Patents by Inventor Patrick Heslin

Patrick Heslin 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: 9527445
    Abstract: An accessory mounting system for mounting an accessory at a windshield of a vehicle includes an accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from a receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield. The accessory includes a camera and circuitry. With the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield, (i) the accessory receives an input from the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication and delivers an output to the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication, and (ii) the camera views forwardly through the windshield via a light transmitting portion of a light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, with the light absorbing layer otherwise hiding the accessory from view through the windshield from external the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20150266424
    Abstract: An accessory mounting system for mounting an accessory at a windshield of a vehicle includes an accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from a receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield. The accessory includes a camera and circuitry. With the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield, (i) the accessory receives an input from the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication and delivers an output to the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication, and (ii) the camera views forwardly through the windshield via a light transmitting portion of a light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, with the light absorbing layer otherwise hiding the accessory from view through the windshield from external the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 9035233
    Abstract: An accessory mounting system for mounting an electronic device at a windshield of a vehicle includes a bracket. The bracket is configured to mount at an interior surface of the vehicle windshield. The bracket includes an attaching structure configured to attach the bracket at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield. The bracket may include a support frame coupled to an attaching structure and to an adjustable support of an interior rearview mirror assembly. The support frame may have a set off portion set off from the interior surface of the windshield to accommodate an electronic device between the windshield and the set off portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8513590
    Abstract: An accessory system for a vehicle includes a windshield of a vehicle and a receiving structure attached at an in-cabin surface of the windshield. A structure is attached at the receiving structure. With the structure attached at the receiving structure, a cluster of individual sensors resides on or near the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, and the cluster of individual sensors includes a forwardly-viewing camera. At least one of the individual sensors may (a) receive an input via a bus communication and/or (b) deliver an output via a bus communication. With the structure attached at the receiving structure, at least one of the individual sensors may be removable from the structure for service. At least one of the sensors may view through the windshield via a light transmitting aperture established in a light absorbing hiding layer at the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8481916
    Abstract: A vehicular accessory mounting system includes a structure adhesively attached at a region of an interior surface of the vehicle windshield. The structure is configured to accommodate an accessory. A light absorbing layer at the region of the interior surface of the vehicle windshield at least partially hides the structure from view by a viewer, who is external the vehicle, viewing through the windshield. The accessory views through a light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer and through the windshield to the exterior of the vehicle when the structure is attached at the region of the interior surface of the windshield and when the accessory is accommodated thereat. The structure may include a mirror assembly mount button and the mirror assembly mount button may be configured to be received by a mirror mount of an interior rearview mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8309907
    Abstract: A vehicular accessory system includes an attachment element at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield. The attachment element accommodates a rain sensor, which has a field of view through an aperture of the attachment element towards the vehicle windshield. An interior rearview mirror assembly has a case that houses a reflective mirror element, and includes a base portion with a mirror mount for attaching the mirror assembly to the attachment element. The base portion encompasses the rain sensor when the mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the vehicle windshield. The mirror assembly includes a video camera disposed at the base portion. Electrical wiring may, at least in part, connect the video camera in the base portion with circuitry in the case, and the electrical wiring may be routed through a pivot joint of the mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8288711
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an attachment element at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield and an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a housing having a mount for attaching the mirror assembly to the attachment element. An interior rearview mirror head is pivotable about the housing by a single ball and socket pivot joint and is adjustable by a driver of the vehicle about the single pivot joint to adjust a rearward field of view. The housing houses a forwardly-viewing camera and, with the interior rearview mirror assembly attached at the attachment element, the forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a control that may receive an input and/or deliver an output via a bus communication, and that may at least partially control a braking system and/or a traction control system of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20120162430
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an attachment element at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield and an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a housing having a mount for attaching the mirror assembly to the attachment element. An interior rearview mirror head is pivotable about the housing by a single ball and socket pivot joint and is adjustable by a driver of the vehicle about the single pivot joint to adjust a rearward field of view. The housing houses a forwardly-viewing camera and, with the interior rearview mirror assembly attached at the attachment element, the forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a control that may receive an input and/or deliver an output via a bus communication, and that may at least partially control a braking system and/or a traction control system of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8134117
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield and an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a mount for attaching the mirror assembly to the attachment element, a housing, a single ball and socket pivot joint, and an interior rearview mirror head adjustable by a driver of the vehicle about the single pivot joint to adjust a rearward field of view. The housing houses a forwardly-viewing camera and, with the interior rearview mirror assembly attached at the attachment element, the forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield. The attachment element is a mirror mounting button and a rain sensor is disposed at an inner open central portion of the mirror mounting button and views, via the inner open central portion of the mirror mounting button, through the vehicle windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20110278439
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield and an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a mount for attaching the mirror assembly to the attachment element, a housing, a single ball and socket pivot joint, and an interior rearview mirror head adjustable by a driver of the vehicle about the single pivot joint to adjust a rearward field of view. The housing houses a forwardly-viewing camera and, with the interior rearview mirror assembly attached at the attachment element, the forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield. The attachment element is a mirror mounting button and a rain sensor is disposed at an inner open central portion of the mirror mounting button and views, via the inner open central portion of the mirror mounting button, through the vehicle windshield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 7994471
