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).

  • Publication number: 20130321633
    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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Keith D. Foote, Richard R. Hook, Eric S. Deuel, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20130283693
    Abstract: A slider window assembly for a vehicle includes a frame portion having upper and lower rails, at least one fixed window panel fixed relative to the frame portion, and a movable window panel that is movable along the rails between a closed position and an opened position. The lower rail may comprise a unitarily formed rail having (i) a channel portion that extends at least partially along the fixed window panel and an opening and (ii) a cable guide formed at each end region of the channel portion. A carrier is at a lower portion of the movable window panel and is configured to move along the channel portion of the lower rail. The cable guides are configured to engage or receive a respective sheath of a cable assembly of a cable drive system, with a cable of the cable assembly being attached at the respective end of the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Keith D. Foote
  • Publication number: 20130242586
    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: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Keith D. Foote
  • Patent number: 8525697
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate and a blind spot indicator. The mirror back plate has a generally planar portion and an indicator mounting portion. The indicator mounting portion of the mirror back plate is angled relative to the generally planar portion, and an aperture is established through the mirror back plate generally at the indicator mounting portion. A heater pad is disposed at the rear of the mirror reflective element, and a light transmitting portion of the heater pad is generally aligned with the aperture of the mirror back plate. With the light source of the blind spot indicator activated, light emitted by the light source transmits through an indicia element, the aperture and the light transmitting portion and exits the mirror reflective element at an angle relative to the generally planar portion of the mirror back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8508383
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system of a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having an electro-optic reflective element. The reflective element includes (i) an electro-optic active region where an electro-optic medium is disposed and is bounded by a perimeter seal and (ii) a user input region outboard of the electro-optic active region. At least one backlit user input, such as a capacitive touch sensor, is disposed at the reflective element at the user input region and outboard of the perimeter seal and the electro-optic medium. A control is operable to determine a location of a touch or proximity of a finger of a user that is at or near the first surface of the front substrate at the user input region, and the control generates an output signal indicative of a determined touch or proximity of a finger of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Keith D. Foote, Richard R. Hook, Eric S. Deuel, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8491137
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a reflective element and an auxiliary wide angle element. The reflective element has a front surface and a rear surface and a first reflector portion and a second reflector portion, with the first reflector portion having a first reflective coating disposed thereat. The auxiliary wide angle element is disposed at a rear surface of the glass mirror substrate of the reflective element and at the second reflector portion. The auxiliary wide angle element has a glass element having a curved rear surface with a second reflective coating disposed at the curved rear surface. An optical coupling element may be disposed between a front surface of the auxiliary wide angle element and the rear surface of the reflective element, the optical coupling element may be a substantially optically clear and flexible elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Niall R. Lynam, Mitchell D. Burkert, Tyson P. DeJonge, Hamid Habibi, Keith D. Foote, Donald S. Rawlings, Michael J. Baur
  • Patent number: 8333492
    Abstract: An illumination module for a vehicle includes at least one illumination source for illuminating a target area at the vehicle. The illumination module may be mounted at a handle of a vehicle door and may be operable to illuminate the handle region and/or pocket region of the vehicle door and to illuminate a ground region adjacent to the vehicle and generally below the door handle assembly. The illumination module may include an icon established thereat and the at least one illumination source may back light the icon so that the icon, when the illumination module is activated, is viewable by a person viewing the vehicle. The illumination module may project or direct the illumination toward a targeted area so that the icon is discernible at the targeted area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Dingman, Brett A. Gorby, Keith D. Foote
  • Patent number: 8331038
    Abstract: An afocal rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle having a side door and a dashboard includes a housing attached to the motor vehicle adjacent the side door and dashboard. The housing has a low-profile, rounded external portion and an internal portion. A selectively movable reflective element is enclosed within the housing, and has opposed curved surfaces for reflecting unfocused light rays from outside the external portion through the internal portion of the housing. A selectively movable lens is enclosed within the internal portion of the housing for controlling light transmitted from the selectively movable reflective element to an occupant of the motor vehicle. The selectively movable lens can converge the unfocused light rays reflected from the selectively movable reflective element to a focused image observable by the occupant of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Snow, James A. Ruse, Keith D. Foote
  • Patent number: 8305235
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate and a signal indicator. The mirror back plate includes (i) a generally planar portion and (ii) an indicator receiving portion. The indicator receiving portion has a wall structure extending at an angle from the generally planar portion adjacent to an aperture established through the mirror back plate. The signal indicator has a light source disposed at a circuit element and a housing substantially encases the circuit element therein. An electrical connector protrudes from the circuit element and is accessible at a connector portion of the housing for connecting to electrical wiring of the vehicle. The signal indicator includes an indicia element at a forward end thereof. When the light source is activated, light emitted by the light source emanates through the aperture and through the mirror reflective element and is transmitted through the indicia element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20120182141
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system of a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having an electro-optic reflective element. The reflective element includes (i) an electro-optic active region where an electro-optic medium is disposed and is bounded by a perimeter seal and (ii) a user input region outboard of the electro-optic active region. At least one backlit user input, such as a capacitive touch sensor, is disposed at the reflective element at the user input region and outboard of the perimeter seal and the electro-optic medium. A control is operable to determine a location of a touch or proximity of a finger of a user that is at or near the first surface of the front substrate at the user input region, and the control generates an output signal indicative of a determined touch or proximity of a finger of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Keith D. Foote, Richard R. Hook, Eric S. Deuel, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20120119892
