Patents by Inventor Lee Karner

Lee Karner 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: 11813987
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer hitching assist system includes a rear backup camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and a control disposed in the vehicle. A display device includes a video display screen operable to display video images for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. Responsive to the driver initiating a hitching maneuver event by engaging reverse gear of the vehicle, rear backup video images derived from image data captured by the rear backup camera are displayed at the video display screen. An overlay overlays the displayed rear backup video images and aids in guiding connection of a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to a trailer tongue of a trailer. Continued display of rear backup video images that are overlaid by the overlay is ceased upon elapse of a threshold period of time or upon exceeding a threshold speed or upon exceeding a threshold distance traveled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Lee Karner, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20230202388
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer hitching assist system includes a rear backup camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and a control disposed in the vehicle. A display device includes a video display screen operable to display video images for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. Responsive to the driver initiating a hitching maneuver event by engaging reverse gear of the vehicle, rear backup video images derived from image data captured by the rear backup camera are displayed at the video display screen. An overlay overlays the displayed rear backup video images and aids in guiding connection of a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to a trailer tongue of a trailer. Continued display of rear backup video images that are overlaid by the overlay is ceased upon elapse of a threshold period of time or upon exceeding a threshold speed or upon exceeding a threshold distance traveled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Lee Karner, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11635194
    Abstract: An electrical element holder includes a printed circuit board having a receiver. A resilient holder is electrically engaged with the receiver. The resilient holder includes a holding portion that is defined within an outward surface of the resilient holder and between opposing resilient arms. An electrical element is secured within the holding portion between the opposing resilient arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GHSP, Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Winans, Lee Karner, Andrew VanTimmeren, Ryan Mass, Samuel Wachowski
  • Patent number: 11577646
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer hitching assist system includes a rear backup camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and a control disposed in the vehicle. A display device includes a video display screen operable to display video images for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. During a hitching maneuver event undertaken by the driver to hitch a trailer hitch of the vehicle to a trailer tongue of a trailer, and while the driver of the vehicle is maneuvering the vehicle to hitch the vehicle to the trailer, the control outputs video images derived from image data captured by the rear backup camera for display by the video display screen. At least one overlay overlays the displayed video images to guide the driver during the hitching maneuver. The at least one overlay aids in guiding connection of the trailer hitch of the vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Lee Karner, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11433816
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a reflective element assembly portion that includes a mirror reflective element and at least one pivot element, which provides adjustability of the mirror reflective element when the reflective element assembly portion is mounted within an interior cabin of a vehicle. A cap portion is adapted to attach to the reflective element assembly portion. The cap portion includes at least one accessory. The at least one accessory includes an accessory module insertable at least partially into the cap portion. Insertion of the accessory module into the cap portion connects the accessory module to the cap portion both mechanically and electrically. The cap portion may encase a rear portion of the reflective element assembly portion, and a mounting member may extend from the pivot element and through an aperture of the cap portion for mounting the mirror assembly within the interior cabin of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20220032844
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer hitching assist system includes a rear backup camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and a control disposed in the vehicle. A display device includes a video display screen operable to display video images for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. During a hitching maneuver event undertaken by the driver to hitch a trailer hitch of the vehicle to a trailer tongue of a trailer, and while the driver of the vehicle is maneuvering the vehicle to hitch the vehicle to the trailer, the control outputs video images derived from image data captured by the rear backup camera for display by the video display screen. At least one overlay overlays the displayed video images to guide the driver during the hitching maneuver. The at least one overlay aids in guiding connection of the trailer hitch of the vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Lee Karner, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11155210
    Abstract: A vehicular driving assist system includes a rearward viewing camera, a driver-side camera, a passenger-side camera and at least one radar sensor. Image data captured by the cameras is provided to a control and radar data captured by the radar sensor is provided to the control. The control processes the provided captured data to determine a potential hazard presented by rear-approaching traffic. The control outputs video image data for display by a display device of the equipped vehicle. The display device includes a video display screen that displays video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle during operation of the equipped vehicle. The control processes provided captured image data and provided captured radar data to alert the driver to the determined potential hazard presented by the rear-approaching traffic in the side traffic lane adjacent to the traffic lane being traveled by the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Lee Karner, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20210317974
    Abstract: An electrical element holder includes a printed circuit board having a receiver. A resilient holder is electrically engaged with the receiver. The resilient holder includes a holding portion that is defined within an outward surface of the resilient holder and between opposing resilient arms. An electrical element is secured within the holding portion between the opposing resilient arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Emily Winans, Lee Karner, Andrew VanTimmeren, Ryan Mass, Samuel Wachowski
  • Patent number: 11072286
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head having a mirror casing and a transflective reflective element. Individual user input elements of a plurality of user input elements are arranged in a row below the transflective reflective element. At least one of the individual user input elements is a user input element for an imaging system of the vehicle. Each individual display element of a plurality of display elements is associated with a respective user input element of the plurality of user input elements. Each individual display element of the plurality of display elements is selectively activated by activation of its respective user input element. Each individual display element and its respective user input element are located local to one another such that a cognitive relationship between actuation by a user of the respective user input element and activation of the associated individual display element is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John O. Lindahl, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam, John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook
  • Publication number: 20210078498
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a reflective element assembly portion that includes a mirror reflective element and at least one pivot element, which provides adjustability of the mirror reflective element when the reflective element assembly portion is mounted within an interior cabin of a vehicle. A cap portion is adapted to attach to the reflective element assembly portion. The cap portion includes at least one accessory. The at least one accessory includes an accessory module insertable at least partially into the cap portion. Insertion of the accessory module into the cap portion connects the accessory module to the cap portion both mechanically and electrically. The cap portion may encase a rear portion of the reflective element assembly portion, and a mounting member may extend from the pivot element and through an aperture of the cap portion for mounting the mirror assembly within the interior cabin of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20210023995
