Patents by Inventor Jan Kratochvil
Jan Kratochvil 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: 11245829Abstract: The invention relates to a communication device of a motor vehicle (X), comprising an imaging camera (2) of a scene image (11) connected to control electronics (1), to which a DMD (7) is connected, the mirror surface (70) of which is preceded by optics (3), whereby the mirror surface (70) is functionally associated with a secondary imaging unit (5) having an optical sensor (50) adapted to receive a selected part of the light (32) from the scene image (11) reflected by a selected part of the mirrors of the mirror surface (70) of the DMD (7). The DMD (7) is part of the vehicle lighting device (0) in which an illumination unit (4) is arranged towards the mirror surface (70) of the DMD (7), the illumination unit (4) being adapted to illuminate controllably at least a part of the mirror surface (70) of the DMD (7) and to emit the desired light output beam (30).Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2019Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems, S.R.O.Inventor: Jan Kratochvil
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Patent number: 11098873Abstract: The light device comprises a housing (1) covered with a transparent or semi-transparent cover (2) that delimit an inner chamber (3) inside the housing (1), a light unit (5) situated in the chamber (3) and equipped with at least one light source, a cooler (4) associated with the light unit (5), and a tubular cooling conduit (7) that passes through an opening (10) in the housing (1) into the chamber (3) to supply cooling medium (8) from the cooling medium (8) source installed outside the housing (1) to the cooler (4) and comprises a drive means (74) for forced flow of the cooling medium (8) in the tubular cooling conduit (7). The tubular cooling conduit (7) is connected to the cooler (4) in such a way that the cooling medium (8) does not escape from the tubular cooling conduit (7) and cooler (4) to the surrounding space in the chamber (3).Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems, s.r.o.Inventors: Dalibor Vlcek, Jan Kratochvil, Ondrej Hasa, Jan Grof
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Patent number: 11079086Abstract: A vehicle lighting device that includes a laser radiation source, wherein a controlled reflective MEMS scanning mirror is situated in the path of laser radiation from the laser radiation source, wherein in the path of radiation reflected by the controlled reflective MEMS scanning mirror is located an imaging optical element and further an output optics, wherein the laser radiation source and the MEMS are connected to a power supply and control device.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2020Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Inventors: Jan Kratochvil, Michaela Duliakova
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Publication number: 20210180763Abstract: A vehicle lighting device that includes a laser radiation source, wherein a controlled reflective MEMS scanning mirror is situated in the path of laser radiation from the laser radiation source, wherein in the path of radiation reflected by the controlled reflective MEMS scanning mirror is located an imaging optical element and further an output optics, wherein the laser radiation source and the MEMS are connected to a power supply and control device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2020Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Jan KRATOCHVIL, Michaela DULIAKOVA
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Patent number: 11037004Abstract: A communication device is provided for a motor vehicle that works with traffic-relevant information provided through light signals. The communication device comprises a primary imaging optical system to create the input image from the received scenic image, which may comprise a light car2car signal and/or a light car2X signal including traffic-relevant information. It further comprises a DMD array of mirrors for receiving the input image and transmitting it to a primary optical sensor adapted to convert the input optical image to an electric signal for processing, to thereby find out whether and what places of the input image sources of the signals are found in.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems, S.R.O.Inventors: Jan Kratochvil, Michaela Duliakova, Stanislav Klimicek, Vaclav Stihel, Karolina Pichova
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Publication number: 20210080073Abstract: The light device comprises a housing (1) covered with a transparent or semi-transparent cover (2) that delimit an inner chamber (3) inside the housing (1), a light unit (5) situated in the chamber (3) and equipped with at least one light source, a cooler (4) associated with the light unit (5), and a tubular cooling conduit (7) that passes through an opening (10) in the housing (1) into the chamber (3) to supply cooling medium (8) from the cooling medium (8) source installed outside the housing (1) to the cooler (4) and comprises a drive means (74) for forced flow of the cooling medium (8) in the tubular cooling conduit (7). The tubular cooling conduit (7) is connected to the cooler (4) in such a way that the cooling medium (8) does not escape from the tubular cooling conduit (7) and cooler (4) to the surrounding space in the chamber (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Dalibor Vlcek, Jan Kratochvil, Ondrej Hasa, Jan Grof
