Patents by Inventor Niall R. Lynam

Niall R. Lynam 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: 11623570
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element sub-assembly having a mirror reflective element, a mirror reflector, a mirror back plate, and indicator element. The indicator element includes a housing and a light source. The indicator element is associated with a blind spot detection system of the vehicle and includes a diffuser that diffuses light emitted by the light source. An icon is established through a metallic reflector coating disposed at the glass substrate. The icon includes a light-transmitting aperture. When the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle, the icon is at an upper quadrant of the mirror reflective element. When the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle and when the light source is activated, the icon is illuminated and is viewable by the driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20230077247
    Abstract: A vehicular camera monitoring system a driver-side camera, a driver-side video display screen disposed at a driver-side cabin region of an interior cabin of the vehicle, a passenger-side camera and a passenger-side video display screen disposed at a passenger-side cabin region of the interior cabin of the vehicle. Upon completion of a parking maneuver of the vehicle, and until a period of time elapses following powering down of the vehicle upon completion of the parking maneuver of the vehicle, the driver-side video display screen displays driver-side video images of a driver-side region sideward of the driver side of the vehicle and rearward of the vehicle and the passenger-side video display screen displays passenger-side video images of a passenger-side region sideward of the passenger side of the vehicle and rearward of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Niall R. Lynam, Yuesheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20230076687
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Darryl P. De Wind, Keith D. Foote, Joseph M. Mambourg, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20230075827
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior breakaway rearview mirror assembly includes a skull-cap mirror shell and a reflective element. With the mirror assembly mounted at an exterior side of a vehicle, the skull-cap mirror shell has an inboard wall that faces toward the exterior side of the vehicle. A blind spot indicator is disposed at an aperture established at the inboard wall of the skull-cap mirror shell. An illumination source of the blind spot indicator is activated to illuminate the blind spot indicator responsive to an electronic blind spot monitoring system of the vehicle detecting another vehicle that is approaching or overtaking the equipped vehicle. Illumination of the blind spot indicator by activation of the illumination source is readily viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle and is not readily viewable by a driver of the detected other vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventor: Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20230072196
    Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a forward viewing camera disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle and viewing forward of the vehicle. Road curvature of a road along which the vehicle is traveling is determined responsive at least in part to processing of image data captured by the camera. Responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data, speed of the vehicle is controlled by an adaptive cruise control system of the vehicle. Upon approach of the vehicle to a curve in the road along which the vehicle is traveling, speed of the vehicle is reduced by the adaptive cruise control system to a reduced speed for traveling around the curve in the road. Speed of the vehicle is increased by the adaptive cruise control system when the vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11577652
    Abstract: A vehicular video camera display system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a casing and an electro-optic reflective element, with a video display device disposed in the casing behind the electro-optic reflective element. With the interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior cabin portion of the vehicle, a video display screen of the video display device is operable to display video images that are viewable through the electro-optic reflective element by a driver of the vehicle. A rearward-viewing video camera is disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle and views at least rearward of the vehicle. Control circuitry is disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly. Image data captured by the rearward-viewing video camera is communicated from the rearward-viewing video camera via a twisted pair wire to the control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
  • 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: 11562599
    Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and a camera disposed at the interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly behind and viewing through an electrochromic mirror reflective element into the interior cabin of the vehicle. Supplemental sources of near infrared illumination are integrated into the mirror assembly that, when powered to emit near infrared light, illuminate at least a front seating area within the interior cabin of the vehicle. Presence of the camera is not readily apparent to an occupant sitting in the interior cabin of the vehicle. The interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly includes a processor that processes image data captured by the camera. The camera at least views a driver-side front seating area of the vehicle and, via processing at the processor of image data captured by the camera, the driver seated at the driver-side front seating area is monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Mark E. Kramer, Niall R. Lynam, David P. O'Connell, Vernon R. Nise
  • Patent number: 11554719
    Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror assembly includes an electrochromic reflective element having front and rear glass substrates with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween. The front glass substrate includes a specularly reflective perimeter layer at least partially around a perimeter border region of the rear side of the front glass substrate. At least one light source is disposed behind the perimeter layer. With the vehicular rearview mirror assembly mounted at the vehicle and when the at least one light source is electrically powered, the at least one light source emits light that passes through the perimeter border region of the second side of the front glass substrate and that is visible to a viewer viewing the first side of the front glass substrate of the electrochromic reflective element at the perimeter layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Ian A. McCabe, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11548444
    Abstract: A vehicular multi-camera surround view system includes a front camera, a driver-side camera, a passenger-side camera and a rear backup camera. Image data captured by the cameras is conveyed to an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is operable to combine image data conveyed from the front camera, the driver-side camera, the passenger-side camera and the rear backup camera to form composite video images, which are output for display at a display device. Rear backup video images are displayed no later than two seconds after the driver of the vehicle first changes propulsion of the vehicle during a new ignition cycle to reverse mode. Upon changing propulsion of the vehicle during the new ignition cycle to reverse mode to commence a backup event subsequent to the first backup event, the video display screen displays video images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by the rear backup camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11543724
