Patents by Inventor Kenneth C. Peterson

Kenneth C. Peterson 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: 11975654
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head accommodates a reflective element. A powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head relative to the mounting base between at least an extended position and a folded position. The powerfold actuator includes a primary detent state that is engaged to maintain the mirror head at the extended position when the mirror head is pivoted via the powerfold actuator to the extended position. When the mirror head is manually moved from the folded position to the extended position, the powerfold operator is in a secondary detent to maintain the mirror head at the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Mitchell J. Wesley
  • Publication number: 20240125154
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion configured to mount at an exterior door handle region of a vehicular door, a handle portion, and a sensing device operable to sense presence of a person's fingers in a pocket region behind the lower portion of the handle. The handle portion is pivotable between a non-deployed orientation, where an outer surface of the handle portion is coplanar with an outer surface of the vehicular door at the exterior door handle region, and a deployed orientation, where the handle portion is pivoted inward into a door handle pocket within the vehicular door. With the handle in the deployed orientation and when a person's fingers are in the pocket region, the sensing device senses presence of the person's fingers at the pocket region and triggers an actuator of the vehicular exterior door handle assembly to unlatch the vehicular door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Justin E. Sobecki
  • Publication number: 20240116442
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting base configured to mount the mirror assembly at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head accommodates a reflective element and an indicator module. With the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle, and responsive to actuation by a driver of the vehicle of a turn signal input of the plurality of inputs, the indicator module projects a turn signal icon onto the ground proximate the side of the vehicle. With the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle, and responsive to another input of the plurality of inputs, the indicator module projects another icon onto the ground proximate the side of the vehicle. The other icon projected onto the ground is a different color than the turn signal icon projected onto the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Kenneth C. Peterson, Darryl P. De Wind, Jake A. Mohan, Matthew V. Steffes, Eric S. Deuel
  • Publication number: 20240092265
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system includes a vehicle door having an inner sheet metal portion and an outer sheet metal portion. A base bracket includes (i) a body portion, (ii) a mirror mounting portion that extends from the body portion and (iii) an attaching portion that extends from the body portion. The attaching portion is attached at the inner sheet metal portion of the vehicle door. The body portion of the base bracket is partially disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle door between the inner sheet metal portion and the outer sheet metal portion. The mirror mounting portion extends outboard of the outer sheet metal portion from the body portion. A mirror head is attached at the mirror mounting portion of the base bracket. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
  • Patent number: 11912204
    Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes a camera device disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle. The camera device includes a pivotable arm that accommodates a camera. The pivotable arm is pivotally mounted at a mounting base at the vehicle and is pivotable between at least a drive position and a folded position. An actuator includes a pivot post structure attached to the mounting base and an output gear disposed at the pivot post structure, the actuator operable to pivot the pivotable arm about the output gear. The actuator includes a primary detent that is engaged to maintain the pivotable arm at the drive position when the pivotable arm is pivoted to the drive position. The actuator includes a secondary detent that is disengaged when the pivotable arm is manually pivoted between the folded position and the drive position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Anthony J. LaCross, Mitchell J. Wesley
  • Patent number: 11904773
    Abstract: A method for assembling a mirror reflective element sub-assembly for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes assembling an indicator module by heat staking a printed circuit board at a receiving part of a housing to form a housing and printed circuit board assembly and dispensing potting material at the printed circuit board to seal the printed circuit board at the housing and aligning and taping a diffuser at the housing. A back plate is provided that has an indicator attaching portion for attaching the indicator module. The back plate is placed at a support fixture and a mirror reflective element is attached at the back plate. The indicator module is attached at the indicator attaching portion of the back plate. Light emitted by the indicator module, when electrically powered to emit light, passes through the mirror reflective element at an aperture of the back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew S. Van Oeveren, Jeffrey R. Westbrook
  • Patent number: 11851920
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion configured to mount at an exterior door handle region of a vehicular door, a handle portion pivotally mounted at the base portion, and a light projection device. The handle portion is pivotable between a non-deployed orientation, where an outer surface of the handle portion is coplanar with an outer surface of the vehicular door at the exterior door handle region, and a deployed orientation, where the handle portion is pivoted inward into a door handle pocket within the vehicular door. The light projection device is operable to project an icon or character onto the outer surface of the handle portion when the handle portion is in the deployed orientation. The light projection device projects the icon or character responsive to the handle portion pivoting to the deployed orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Justin E. Sobecki