    Abstract: A vehicular driving assist system includes a rearward viewing camera, a driver-side camera, a passenger-side camera and at least one radar sensor. Image data captured by the cameras is provided to a control and radar data captured by the radar sensor is provided to the control. The control processes the provided captured data to determine a potential hazard presented by rear-approaching traffic. The control outputs video image data for display by a display device of the equipped vehicle. The display device includes a video display screen that displays video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle during operation of the equipped vehicle. The control processes provided captured image data and provided captured radar data to alert the driver to the determined potential hazard presented by the rear-approaching traffic in the side traffic lane adjacent to the traffic lane being traveled by the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Lee Karner, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 10829052
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a prismatic mirror reflective element having a glass substrate with a planar front surface and a circumferential edge along the periphery of the glass substrate. A plastic molding is circumferentially disposed about the circumferential edge of the glass substrate without overlapping onto the front surface of the glass substrate, with an outermost part of the plastic molding providing a curved transition between the planar front surface of the prismatic mirror reflective element and another part of the plastic molding. The outermost part of the plastic molding includes an outer curved surface and lacks an exposed sharp edge. The plastic molding includes a portion of a mirror housing of the interior rearview mirror assembly. A mounting structure is configured to mount the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior portion of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20200331389
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a rear backup camera and a display device viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle. The display device includes a video screen operable to display video images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by the rear backup video camera. Video images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by the rear backup video camera are displayed by the video screen of the display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear by the driver of the equipped vehicle. The video screen continues to display video images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by the rear backup video camera for a threshold time period after the transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted out of reverse gear by the driver of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Lee Karner, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 10800331
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a rear backup camera and a display device viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle. The display device includes a video screen operable to display video images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by the rear backup video camera. Video images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by the rear backup video camera are displayed by the video screen of the display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear by the driver of the equipped vehicle. The video screen continues to display video images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by the rear backup video camera for a threshold time period after the transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted out of reverse gear by the driver of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Lee Karner, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20200285331
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head having a mirror casing and a transflective reflective element. Individual user input elements of a plurality of user input elements are arranged in a row below the transflective reflective element. At least one of the individual user input elements is a user input element for an imaging system of the vehicle. Each individual display element of a plurality of display elements is associated with a respective user input element of the plurality of user input elements. Each individual display element of the plurality of display elements is selectively activated by activation of its respective user input element. Each individual display element and its respective user input element are located local to one another such that a cognitive relationship between actuation by a user of the respective user input element and activation of the associated individual display element is established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: John O. Lindahl, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam, John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook
  • Publication number: 20200215213
    Abstract: A control panel having a variety of potential applications that utilize ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light as a means of disinfection. In one embodiment, a human/machine interface (HMI) panel, such as a touchscreen or keypad uses a dynamically moveable multi-reflector assembly using UV-C light to disinfect its touch surfaces. The goal of integrating UV-C disinfection with an HMI works to provide a safe and effective dose of UV-C light to the panel's surface for the purpose of reducing the number of active pathogens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Eric Bryant, Cort Corwin, Glenn Clapp, Lee Karner, Robert Roossien, David Baarman, Esai Umeni
  • Patent number: 10703274
    Abstract: A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle includes a rear backup camera, a forward viewing camera that views through the vehicle windshield, and a central data processor disposed in the vehicle. Captured image data provided to the central data processor is processed to detect objects that are within the field of view of the forward viewing camera and/or the field of view of the rear backup camera. Captured radar data is also provided to the central data processor and, via processing of captured image data and captured radar data, a potential hazard is determined to exist. A display device includes a video screen that displays video images captured by the rear backup camera for viewing by a driver of the vehicle during the rearward maneuver of the vehicle, and an overlay overlays the displayed video images captured by the rear backup camera during the rearward maneuver of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Lee Karner, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20200172013
    Abstract: A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle includes a rear backup camera, a forward viewing camera that views through the vehicle windshield, and a central data processor disposed in the vehicle. Captured image data provided to the central data processor is processed to detect objects that are within the field of view of the forward viewing camera and/or the field of view of the rear backup camera. Captured radar data is also provided to the central data processor and, via processing of captured image data and captured radar data, a potential hazard is determined to exist. A display device includes a video screen that displays video images captured by the rear backup camera for viewing by a driver of the vehicle during the rearward maneuver of the vehicle, and an overlay overlays the displayed video images captured by the rear backup camera during the rearward maneuver of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Lee Karner, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 10664115
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a camera disposed at a vehicle having a field of view at least forward, rearward and/or exterior of the equipped vehicle. An image projection device is disposed in the vehicle and includes a biaxial microelectromechanical scanner and at least one light source operable to emit light. Light emitted by the at least one light source, when operated, is projected by the biaxial microelectromechanical scanner towards a windshield of the vehicle so as to form video images that are viewable by a driver of the vehicle viewing the windshield when driving the vehicle. The video images viewed by the driver viewing the windshield include video images derived from image data captured by the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John O. Lindahl, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam, John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook
  • Publication number: 20200047673
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a prismatic mirror reflective element having a glass substrate with a planar front surface and a circumferential edge along the periphery of the glass substrate. A plastic molding is circumferentially disposed about the circumferential edge of the glass substrate without overlapping onto the front surface of the glass substrate, with an outermost part of the plastic molding providing a curved transition between the planar front surface of the prismatic mirror reflective element and another part of the plastic molding. The outermost part of the plastic molding includes an outer curved surface and lacks an exposed sharp edge. The plastic molding includes a portion of a mirror housing of the interior rearview mirror assembly. A mounting structure is configured to mount the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior portion of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Lee Karner, Richard R. Hook, Niall R. Lynam