Patents by Inventor Kenneth Schofield
Kenneth Schofield 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).
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Patent number: 8095310Abstract: A vehicular video mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector that is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident at the rear of the reflective element. A video display is disposed to the rear of the reflective element and emits light when actuated that passes through the transflective mirror reflector of the reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing the front of the reflective element. The video display is back lit by at least one light source and is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when the interior rearview mirror assembly equipped the reflective element is mounted and is viewed in the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2008Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: David W. Taylor, Kevin C. McCarthy, Niall R. Lynam, Kenneth Schofield
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Patent number: 8095260Abstract: An information display system for a vehicle includes a display screen disposed at an interior cabin of a vehicle so as to be viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle. The information display system is operable to display on the display screen vehicle user information so as to provide information to the driver of the equipped vehicle related to use of the equipped vehicle. The display screen is operable to display video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver. The video images are captured by the rearward facing camera and are displayed on the display screen when the equipped vehicle is executing a reversing maneuver. When the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, the information display system is operable to display on the display screen vehicle user information.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2011Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Kenneth Schofield, Troy O. Cooprider
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Patent number: 8094002Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system includes a mirror mounting button and a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield. An interior rearview mirror assembly has a mirror head and a mirror support, and a structure is configured for mounting to the attachment members attached at the vehicle windshield. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing, and the mirror support includes a mirror mount that is configured to mount the interior rearview mirror assembly to the mirror mounting button. The structure is configured to receive and be supported by the plurality of attachment members at the vehicle windshield, and, with the structure receiving and being supported by the attachment members, (a) the structure at least partially surrounds the mirror mounting button and (b) the structure accommodates a forward facing camera having a field of view through the vehicle windshield.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2011Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 8090153Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes a camera having a field of view exterior of a vehicle with the field of view being in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. The camera is operable to capture image data and an image processor is operable to process the image data. A control, responsive to the image processor, is operable to provide at least (a) an adaptive forward lighting function for at least one forward facing light of the equipped vehicle, (b) a lane departure warning function and (c) a traffic control signage function. The control may provide the traffic control signage function at least in part by recognition of a geometrical organization present in the forward field of view of the camera. The adaptive forward lighting function may provide adjustment of a beam direction of the at least one forward facing light of the equipped vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2011Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20110320066Abstract: An information display system for a vehicle includes a display screen disposed at an interior cabin of a vehicle so as to be viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle. The information display system is operable to display on the display screen vehicle user information so as to provide information to the driver of the equipped vehicle related to use of the equipped vehicle. The display screen is operable to display video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver. The video images are captured by the rearward facing camera and are displayed on the display screen when the equipped vehicle is executing a reversing maneuver. When the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, the information display system is operable to display on the display screen vehicle user information.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth Schofield, Troy O. Cooprider
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Publication number: 20110298927Abstract: A video mirror system includes an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle and a video display screen disposed to the rear of a rear portion of a reflective element. The video display screen emits light when actuated that passes through the transflective mirror reflector of the reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing the front portion of the reflective element. A camera having a field of view rearward of the vehicle is mounted to the rear of the vehicle and, during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle, a video output of the camera is displayed by the video screen so as to assist the driver in reversing the vehicle. The video display screen is operable to display at least one of (i) an instruction, (ii) an icon, (iii) a character, (iv) a symbol and (v) an indicia.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: David W. Taylor, Kevin C. McCarthy, Niall R. Lynam, Kenneth Schofield
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Publication number: 20110292668Abstract: An adaptive forward lighting system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor and a control. The imaging sensor includes a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements, and monitors a scene forward of the direction of travel of the vehicle. The control processes image data from the imaging sensor. Adjustment between a first beam pattern and a second beam pattern of a headlamp of the vehicle is responsive, at least in part, to the processing of the image data. The control may receive vehicle data via a vehicle communication bus, and may adjust between a first beam pattern and a second beam pattern of a headlamp of the vehicle responsive, at least in part, to the vehicle data. The control may process image data to determine, at least in part, a presence, location or characteristic of an object of interest in the forward field of view of the imaging sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventor: Kenneth Schofield