  • Patent number: 11851004
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a reflective element. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a turn signal indicator. The turn signal indicator, with the mounting base of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the vehicle, and responsive to actuation by a driver of the vehicle of a turn signal of the vehicle, projects a turn signal icon onto the ground proximate the side of the vehicle. The turn signal indicator may be disposed at a lower region of the mirror casing and may intermittently project a direction-indicating icon or shape onto the ground, with the direction-indicating shape indicating a direction away from the side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    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
  • Publication number: 20230382303
    Abstract: A vehicular lighted exterior door handle system includes a lighted exterior door handle assembly and a light module disposed at the door handle assembly. The light module includes a circuit board having a plurality of illumination sources disposed thereat. Individual illumination sources of the plurality of illumination sources are electrically operable to emit light. When the individual illumination sources are electrically operated with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, the light module emits light at least outboard away from the door of the equipped vehicle. With the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, the light module is operable to indicate a charge level of a battery of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Kenneth C. Peterson, Mitchell J. Wesley, Martin A. Hauff
  • Publication number: 20230373392
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle and a mirror head having a mirror reflective element. With the mounting arm attached at the side of the vehicle, the mirror reflective element is oriented to provide a driver of the vehicle a field of view rearward and sideward of the vehicle when the mirror head is in a retracted position and when the mirror head is in an extended position. With the mounting arm attached at the side of the vehicle, and when the mirror head is moved along the mounting arm, angle of the mirror head relative to the side of the vehicle at which the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached adjusts to provide the driver of the vehicle the field of view rearward and sideward of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
  • Patent number: 11766968
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting structure and a mirror head pivotally mounted at the mounting structure via a pivot joint. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a display and mirror assembly, which includes a frame portion, a video display screen at a front side of the frame portion, and a mirror reflective element at a front side of the video mirror display screen. The mirror reflective element includes a variable reflectivity liquid crystal (VRLC) stack of layers, which have a liquid crystal (LC) layer disposed between a rear glass substrate and a front glass substrate. The front and rear glass substrates are integrated in the VRLC stack of layers. With the mounting structure mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle, the video display screen is operable to display video images derived from video images provided by an ECU of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen, Gabriele W. Sabatini, Traian Miu
  • Publication number: 20230256907
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head accommodates a reflective element. A powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head relative to the mounting base between at least an extended position and a folded position. The powerfold actuator includes a primary detent state that is engaged to maintain the mirror head at the extended position when the mirror head is pivoted via the powerfold actuator to the extended position. When the mirror head is manually moved from the folded position to the extended position, the powerfold operator is in a secondary detent to maintain the mirror head at the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Mitchell J. Wesley
  • Publication number: 20230256906
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head movably attached at a mounting base configured for mounting at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element. An actuator is operable to move the mirror head relative to the mounting base between at least an extended position and a folded position. The actuator includes a first detent interface that is engaged to maintain the mirror head at the folded or extended position when the mirror head is moved via the actuator to that position. The actuator includes a second detent interface that is engaged to maintain the mirror head at the folded or extended position when the mirror head is manually moved to that position. The second detent interface is not engaged while the actuator moves the mirror head between the folded position and the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Mitchell J. Wesley
  • Patent number: 11718233
    Abstract: A vehicular lighted exterior door handle system includes a lighted exterior door handle assembly and a light module disposed at the door handle assembly. The light module includes at least three illumination sources linearly arranged at a circuit board and individually operable to emit light. With the door handle assembly mounted at a door of a vehicle, the individual illumination sources are operated responsive to a user input that is actuatable by a driver of the vehicle to activate a turn signal indicator system of the vehicle. With the door handle assembly mounted at the door of the vehicle, and when the illumination sources are operated to emit light responsive to actuation of the user input, an operation sequence of the individual illumination sources is varied between at least a first operation sequence and a second operation sequence based at least in part on movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Kenneth C. Peterson, Mitchell J. Wesley, Martin A. Hauff
