Patents by Inventor James A. Ruse
James A. Ruse 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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Publication number: 20240409032Abstract: A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes a vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an interior portion of an equipped vehicle and having a mirror head accommodating an electrochromic mirror reflective element, a driver monitoring camera that is operable to capture image data, and a near infrared light emitter that, when electrically operated to emit near infrared light, illuminates at least the head of the driver. With the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the equipped vehicle, and as the equipped vehicle travels along a road, image data captured by the driver monitoring camera is processed at an electronic control unit to detect light emanating from at least one headlamp of at least one trailing vehicle traveling along the road behind the equipped vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2024Publication date: December 12, 2024Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen, James A. Ruse, Yuesheng Lu, Martin Solar
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Patent number: 12065081Abstract: A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attaching at an interior portion of an equipped vehicle and having a having a mirror head accommodating a driver monitoring camera and first and second near infrared light emitters. When the equipped vehicle is a left hand drive vehicle, a beam of light emitted by the first near infrared light emitters is directed toward a driver-side front seating location of the left hand drive vehicle when the first near infrared light emitter emits near infrared light for a driver monitoring function. When the equipped vehicle is a right hand drive vehicle, a beam of light emitted by the second light emitting element is directed toward a driver-side front seating location of the right hand drive vehicle when the second near infrared light emitter emits near infrared light for the driver monitoring function.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2023Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen, James A. Ruse, Yuesheng Lu, Martin Solar
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Patent number: 11959311Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a bracket, a handle, and a clip. The handle, with the bracket mounted at an exterior door handle region of a vehicular door, is movable relative to the bracket by a user to actuate a latch mechanism for opening the door. The clip is attached at the bracket and engages a pivot end of the handle when the pivot end is inserted into the bracket, and retains the pivot end of the handle at the bracket when the pivot end of the handle is engaged with a pivot element of the bracket. The clip (i) limits movement of the handle relative to the bracket in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the bracket or handle, (ii) allows pivotal movement of the handle about the pivot element of the bracket, and (iii) allows for removal of the handle from the bracket.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2020Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: James A. Ruse, Brett A. Gorby
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Publication number: 20240025344Abstract: A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attaching at an interior portion of an equipped vehicle and having a having a mirror head accommodating a driver monitoring camera and first and second near infrared light emitters. When the equipped vehicle is a left hand drive vehicle, a beam of light emitted by the first near infrared light emitters is directed toward a driver-side front seating location of the left hand drive vehicle when the first near infrared light emitter emits near infrared light for a driver monitoring function. When the equipped vehicle is a right hand drive vehicle, a beam of light emitted by the second light emitting element is directed toward a driver-side front seating location of the right hand drive vehicle when the second near infrared light emitter emits near infrared light for the driver monitoring function.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen, James A. Ruse, Yuesheng Lu, Martin Solar
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Publication number: 20230339404Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a driver monitoring camera and first and second near-infrared light emitting elements accommodated by a mirror head. The light emitting elements are oriented at the mirror head so that (i) a beam of light emitted by the first light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a left hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the LHD vehicle, and (ii) a beam of light emitted by the second light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a right hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the RHD vehicle. The system enables and/or operates the first or second light emitting element for a driver monitoring function responsive to indication that the mirror assembly is installed or will be installed in a LHD vehicle or a RHD vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2022Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen, James A. Ruse, Yuesheng Lu, Martin Solar
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Patent number: 11780372Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a driver monitoring camera and first and second near-infrared light emitting elements accommodated by a mirror head. The light emitting elements are oriented at the mirror head so that (i) a beam of light emitted by the first light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a left hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the LHD vehicle, and (ii) a beam of light emitted by the second light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a right hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the RHD vehicle. The system enables and/or operates the first or second light emitting element for a driver monitoring function responsive to indication that the mirror assembly is installed or will be installed in a LHD vehicle or a RHD vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignees: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC., MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen, James A. Ruse, Yuesheng Lu, Martin Solar