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Patent number: 10760755Abstract: A lighting system for automobiles is proposed which includes a laser light source emitting a primary laser light bundle within a solid angle area around a beam direction, a photoluminescence element positioned within the emitted primary light beam, and a protective element that protects against stray laser rays. The photoluminescence element is configured to absorb the laser rays impinging on said element and by means of the photoluminescence to radiate secondary light rays. The lighting system includes a protection system with a protective element of an elongated shape having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the protective element is positioned within the beam direction of the primary light beam and downstream of the photoluminescence element.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems, s.r.o.Inventors: Joachim Brandel, Markus Klein, Tomas Kreml, Jan Kratochvil
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Publication number: 20200240609Abstract: A vehicle lighting device which includes a digital micromirror device (DMD) connected to a control device. At least two sources of radiation with differently colored output lights are directed to the active reflective surface of the DMD formed by the micromirrors and in front of the active reflective surface of the DMD an output element of the vehicle lighting device is situated. The control device of the DMD is designed to independently control the position of the individual micromirrors of the DMD. The first light source includes at least one independently controllable white light source and the second light source includes at least one independently controllable non-white light source. The DMD control device is adapted to control the micromirrors of the DMD to project white light through the output element and simultaneously independently control part of the micromirrors of the DMD to independently project at least one non-white light pattern through the output element of the vehicle lighting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2020Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Jan KRATOCHVIL, Jan GALIA
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Patent number: 10480740Abstract: A light device comprises a laser light source, a primary optical system with at least one diffractive and/or at least one reflective optical element to convert monochromatic coherent light to a collimated beam of coherent light, a MOEMS comprising one or more micro-mirrors to route coherent light and convert it to white light, and a secondary optical system comprising at least one diffractive and/or at least one reflective optical element to direct white light from the light device to create a light pattern on the display surface and/or in specific zones in front of the vehicle. It further comprises an electromagnetic control system connected to the MOEMS and the light source to control changes of rotation angle, oscillation angle and oscillation rate and frequency of one of the micro-mirrors, and to control the light source activity, for controlled changing of the shape and/or position of the light pattern depending on current conditions of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: VARROC LIGHTING SYSTEMS, S.R.O.Inventors: Jan Kratochvil, Michaela Duliakova, Vladimir Kubena, Zdenek Mikeska, Kvetoslav Odstrcilik, Radek Orlita
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Publication number: 20190306396Abstract: The invention relates to a communication device of a motor vehicle (X), comprising an imaging camera (2) of a scene image (11) connected to control electronics (1), to which a DMD (7) is connected, the mirror surface (70) of which is preceded by optics (3), whereby the mirror surface (70) is functionally associated with a secondary imaging unit (5) having an optical sensor (50) adapted to receive a selected part of the light (32) from the scene image (11) reflected by a selected part of the mirrors of the mirror surface (70) of the DMD (7). The DMD (7) is part of the vehicle lighting device (0) in which an illumination unit (4) is arranged towards the mirror surface (70) of the DMD (7), the illumination unit (4) being adapted to illuminate controllably at least a part of the mirror surface (70) of the DMD (7) and to emit the desired light output beam (30).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventor: Jan Kratochvil