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate and a signal indicator. The mirror back plate includes (i) a generally planar portion and (ii) an indicator receiving portion. The indicator receiving portion has a wall structure extending at an angle from the generally planar portion adjacent to an aperture established through the mirror back plate. The signal indicator has a light source disposed at a circuit element and a housing substantially encases the circuit element therein. An electrical connector protrudes from the circuit element and is accessible at a connector portion of the housing for connecting to electrical wiring of the vehicle. The signal indicator includes an indicia element at a forward end thereof. When the light source is activated, light emitted by the light source emanates through the aperture and through the mirror reflective element and is transmitted through the indicia element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8154418
    Abstract: A mirror system of a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element and an information input display providing a display representative of a plurality of input characters. The information input display is disposed behind the reflective element and viewable through the reflective element and a transflective mirror reflector of the reflective element when the information input display is backlit by a backlighting device. A control is operable to determine a location of a touch or proximity of an object at the reflective element and correlate the determined location to an input character of the information input display. The mirror system may include a video display for displaying video images and the information input display may be disposed at a main viewing region of the reflective element so as to provide an information input display that is larger than the video display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Keith D. Foote, Richard R. Hook, Eric S. Deuel, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20120081915
    Abstract: A lighted exterior rearview mirror system of a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly and a light module disposed at the exterior rearview mirror assembly. The light module includes a plurality of illumination sources operable to emit light. The illumination sources are individually controlled responsive to said the input to provide a customized illumination beam emanating from the exterior rearview mirror assembly. The system may include a control that is responsive to the user input to selectively individually energize the light emitting diodes, and the control may individually adjust a duty cycle of each of the light emitting diodes responsive to the user input. The light module may include a ground illumination light source, a backup light source and a turn signal indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 8102279
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror back plate having a generally planar portion and an indicator receiving portion established via a plastic injection molding operation. The indicator receiving portion includes a wall structure extending at an angle from the generally planar portion adjacent to an aperture established through the mirror back plate. A signal indication module has a light source and a housing that is at least partially received at the wall structure of the indicator receiving portion of the mirror back plate. When the light source is activated, light emitted by the light source emanates through the aperture of the mirror back plate and through the mirror reflective element at an angle relative to the generally planar portion of the mirror back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20110221588
    Abstract: A minor reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror back plate having a generally planar portion and an indicator receiving portion established via a plastic injection molding operation. The indicator receiving portion includes a wall structure extending at an angle from the generally planar portion adjacent to an aperture established through the mirror back plate. A signal indication module has a light source and a housing that is at least partially received at the wall structure of the indicator receiving portion of the mirror back plate. When the light source is activated, light emitted by the light source emanates through the aperture of the mirror back plate and through the mirror reflective element at an angle relative to the generally planar portion of the mirror back plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20110194203
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting portion mounted to a side of a vehicle, a mirror head portion, a reflective element fixedly attached at the mirror head portion, and an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion and about a generally horizontal pivot axis and a generally vertical pivot axis to adjust the mirror head portion and the reflective element relative to the side of the vehicle to which the mounting portion is mounted. The actuator may include a tilting drive system for tilting the mirror head portion about the generally horizontal pivot axis and the actuator may include a rotating drive system for rotating the mirror head portion about the generally vertical pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Joseph C. Snow
  • Publication number: 20110148575
    Abstract: An extendable flush door handle assembly for a door or liftgate of a vehicle includes a base portion and a handle portion movably attached to the base portion. The handle portion is movable between a recessed position, where the handle portion is at least partially received in the base portion, and a partially extended position, where the handle portion extends partially outward from the base portion and is graspable by a user. The handle portion is moved from the recessed position to the partially extended position responsive to a trigger, such as a signal from a key fob or a passive entry system or a vehicle door unlock button or the like. The handle portion, when in its recessed position, is at least partially received in the base portion so as to be not readily graspable by a user until the handle portion is moved toward its partially extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Keith D. Foote
  • Patent number: 7944371
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate having an indicator receiving portion established thereat, and a signal indication module having a light source. The signal indication module attaches to the indicator receiving portion of the mirror back plate and the light source is activatable to emit light through the indicator receiving portion. The light source is established at a circuit element and the signal indication module includes a housing that substantially encases the circuit element therein. The circuit element has electrical terminals extending therefrom and protruding at least partially at a connector portion of the housing so as to be electrically connectable to a power source of the vehicle. The connector portion of the housing is configured to provide a plug-socket connection between the power source and the signal indication module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 7883223
    Abstract: A mirror system for a motor vehicle comprises a reflective element assembly, a support bracket, a tilt actuator, and a fastener system for fastening at least one of the reflective element assembly and the tilt actuator to at least one of the tilt actuator and the support bracket. The fastener system comprises a projection on one of the reflective element assembly and the support bracket, and a receptacle on the other of the support bracket and the tilt actuator. The projection can be removably interlocked with the receptacle to fasten the reflective element assembly or the tilt actuator to the tilt actuator or the support bracket, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Ian Boddy, Kenneth C. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20100321946
    Abstract: An illumination module for a vehicle includes at least one illumination source for illuminating a target area at the vehicle. The illumination module may be mounted at a handle of a vehicle door and may be operable to illuminate the handle region and/or pocket region of the vehicle door and to illuminate a ground region adjacent to the vehicle and generally below the door handle assembly. The illumination module may include an icon established thereat and the at least one illumination source may back light the icon so that the icon, when the illumination module is activated, is viewable by a person viewing the vehicle. The illumination module may project or direct the illumination toward a targeted area so that the icon is discernible at the targeted area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. Dingman, Brett A. Gorby, Keith D. Foote