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Publication number: 20230131471Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a driver monitoring camera and first and second near-infrared light emitting elements accommodated by a mirror head. The light emitting elements are oriented at the mirror head so that (i) a beam of light emitted by the first light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a left hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the LHD vehicle, and (ii) a beam of light emitted by the second light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a right hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the RHD vehicle. The system enables and/or operates the first or second light emitting element for a driver monitoring function responsive to indication that the mirror assembly is installed or will be installed in a LHD vehicle or a RHD vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen, James A. Ruse, Yuesheng Lu, Martin Solar
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Publication number: 20210316026Abstract: A door handle assembly for a vehicular door of a vehicle includes a base portion disposed at the vehicular door, a handle portion, and an ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitter. The handle portion includes a grasping portion configured for a user to grasp when operating the door handle assembly. The handle portion is movable relative to the base portion by a user grasping the grasping portion to actuate a latch mechanism for opening the vehicular door. The UV radiation emitter, when electrically powered, irradiates at least the grasping portion of the handle portion with UV radiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventor: James A. Ruse
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Publication number: 20210156173Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a bracket, a handle, and a clip. The handle, with the bracket mounted at an exterior door handle region of a vehicular door, is movable relative to the bracket by a user to actuate a latch mechanism for opening the door. The clip is attached at the bracket and engages a pivot end of the handle when the pivot end is inserted into the bracket, and retains the pivot end of the handle at the bracket when the pivot end of the handle is engaged with a pivot element of the bracket. The clip (i) limits movement of the handle relative to the bracket in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the bracket or handle, (ii) allows pivotal movement of the handle about the pivot element of the bracket, and (iii) allows for removal of the handle from the bracket.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2020Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: James A. Ruse, Brett A. Gorby
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Publication number: 20140292004Abstract: A door handle system includes a door handle assembly that is configured to mount at a handle region of a vehicle door and includes a handle portion fixedly disposed at the vehicle door and a strain gauge sensor. The strain gauge sensor is for sensing at least one of (i) grasping of the handle portion by a user and (ii) pulling at the handle portion by a user. Responsive to sensing by the sensor, a signal is communicated that causes a latch of the vehicle door to open to allow the user to open the vehicle door.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventor: James A. Ruse
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Patent number: 8466780Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror casing and a reflective element and an indicator module having a housing, a circuit element and a lens element. The circuit element includes at least one light emitting diode. When the light emitting diode is powered, light emitted by the light emitting diode passes through the lens element. The housing includes at least one attachment element for mechanically attaching the indicator module at the mirror assembly. The lens element is disposed at an aperture of the mirror casing, whereby the lens element is viewable at the exterior of the mirror assembly and the housing of the indicator module is substantially concealed by the mirror casing. The indicator module provides a blind zone indicator that is operable to indicate to a driver of the vehicle that an object or other vehicle is detected at a side region of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2012Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Niall R. Lynam, James A. Ruse, Craig Kendall
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Patent number: 8331038Abstract: An afocal rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle having a side door and a dashboard includes a housing attached to the motor vehicle adjacent the side door and dashboard. The housing has a low-profile, rounded external portion and an internal portion. A selectively movable reflective element is enclosed within the housing, and has opposed curved surfaces for reflecting unfocused light rays from outside the external portion through the internal portion of the housing. A selectively movable lens is enclosed within the internal portion of the housing for controlling light transmitted from the selectively movable reflective element to an occupant of the motor vehicle. The selectively movable lens can converge the unfocused light rays reflected from the selectively movable reflective element to a focused image observable by the occupant of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2009Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Joseph C. Snow, James A. Ruse, Keith D. Foote
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Publication number: 20120200428Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror casing and a reflective element and an indicator module having a housing, a circuit element and a lens element. The circuit element includes at least one light emitting diode. When the light emitting diode is powered, light emitted by the light emitting diode passes through the lens element. The housing includes at least one attachment element for mechanically attaching the indicator module at the mirror assembly. The lens element is disposed at an aperture of the mirror casing, whereby the lens element is viewable at the exterior of the mirror assembly and the housing of the indicator module is substantially concealed by the mirror casing. The indicator module provides a blind zone indicator that is operable to indicate to a driver of the vehicle that an object or other vehicle is detected at a side region of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Niall R. Lynam, James A. Ruse, Craig Kendall
