Patents by Inventor Mark L. Larson
Mark L. Larson 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: 12289564Abstract: A cabin monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a mirror head having a mirror reflective element that includes (i) a planar glass substrate, (ii) a transflective mirror reflector at the glass substrate and (iii) a light absorption film including a polarizer film. A camera accommodated by the mirror head views through the reflective element. A light emitter accommodated by the mirror head emits near infrared (NIR) light through the reflective element. The light absorption film attenuates greater than 60 percent of visible light and less than 30 percent of NIR light incident on the light absorption film and transmits less than 40 percent of visible light and greater than 70 percent of NIR light through the light absorption film. The camera captures image data representative of NIR light emitted through the reflective element and reflected from the interior cabin of the vehicle back through the reflective element.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2023Date of Patent: April 29, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Mark L. Larson, John T. Uken
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Patent number: 12246649Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm and a mirror head at one end of the mounting arm distal from an attachment portion of the mounting arm that is configured for attachment at a vehicle. A mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at the mirror head. An innermost side of the mirror reflective element is attached at a front side of an attachment plate. The mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm when the driver of the vehicle operates an electrically-operable actuator. The attachment plate includes wall structure that extends from the front side of the attachment plate and circumscribes and spans the perimeter circumferential edge of the glass substrate and does not encroach onto and does not overlap the front surface of the glass substrate of the exterior mirror reflective element.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2024Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: John T. Uken, Darryl P. De Wind, Keith D. Foote, Joseph M. Mambourg, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 12240384Abstract: A vehicular dual-state interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head that accommodates an electrochromic mirror reflective element. A video display device is disposed behind a viewable reflective region of the mirror reflective element. With the mirror assembly operating in a first state, the video display device does not display video images at the display screen and the driver of the vehicle views rearward via reflection at the viewable reflective region. With the mirror assembly operating in a second state, the video display device displays video images at the display screen for viewing by the driver. A touch sensor is disposed at an overhang region of the reflective element behind the front substrate and below the video display device. The video display device is operated responsive at least in part to a touch event at the first surface of the front substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2023Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Mark L. Larson, John T. Uken, Christopher R. Koetje
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Publication number: 20250068024Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a rear-viewing camera disposed at a vehicle and viewing at least rearward of the vehicle. Video images derived from frames of image data captured by a CMOS imaging array of the rear-viewing camera during a driving maneuver are displayed at a video display screen within the vehicle for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. An electro-optic rearview mirror assembly includes an electro-optic mirror reflective element. An electronic control unit (ECU) disposed at the vehicle includes a processor operable to process captured frames of image data. The ECU determines, via processing by the processor of frames of image data captured by the CMOS imaging array of the rear-viewing camera, glaring light emanating from a rearward approaching vehicle rearward of the vehicle. The ECU controls dimming of the electro-optic mirror reflective element based at least on part on the determined glaring light.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2024Publication date: February 27, 2025Inventors: Niall R. Lynam, Hamid Habibi, Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Mark L. Larson, Patrick M. Foley, IV, Michael L. Gallas
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Publication number: 20240391385Abstract: A vehicular video camera display system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head accommodating an electrochromic reflective element, with a video display device disposed in the mirror head behind the electrochromic reflective element. With the interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at the in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle, a video display screen of the video display device is operable to display video images that are viewable through the electrochromic reflective element by a driver of the vehicle. Image data captured by a rearward-viewing video camera is communicated via a cable as a digital signal from the rearward-viewing video camera to control circuitry. The video display device displays video images that are derived, at least in part, from image data communicated from the rearward-viewing video camera to the control circuitry. The control circuitry controls display at the video display device of the video images.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2024Publication date: November 28, 2024Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 12140849Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a rear-viewing camera disposed at a vehicle and viewing at least rearward of the vehicle. Each frame of image data captured by the imaging array of the rear-viewing camera includes a plurality of grids, with each grid of the plurality of grids having a respective set of photosensing elements associated with respective rows and columns of photosensing elements. A electro-optic rearview mirror assembly includes an electro-optic mirror reflective element that is controlled responsive to an ambient light condition and a glare light condition. The ambient light condition is determined by processing at least one first grid of the plurality of grids of the frames of image data captured by the rear-viewing camera. The glare light condition is determined by processing at least one second grid of the plurality of grids of the frames of image data captured by the rear-viewing camera.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2022Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Niall R. Lynam, Hamid Habibi, Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Mark L. Larson, Patrick M. Foley, IV, Michael L. Gallas