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Patent number: 10364958Abstract: A light source comprises light emitting diodes (LED) (1) with a monocrystal (2), covered by a cap (3) of a transparent material at one side and fitted with an anode contact element (4) to supply and a cathode contact element (5) to lead away direct current at the other side. The LED's arranged in a row are connected with their anode contact elements to one thermally and electrically conductive cooling plate (43, 45) and with their cathode contact elements (5) to another cooling plate (53, 55). These mutually insulated cooling plates are arranged with their lateral sides next to each other and on the surfaces averted from the LED's they are fitted with cooling elements for transfer of heat to cooling media. The cooling elements may comprise sets of cooling fins (44, 54; 46, 56) arranged on the sides of the cooling plates averted from the LED's.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems, s.r.o.Inventors: Jan Kratochvil, Stanislav Klimicek, Vaclav Stihel, Zdenek Mikeska, Milan Kytka
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Patent number: 10359166Abstract: A light device, especially a headlight for motor vehicles, comprises a holding bushing (1), covered by a translucent cover (2), and an inner chamber (3) having mounted there in an optical system (5) for generation of light rays and enabling of controlled selective changes of a light trace on a projection surface. The optical system includes a lens (51) and a light assembly (52) comprising at least one light source and a carrier to carry the light source. The lens is arranged in a fixed position with respect to the position of the translucent cover, and the position of the light assembly is selectively adjustable in a controlled way with respect to the position of the lens by movement of the light assembly in direction (A) and/or by movement in direction (B), wherein the directions (A) and (B) are substantially perpendicular to direction of optical axis (C) of the lens.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems, S.R.O.Inventors: Jan Kratochvil, Ondrej Hasa, Jan Grof, Milos Macicek, Radek Orlita
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Patent number: 10337686Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle with a projector includes a reflector, a light source, a diaphragm, and a collimating optical element. The reflector includes a bowl-shaped reflective surface, which presents the shape of a concave curve in a cross-section formed by a vertical plane passing through the optical axis of the projector. The light source is positioned substantially at the source focal point of the curve. The diaphragm is positioned substantially at the image focal point of the curve to create a light-darkness boundary in front of the vehicle. The optical element is for collimation of the output light beam into the required direction. The diaphragm is made of a transparent material and includes one or more optical surfaces arranged to direct those rays that have fallen onto it and passed through it to the collimating element directly, or through a supplementary optical element.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: VARROC LIGHTING SYSTEMS, S.R.O.Inventors: Jan Kratochvil, Dana Pekarkova, Radek Orlita
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Publication number: 20180276486Abstract: The communication device comprises a primary imaging optical system to create the input image from the received scenic image, which may comprise a light car2car signal and/or a light car2X signal including traffic-relevant information. It further comprises a DMD array of mirrors for receiving the input image and transmitting it to a primary optical sensor adapted to convert the input optical image to an electric signal for processing, to find out whether and what places of the input image sources of the signals are found in. If such places are present in the input image, the corresponding pixel positions are converted to positions of individual mirrors in the DMD array, and a control signal is sent to change the position of the respective mirrors in the DMD array based on established DMD positions, and convert the optical signal to an electric signal to evaluate it and to create decoded information that is sent to the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Jan Kratochvil, Michaela Duliakova, Stanislav Klimicek, Vaclav Stihel, Karolina Pichova
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Publication number: 20180209603Abstract: A light device comprises a laser light source, a primary optical system with at least one diffractive and/or at least one reflective optical element to convert monochromatic coherent light to a collimated beam of coherent light, a MOEMS comprising one or more micro-mirrors to route coherent light and convert it to white light, and a secondary optical system comprising at least one diffractive and/or at least one reflective optical element to direct white light from the light device to create a light pattern on the display surface and/or in specific zones in front of the vehicle. It further comprises an electromagnetic control system connected to the MOEMS and the light source to control changes of rotation angle, oscillation angle and oscillation rate and frequency of one of the micro-mirrors, and to control the light source activity, for controlled changing of the shape and/or position of the light pattern depending on current conditions of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventors: Jan Kratochvil, Michaela Duliakova, Vladimir Kubena, Zdenek Mikeska, Kvetoslav Odstrcilik, Radek Orlita