    Abstract: A multifunctional rear camera system includes a rear camera and a processor. Responsive to processing of captured image data, the processor generates respective outputs for (i) a rear backup assist function, (ii) a mirror dimming control for at least an electro-optic interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle and (iii) ambient light detection. The processor processes a mirror zone of captured image data for mirror dimming control and processes upper corner regions of captured image data for ambient light detection. The processor processes at least lower regions of captured image data for the rear backup assist function. The generated output for the mirror dimming control is provided to the electro-optic interior rearview mirror assembly to control dimming of the electro-optic reflective element. The generated output for the rear backup assist function provides (i) object detection and/or (ii) video display of video images derived from captured image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 11506782
    Abstract: A vehicular forward-sensing system includes a radar sensor and a forward viewing image sensor disposed within a windshield electronics module that is removably installed within the vehicle cabin at the vehicle windshield. A control is responsive to an output of the radar sensor and responsive to an output of the image sensor. Responsive to the image sensor viewing an object present in the path of forward travel of the vehicle and responsive to the radar sensor sensing the object present in the path of forward travel of the vehicle, the control determines that the object is an object of interest by processing by an image processing chip of image data of the object captured by the image sensor at a portion of an image plane of the image sensor that is spatially related to a location of the object present in the path of forward travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11498486
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 11498494
    Abstract: A vehicular camera monitoring system a driver-side camera, a driver-side video display screen disposed at a driver-side cabin region of an interior cabin of the vehicle, a passenger-side camera and a passenger-side video display screen disposed at a passenger-side cabin region of the interior cabin of the vehicle. During a parking maneuver or parking-space exit maneuver of the vehicle, the driver-side video display screen displays parking assist images derived from image data captured by the driver-side camera and the passenger-side video display screen displays parking assist images derived from image data captured by the passenger-side camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Niall R. Lynam, Yuesheng Lu
  • Patent number: 11503253
    Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a forward viewing camera disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle and viewing forward of the vehicle. Road curvature of a road along which the vehicle is traveling is determined responsive at least in part to processing by an image processor of image data captured by the camera. Responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data, a traffic lane of the road along which the vehicle is traveling is determined. Upon approach of the vehicle to a curve in the road, speed of the vehicle is reduced to a reduced speed for traveling around the curve in the road at least in part responsive to at least one selected from the group consisting of (a) processing of image data captured by the forward viewing camera and (b) data relevant to a current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11498487
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly having a skull-cap mirror shell that includes an inboard wall that faces generally toward an exterior side of the vehicle and that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle. A multi-stage blind spot indicator is disposed at an aperture established at the inboard wall of the skull-cap mirror shell. An illumination source of the blind spot indicator is activated to illuminate the multi-stage blind spot indicator responsive to an electronic blind spot monitoring system of the vehicle detecting another vehicle that is approaching or overtaking the equipped vehicle. Illumination of the multi-stage blind spot indicator by activation of the illumination source is readily viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle and is generally not viewable by a driver of another vehicle traveling in front of or approaching from in front of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: 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: 20220270409
    Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and a camera disposed at the interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly behind and viewing through an electrochromic mirror reflective element into the interior cabin of the vehicle. Supplemental sources of near infrared illumination are integrated into the mirror assembly that, when powered to emit near infrared light, illuminate at least a front seating area within the interior cabin of the vehicle. Presence of the camera is not readily apparent to an occupant sitting in the interior cabin of the vehicle. The interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly includes a processor that processes image data captured by the camera. The camera at least views a driver-side front seating area of the vehicle and, via processing at the processor of image data captured by the camera, the driver seated at the driver-side front seating area is monitored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Mark E. Kramer, Niall R. Lynam, David P. O'Connell, Vernon R. Nise
  • Publication number: 20220215671
    Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a central control module vehicle, a plurality of vehicular cameras disposed at a vehicle and viewing exterior of the vehicle, and a plurality of radar sensors disposed at the vehicle and sensing exterior of the vehicle. The central control module receives vehicle data relating to operation of the vehicle. The central control module is operable to process (i) vehicle data, (ii) image data and (iii) radar data. The central control module at least in part controls at least one driver assistance system of the vehicle responsive to (i) processing at the central control module of vehicle data, (ii) processing at the central control module of image data captured by at least the forward-viewing vehicular camera and (iii) processing at the central control module of radar data captured by at least a front radar sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Niall R. Lynam, Axel Nix
  • Publication number: 20220203897
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a video display screen and a video processor operable to process captured video image data captured by a rearward-viewing color video camera at the vehicle. The video display screen includes a left display region at a left portion, a right display region at a right portion, and a middle display region that spans between the left and right display regions. The video display screen (i) displays at the left display region video images derived from captured image data to display a scene occurring in a left side lane, (ii) displays at the right display region video images derived from captured image data to display a scene occurring in a right side lane and (iii) displays at the 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: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam