Patents by Inventor Keith Hoelscher

Keith Hoelscher 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: 20230267748
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to vehicle exterior imaging systems that capture and display views of the exterior environment to vehicle operators. An exemplary vehicle exterior imaging system may include a glass panel including a combiner positioned between a first layer of glass and a second layer of glass, a first exterior side-view imager assembly configured to capture images of a vehicle exterior environment, and a projector assembly configured to project an output image onto the glass panel. The output image is based on the images captured by the first exterior side-view imager assembly. The glass panel may be part of either a windshield or a door window, and the projector assembly may be mounted either outside or inside of a housing of the first exterior side-view imager assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Stuart C. SALTER, Paul Kenneth DELLOCK, David Brian GLICKMAN, Keith HOELSCHER
  • Patent number: 11682216
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to vehicle exterior imaging systems that capture and display views of the exterior environment to vehicle operators. An exemplary vehicle exterior imaging system may include a glass panel including a combiner positioned between a first layer of glass and a second layer of glass, a first exterior side-view imager assembly configured to capture images of a vehicle exterior environment, and a projector assembly configured to project an output image onto the glass panel. The output image is based on the images captured by the first exterior side-view imager assembly. The glass panel may be part of either a windshield or a door window, and the projector assembly may be mounted either outside or inside of a housing of the first exterior side-view imager assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman, Keith Hoelscher
  • Publication number: 20210117695
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to vehicle exterior imaging systems that capture and display views of the exterior environment to vehicle operators. An exemplary vehicle exterior imaging system may include a glass panel including a combiner positioned between a first layer of glass and a second layer of glass, a first exterior side-view imager assembly configured to capture images of a vehicle exterior environment, and a projector assembly configured to project an output image onto the glass panel. The output image is based on the images captured by the first exterior side-view imager assembly. The glass panel may be part of either a windshield or a door window, and the projector assembly may be mounted either outside or inside of a housing of the first exterior side-view imager assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Stuart C. SALTER, Paul Kenneth DELLOCK, David Brian GLICKMAN, Keith HOELSCHER
  • Patent number: 10773648
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling one or more side mirrors of a vehicle. An example vehicle includes a trailer sensor, brake sensor, and speed sensor, a side mirror, and a processor. The processor is configured to set the side mirror in a first position responsive to determining via the trailer sensor and speed sensor that a trailer is attached, and that a vehicle speed is above a threshold speed. And the processor is further configured to transition the side mirror to a second position responsive to determining that vehicle brakes have been applied for a threshold duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Erick Michael Lavoie, Keith Hoelscher, Pietro Buttolo
  • Patent number: 10576893
    Abstract: An illumination assembly for a vehicle is provided herein. The illumination assembly may employ a projection assembly that may be disposed within a housing extending from a portion of a vehicle. A window is disposed on the vehicle and may be optically coupled with the projection assembly. A luminescent structure may be disposed within the window and is excited by the projection assembly. A controller may be configured to activate the projection assembly to selectively illuminate indicia on the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Annette Lynn Huebner, Keith Hoelscher, Craig Willbanks
  • Patent number: 10501016
    Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a side mirror assembly having a mirror housing and a mirror. The mirror housing is moveable between a normal position and a partially-folded position, and the mirror is moveable relative to the mirror housing such that a line of sight remains the same in the normal and partially-folded positions. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Keith Hoelscher, Erick Michael Lavoie, Pietro Buttolo
  • Patent number: 10391943
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror assembly is provided herein. The vehicle mirror assembly includes a housing operable between a deployed position and a folded position. A lamp assembly is coupled to the housing and has a first light source configured to direct light rearwardly of the housing and a second light source configured to direct light forwardly of the housing. The housing is configured to move from the deployed position to the folded position when an object is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Ulrich Stuhec, Keith Hoelscher
  • Publication number: 20190118715
    Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a side mirror assembly having a mirror housing and a mirror. The mirror housing is moveable between a normal position and a partially-folded position, and the mirror is moveable relative to the mirror housing such that a line of sight remains the same in the normal and partially-folded positions. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Keith Hoelscher, Erick Michael Lavoie, Pietro Buttolo
  • Publication number: 20190106058
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror assembly is provided herein. The vehicle mirror assembly includes a housing operable between a deployed position and a folded position. A lamp assembly is coupled to the housing and has a first light source configured to direct light rearwardly of the housing and a second light source configured to direct light forwardly of the housing. The housing is configured to move from the deployed position to the folded position when an object is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Ulrich Stuhec, Keith Hoelscher
  • Publication number: 20190077315
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling one or more side mirrors of a vehicle. An example vehicle includes a trailer sensor, brake sensor, and speed sensor, a side mirror, and a processor. The processor is configured to set the side mirror in a first position responsive to determining via the trailer sensor and speed sensor that a trailer is attached, and that a vehicle speed is above a threshold speed. And the processor is further configured to transition the side mirror to a second position responsive to determining that vehicle brakes have been applied for a threshold duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Erick Michael Lavoie, Keith Hoelscher, Pietro Buttolo
  • Patent number: 10166913
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a side mirror positioned on an A-pillar. A light assembly is coupled with a bottom surface of the side mirror. The light assembly is configured to illuminate a plurality of photoluminescent structures located within an interior and on an exterior of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a door off configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Keith Hoelscher
  • Patent number: 10137825
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror assembly is provided herein. The mirror assembly includes a first light source disposed within a housing and is operably coupled with a first light output window disposed on an outboard portion of the housing. A door ajar sensor is disposed within a vehicle. Emitted light is emanated from the first light output window through a window of the vehicle when the door ajar sensor detects a vehicle door is in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Ulrich Stuhec, Keith Hoelscher, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Patent number: 10118451
    Abstract: A disclosed system and method for adjusting vehicle mirrors automatically moves mirror assemblies to an extended trailering position in response to initiation of a hitching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo, Erick Michael Lavoie, Keith Hoelscher
  • Publication number: 20180264999
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a side mirror positioned on an A-pillar. A light assembly is coupled with a bottom surface of the side mirror. The light assembly is configured to illuminate a plurality of photoluminescent structures located within an interior and on an exterior of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a door off configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Keith Hoelscher
  • Publication number: 20160297356
    Abstract: A warning indicator system for a vehicle includes an indicator for providing visible signals within a reflective surface of a rear-vision mirror. The indicator is operatively connected to a proximity sensor system and to a turn signal control system of the vehicle. The indicator provides a first visible signal when the turn signal control system is activated and provides a second visible signal when the turn signal control system and the proximity sensor system are activated. The first visible signal may be a first color and the second visible signal may be a second color that is different from the first color. The indicator may be defined by a first printed LED symbol for providing the first visible signal and a second printed LED symbol for providing the second visible signal. Rear-vision mirror assemblies including the described warning indicator system are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter, Keith A. Hoelscher, Michael A. Musleh, Mary Beth Angotti
  • Publication number: 20160297366
    Abstract: A warning indicator system for a vehicle includes an indicator for providing visible signals within a reflective surface of a rear-vision mirror, operatively connected to at least a turn signal control system of the vehicle. The indicator is defined by a plurality of images activated sequentially to present an animated image to a viewer. The plurality of images is provided by a plurality of printed LED symbols disposed adjacent to one another within the rear-vision minor reflective surface. At least one processor operatively connected to the plurality of printed LED symbols and to the turn signal control system is configured to iteratively activate and deactivate the plurality of printed LED symbols in response to a signal from the turn signal control system. In this fashion, an animated turn signal indicator is provided within a reflective surface of a rear-vision minor such as a side minor of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter, Keith A. Hoelscher, Michael A. Musleh, Harry Lobo, Mary Beth Angotti