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield and an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a structure that includes a mount for attaching the mirror assembly to the attachment element, a pivot element, and an interior rearview mirror head pivotally attached at the pivot element. The interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the vehicle about the pivot element to adjust a rearward field of view. At least one accessory is encompassed by the structure of the mirror assembly. The structure covers the at least one accessory from view by the driver operating the vehicle. One of the accessories is a forwardly-viewing camera and, with the interior rearview mirror assembly attached to the attachment element, the forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20110134553
    Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield and an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a structure that includes a mount for attaching the mirror assembly to the attachment element, a pivot element, and an interior rearview mirror head pivotally attached at the pivot element. The interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the vehicle about the pivot element to adjust a rearward field of view. At least one accessory is encompassed by the structure of the mirror assembly. The structure covers the at least one accessory from view by the driver operating the vehicle. One of the accessories is a forwardly-viewing camera and, with the interior rearview mirror assembly attached to the attachment element, the forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 7888629
    Abstract: An accessory mounting system includes an assembly adapted for mounting or attachment at a portion of the windshield of a vehicle. A light absorbing layer at the portion of the windshield of the vehicle at least partially hides the assembly from view by a viewer external the vehicle when the viewer is viewing through the windshield with the assembly at the portion of the windshield. The light absorbing layer includes a light transmitting portion, and a forwardly-viewing camera disposed at the assembly views through the light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer at the portion of the windshield of the vehicle when the assembly is at the portion of the windshield. The assembly may comprise a pivot element for connecting to an interior mirror or the assembly may comprise a mirror assembly mount button received by a mirror mount of a single-pivot or double-pivot interior rearview mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20100195226
    Abstract: A vehicular accessory system includes an attachment element at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield. The attachment element accommodates a rain sensor, which has a field of view through an aperture of the attachment element towards the vehicle windshield. An interior rearview mirror assembly has a case that houses a reflective mirror element, and includes a base portion with a mirror mount for attaching the mirror assembly to the attachment element. The base portion encompasses the rain sensor when the mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the vehicle windshield. The mirror assembly includes a video camera disposed at the base portion. Electrical wiring may, at least in part, connect the video camera in the base portion with circuitry in the case, and the electrical wiring may be routed through a pivot joint of the mirror assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20090219394
    Abstract: An accessory mounting system includes an assembly adapted for mounting or attachment at a portion of the windshield of a vehicle. A light absorbing layer at the portion of the windshield of the vehicle at least partially hides the assembly from view by a viewer external the vehicle when the viewer is viewing through the windshield with the assembly at the portion of the windshield. The light absorbing layer includes a light transmitting portion, and a forwardly-viewing camera disposed at the assembly views through the light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer at the portion of the windshield of the vehicle when the assembly is at the portion of the windshield. The assembly may comprise a pivot element for connecting to an interior mirror or the assembly may comprise a mirror assembly mount button received by a mirror mount of a single-pivot or double-pivot interior rearview mirror assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 7538316
    Abstract: An accessory mounting system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an assembly adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface at a portion of the windshield of the vehicle. A light absorbing layer is at that portion of the windshield and at least partially hides the assembly from view by a viewer external the vehicle who is viewing through the windshield when the assembly is normally mounted to the receiving structure. The light absorbing layer includes a light transmitting portion. At least two accessories are housed by the assembly and one of the two accessories includes a forwardly-viewing camera that views through the light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer at that portion of the windshield of the vehicle when the assembly is mounted to the receiving structure, and wherein the light absorbing layer comprises a ceramic frit layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Donnelly Corp.
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20080308708
    Abstract: An accessory mounting system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an assembly adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface at a portion of the windshield of the vehicle. A light absorbing layer is at that portion of the windshield and at least partially hides the assembly from view by a viewer external the vehicle who is viewing through the windshield when the assembly is normally mounted to the receiving structure. The light absorbing layer includes a light transmitting portion. At least two accessories are housed by the assembly and one of the two accessories includes a forwardly-viewing camera that views through the light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer at that portion of the windshield of the vehicle when the assembly is mounted to the receiving structure, and wherein the light absorbing layer comprises a ceramic frit layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 7420159
    Abstract: An accessory mounting system suitable for mounting a plurality of accessories at a windshield portion within the interior cabin of a vehicle includes a housing adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, and at least two accessories housed by said housing. One of the accessories comprises a forwardly-viewing camera, which views through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure. The other of the accessories may be selected from the group consisting of: (a) a vehicle altitude sensor, (b) a vehicle incline sensor, (c) a headlamp sensor, (d) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter, (e) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, (f) an antenna, (g) a rain sensor, (h) a microphone, and (i) a compass sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20070265755
    Abstract: An accessory mounting system suitable for mounting a plurality of accessories at a windshield portion within the interior cabin of a vehicle includes a housing adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, and at least two accessories housed by said housing. One of the accessories comprises a forwardly-viewing camera, which views through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure. The other of the accessories may be selected from the group consisting of: (a) a vehicle altitude sensor, (b) a vehicle incline sensor, (c) a headlamp sensor, (d) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter, (e) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, (f) an antenna, (g) a rain sensor, (h) a microphone, and (i) a compass sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall Lynam
  • Patent number: 7265342
    Abstract: An accessory mounting system suitable for mounting a plurality of accessories at a windshield portion within the interior cabin of a vehicle includes a housing adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, and at least two accessories housed in said housing. One of the accessories comprises a forwardly-viewing camera, which views through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure. The other of the accessories may be selected from the group consisting of: (a) a vehicle altitude sensor, (b) a vehicle incline sensor, (c) a headlamp sensor, (d) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter, (e) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, (f) an antenna, (g) a rain sensor, (h) a microphone, and (i) a compass sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Niall R Lynam