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Publication number: 20240343191Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element. The mirror casing includes a sidewall having an outer end region that circumscribes an open portion of the mirror casing. The mirror reflective element is disposed at the outer end region of the sidewall at the open portion of the mirror casing. The mirror reflective element includes at least a first glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface and a substrate thickness spanning between the front surface of the first glass substrate and the rear surface of the first glass substrate. A circuit element is disposed within the mirror head. The circuit element includes a planar substrate having circuitry thereat. A plane of the planar substrate of the circuit element is non-parallel to a plane of the rear surface of the first glass substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2024Publication date: October 17, 2024Inventors: John T. Uken, Mark L. Larson, Rodney K. Blank, Joseph D. Suchecki, Craig Kendall
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Patent number: 12112637Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate, and a blind zone indication module having a light source that is electrically powered to emit light. When the light source of the blind zone indication module is electrically powered, light emitted by the light source passing through (i) a light-transmitting portion of a housing of the blind zone indication module and (ii) a light-transmitting aperture of the mirror back plate illuminates an icon that is viewable to a driver of the vehicle who views the mirror reflective element. Illumination of the icon is responsive to a blind spot detection system of the vehicle detecting presence of another vehicle that is traveling in the same direction and in a lane adjacent to a lane that the equipped vehicle is traveling in and that is approaching or is overtaking the equipped vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2022Date of Patent: October 8, 2024Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Craig Kendall, Jeremy R. Shooks, Mark E. Kramer, Mark L. Larson
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Publication number: 20240270166Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm and a mirror head at one end of the mounting arm distal from an attachment portion of the mounting arm that is configured for attachment at a vehicle. A mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at the mirror head. An innermost side of the mirror reflective element is attached at a front side of an attachment plate. The mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm when the driver of the vehicle operates an electrically-operable actuator. The attachment plate includes wall structure that extends from the front side of the attachment plate and circumscribes and spans the perimeter circumferential edge of the glass substrate and does not encroach onto and does not overlap the front surface of the glass substrate of the exterior mirror reflective element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2024Publication date: August 15, 2024Inventors: John T. Uken, Darryl P. De Wind, Keith D. Foote, Joseph M. Mambourg, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 12054098Abstract: A vehicular video camera display system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a casing and an electrochromic reflective element, with a video display device disposed in the casing behind the electrochromic reflective element. With the interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at the in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle, a video display screen of the video display device is operable to display video images that are viewable through the electrochromic reflective element by a driver of the vehicle. Image data captured by a rearward-viewing video camera is communicated as a digital signal from the rearward-viewing video camera via a cable to control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly. The video display device displays video images that are derived, at least in part, from image data communicated via the cable from the rearward-viewing video camera to the control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2023Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Mark L Larson, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 12005840Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting assembly. The mirror casing includes a sidewall having an outer end region that circumscribes an open portion of the mirror casing. The outer end region includes a rounded outer surface curving between the open portion and a less-curved outer surface of the sidewall. The mirror reflective element is disposed at the open portion of the mirror casing. The mirror reflective element has a glass substrate having a rounded perimeter edge of at least 2.5 mm and a thickness of less than 2 mm. Curvature of the rounded outer surface of the outer end region of the sidewall matches curvature of the rounded perimeter edge of the glass substrate to provide a curved transition between a flat region at the front surface of the glass substrate and the less-curved outer surface of the sidewall of the mirror casing.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2022Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: John T. Uken, Mark L. Larson, Rodney K. Blank, Joseph D. Suchecki, Craig Kendall
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Patent number: 11970113Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a forward-viewing camera located behind and viewing through a vehicle windshield, a rearward-viewing camera located at a rear of the vehicle, and a common image processor operable for processing captured image data. A video display screen is located within the interior cabin of the vehicle viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The common image processor processes first image data captured by the forward-viewing camera to detect at least one vehicle present exterior the equipped vehicle. Responsive to the vehicle being shifted into a reverse gear and while the driver is executing a reversing maneuver, video images derived from image data captured by at least the rearward-viewing camera are displayed by the video display screen.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.Inventors: Andrew D. Weller, Mark L. Larson, Ian A. McCabe, Niall R. Lynam, Rodney K. Blank, Joseph P. McCaw, John T. Uken
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Patent number: 11970111Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm and a mirror head at one end of the mounting arm distal from an attachment portion of the mounting arm that is configured for attachment at a vehicle. A mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at the mirror head. An innermost side of the mirror reflective element is attached at a front side of an attachment plate. The mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm when the driver of the vehicle operates an electrically-operable actuator. The attachment plate includes wall structure that extends from the front side of the attachment plate and circumscribes and spans the perimeter circumferential edge of the glass substrate and does not encroach onto and does not overlap the front surface of the glass substrate of the exterior mirror reflective element.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2023Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: John T. Uken, Darryl P. De Wind, Keith D. Foote, Joseph M. Mambourg, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20240123903Abstract: A vehicular dual-state interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head that accommodates an electrochromic mirror reflective element. A video display device is disposed behind a viewable reflective region of the mirror reflective element. With the mirror assembly operating in a first state, the video display device does not display video images at the display screen and the driver of the vehicle views rearward via reflection at the viewable reflective region. With the mirror assembly operating in a second state, the video display device displays video images at the display screen for viewing by the driver. A touch sensor is disposed at an overhang region of the reflective element behind the front substrate and below the video display device. The video display device is operated responsive at least in part to a touch event at the first surface of the front substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Mark L. Larson, John T. Uken, Christopher R. Koetje
