit light through the freeform optic, illuminates a ground region at that side of the vehicle. The illuminated ground region includes an illuminated side ground region at least partially along the side of the vehicle and an illuminated rearward ground region rearward of a rearmost portion of the vehicle. The illuminated ground region is at least in part within the fields of view of a sideward-viewing side camera and a rearward-viewing rear backup camera disposed at the vehicle. A portion of the illuminated side ground region is illuminated with a luminance of at least 10 lux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Mitchell J. Wesley, David A. Dingman, Justin E. Sobecki
  • Publication number: 20200234592
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate, and a blind zone indication module. The blind zone indication module attaches at the rear side of the mirror reflective element via an aperture of the mirror back plate. The blind zone indication module includes a housing that houses a circuit element and at least one light emitting diode therein. The rear side of the mirror back plate includes structure at the indicator receiving portion that at least partially receives the housing. The circuit element includes electrically conductive terminals that are in electrical connection with circuitry of the circuit element and that are disposed at a connector portion of the housing that is configured to connect to a wire harness of an exterior rearview mirror assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Mark E. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20200215984
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a minor head pivotable about a minor support, which is configured to attach at an interior portion of the vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector that at least partially reflects light incident thereon and at least partially transmits incident light therethrough. A video display device is disposed behind the minor reflective element and includes a display screen backlit by a backlighting device, with the backlighting device including a plurality of micro-LEDs. With the minor support attached at the interior portion of the vehicle, the video display device is operable to display video images captured by a camera of the vehicle, whereby light emitted by the video display device passes through the mirror reflective element for viewing displayed video images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Eric Peterson
  • Patent number: 10703285
    Abstract: A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly and a turn signal light module disposed thereat. The light module includes at least three illumination sources that, with the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the vehicle, are arranged horizontally at the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly. The at least three illumination sources are operable to emit light in a forward direction with respect to the vehicle. Responsive to activation by the driver of the turn signal indicator system of the vehicle, the illumination sources are sequentially powered in an outward direction to provide an appearance of an outward moving light, and light emanates from the turn signal light module at an outboard portion of the mirror casing so as to be viewable to a driver of another vehicle sideward and rearward of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Keith D. Foote
  • Publication number: 20200198542
    Abstract: A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly and a turn signal light module disposed thereat. The light module includes at least three illumination sources that, with the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the vehicle, are arranged horizontally at the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly. The at least three illumination sources are operable to emit light in a forward direction with respect to the vehicle. Responsive to activation by the driver of the turn signal indicator system of the vehicle, the illumination sources are sequentially powered in an outward direction to provide an appearance of an outward moving light, and light emanates from the turn signal light module at an outboard portion of the mirror casing so as to be viewable to a driver of another vehicle sideward and rearward of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Keith D. Foote
  • Publication number: 20200189452
    Abstract: A vehicular ground illumination light module includes at least one light emitting diode and a freeform optic disposed in front of the emitting diode. The vehicular ground illumination light module, when disposed at a side of a vehicle, and when the light emitting diode is electrically powered so as to emit light through the freeform optic, illuminates a ground region at that side of the vehicle. The illuminated ground region includes an illuminated side ground region at least partially along the side of the vehicle and an illuminated rearward ground region rearward of a rearmost portion of the vehicle. The illuminated ground region is at least in part within the fields of view of a sideward-viewing side camera and a rearward-viewing rear backup camera disposed at the vehicle. A portion of the illuminated side ground region is illuminated with a luminance of at least 10 lux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Mitchell J. Wesley, David A. Dingman, Justin E. Sobecki
  • Publication number: 20200122631
    Abstract: A vehicular illumination module configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle includes a housing, a printed circuit board accommodated in the housing, and first and second light emitting diodes disposed at the printed circuit board. The first light emitting diode (LED) is operable to emit, when electrically powered, visible light, and the second LED is operable to emit, when electrically powered, infrared or near-infrared light. The first LED is electrically powered responsive to actuation of a key fob or detection of a passive entry device to provide visible ground illumination at the ground near the exterior portion of the vehicle. The second LED is electrically powered responsive at least in part to operation of a camera at or near the exterior portion of the vehicle to provide infrared or near-infrared light in the field of view of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Eric Peterson
  • Patent number: 10614719
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate, and a blind zone indication module. The blind zone indication module attaches at the rear side of the mirror reflective element via an aperture of the mirror back plate. The blind zone indication module includes a housing that houses the circuit element and the at least one light emitting diode therein. The rear side of the mirror back plate includes structure at the indicator receiving portion configured to at least partially receive the housing. The circuit element includes electrically conductive terminals that are in electrical connection with circuitry of the circuit element and that are received at a connector portion of the housing that is configured to connect to a wire harness of an exterior rearview mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Mark E. Kramer
  • Patent number: 10576896
    Abstract: A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly and a light module disposed thereat. The light module includes a plurality of illumination sources operable to emit light in a generally forwardly direction with respect to the vehicle. The light module includes at least one turn signal indicator illumination source that, at least responsive to an activation of a turn signal by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is operable to emit light in a generally sidewardly and/or rearwardly direction with respect to the vehicle. The light module includes a light piping element and the turn signal indicator illumination source is disposed at an inboard end of the light piping element and the light piping element guides light emanating from the turn signal indicator illumination source along the light piping element and out an outboard end of the light piping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Keith D. Foote
