Patents by Inventor Jean Marc Nicolai

Jean Marc Nicolai 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: 10135433
    Abstract: The system (21) includes: a power transistor (22), a data medium (60) including data relating to the manufacturing tolerance (Tol) of at least one electric parameter of the transistor (22), an electric circuit (26) for controlling the transistor adapted so as to operate for a reference value of the parameter (VREF), an electric circuit (64) having an inductance of less than 100 nH and such that the assembly (70) formed with the circuit (64) and the transistor (22) has a value for the parameter, for which the deviation in absolute with the reference value is strictly less than the manufacturing tolerance (Tol).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Stephane Richard, Herve Cara, Jean-Marc Nicolai
  • Patent number: 8591053
    Abstract: A light source support on a first printed circuit for a lighting and/or signalling module, comprising a first housing intended to accommodate the first printed circuit and presenting an opening for the light source; means of positioning and fixation of the support; and means of positioning of a flexible printed circuit, intended to position the flexible printed circuit in relation to the first printed circuit, so as to link them electrically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Christophe Thullier, Jean-Marc Nicolai
  • Publication number: 20130241605
    Abstract: The system (21) includes: a power transistor (22), a data medium (60) including data relating to the manufacturing tolerance (Tol) of at least one electric parameter of the transistor (22), an electric circuit (26) for controlling the transistor adapted so as to operate for a reference value of the parameter (VREF), an electric circuit (64) having an inductance of less than 100 nH and such that the assembly (70) formed with the circuit (64) and the transistor (22) has a value for the parameter, for which the deviation in absolute with the reference value is strictly less than the manufacturing tolerance (Tol).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Stephane RICHARD, Herve CARA, Jean-Marc NICOLAI
  • Patent number: 8408769
    Abstract: An optical module equipping a motor vehicle lighting and/or indicating device, provided with a assembly structure movably assembled on a bracket and means of electrical connection to at least one remote device, wherein the optical module is equipped with an electrical connection device comprising a flexible element integrating electrical conductors, the flexible element is connected between the assembly structure and the bracket such that the points of mechanical connection together produce a freedom of movement limited in space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Nicolai, Benjamin Touzet, Gregoire Sadoux, Jonathan Blandin
  • Patent number: 8072147
    Abstract: The device according to the invention comprises a light source and electronic supply and control. The light source electronic supply and control comprises at least one circuit comprising at least one stack of chips formed from at least two power components (IGBTb1, IGBTh1). According to one embodiment, the light source comprises a discharge lamp and the circuit with stacking is a DC/AC converter supplying the discharge lamp. Preferably, the discharge lamp is of xenon type and the circuit with stacking is included in an electronic ballast of the device. In another embodiment, the circuit with stacking is included in an electronic module associated with the discharge lamp and forming therewith a compact assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Jean Marc Nicolai
  • Publication number: 20110103081
    Abstract: A light source support on a first printed circuit for a lighting and/or signalling module, comprising a first housing intended to accommodate the first printed circuit and presenting an opening for the light source; means of positioning and fixation of the support; and means of positioning of a flexible printed circuit, intended to position the flexible printed circuit in relation to the first printed circuit, so as to link them electrically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Christophe THULLIER, Jean-Marc NICOLAI
  • Publication number: 20110103086
    Abstract: An optical module equipping a motor vehicle lighting and/or indicating device, provided with a assembly structure movably assembled on a bracket and means of electrical connection to at least one remote device, wherein the optical module is equipped with an electrical connection device comprising a flexible element integrating electrical conductors, the flexible element is connected between the assembly structure and the bracket such that the points of mechanical connection together produce a freedom of movement limited in space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-Marc NICOLAI, Benjamin TOUZET, Gregoire SADOUX, Jonathan BLANDIN
  • Patent number: 7867030
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic module for converting electrical voltage that is intended to supply a light source, which comprises: a horizontal printed circuit card; at least one top connector fixed to the top face of the printed circuit card; an electromagnetic shielding jacket fixed to the connector; characterised in that the jacket comprises a bottom fixing lug that extends horizontally so as to be pressed on the top face of the printed circuit card, the connector being fixed to the card by means of the fixing lug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Philippe Clavier, Jean-Marc Nicolai
  • Patent number: 7646612
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an electronic assembly with a heat sink in particular for a discharge lamp control module for a motor vehicle headlight. The electronic assembly with heat sink comprises essentially a printed circuit and a housing able to serve for thermal insulation and/or for electrical insulation and which comprises a heat sink. The heat sink is interposed between at least one face of the printed circuit and a face of the housing, the said heat sink extending over a major part of the face of the printed circuit and comprising an adhesive face for securing it to the printed circuit on the one hand and an adhesive face for securing it to the face of the housing on the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Marc Duarte, Jean-Marc Nicolai, David Myotte, Fabrice Govin
  • Patent number: 7621664
    Abstract: The device comprises at least one power light emitting diode light source and other means able to constitute one or more heat sources of such a nature as to affect the thermal environment of the light emitting diode light source. In accordance with the invention, the device also comprises a support piece formed at least partially from a material based on anisotropic graphite supporting the light emitting diode light source and opposing an effect of the other means on the thermal environment of the light emitting diode light source. According to other characteristics, the support piece comprises at least one thermal dissipation heat sink and the device can comprise a fan able to force a circulation of air through the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Valeo Vison
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Nicolai
  • Patent number: 7535181
    Abstract: A method for managing a gas discharge lamp in particular for a motor vehicle headlamp. The method is of the type which consists in controlling initial and nominal supply powers of the lamp by means of control signals during the operating phases of the lamp which comprise a start-up phase, an ignition phase and a steady-state phase. The method is wherein the control signals comprise command signals which are generated externally of the ballast and which force each of the supply powers to a value selected from a set of predetermined powers as a function of each of the phases. The method makes it possible for example to manage the different modes defined by the new regulations of the AFS type, and to optimize the service life of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Nicolai, Marc Duarte
  • Publication number: 20090091908
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic module for converting electrical voltage that is intended to supply a light source, which comprises: a horizontal printed circuit card; at least one top connector fixed to the top face of the printed circuit card; an electromagnetic shielding jacket fixed to the connector; characterised in that the jacket comprises a bottom fixing lug that extends horizontally so as to be pressed on the top face of the printed circuit card, the connector being fixed to the card by means of the fixing lug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Philippe CLAVIER, Jean-Marc NICOLAI
  • Patent number: 7465196
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a wiring harness end connector for an electronic module or an electronic card. It especially finds application in the case of connection of electronic modules contained in insulating cases, for example for vehicle headlights. An orientation component carried by the first connector or the second connector allows the wiring harness to leave in any orientation relative to the orientation of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Marc Duarte, Jean-Marc Nicolai, David Myotte, Fabrice Govin
  • Patent number: 7449846
    Abstract: A ballast that comprises a DC-DC converter, a DC-AC converter, a lighting voltage generator and a control unit. A difference in voltage between input terminals of the lighting voltage generator is generated by a voltage step-up circuit of the “self-boosting” type from a DC voltage supplied by the DC-DC converter and an auxiliary voltage source V0. The ballast makes it possible to obtain a voltage level V2 that is equal to twice a first voltage level V1 increased by the auxiliary voltage V0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Nicolai
  • Patent number: 7422918
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making supports for light emitting diodes, wherein rigid substrates are used as supports for light emitting diodes, it being proposed, in particular, to render the substrates more fragile in order to make certain zones of a lower layer of the said substrate more flexible so that the substrate is able to deform in the region of the zones thus made flexible, the deformation then taking place without causing the electrical conduction of a top layer, on which the diodes are disposed, to be broken. In one particular embodiment of the invention it is proposed to provide as many rigid substrate plates as there are support planes in the three-dimensional environment, and to connect these various substrate plates together by means of deformable conductive components disposed in accordance with surface mounted component technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Stéphane Richard, Jean-Marc Nicolai
  • Publication number: 20070152602
    Abstract: A ballast that comprises a DC-DC converter, a DC-AC converter, a lighting voltage generator and a control unit. A difference in voltage between input terminals of the lighting voltage generator is generated by a voltage step-up circuit of the “self-boosting” type from a DC voltage supplied by the DC-DC converter and an auxiliary voltage source V0. The ballast makes it possible to obtain a voltage level V2 that is equal to twice a first voltage level V1 increased by the auxiliary voltage V0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Nicolai
  • Patent number: 7222990
    Abstract: A headlight apparatus has a lighting element with a connector base disposed in an aperture formed in the lighting element. The connector base has a set of terminals arranged to make contact with a set of electrical contact zones of a complementary module. Each electrical contact zone is so disposed, on a surface portion of an electronic printed circuit of the complementary module, as to be directly accessible for the corresponding terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Marc Duarte, Jean-Marc Nicolai, David Myotte
  • Patent number: 7219420
    Abstract: A protective assembly for a printed-circuit electronics card having a metal substrate and a metal screening cover electrically connected to the substrate. The substrate includes a recessed gutter in which the edge of the cover is accommodated. The edge is crimped onto the substrate in the gutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean Marc Nicolaï, Marc Duarte, Dung Kong-A-Siou
  • Publication number: 20070076422
    Abstract: The device comprises at least one power light emitting diode light source and other means able to constitute one or more heat sources of such a nature as to affect the thermal environment of the light emitting diode light source. In accordance with the invention, the device also comprises a support piece formed at least partially from a material based on anisotropic graphite supporting the light emitting diode light source and opposing an effect of the other means on the thermal environment of the light emitting diode light source. According to other characteristics, the support piece comprises at least one thermal dissipation heat sink and the device can comprise a fan able to force a circulation of air through the heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Nicolai
  • Patent number: 7172316
    Abstract: Lighting or indicating apparatus for a motor vehicle comprises in particular a light emitting element which includes a reflector, a light source, and a casing which defines a set of faces, comprising side, lower and upper faces. There is, optionally, at least one opening formed in at least one of the said faces and having removable obturating means. The lighting or indicating apparatus is adapted to be combined with at least one complementary module with the aid of at least one pair of assembly elements comprising a guiding slide and a projecting element. The projecting element is adapted to be inserted at least into one end of the guiding slide with which it is associated, and to slide in the said guiding slide. Each of the assembly elements of one pair of assembly elements is disposed either on the headlight element or on the module. The two assembly elements in one assembly pair are not both disposed on the light emitting element; nor are they both disposed on the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Marc Duarte, Jean-Marc Nicolai, David Myotte