Patents by Inventor Justin E. Sobecki

Justin E. Sobecki 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: 20180086272
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle includes a mounting arm configured for attachment at the vehicle, a mirror head disposed at an outboard end of the mounting arm and movable relative to the mounting arm, and an actuator operable to move the mirror head relative to the mounting arm. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a frameless mirror reflective element fixedly attached at the mirror casing, with no part of the mirror casing disposed over the front surface of the mirror reflective element. The actuator is operable to move the mirror head relative to the mounting arm to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view of the driver of the vehicle who is viewing the mirror reflective element with the exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Eric S. Deuel, Justin E. Sobecki, Joseph R. Mambourg, Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20170355312
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror-display assembly adapted to pivotally attach at an interior surface of the vehicle. The mirror-display assembly includes a mirror reflective element and a display device that has a display screen. The mirror reflective element is disposed at a mirror side of the mirror-display assembly and the display screen is disposed at a display side of the mirror-display assembly. The mirror-display assembly is pivotable between a mirror position and a display position. When the mirror-display assembly is in the mirror position, a driver of the vehicle views the mirror reflective element and does not view the display screen, and when the mirror-display assembly is in the display position, the driver of the vehicle views the display screen and does not view the mirror reflective element. The mirror-display assembly pivots about a pivot axis between the mirror position and the display position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Hamid Habibi, Justin E. Sobecki
  • Patent number: 9827913
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a non-movable portion, a movable portion and a mirror head. The non-movable portion is configured for attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle and the movable portion is movable relative to the non-movable portion. The mirror head is movable relative to the movable portion, and a mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at the mirror head. A first actuator is operable to move the movable portion relative to the non-movable portion about a first axis and a second actuator is operable to move the mirror head relative to the movable portion about a second axis. The first and second actuators are cooperatively operable to move the movable portion about the first axis and to move the mirror head about the second axis, and the mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Eric S. Deuel, Justin E. Sobecki, Joseph R. Mambourg, Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20170327041
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly having a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle and a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to the mounting portion. The mirror assembly includes an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion to adjust the mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which the mounting portion is mounted. The actuator includes a first motor and a second motor that are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a gear to cause the mirror head portion to pivot relative to the mounting portion. Operation of the first motor is synchronized with operation of the second motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 9718407
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly having a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle and a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to the mounting portion. The mirror assembly includes an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion. The actuator includes a first motor and a second motor that are operable in tandem to cooperatively cause a common drive gear of a gear system to be driven to pivot the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion. Operation of the first and second motors is synchronized and causes the common drive gear to rotate. A shutoff circuit is operable to determine a stalled condition and, responsive to such determination, is operable to deactivate driving of the common drive gear by the at least two motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Publication number: 20170210342
    Abstract: A method for unlocking a door for an authorized user of a vehicle via a door unlocking system of the vehicle includes providing a control at the vehicle, providing a near field communication device at the vehicle, and wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication device of the vehicle, with a near field communication-enabled smartphone when the smartphone is within a threshold distance from the vehicle. Responsive to the near field communication device of the vehicle communicating with the smartphone, it is determined whether or not the smartphone is an authorized device. The smartphone is authenticated as an authorized device for communication with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle. Responsive to the smartphone being authenticated as an authorized device, the locking mechanism is actuated, at least in part via the control, to unlock the vehicle door for the user of the authorized device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Publication number: 20170167169
    Abstract: A system for extending and retracting a handle of a door handle assembly for a door of a vehicle includes a door handle assembly, a control operable to control operation of a motor of an electrically operable actuator of the handle assembly, and a sensing system operable to detect an authorized user. The sensing system, responsive to detecting an authorized user, determines a motion vector of the detected authorized user. The sensing system determines whether the motion vector is indicative of the detected authorized user approaching the door of the vehicle. Responsive to determination that the detected authorized user is approaching the door of the vehicle, the control unlocks the door handle assembly and controls operation of the motor to move a handle portion from a recessed position to a partially extended position so as to be graspable by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Keith D. Foote, Eric S. Deuel
  • Publication number: 20170106836
    Abstract: A vehicle function control system includes a sensing and projecting module disposed at an exterior portion of the vehicle and having an illumination source operable to project a plurality of icons onto a ground area at or near the vehicle or an exterior surface of the vehicle, with each of the projected icons being representative of a respective vehicle function. The module includes a sensing device operable to sense the presence of a user at or near one of the projected icons and, responsive to the sensing of the presence of the user, the system determines which of the projected icons is being selected by the user. A control is responsive to an output of the sensing device and, responsive to determination of the user at or near a selected particular projected icon, the control controls a function of the vehicle associated with the selected particular projected icon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, David P. O'Connell, Kenneth C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9616808
    Abstract: A ground illumination system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured to attach at a side of a vehicle, with a ground illumination module disposed at the exterior rearview mirror assembly and having a light source operable to emit light. The ground illumination module includes a reconfigurable display element. The reconfigurable display element is operable to form an icon responsive to one of (i) a user selection of an icon for display and (ii) programming of the reconfigurable display element for an icon for display. When the light source is operated and with the exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the vehicle, light emitted by the light source passes through the reconfigurable display element and the ground illumination module projects the icon of the reconfigurable display element onto the ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 9580942
    Abstract: A handle assembly for a door of a vehicle includes a base portion and a handle portion movable relative to the base portion between a recessed position and a partially extended position. When at the partially extended position, the handle portion is manually movable outward from the base portion to open the vehicle door. A control is operable to control operation of a motor of an actuator to move the handle portion between the recessed position and the partially extended position. The control moves the handle portion from the recessed position to the partially extended position responsive to a trigger. The actuator provides a manual override that allows the user to manually move the handle portion relative to the base portion. Responsive to determination of a lockout condition, the control limits movement of the handle portion from the recessed position towards the partially extended position irrespective of the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Keith D. Foote, Eric S. Deuel