  • Patent number: 10569697
    Abstract: A door handle assembly for a door of a vehicle includes a handle portion pivotally mounted at the handle region of the vehicle door. The handle portion is disposed at a pocket region of the handle region. A pocket lighting module includes at least one light emitting diode operable to emit light to illuminate the pocket region. The pocket lighting module is operable to emit different colors of light responsive to different triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Mitchell J. Wesley, David A. Dingman, Justin E. Sobecki
  • Publication number: 20190270403
    Abstract: An illumination module for a vehicle includes first, second and third LEDs, and first, second and third masks aligned in with respective ones of the first, second and third LEDs. Light emitted by the first LED that passes through the first mask is a first color and light emitted by the second LED that passes through the second mask is a second color and light emitted by the third LED that passes through the third mask is a third color. When the LEDs are electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the LEDs passes through the respective masks to project first, second and third projected images at a ground area adjacent the vehicle, each projected image having the respective color. The projected images overlap at the ground area and, combined, establish a multi-color logo or indicia at the ground area adjacent the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Gregory A. Huizen
  • Publication number: 20190106051
    Abstract: A door handle assembly for a door of a vehicle includes a handle portion pivotally mounted at the handle region of the vehicle door. The handle portion is disposed at a pocket region of the handle region. A pocket lighting module includes at least one light emitting diode operable to emit light to illuminate the pocket region. The pocket lighting module is operable to emit different colors of light responsive to different triggers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Mitchell J. Wesley, David A. Dingman, Justin E. Sobecki
  • Patent number: 10220788
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting base, with the mirror head having a mirror casing and a reflective element, and with the mounting base configured for attachment at a vehicle. A camera module is disposed at the mirror head and includes a camera having a field of view and operable to capture image data. The camera module is extendable and retractable relative to the mirror casing. With the camera module retracted, the camera module is oriented such that the field of view of the camera encompasses a blind spot region at least at the body side of the vehicle. With the camera module retracted, an inboard limit of the field of view of the camera partially overlaps an outboard limit of a field of view provided to a driver of the vehicle by the reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen
  • Publication number: 20190047475
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror mount configured to attach at an interior portion of the vehicle. A mirror head includes a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element. The mirror mount includes a ball element and the mirror head includes a socket element, which pivotally attaches at the ball element forming a ball and socket joint to pivotally mount the mirror head at the mirror mount. The mirror head has a thickness dimension spanning between a front planar surface of said mirror reflective element and a rear surface of a laterally sideward region of the mirror casing, with the thickness dimension being less than 20 mm. A central region of the mirror casing has a thickness dimension greater than 20 mm to accommodate the socket element. The socket element is disposed at an aperture through the central region of the mirror casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Darryl P. De Wind, Gregory A. Huizen, Rodney K. Blank
  • Publication number: 20190001895
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting base, with the mirror head having a mirror casing and a reflective element, and with the mounting base configured for attachment at a vehicle. A camera module is disposed at the mirror head and includes a camera having a field of view and operable to capture image data. The camera module is extendable and retractable relative to the mirror casing. With the camera module retracted, the camera module is oriented such that the field of view of the camera encompasses a blind spot region at least at the body side of the vehicle. With the camera module retracted, an inboard limit of the field of view of the camera partially overlaps an outboard limit of a field of view provided to a driver of the vehicle by the reflective element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen
  • Patent number: 10053015
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head and a mounting base, with a camera module disposed at the mirror head. The camera module includes a camera having a field of view exterior of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle. The camera module is extendable and retractable relative to a mirror casing of the mirror head. With the camera module retracted and with the mirror assembly attached at the vehicle, the camera module is oriented such that its field of view encompasses a blind spot region at least at the body side of the vehicle. With the camera module extended and with the mirror assembly attached at the vehicle, the camera module may be oriented such that its field of view encompasses a region at least along a body side of a trailer being towed by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen
  • Publication number: 20180134217
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes an exterior structure mounted at an exterior portion of a body side of the equipped vehicle, with an imaging sensor disposed at the exterior structure and having a field of view exterior and sideward and rearward of the vehicle. A video display screen is disposed in an interior cabin of the equipped vehicle and operable to display video images. Responsive to detection of another vehicle at or near the side of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen displays a graphic overlay at the display screen. The graphic overlay includes a semitransparent overlay having a longitudinally extending line segment that extends along a displayed body side portion of the equipped vehicle and a plurality of laterally extending line segments that extend laterally outwardly from the longitudinally extending line segment at spaced apart intervals along the longitudinally extending line segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth C. PETERSON, Gregory A. HUIZEN, Niall R. LYNAM
  • Publication number: 20170372614
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate, and a blind zone indication module. The blind zone indication module attaches at the rear side of the mirror reflective element via an aperture of the mirror back plate. The blind zone indication module includes a housing that houses the circuit element and the at least one light emitting diode therein. The rear side of the mirror back plate includes structure at the indicator receiving portion configured to at least partially receive the housing. The circuit element includes electrically conductive terminals that are in electrical connection with circuitry of the circuit element and that are received at a connector portion of the housing that is configured to connect to a wire harness of an exterior rearview mirror assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Mark E. Kramer