Patents by Inventor Stefano Bernard

Stefano Bernard 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: 10486560
    Abstract: A seating system for a motor vehicle provides for a seat and a child safety seat defined by a body, which forms part of a seat cushion of the seat. The system has a releasable fastening apparatus of the ISOFIX type comprising two lower anchoring elements and two upper anchoring elements which can be selectively engaged by connecting elements carried by the body for securing the latter to the seat in a lowered position and a raised position, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: C.R.F. SOCIETA' CONSORTILE PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Tiziana Virdis, Stefano Bernard, Alberto Contorbia
  • Patent number: 10286756
    Abstract: An air outlet device has a supporting structure suitable for communicating, in use, with an air ventilation system, and an outlet member that is configured so as to supply an air flow along an outlet axis and is coupled to the supporting structure so as to rotate by 180° about a joint axis orthogonal to the outlet axis, to assume two opposite configurations. The outlet member comprises a plurality of deflecting walls defining a plurality of air ducts, which are arranged about the outlet axis and distributed axially in sequence. The deflecting walls are shaped and/or positioned so as to guide the air in the air ducts in directions having a radial component. At least one of the deflecting walls has a series of through-holes made in positions that are spaced apart about the outlet axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Andrea Perosino, Fabrizio Mattiello, Giorgio Masoero, Tiziana Virdis, Stefano Bernard
  • Publication number: 20180178684
    Abstract: A seating system for a motor vehicle provides for a seat and a child safety seat defined by a body, which forms part of a seat cushion of the seat. The system has a releasable fastening apparatus of the ISOFIX type comprising two lower anchoring elements and two upper anchoring elements which can be selectively engaged by connecting elements carried by the body for securing the latter to the seat in a lowered position and a raised position, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Tiziana Virdis, Stefano Bernard, Alberto Contorbia
  • Patent number: 9840174
    Abstract: A seat backrest for a motor vehicle has a structure, which supports a padding covered by a cover; the structure has a rear plate provided with a coupling portion, to which an end of the cover is fixed along a peripheral edge of the plate itself; the plate is fixed to a front frame by means of a snap-on connecting device having a plurality of deformable appendages, which are carried by the plate in positions that are spaced apart from one another; the appendages are part of respective brackets, which are fixed to the plate and have respective stiffening portions, which are arranged at the coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa' Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Franco Tosco, Giorgio Luigi Masoero, Alberto Caruso, Stefano Bernard, Ivan Emanuel Murru, Maurizio Giani
  • Publication number: 20170158028
    Abstract: An air outlet device has a supporting structure suitable for communicating, in use, with an air ventilation system, and an outlet member that is configured so as to supply an air flow along an outlet axis and is coupled to the supporting structure so as to rotate by 180° about a joint axis orthogonal to the outlet axis, to assume two opposite configurations. The outlet member comprises a plurality of deflecting walls defining a plurality of air ducts, which are arranged about the outlet axis and distributed axially in sequence. The deflecting walls are shaped and/or positioned so as to guide the air in the air ducts in directions having a radial component. At least one of the deflecting walls has a series of through-holes made in positions that are spaced apart about the outlet axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: C.R.F. Societa' Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Andrea Perosino, Fabrizio Mattiello, Giorgio Masoero, Tiziana Virdis, Stefano Bernard
  • Publication number: 20160297339
    Abstract: A seat backrest for a motor vehicle has a structure, which supports a padding covered by a cover; the structure has a rear plate provided with a coupling portion, to which an end of the cover is fixed along a peripheral edge of the plate itself; the plate is fixed to a front frame by means of a snap-on connecting device having a plurality of deformable appendages, which are carried by the plate in positions that are spaced apart from one another; the appendages are part of respective brackets, which are fixed to the plate and have respective stiffening portions, which are arranged at the coupling portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: C.R.F. Societa' Consortile Per Azioni
    Inventors: Franco Tosco, Giorgio Luigi Masoero, Alberto Caruso, Stefano Bernard, Ivan Emanuel Murru, Maurizio Giani
  • Patent number: 9395299
    Abstract: A method for determining the bidirectional reflectance distribution function of a generally plane rough surface of a specimen made of a given material includes acquiring a refractive index of the material, the spectrum of total reflectance measured on the specimen, and the geometry of the profile of the surface. The geometry is determined by: detecting the height and approximating the surface of the specimen as a distribution of plane triangular microfaces. For each direction of incidence of the light on the surface of the specimen and for each direction of observation there is determined the angular orientation of the microfaces contributing to reflecting in a specular way the light incident in the direction of observation. The Fresnel factor defining the specular reflectance of each microface is determined. The total BRDF is determined as the sum of a Lambertian component and of a specular component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: C.R.F. SOCIETA CONSORTILE PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Stefano Bernard, Giuseppe Varalda
  • Patent number: 8749397
    Abstract: A user-interface device comprises a plurality of indication elements (3), each provided with a visual indication (4), mounted on a structure (5). Operatively associated to at least one indication element (3) is a lighting system (12a, 12b, 14) comprising light-generating means (12a, 12b) in position set at the back of the body of the indication element (3). The lighting system also comprises an optical module (14) made of transparent material associated to the light-generating means (12a, 12b) and configured for changing the direction of rays of light emitted by the generating means (12a, 12b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Stefano Bernard, Giorgio Masoero, Cosimo Carvignese, Diego Marzorati
  • Publication number: 20130241740
    Abstract: A user-interface device comprises a plurality of indication elements (3), each provided with a visual indication (4), mounted on a structure (5). Operatively associated to at least one indication element (3) is a lighting system (12a, 12b, 14) comprising light-generating means (12a, 12b) in position set at the back of the body of the indication element (3). The lighting system also comprises an optical module (14) made of transparent material associated to the light-generating means (12a, 12b) and configured for changing the direction of rays of light emitted by the generating means (12a, 12b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Stefano BERNARD, Giorgio Masoero, Cosimo Carvignese, Diego Marzorati
