Patents by Inventor Keith D. Foote

Keith D. Foote 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: 10731387
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Keith D. Foote, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 10703285
    Abstract: A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly and a turn signal light module disposed thereat. The light module includes at least three illumination sources that, with the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the vehicle, are arranged horizontally at the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly. The at least three illumination sources are operable to emit light in a forward direction with respect to the vehicle. Responsive to activation by the driver of the turn signal indicator system of the vehicle, the illumination sources are sequentially powered in an outward direction to provide an appearance of an outward moving light, and light emanates from the turn signal light module at an outboard portion of the mirror casing so as to be viewable to a driver of another vehicle sideward and rearward of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Keith D. Foote
  • Publication number: 20200198542
    Abstract: A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly and a turn signal light module disposed thereat. The light module includes at least three illumination sources that, with the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the vehicle, are arranged horizontally at the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly. The at least three illumination sources are operable to emit light in a forward direction with respect to the vehicle. Responsive to activation by the driver of the turn signal indicator system of the vehicle, the illumination sources are sequentially powered in an outward direction to provide an appearance of an outward moving light, and light emanates from the turn signal light module at an outboard portion of the mirror casing so as to be viewable to a driver of another vehicle sideward and rearward of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Keith D. Foote
  • Patent number: 10640047
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror reflector and a mirror back plate disposed at the rear side of the mirror reflective element. A heater pad is disposed between the mirror reflective element and the mirror back plate and has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with an aperture of the mirror back plate. A blind spot indicator module includes a body portion and a connector portion extending laterally from the body portion. Light emitted by at least one light emitting diode passes through the light transmitting portion of the heater pad and through a light-transmitting portion of the mirror reflector and exits the mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the vehicle who is driving the vehicle and who is viewing said mirror reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 10576896
    Abstract: A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly and a light module disposed thereat. The light module includes a plurality of illumination sources operable to emit light in a generally forwardly direction with respect to the vehicle. The light module includes at least one turn signal indicator illumination source that, at least responsive to an activation of a turn signal by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is operable to emit light in a generally sidewardly and/or rearwardly direction with respect to the vehicle. The light module includes a light piping element and the turn signal indicator illumination source is disposed at an inboard end of the light piping element and the light piping element guides light emanating from the turn signal indicator illumination source along the light piping element and out an outboard end of the light piping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Keith D. Foote
  • Publication number: 20190351831
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror reflector and a mirror back plate disposed at the rear side of the mirror reflective element. A heater pad is disposed between the mirror reflective element and the mirror back plate and has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with an aperture of the mirror back plate. A blind spot indicator module includes a body portion and a connector portion extending laterally from the body portion. Light emitted by at least one light emitting diode passes through the light transmitting portion of the heater pad and through a light-transmitting portion of the mirror reflector and exits the mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the vehicle who is driving the vehicle and who is viewing said mirror reflective element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20190337447
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a handle portion movable to open a vehicle door and an illumination module having an illumination source and a light guide that extends at least partially along the length of the handle portion. When the exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door and when the illumination source is powered, the light guide is illuminated and the illumination is viewable by a person viewing the handle portion from outside the vehicle. The exterior door handle assembly may include an emblem or icon that is back lit by light emitted by a back-lighting illumination source of the exterior door handle assembly. The emblem or icon is visible to the person viewing from outside the vehicle when back lit by light emitted by the back-lighting illumination source but is covert when not back lit by such emitted light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: David A. Dingman, Brett A. Gorby, Keith D. Foote
  • Publication number: 20190243492
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head movably disposed at a movable portion that is movable relative to a non-movable portion configured for attachment at a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element fixedly attached at an attachment portion and fixed relative to the mirror casing. The mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head relative to the exterior portion of the vehicle. A first electrically-operated actuator has an axis of rotation when operated that moves the movable portion relative to the non-movable portion about a first axis, and a second electrically-operated actuator has an axis of rotation when operated that moves the mirror head relative to the movable portion about a second axis. The axis of rotation of the first electrically-operated actuator is non-orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the second electrically-operated actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Darryl P. De Wind, Keith D. Foote, Joseph M. Mambourg, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 10369932
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror reflector and a mirror back plate disposed at the rear side of the mirror reflective element. A heater pad is disposed between the mirror reflective element and the mirror back plate and has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with an aperture of the mirror back plate. A blind spot indicator module includes a body portion and a connector portion extending laterally from the body portion. Light emitted by at least one light emitting diode passes through the light transmitting portion of the heater pad and through a light-transmitting portion of the mirror reflector and exits the mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the vehicle who is driving the vehicle and who is viewing said mirror reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 10351052