  • Publication number: 20170050568
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head and a light module disposed at a mirror casing. A blind zone indicator light emitting diode and a turn signal indicator light emitting diode are disposed at a single circuit board and are operable to emit light for a blind zone indicator and a turn signal indicator, respectively. The blind zone indicator and the turn signal indicator are disposed along a forward and sideward portion of the mirror casing, where the turn signal indicator is viewable and the blind zone indicator is not viewable along the forward and sideward portion of the mirror casing. When the blind zone indicator light emitting diode is operated and when the exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the side of the vehicle, the blind zone alert is viewable by the driver of the vehicle outboard of the mirror reflective element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Kenneth C. Peterson, Darryl P. De Wind, Jake A. Mohan, Matthew V. Steffes, Eric S. Deuel
  • Publication number: 20160375832
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly having a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle and a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to the mounting portion. The mirror assembly includes an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion. The actuator includes a first motor and a second motor that are operable in tandem to cooperatively cause a common drive gear of a gear system to be driven to pivot the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion. Operation of the first and second motors is synchronized and causes the common drive gear to rotate. A shutoff circuit is operable to determine a stalled condition and, responsive to such determination, is operable to deactivate driving of the common drive gear by the at least two motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 9487142
    Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a reflective element adjustably disposed at the mirror casing. A powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head relative to the mounting base between at least a park detent position and a drive detent position. The mirror head is manually pivotable to a non-detent position other than the park detent position and the drive detent position. Responsive to the mirror head being at a non-detent position and responsive to a single actuation of a user input, the powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head to either the park detent position or the drive detent position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Kenneth C. Peterson, Darryl P. De Wind, Jake A. Mohan, Matthew V. Steffes, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 9440587
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle and a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to the mounting portion. An actuator is operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion to adjust the mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which the mounting portion is mounted. The actuator includes a first motor and a second motor operable in tandem to cooperatively drive a common drive gear of a gear system to adjust the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion. Operation of the first and second motors is synchronized. Operation of the first motor drives a first gear that rotatably drives the common drive gear and operation of the second motor drives a second gear that rotatably drives the common drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Publication number: 20160193957
    Abstract: A ground illumination system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured to attach at a side of a vehicle, with a ground illumination module disposed at the exterior rearview mirror assembly and having a light source operable to emit light. The ground illumination module includes a reconfigurable display element. The reconfigurable display element is operable to form an icon responsive to one of (i) a user selection of an icon for display and (ii) programming of the reconfigurable display element for an icon for display. When the light source is operated and with the exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the vehicle, light emitted by the light source passes through the reconfigurable display element and the ground illumination module projects the icon of the reconfigurable display element onto the ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Publication number: 20160137132
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle and a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to the mounting portion. An actuator is operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion to adjust the mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which the mounting portion is mounted. The actuator includes a first motor and a second motor operable in tandem to cooperatively drive a common drive gear of a gear system to adjust the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion. Operation of the first and second motors is synchronized. Operation of the first motor drives a first gear that rotatably drives the common drive gear and operation of the second motor drives a second gear that rotatably drives the common drive gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 9290970
    Abstract: A door handle system for a door of a vehicle includes a door handle assembly, a locking mechanism, a control and a near field communication device. The door handle assembly is configured to mount at a handle region of a vehicle door of the vehicle. The near field communication device is operable to receive signals from a smartphone that is within a threshold distance from the near field communication device. The control, responsive to the near field communication device, is operable to determine whether or not a smartphone that is within the threshold distance and that is communicating with the near field communication device is an authorized device. The control is operable to actuate the locking mechanism to unlock the vehicle door responsive to a determination that the smartphone within the threshold distance and communicating with the near field communication device is an authorized device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 9242607
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle, a mirror head portion adjustably mounted at the mounting portion, and a reflective element at the mirror head portion. An actuator is operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion and about a generally vertical pivot axis to pivotally adjust the mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which the mounting portion is mounted. The actuator comprises at least two motors and the motors are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a common gear of a gear system to pivot the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion. Responsive to a determination of the rotational movement being below a threshold speed, a shutoff circuit deactivates at least one of the motors irrespective of current draw by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Publication number: 20150353018
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle, a mirror head portion adjustably mounted at the mounting portion, and a reflective element at the mirror head portion. An actuator is operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion and about a generally vertical pivot axis to pivotally adjust the mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which the mounting portion is mounted. The actuator comprises at least two motors and the motors are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a common gear of a gear system to pivot the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion. Responsive to a determination of the rotational movement being below a threshold speed, a shutoff circuit deactivates at least one of the motors irrespective of current draw by the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Publication number: 20150224919
    Abstract: An illumination module configured for mounting at a vehicle includes at least one illumination source and an optic. The optic is a three dimensional single formed optic that is formed such that, when the illumination source is operated and when the illumination module is disposed at a side of a vehicle, the optic provides projection of an icon, a logo and/or indicia at a ground region at or near the side of the vehicle. The optic includes one of (a) a lens optic configured such that light emitted by the illumination source, when activated, passes through the lens optic to provide projection of the icon, the logo and/or indicia, and (b) a reflector optic configured such that light emitted by the illumination source, when activated, reflects off the reflector optic to provide the selected projection of the icon, the logo and/or indicia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Jake Mohan