Patents by Inventor Kenton J. Ypma
Kenton J. Ypma 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: 7287868Abstract: An electrochromic mirror includes an integrated internal plate frame with an electrochromic mirror subassembly adhered to its flat front surface, electrical components supported on a rear with the frame acting as a heat sink and EMI/RFI shield, and a back cover supported on the plate frame. The subassembly is uniformly supported across the front surface of the plate frame for good mirror impact resistance. The mirror is supported by an angularly adjustable ball-and-socket connection. In one embodiment, the ball is formed integrally on the plate frame. The present mirror is surprisingly thin, with at least 50% of the depth dimensions being less than about 3.0 centimeters.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2003Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: John W. Carter, Wayne Rumsey, Kenton J. Ypma, Daniel J. Bostwick, Jeremy A. Fogg
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Patent number: 7207702Abstract: An apparatus including at least one LED mounted to a printed circuit board, a reflector including at least one heat stake, and a mounting plate comprising at least one aperture for receiving the at least one heat stake. The at least one LED is positioned between the reflector and the mounting plate such that the at least one LED is held in position when the at least one heat stake is received within the at least one aperture.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Jeremy A. Walser, Kenton J. Ypma, Daniel J. Bostwick, John K. Roberts, Robert Steel, Steven J. Miskelley, Darin D. Tuttle
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Patent number: 7142345Abstract: A mirror assembly includes a housing, an angularly adjustable power pack, wires for supplying power and mirror angle control, an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a heater, and a turn signal device. The components include individual connectors that plug into a multi-prong connector on the bundle of wires, or that piggyback into each other. Optionally, the heater incorporates an internal wire with end connectors for communicating power to opposite sides of the heater, and also includes layers of light-transmitting/diffusing material for diffusing light passing from the turn signal device through the diffusing material. A printed circuit board fits into a pocket in the panel-shaped carrier, and an integral retainer releasably secures the printed circuit board. The power pack is attached to the carrier via a ring of resilient fingers, and a continuous hoop flange prevents distortion of the carrier and in turn of the glass elements in the mirror subassembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2005Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Timothy A. Bonardi, Randall J. Beute, Randall S. Braun, Bradley L. Busscher, Kenton J. Ypma, Gregory A. Bosch, Edward L. DeNave, Daniel J. Bostwick, Wayne M. Jordan, John K. Roberts
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Patent number: 6963438Abstract: A mirror assembly includes a housing, an angularly adjustable power pack, wires for supplying power and mirror angle control, an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a heater, and a turn signal device. The components include individual connectors that plug into a multi-prong connector on the bundle of wires, or that piggyback into each other. Optionally, the heater incorporates an internal wire with end connectors for communicating power to opposite sides of the heater, and also includes layers of light-transmitting/diffusing material for diffusing light passing from the turn signal device through the diffusing material. A printed circuit board fits into a pocket in the panel-shaped carrier, and an integral retainer releasably secures the printed circuit board. The power pack is attached to the carrier via a ring of resilient fingers, and a continuous hoop flange prevents distortion of the carrier and in turn of the glass elements in the mirror subassembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2003Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Bradley L. Busscher, Bradley L. Northman, Kenton J. Ypma, Randall J. Beute, John K. Roberts, Wayne M. Jordan, Edward L. DeNave, Daniel J. Bostwick, Randall S. Braun, Gregory A. Bosch, Timothy A. Bonardi
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Publication number: 20040207940Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a plate frame, a mirror adjacent a front of the plate frame, a pivot ball connected to the plate frame for pivoting the plate frame, and a mount connected to the pivot ball and configured to be connected to a windshield of a vehicle. At least one of the plate frame, the pivot ball and the mount are made of a material comprising a magnesium alloy.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: John W. Carter, Wayne Rumsey, Kenton J. Ypma, Daniel J. Bostwick, Jeremy A. Fogg
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Patent number: 6805474Abstract: An apparatus including at least one LED mounted to a printed circuit board, a reflector including at least one heat stake, and a mounting plate comprising at least one aperture for receiving the at least one heat stake. The at least one LED is positioned between the reflector and the mounting plate such that the at least one LED is held in position when the at least one heat stake is received within the at least one aperture.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2002Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Jeremy A. Walser, Kenton J. Ypma, Daniel J. Bostwick, John K. Roberts, Robert Steel, Steven J. Miskelley, Darin D. Tuttle
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Publication number: 20040196577Abstract: An electrochromic mirror includes an integrated internal plate frame with an electrochromic mirror subassembly adhered to its flat front surface, electrical components supported on a rear with the frame acting as a heat sink and EMI/RFI shield, and a back cover supported on the plate frame. The subassembly is uniformly supported across the front surface of the plate frame for good mirror impact resistance. The mirror is supported by an angularly adjustable ball-and-socket connection. In one embodiment, the ball is formed integrally on the plate frame. The present mirror is surprisingly thin, with at least 50% of the depth dimensions being less than about 3.0 centimeters.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2003Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventors: John W. Carter, Wayne Rumsey, Kenton J. Ypma, Daniel J. Bostwick, Jeremy A. Fogg
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Publication number: 20040095632Abstract: A mirror assembly includes a housing, an angularly adjustable power pack, wires for supplying power and mirror angle control, an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a heater, and a turn signal device. The components include individual connectors that plug into a multi-prong connector on the bundle of wires, or that piggyback into each other. Optionally, the heater incorporates an internal wire with end connectors for communicating power to opposite sides of the heater, and also includes layers of light-transmitting/diffusing material for diffusing light passing from the turn signal device through the diffusing material. A printed circuit board fits into a pocket in the panel-shaped carrier, and an integral retainer releasably secures the printed circuit board. The power pack is attached to the carrier via a ring of resilient fingers, and a continuous hoop flange prevents distortion of the carrier and in turn of the glass elements in the mirror subassembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Bradley L. Busscher, Bradley L. Northman, Kenton J. Ypma, Randall J. Beute, John K. Roberts, Wayne M. Jordan, Edward L. DeNave, Daniel J. Bostwick, Randall S. Braun, Gregory A. Bosch, Timothy A. Bonardi