    Abstract: An exterior door handle assembly includes a strap-handle portion pivotally movable to open a vehicle door, a circuit element, a light emitting diode, a light pipe, and an elongated light-transmitting cover. The light emitting diode is disposed proximate an end region of the strap-handle portion and proximate an end region of the light pipe. The strap-handle portion includes structure configured to receive the light emitting diode and the circuit element thereat. The light-transmitting cover is attached to the strap-handle portion and covers the light pipe. The strap-handle portion includes a user input that is actuatable by a person to lock or unlock the vehicle door. When the light emitting diode is electrically powered, light emitted by the light emitting diode passes along the light pipe and passes through the light-transmitting cover so as to be viewable by a person viewing the door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. Dingman, Brett A Gorby, Keith D. Foote
  • Patent number: 10261648
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head and an exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached at the mirror head. An attachment portion is configured for attachment at an exterior portion of the vehicle. The mirror assembly includes a multi-axis adjustment mechanism having at least one electrically-operable actuator. The multi-axis adjustment mechanism is operable to move the mirror head, with the exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached thereto, about multiple axes relative to the attachment portion. The exterior mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head relative to the exterior portion of the body of the vehicle to adjust the rearward field of view of a driver of the vehicle who views the exterior mirror reflective element when operating the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Darryl P. De Wind, Keith D. Foote, Joseph M. Mambourg, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20190039522
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior side portion of a vehicle includes a mounting portion, a mirror head and an electrically-operated actuator. The mounting portion is configured for attachment at an exterior side portion of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element. The mirror head is attached at the electrically-operated actuator. With the mounting portion of the exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the exterior side portion of the vehicle, the electrically-operated actuator is electrically operable to move the mirror reflective element and the mirror casing together in tandem to vertically and horizontally adjust a field of view of a driver of the vehicle who is viewing the mirror reflective element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., a corporation of the State of Michigan
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Darryl P. De Wind
  • Publication number: 20190031106
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror reflector and a mirror back plate disposed at the rear side of the mirror reflective element. A heater pad is disposed between the mirror reflective element and the mirror back plate and has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with an aperture of the mirror back plate. A blind spot indicator module includes a body portion and a connector portion extending laterally from the body portion. Light emitted by at least one light emitting diode passes through the light transmitting portion of the heater pad and through a light-transmitting portion of the mirror reflector and exits the mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the vehicle who is driving the vehicle and who is viewing said mirror reflective element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 10175477
    Abstract: A display system of a vehicle includes a windshield of a vehicle, an interior rearview mirror assembly, an assembly disposed at an upper region of the windshield, and a display device disposed at the assembly. The upper region of the windshield includes a display region. The display device is operable to project a mirror image of display information towards and onto the display region of the windshield for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. The display information is viewable at the display region of the windshield and is viewable and discernible by the driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Keith D. Foote, Richard R. Hook, Eric S. Deuel, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 10099618
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle includes a mounting arm, a mirror head attached at the mounting arm, an attaching element attached at a mirror reflective element, a shroud and a mirror actuator. The mounting arm is configured for attachment at an exterior portion of the vehicle. The shroud extends from the attaching element and is partially received in the mirror head. The mirror actuator is operable to adjust the attaching element and the mirror reflective element relative to the mirror head. The mirror reflective element is disposed outside of the mirror head and the shroud spans a gap between the mirror reflective element and the mirror head to substantially encase the attaching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Darryl P. De Wind
  • Patent number: 10086765
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blind spot indicator module for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes providing a housing, a rear cover and a circuit board. The circuit board is disposed at the housing and the rear cover is attached to a rear end of the housing to encase the circuit board, whereby electrical terminals extending from the circuit board are disposed between a first connector portion of the housing and a second connector portion of the rear cover, thereby forming an electrical connector configured for connection to another electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry of the circuit board at least to electrical power when the blind spot indicator module is used by an exterior rearview mirror assembly that is attached to a vehicle. The circuitry includes a light emitting diode that emits light when electrically powered, and a diffuser element diffuses light emitted by the light emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20180257571
    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 end of the mounting arm and movable relative to the mounting arm, and an electrically operated actuator operable to move the mirror head relative to the mounting arm. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element that, when the actuator is electrically operated, moves in tandem with the mirror head. The actuator, with the mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the vehicle, and when the actuator is electrically operated, moves the mirror head relative to the mounting arm to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view of a driver of the vehicle who is viewing the mirror reflective element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Eric S. Deuel, Justin E. Sobecki, Joseph R. Mambourg, Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20180201190
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a mirror and display module and a camera. The module includes an exterior mirror assembly, a display screen and a central mounting portion. The central mounting portion is disposed between and rigidly connects the exterior mirror assembly and the display screen. With the module mounted at the vehicle door, the central mounting portion spans a width of the vehicle door such that (i) the exterior mirror assembly is at an exterior portion of the vehicle door, (ii) the display screen is at an interior portion of the vehicle door, and (iii) the central mounting portion is disposed between the interior portion and exterior portion of the vehicle door. With the module mounted at the vehicle door and with the camera disposed at the vehicle, the video display screen is operable to display video images derived from image data captured by the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: David P. O'Connell, Kenneth C. Peterson, Keith D. Foote
  • Patent number: 9969334
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    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: 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