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Publication number: 20110285849Abstract: An image sensing system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor and a control. The imaging sensor has a two-dimensional array of light sensing pixels, and has a forward field of view through the windshield of a vehicle equipped with the image sensing system to the exterior of the equipped vehicle. The imaging sensor is operable to capture image data and the control includes an image processor. The image sensing system determines an object of interest present in the forward field of view of the imaging sensor via processing of the captured image data by the image processor. The image processing includes spatial filtering. The spatial filtering may, at least in part, identify atmospheric conditions. The spatial filtering may include analysis of a spectral signature representative of at least one detected light source present in the forward field of view of the imaging sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth Schofield, Mark L. Larson, Keith J. Vadas
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Patent number: 8063759Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes at least one imaging sensor for sensing images of objects in a forward field of view of the imaging sensor. The imaging system includes a control responsive to an output of the imaging sensor. The control modulates at least one headlamp of the vehicle in response to the output of the imaging sensor. The control may process an output of the imaging sensor to identify a headlamp or taillight of another vehicle in the forward field of view of the at least one imaging sensor and to determine a distance between the controlled vehicle and the identified headlamp or taillight of another vehicle. The control may modulate the at least one headlamp of the vehicle in response to the image processing.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2007Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Brent J. Bos, Kenneth Schofield
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Patent number: 8047667Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly and an information display operable to display information for viewing by the driver of the vehicle through a transflective mirror reflector of a reflective element of the interior rearview mirror assembly. Information display intensity of the information display is adjustable responsive to determination of a light level at the interior rearview mirror assembly by at least one photosensor. The information display is operable to display video images captured by a rearward facing video camera of the vehicle and the information display displays video images captured by the rearward facing video camera during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle. During a reversing maneuver of the vehicle, a signal indicative of the vehicle transmission being in reverse is communicated via a network bus of the vehicle to a control of the interior rearview mirror assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Andrew D. Weller, Rodney K. Blank, Kenneth L. Schierbeek, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam, Troy O. Cooprider
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Patent number: 8044776Abstract: A rear vision system includes a video camera for capturing video images and a video display disposed in the cabin of the vehicle for displaying the video images captured by the camera. The camera has a field of view that at least encompasses a vehicle hitch connector of the vehicle. The display displays the video images for viewing by a driver of the vehicle to assist the driver in connecting the vehicle hitch connector of the vehicle to a tow hitch connector of a trailer. The camera may have an adjustable zoom, an adjustable iris and/or an adjustable field of view. A graphic overlay may be superimposed on the displayed video images for viewing by a driver of the vehicle to guide the driver during a reversing maneuver and/or to assist the driver in connecting a tow hitch connector of a trailer to the vehicle hitch connector of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Kenneth Schofield, Frank O'Brien, Robert L. Bingle, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20110249120Abstract: A camera module for a vision system of a vehicle includes a housing having a base portion and a lens portion and a circuit element. The circuit element includes an imaging sensor and associated circuitry. The circuit element may include an electrical connector having a plurality of terminals. A lens may be disposed at least partially in the lens portion of the housing and the circuit element may be disposed at least partially in the base portion of the housing. The base portion and the lens portion may be welded or sealed together to substantially limit water intrusion into the camera module. The imaging sensor may have a dynamic range of greater than approximately 100 dB, and the dynamic range of the imaging sensor may follow, at least in part, a linear response curve up to approximately 62 dB and a non-linear response curve above approximately 62 dB.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Robert L. Bingle, Joseph Camilleri, Peter J. Whitehead, Kenneth Schofield
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Patent number: 8019505Abstract: An information display system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in an interior cabin of the equipped vehicle. The interior rearview mirror assembly has a mirror reflective element with a mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof. A display screen is disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly, and, when operated, the display screen displays through the mirror reflective element so as to be viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle. The display screen is operable to display video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver, and the video images are captured by the rearward facing camera when the equipped vehicle is in reverse gear. When the equipped vehicle is not in reverse gear, the display screen is operable to display information pertaining to an accessory of the equipped vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Kenneth Schofield, Troy O. Cooprider
