Patents by Inventor Jonathan M. Frens
Jonathan M. Frens 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: 10254461Abstract: A display unit for mounting in a vehicle may include an image generator, a display member, and a light source. The display member may be configured to move from a non-operational position to an operational position such that the display member is positioned to reflect light from the image generator in the operational position. The display member also includes an edge configured to refract light and/or otherwise be illuminated. The light source may be configured to emit light to illuminate at least a portion of the edge of the display member. In some implementations, the light source may move when the display member is moved from the non-operational position to the operational position. In other implementations, the light source may be stationary. The display unit may also include a light guide to guide the light emitted by the light source to illuminate the edge.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2013Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Johnson Controls Automotive Electronics SASInventors: Fabrice Henon, Yves Lambert, Nicolas Louvieaux, Hirokatsu Nakajima, Ulf K. Langkamp, Brook R. Burg, Jonathan M. Frens
-
Patent number: 9470843Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle display includes a light source and a pointer located apart from the light source. The lighting system further includes at least one optical fiber connected between the light source and the pointer.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2013Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Scott R. Meyers, Jonathan M. Frens
-
Publication number: 20160288705Abstract: A display unit for mounting in a vehicle may include an image generator, a display member, and a light source. The display member may be configured to move from a non-operational position to an operational position such that the display member is positioned to reflect light from the image generator in the operational position. The display member also includes an edge configured to refract light and/or otherwise be illuminated. The light source may be configured to emit light to illuminate at least a portion of the edge of the display member. In some implementations, the light source may move when the display member is moved from the non-operational position to the operational position. In other implementations, the light source may be stationary. The display unit may also include a light guide to guide the light emitted by the light source to illuminate the edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2013Publication date: October 6, 2016Applicant: Johnson Controls Automotive Electronics SASInventors: Fabrice Henon, Yves Lambert, Nicolas Louvieaux, Hirokatsu Nakajima, Ulf K. Langkamp, Brook R. Burg, Jonathan M. Frens
-
Publication number: 20150375675Abstract: A vehicle interior assembly includes an interior trim component at least partially enclosing a storage volume and having a recessed compartment. The interior trim component is configured to transition between a first position, a second position, and a third position relative to a support structure. The vehicle interior assembly also includes a first light transmissive element coupled to the interior trim component and configured to illuminate an exterior surface of the interior trim component. In addition, the vehicle interior assembly includes a second light transmissive element coupled to the interior trim component and configured to illuminate a first interior of the recessed compartment. The vehicle interior assembly further includes a light source coupled to the support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2014Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Ronald A. Bozio, Scott A. Hansen, Jonathan M. Frens, David J. McCarthy, Mark J. Tuttle, Jason M. Hipshier, Greg Hodgins
-
Publication number: 20150353005Abstract: An overhead console for a vehicle having a lighting assembly. The lighting assembly may include multiple light sources configured to emit light toward a show surface of the overhead console. Each light source may include a light-emitting diode. The overhead console may also include a capacitive sensing input device, a sunroof control device, a haptic feedback device, a directional lighting device, and so forth. The overhead console has a thickness of less than or equal to approximately 15 millimeters.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Thomas Hodgson, Ame Dassen, Jonathan M. Frens, Scott R. Meyers, Michael Catlin, Nicholas T. Moelker, Kyle Beeck
-
Publication number: 20150298609Abstract: An illuminated vehicle interior component. The illuminated vehicle interior component includes a light-transmissive substrate layer configured to be disposed over a printed circuit layer. The illuminated vehicle interior component also includes a decorative layer formed directly onto the light-transmissive substrate layer. The light-transmissive substrate layer is configured to receive light from a light-emitting device coupled to the printed circuit layer. The light-transmissive substrate layer is also configured to illuminate at least a portion of the illuminated vehicle interior component.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2013Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: Jonathan M. Frens, Michael Catlin
-
Publication number: 20150168644Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle display includes a light source and a pointer located apart from the light source. The lighting system further includes at least one optical fiber connected between the light source and the pointer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2013Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Scott R. Meyers, Jonathan M. Frens
-
Patent number: 8596803Abstract: A vehicle interior assembly includes a light guide and a light source configured to illuminate the light guide. The vehicle interior assembly also includes an interior trim component at least partially disposed about a display. The interior trim component includes a light transmissive material configured to receive light from the light guide, and to emit light into a vehicle interior.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Steve G. Schultz, Brook Rodney Burg, Timothy J. Borgeson, Jonathan M. Frens
-
Patent number: 8579448Abstract: Instrument cluster and pointing device for a car or other vehicle, the pointing device being mounted rotatable about a rotation axis and having a shaft element in the vicinity of the rotation axis, the pointing device further comprising at least one of a light guide element or a mirror element in the region of the shaft element and comprising one of an image forming element or an aperture, wherein the one of the image forming element or the aperture and the one of the light guide element or the mirror element are able to be rotated about the rotational axis with the shaft element, and wherein light incident to the shaft element is directed from the one of the light guide element or the mirror element to the image forming element or aperture and projecting to a visible surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2010Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Jonathan M. Frens
-
Publication number: 20120188779Abstract: A vehicle interior assembly includes a light guide and a light source configured to illuminate the light guide. The vehicle interior assembly also includes an interior trim component at least partially disposed about a display. The interior trim component includes a light transmissive material configured to receive light from the light guide, and to emit light into a vehicle interior.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2011Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Steve G. Schultz, Brook Rodney Burg, Jonathan M. Frens, Timothy J. Borgeson
-
Publication number: 20110182052Abstract: Instrument cluster and pointing device for a car or other vehicle, the pointing device being mounted rotatable about a rotation axis and having a shaft element in the vicinity of the rotation axis, the pointing device further comprising at least one of a light guide element or a mirror element in the region of the shaft element and comprising one of an image forming element or an aperture, wherein the one of the image forming element or the aperture and the one of the light guide element or the mirror element are able to be rotated about the rotational axis with the shaft element, and wherein light incident to the shaft element is directed from the one of the light guide element or the mirror element to the image forming element or aperture and projecting to a visible surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2010Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Jonathan M. Frens