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Publication number: 20240106986Abstract: A cabin monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a mirror head having a mirror reflective element that includes (i) a planar glass substrate, (ii) a transflective mirror reflector at the glass substrate and (iii) a light absorption film including a polarizer film. A camera accommodated by the mirror head views through the reflective element. A light emitter accommodated by the mirror head emits near infrared (NIR) light through the reflective element. The light absorption film attenuates greater than 60 percent of visible light and less than 30 percent of NIR light incident on the light absorption film and transmits less than 40 percent of visible light and greater than 70 percent of NIR light through the light absorption film. The camera captures image data representative of NIR light emitted through the reflective element and reflected from the interior cabin of the vehicle back through the reflective element.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Mark L. Larson, John T. Uken
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Publication number: 20240092267Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head pivotally adjustable about a mirror support. The mirror head includes a video display device disposed rearward of a prismatic mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector. A touch sensor is disposed at the prismatic mirror reflective element and is associated with circuitry at a flexible printed circuit of the video display device. The video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle. Light emitted by the video display device passes through the transflective mirror reflector for viewing of displayed video images by the driver of the vehicle viewing the prismatic mirror reflective element. The reflective region of the transflective mirror reflector of the prismatic mirror reflective element reflects at least 40 percent of visible light incident at the front side of the prismatic mirror reflective element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Christopher R. Koetje, Anthony J. LaCross, Eric Peterson
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Publication number: 20240067091Abstract: A vehicular video camera display system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a casing and an electrochromic reflective element, with a video display device disposed in the casing behind the electrochromic reflective element. With the interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at the in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle, a video display screen of the video display device is operable to display video images that are viewable through the electrochromic reflective element by a driver of the vehicle. Image data captured by a rearward-viewing video camera is communicated as a digital signal from the rearward-viewing video camera via a cable to control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly. The video display device displays video images that are derived, at least in part, from image data communicated via the cable from the rearward-viewing video camera to the control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20240064274Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes an electronic control unit (ECU), a plurality of exterior viewing vehicle cameras that capture image data and provide captured image data to the ECU. When the vehicle is towing a trailer, a rearward-viewing trailer camera captures image data and provides captured image data to the ECU. A video mirror display screen is disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle and is operable to display video images derived from video image data provided from the ECU. The mirror assembly is adjustable between a mirror mode and a display mode. The mirror assembly, when in the display mode, is operable by the driver of the vehicle to display at the video mirror display screen (i) a single image display of video images, (ii) a dual image display of video images or (iii) a three image display of video images.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2022Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Christopher R. Koetje, Mark L. Larson, John T. Uken, Kurtis M. Larson, Christopher L. Long, Jeffrey D. Heinz
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Publication number: 20240042933Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a video display screen disposed behind a transflective mirror reflector of an electrochromic mirror reflective element of an interior rearview mirror assembly. Image data captured by a rearward-viewing camera is provided to the mirror assembly as digital signals carried by a coaxial cable. Electronic circuitry of the mirror assembly includes (i) auto dimming circuitry and (ii) video processing circuitry. The video display screen (i) displays at a left display region video images derived from captured image data to display a scene occurring in a left side lane, (ii) displays at a right display region video images derived from captured image data to display a scene occurring in a right side lane and (iii) displays at a middle display region video images derived from captured image data to display a scene occurring rearward of the vehicle in the lane the equipped vehicle is travelling in.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 11858423Abstract: A vehicular dual-state interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head including an electrochromic mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector. A video display device occupies at least 75 percent of the viewable reflective region of the mirror reflective element. With the mirror assembly operating in a first state, the video display device does not display video images and the driver views rearward via reflection at the viewable reflective region and, with the mirror assembly operating in a second state, the video display device displays video images for viewing at the viewable reflective region by the driver. When operating in a daytime mode, the display screen utilizes red pixels, green pixels, blue pixels and clear pixels of the display screen, and when operating in a nighttime mode, the display screen utilizes red pixels, green pixels and blue pixels and does not utilize clear pixels.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Mark L Larson, John T. Uken, Christopher R. Koetje