  • Patent number: 11718232
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head adjustably mounted at a mounting arm via a link that pivotally attaches at one end to the mirror head and pivotally attaches at another end to the mounting arm. With the mounting arm attached at the side of a vehicle, the mirror head is adjustable relative to the mounting arm between a retracted position and an extended position. An adjustment mechanism is operable to adjust the mirror head relative to the mounting arm and includes an electrically operated motor that operates to pivotally adjust the link, which swings the mirror head along an arcuate path. When the motor is operated to pivotally adjust the link to adjust the mirror head relative to the mounting arm, an angle of the mirror head relative to the side of the vehicle at which the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached is also adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew V. Steffes
  • Publication number: 20230242035
    Abstract: A method for assembling a mirror reflective element sub-assembly for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes assembling an indicator module by heat staking a printed circuit board at a receiving part of a housing to form a housing and printed circuit board assembly and dispensing potting material at the printed circuit board to seal the printed circuit board at the housing and aligning and taping a diffuser at the housing. A back plate is provided that has an indicator attaching portion for attaching the indicator module. The back plate is placed at a support fixture and a mirror reflective element is attached at the back plate. The indicator module is attached at the indicator attaching portion of the back plate. Light emitted by the indicator module, when electrically powered to emit light, passes through the mirror reflective element at an aperture of the back plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Matthew S. Van Oeveren, Jeffrey R. Westbrook
  • Publication number: 20230191996
    Abstract: A vehicular lighted exterior door handle system includes a lighted exterior door handle assembly and a light module disposed at the door handle assembly. The light module includes at least three illumination sources linearly arranged at a circuit board and individually operable to emit light. With the door handle assembly mounted at a door of a vehicle, the individual illumination sources are operated responsive to a user input that is actuatable by a driver of the vehicle to activate a turn signal indicator system of the vehicle. With the door handle assembly mounted at the door of the vehicle, and when the illumination sources are operated to emit light responsive to actuation of the user input, an operation sequence of the individual illumination sources is varied between at least a first operation sequence and a second operation sequence based at least in part on movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Kenneth C. Peterson, Mitchell J. Wesley, Martin A. Hauff
  • Patent number: 11680431
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door system includes a door handle assembly configured for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle. The door handle assembly includes a pocket lighting module comprising at least one light emitting diode operable to emit light to illuminate a pocket region of the door handle region. The door handle assembly includes a plurality of touch sensors linearly arranged along a handle portion and generating sensor data based on detection of touch at the respective touch sensor. The vehicular exterior door system, with the door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region, and responsive to processing at the processor of the sensor data generated by individual touch sensors of the plurality of touch sensors, determines a touch event at the door handle assembly and, responsive to the determined touch event, unlocks the vehicle door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Eric Peterson, Nathan Z. Hellwig, Michael T. McNally, Gregory A. Huizen, Kenneth C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11634076
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head movably attached at a mounting base configured for mounting at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element. An actuator is operable to move the mirror head relative to the mounting base between at least an extended position and a folded position. The actuator includes a first detent interface that is engaged to maintain the mirror head at the folded or extended position when the mirror head is moved via the actuator to that position. The actuator includes a second detent interface that is engaged to maintain the mirror head at the folded or extended position when the mirror head is manually moved to that position. The second detent interface is not engaged while the actuator moves the mirror head between the folded position and the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Mitchell J. Wesley
  • Patent number: 11634077
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting arm configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a reflective element. A powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head relative to the mounting arm between at least a folded position and a drive position. The powerfold actuator includes a primary detent that is engaged to maintain the mirror head at the drive position when the mirror head is pivoted via the powerfold actuator to the drive position. The powerfold actuator includes a secondary detent. Following pivoting via the powerfold actuator of the mirror head to the folded position, when the mirror head is manually pivoted from the folded position to the drive position, the primary detent is disengaged and the secondary detent is engaged to maintain the mirror head at the drive position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Mitchell J. Wesley