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Publication number: 20110216198Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes a camera having a field of view exterior of a vehicle with the field of view being in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. The camera is operable to capture image data and an image processor is operable to process the image data. A control, responsive to the image processor, is operable to provide at least (a) an adaptive forward lighting function for at least one forward facing light of the equipped vehicle, (b) a lane departure warning function and (c) a traffic control signage function. The control may provide the traffic control signage function at least in part by recognition of a geometrical organization present in the forward field of view of the camera. The adaptive forward lighting function may provide adjustment of a beam direction of the at least one forward facing light of the equipped vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 8001696Abstract: A calibration method for calibrating a compass system suitable for use in a vehicle includes sampling data points of a magnetic field with a magneto-responsive sensor and processing output signals of the sensor via compass circuitry. The compass circuitry includes an analog-to-digital converter for converting analog signals of the sensor to digital signals and a digital-to-analog converter for converting digital signals to analog signals that are supplied to the sensor for adjusting the sensor. The output signals of the sensor are adjusted to be within an operable range of an analog-to-digital converter via an initial calibration mode. After completion of the initial calibration mode, output signals of the sensor are processed to determine when the output signals are outside a range of the analog-to-digital converter. An output of a digital-to-analog converter is adjusted to reposition the output signals of the sensor to be within the range of the analog-to-digital converter.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2009Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Kenneth L. Schierbeek, Eric J. Hoekstra, Rodney K. Blank, Merdad Veiseh, Gregory H. DeVette, Kenneth Schofield
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Patent number: 8000894Abstract: A vehicular wireless communication system includes a control in a vehicle operable to communicate with an external service provider via a wireless communication link between the equipped vehicle and the external service provider. The control may receive a user input and responsive thereto, may establish the wireless communication link between the equipped vehicle and the external service provider. Data from the external service provider is downloaded to the control via the wireless communication link. The control controls at least one accessory of the vehicle, and the control may control the accessory responsive to at least one of (a) a geographic location of the vehicle as determined by a global positioning system of the equipped vehicle and (b) a biometric characteristic of an occupant of the equipped vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2010Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: David W. Taylor, Kevin C. McCarthy, Niall R. Lynam, Kenneth Schofield
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Patent number: 7994462Abstract: A vehicular image sensing system includes an imaging sensor having a forward field of view to the exterior of and through the windshield of an equipped vehicle. The imaging sensor is operable to capture image data and the image sensing system includes a control having an image processor. The image sensing system identifies objects of interest in the forward field of view of the image sensor via processing of the captured image data by the image processor. Identification of objects of interest may be enhanced by comparing objects over successive frames of captured image data. Objects of interest may be qualified and/or disqualified based at least in part on object motion in the field of view of the imaging sensor. The image processing may include pattern recognition.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Kenneth Schofield, Mark L. Larson, Keith J. Vadas
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Publication number: 20110181727Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly and an information display operable to display information for viewing by the driver of the vehicle through a transflective mirror reflector of a reflective element of the interior rearview mirror assembly. Information display intensity of the information display is adjustable responsive to determination of a light level at the interior rearview mirror assembly by at least one photosensor. The information display is operable to display video images captured by a rearward facing video camera of the vehicle and the information display displays video images captured by the rearward facing video camera during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle. During a reversing maneuver of the vehicle, a signal indicative of the vehicle transmission being in reverse is communicated via a network bus of the vehicle to a control of the interior rearview mirror assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Andrew D. Weller, Rodney K. Blank, Kenneth L. Schierbeek, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam, Troy O. Cooprider
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Publication number: 20110164135Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system includes a mirror mounting button and a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield. An interior rearview mirror assembly has a mirror head and a mirror support, and a structure is configured for mounting to the attachment members attached at the vehicle windshield. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing, and the mirror support includes a mirror mount that is configured to mount the interior rearview mirror assembly to the mirror mounting button. The structure is configured to receive and be supported by the plurality of attachment members at the vehicle windshield, and, with the structure receiving and being supported by the attachment members, (a) the structure at least partially surrounds the mirror mounting button and (b) the structure accommodates a forward facing camera having a field of view through the vehicle windshield.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 7972045Abstract: A vehicle headlamp control system includes an imaging sensor and a control. The control processes data from the imaging sensor and generates at least one control output. Selection of a high beam state and a low beam state for a vehicle headlamp is responsive to the control output, and is determined responsive to a detection of an object of interest. The control is responsive to a signal indicative of a vehicle speed of the controlled vehicle, and inhibits adjustment of the vehicle headlamp from a low beam state to a high beam state when the vehicle speed is below a threshold speed level. The control is responsive to data indicative of a vehicle trajectory of the controlled vehicle, and inhibits adjustment of the vehicle headlamp from a low beam state to a high beam state when a radius of curvature of the vehicle trajectory is below a threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2007Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventor: Kenneth Schofield