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Patent number: 9995452Abstract: A light device, especially a headlight of motor vehicles, comprises at least one light unit (1), or a group (1a, 1b) of light units, at least one optical directing element (3, 2e, 3f), adapted to direct the light beam emitted by the light unit, or group of light units, to the required direction, and at least one output lens (4) for passage of at least a part of the light rays of the light beam or beams to create a light pattern (A, B, C) on the display surface (ZY). On the route of the light beam between the optical directing element and the output lens, there is at least one optical diaphragm element (11, 21, 31) containing a system of trim edges (13, 23, 33) to create the required shape of the cross-section of a part or parts of the light beam designed for transmission along the above-mentioned route.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2016Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems, s.r.o.Inventors: Jan Kratochvil, Dana Pekarkova, Ondrej Hasa, Jan Grof, Milos Macicek, Zdenek Mikeska, Milan Kytka, Radek Orlita, Tomas David, David Hynar
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Publication number: 20180106454Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle with a projector includes a reflector, a light source, a diaphragm, and a collimating optical element. The reflector includes a bowl-shaped reflective surface, which presents the shape of a concave curve in a cross-section formed by a vertical plane passing through the optical axis of the projector. The light source is positioned substantially at the source focal point of the curve. The diaphragm is positioned substantially at the image focal point of the curve to create a light-darkness boundary in front of the vehicle. The optical element is for collimation of the output light beam into the required direction. The diaphragm is made of a transparent material and includes one or more optical surfaces arranged to direct those rays that have fallen onto it and passed through it to the collimating element directly, or through a supplementary optical element.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Jan Kratochvil, Dana Pekarkova, Radek Orlita
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Publication number: 20180073697Abstract: A lighting system for automobiles is proposed which includes a laser light source emitting a primary laser light bundle within a solid angle area around a beam direction, a photoluminescence element positioned within the emitted primary light beam, and a protective element that protects against stray laser rays. The photoluminescence element is configured to absorb the laser rays impinging on said element and by means of the photoluminescence to radiate secondary light rays. The lighting system includes a protection system with a protective element of an elongated shape having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the protective element is positioned within the beam direction of the primary light beam and downstream of the photoluminescence element.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Applicant: VARROC LIGHTING SYSTEMS S.R.OInventors: JOACHIM BRANDEL, Markus Klein, Tomas Kremel, Jan Kratochvil
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Patent number: 9851066Abstract: A signal lamp for a front and rear lighting of a vehicle includes at least one light source for emitting light, wherein the at least one light source is hidden from view; a reflector for reflecting the light emitted by the at least one light source away from the vehicle; and at least one light guide disposed between the reflector and a cover of the signal lamp, the at least one light guide having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is disposed adjacent the at least one light source and the second end is located adjacent a focus point of the reflector.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: VARROC LIGHTING SYSTEMS S.R.O.Inventors: Miroslav Kropac, Jan Kratochvil, Ludek Mazal, Martin Dluhos, Pavel Tuma
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Patent number: 9797569Abstract: A headlight, especially a motor vehicle headlight, comprises a bushing (1) with a translucent cover (2) forming an inner chamber (3) including a light source (4), an optical system (5) for guiding the light beam from the light source, a cooling body having the light source mounted thereon and fitted with cooling elements (61) to extract heat from the heat source, and a cooling channel (7) for passage of the cooling media for heat extraction from the cooling elements. The cooling channel is closed with respect to the chamber to prevent the cooling media from passing through the chamber outside the cooling channel The body forms the wall of a part of the cooling channel, and the cooling elements face the inner space of the cooling channel. The part of the cooling channel whose wall comprises the cooling body is arranged in a controlled movable way in the inner chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: VARROC LIGHTING SYSTEMS, S.R.O.Inventors: Jan Kratochvil, Stanislav Klimicek, Ondrej Hasa, Jan Grof, Milos Macicek