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Patent number: 8164482Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly and a unitary indicator module disposed at the exterior rearview mirror assembly. The unitary indicator module includes a plurality of illumination sources disposed behind an at least partially light transmitting portion of the unitary indicator module. Light emitted by any of the illumination sources passes through the at least partially light transmitting portion for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle. The unitary indicator module is responsive to a control signal to indicate to the driver of the equipped vehicle a detected presence of another vehicle at least one of alongside the equipped vehicle and rearward of the equipped vehicle. The unitary indicator module is operable to indicate a degree of hazard at least one of alongside the equipped vehicle and rearward of the equipped vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Niall R. Lynam, James A. Ruse, Craig Kendall
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Publication number: 20110140917Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly and a unitary indicator module disposed at the exterior rearview mirror assembly. The unitary indicator module includes a plurality of illumination sources disposed behind an at least partially light transmitting portion of the unitary indicator module. Light emitted by any of the illumination sources passes through the at least partially light transmitting portion for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle. The unitary indicator module is responsive to a control signal to indicate to the driver of the equipped vehicle a detected presence of another vehicle at least one of alongside the equipped vehicle and rearward of the equipped vehicle. The unitary indicator module is operable to indicate a degree of hazard at least one of alongside the equipped vehicle and rearward of the equipped vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2011Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Niall R. Lynam, James A. Ruse, Craig Kendall
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Patent number: 7880596Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly that is mountable at an exterior side of a vehicle and has an inboard portion that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted at the exterior side of the vehicle. A blind spot indicator is disposed at the inboard portion of the mirror casing of the mirror assembly. The blind spot indicator comprises at least one illumination source for indicating to the driver a detected presence of an object alongside of and/or rearward of the vehicle. The indicator may comprise a unitary indicator module that is mountable at the inboard portion of the mirror assembly. The indicator module may include an illumination source and circuitry and may be connectable to an electrical connector.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2010Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Niall R. Lynam, James A. Ruse, Craig Kendall
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Publication number: 20100238014Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly that is mountable at an exterior side of a vehicle and has an inboard portion that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted at the exterior side of the vehicle. A blind spot indicator is disposed at the inboard portion of the mirror casing of the mirror assembly. The blind spot indicator comprises at least one illumination source for indicating to the driver a detected presence of an object alongside of and/or rearward of the vehicle. The indicator may comprise a unitary indicator module that is mountable at the inboard portion of the mirror assembly. The indicator module includes an illumination source and circuitry and is connectable to an electrical connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2010Publication date: September 23, 2010Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Niall R. Lynam, James A. Ruse, Craig Kendall
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Patent number: 7760111Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly that is mountable at an exterior side of a vehicle and has an inboard portion that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted at the exterior side of the vehicle. A blind spot indicator is disposed at the inboard portion of the mirror casing of the mirror assembly. The blind spot indicator comprises an illumination source comprising at least one light emitting diode. The illumination source is disposed behind an at least partially light transmitting element, and light emitted by the illumination source passes through the at least partially light transmitting element for viewing by a driver of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2009Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Niall R. Lynam, James A. Ruse, Craig Kendall
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Publication number: 20100088855Abstract: A door handle assembly for a vehicle includes a bracket mountable to the vehicle door, a handle portion configured to pivotally attach to the bracket and an actuating element pivotally mounted to the bracket. The actuating element connects to a release mechanism of the vehicle door so as to actuate the release mechanism when the actuating element is pivoted relative to the bracket. The door handle assembly may include a counterweight pivotally mounted to the bracket, with the counterweight extending along the bracket, such that the counterweight and the bracket comprise a low profile assembly. The door handle assembly may include an inertial catch pivotally mounted to the bracket, wherein pivotal movement of the handle portion imparts a pivotal movement of the inertial catch during normal operation of the door handle assembly to open the vehicle door.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2009Publication date: April 15, 2010Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: James A. Ruse, Brett A. Gorby
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Publication number: 20090153359Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly that is mountable at an exterior side of a vehicle and has an inboard portion that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted at the exterior side of the vehicle. A blind spot indicator is disposed at the inboard portion of the mirror casing of the mirror assembly. The blind spot indicator comprises at least one illumination source for indicating to the driver a detected presence of an object alongside of and/or rearward of the vehicle. The indicator may comprise a unitary indicator module that is mountable at the inboard portion of the mirror assembly. The indicator module includes an illumination source and circuitry and is connectable to an electrical connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2009Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Niall R. Lynam, James A. Ruse, Craig Kendall