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Patent number: 6650457Abstract: A mirror assembly includes a housing, an angularly adjustable power pack, wires for supplying power and mirror angle control, an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a heater, and a turn signal device. The components include individual connectors that plug into a multi-prong connector on the bundle of wires, or that piggyback into each other. Optionally, the heater incorporates an internal wire with end connectors for communicating power to opposite sides of the heater, and also includes layers of light-transmitting/diffusing material for diffusing light passing from the turn signal device through the diffusing material. A printed circuit board fits into a pocket in the panel-shaped carrier, and an integral retainer releasably secures the printed circuit board. The power pack is attached to the carrier via a ring of resilient fingers, and a continuous hoop flange prevents distortion of the carrier and in turn of the glass elements in the mirror subassembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Bradley L. Busscher, Bradley L. Northman, Kenton J. Ypma, Randall J. Beute, John K. Roberts, Wayne M. Jordan, Edward L. DeNave, Daniel J. Bostwick, Randall S. Braun, Gregory A. Bosch, Timothy A. Bonardi
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Publication number: 20030043590Abstract: An apparatus including at least one LED mounted to a printed circuit board, a reflector including at least one heat stake, and a mounting plate comprising at least one aperture for receiving the at least one heat stake. The at least one LED is positioned between the reflector and the mounting plate such that the at least one LED is held in position when the at least one heat stake is received within the at least one aperture.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2002Publication date: March 6, 2003Inventors: Jeremy A. Walser, Kenton J. Ypma, Daniel J. Bostwick, John K. Roberts, Robert Steel, Steven J. Miskelley, Darin D. Tuttle
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Publication number: 20020171906Abstract: A mirror assembly includes a housing, an angularly adjustable power pack, wires for supplying power and mirror angle control, an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a heater, and a turn signal device. The components include individual connectors that plug into a multi-prong connector on the bundle of wires, or that piggyback into each other. Optionally, the heater incorporates an internal wire with end connectors for communicating power to opposite sides of the heater, and also includes layers of light-transmitting/diffusing material for diffusing light passing from the turn signal device through the diffusing material. A printed circuit board fits into a pocket in the panel-shaped carrier, and an integral retainer releasably secures the printed circuit board. The power pack is attached to the carrier via a ring of resilient fingers, and a continuous hoop flange prevents distortion of the carrier and in turn of the glass elements in the mirror subassembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2001Publication date: November 21, 2002Inventors: Bradley L. Busscher, Bradley L. Northman, Kenton J. Ypma, Randall J. Beute, John K. Roberts, Wayne M. Jordan, Edward L. DeNave, Daniel J. Bostwick, Randall S. Braun, Gregory A. Bosch, Timothy A. Bonardi
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Patent number: 6471362Abstract: An electrified rearview mirror includes a housing supporting a rearview mirror subassembly, and a bezel attached to the housing. The bezel includes a section of material defining a plurality of three-sided button openings on a face of the bezel, with the openings extending onto a bottom wall of the housing. A push-button is pivotally supported in each opening, with the hinge axis of the push-buttons being at a low position on the respective buttons so that the buttons are not accidentally depressed when the mirror housing is grasped by a vehicle driver to adjust an angle of the mirror. The bezel and buttons include pairs of tabs and mating slots that form a quick-attach bottom pivot, and further include stops and hooks at their top that form stroke-limiting mechanisms for controlling button movement. The buttons can be operably snapped into position on the bezel with minimal assembly time.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2000Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: John W. Carter, Kenton J. Ypma, Wayne J. Rumsey
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Patent number: 6170956Abstract: A mirror includes an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear transparent elements, a layer of electrochromic material associated with the front and rear transparent elements, and a reflective layer, a portion of the reflective layer defining an opening. An indicia panel is located proximate the mirror subassembly and covers the opening, and one or more light sources are positioned to pass light through the indicia panel and the opening of the electrochromic mirror subassembly to illuminate detailed symbols and information on the indicia panel. The indicia panel is adhered to the mirror subassembly, and a housing and a mating bezel are configured to receive the mirror subassembly. The indicia panel includes a pair of apertured locator tabs, and the bezel includes protrusions that engage the apertured locator tabs to accurately locate the indicia panel and the mirror subassembly and also a printed circuit board in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Wayne J. Rumsey, John W. Carter, Kenton J. Ypma, Bradley L. Northman, Frederick T. Bauer, Mark W. Durnwald
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Patent number: D441703Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1999Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Wayne J. Rumsey, John W. Carter, Kenton J. Ypma, Bradley L. Northman, Frederick T. Bauer
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Patent number: D450281Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2000Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Kenton J. Ypma, Wayne J. Rumsey, Alan R. Watson, Michael A. Bryson, John W. Carter
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Patent number: D466456Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2001Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: John W. Carter, Kenton J. Ypma, Wayne J. Rumsey
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Patent number: D543917Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2005Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: John W. Carter, Kenton J. Ypma
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Patent number: D478536Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2000Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Wayne J. Rumsey, John W. Carter, Kenton J. Ypma, Bradley L. Northman, Frederick T. Bauer