  • Patent number: 8469562
    Abstract: An interior aesthetic/decorative element for passenger compartments of vehicles, in particular, for the cab of a lorry, having a visible semitransparent surface with a metallic appearance, associated to the back of which are backlighting means that can be activated for providing emission of suffused light through the semitransparent surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Diego Marzorati, Giovanni Boreanaz, Federica Fino, Stefano Bernard
  • Patent number: 8337054
    Abstract: A lighting device, suitable for example for urban lighting of interiors or exteriors, or for lighting of interiors and exteriors of motor vehicles, said device comprising a substantially plane substrate and one or more LED or chip-LED semiconductor light sources distributed over the substrate and electrically connected to conductive supply paths, an optical means associated to the semiconductor source or sources, designed to modify the direction of the rays of light emitted by said semiconductor source, said device being characterized in that said optical means is of a substantially semicylindrical shape and consequently has a substantially plane base, two side faces and a substantially cylindrical outer surface, said optical means has a cavity obtained starting from said base within the body of said optical means and designed to house the source or sources, said side faces and said cavity are obtained by means of a rotation about a longitudinal axis of a two-dimensional profile and are designed to reduce the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
    Inventor: Stefano Bernard
  • Patent number: 8325469
    Abstract: A user-interface device comprises a plurality of indication elements (3), each provided with a visual indication (4), mounted on a structure (5). The indication elements (3) comprise identification means (9b, 10, 11, 11?) adapted for co-operating with detection means (6, 7) of the device (1), for unique identification the indication elements (3). The identification means (9b, 10, 11, 11?) comprise an electrically conductive layer (10) on a respective side face (6b) of the indication element (3) and an electrically insulating layer (9b) superimposed on the electrically conductive layer. The detection means (6, 7) comprise one or more contact elements (7) set up against a respective a side face (6b) of the indication element (3). The electrically insulating layer (9b) has one or more windows (11) for exposure of respective local portions of the underlying electrically conductive layer (10), each window (11) being made in a position substantially corresponding to a respective contact element (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Stefano Bernard, Giorgio Masoero, Cosimo Carvignese, Diego Marzorati
  • Patent number: 8283680
    Abstract: A method of fabrication of transparent LED devices, of the type comprising the operations of: i) providing a series of conductive paths on a transparent underlayer; ii) connecting said conductive paths to electronic control means; iii) associating to said underlayer an array of LED sources addressable individually or in groups through said conductive paths, in which i) said LED sources are integrated in the form of chips, i.e., of elements obtained by dividing up a semiconductor wafer and without package, via technologies of the chip-on-board type; ii) said method envisages the use of the flip-chip technique for die bonding, i.e., the electrical connection of the chip to the underlayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Piermario Repetto, Sabino Sinesi, Sara Padovani, Stefano Bernard, Denis Bollea, Davide Capello, Alberto Pairetti, Michele Antonipieri
  • Publication number: 20120253749
    Abstract: A method for determining the bidirectional reflectance distribution function of a generally plane rough surface of a specimen made of a given material includes acquiring a refractive index of the material, the spectrum of total reflectance measured on the specimen, and the geometry of the profile of the surface. The geometry is determined by: detecting the height and approximating the surface of the specimen as a distribution of plane triangular microfaces. For each direction of incidence of the light on the surface of the specimen and for each direction of observation there is determined the angular orientation of the microfaces contributing to reflecting in a specular way the light incident in the direction of observation. The Fresnel factor defining the specular reflectance of each microface is determined. The total BRDF is determined as the sum of a Lambertian component and of a specular component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: C.R.F. SOCIETA CONSORTILE PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Stefano BERNARD, Giuseppe VARALDA
  • Patent number: 7952017
    Abstract: A light concentrator is described, for a device for the conversion of solar radiation into electrical, thermal or chemical energy, capable of conveying the radiation towards a surface of the conversion device. The concentrator comprises at least one portion of Fresnel lens of rotational symmetry, one face of which has a plurality of crests disposed concentrically about a center so as to form a segmented transverse profile of the portion of Fresnel lens. The profile is formed in such a manner that the focal distance of the Fresnel lens is variable in dependence on the radial distance from the center of the lens. The variation of the focal distance is determined such that, when the Fresnel lens is illuminated by polychromatic radiation, the superposition of the distributions of irradiance, produced by the lens at the individual wavelengths constituting the spectrum of the incident radiation, generates a substantially uniform distribution of polychromatic irradiance on the conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: CRF Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Piermario Repetto, Denis Bollea, Davide Capello, Stefano Bernard, Pietro Perlo
  • Patent number: 7932524
    Abstract: Described herein is a transparent device for display of information superimposed on a background, said device comprising a plurality of LED sources, addressable individually or in groups through a series of conductive paths deposited on a transparent underlayer and connected to a control electronics, in which: i) said LED sources are integrated in the form of dice, i.e., of elements obtained by dividing up a semiconductor wafer and without package; and ii) at least one of said conductive paths is with interrupted stretches and replaced by stretches of metal wire, bonded to said paths through a wire-bonding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Piermario Repetto, Sabino Sinesi, Sara Padovani, Stefano Bernard, Denis Bollea, Davide Capello, Alberto Pairetti, Michele Antonipieri
  • Patent number: 7884784
    Abstract: Described herein is a transparent-display device for motor vehicles, to be used for presentation of information to the driver and/or to the passengers, said device comprising a plurality of LED sources, addressable individually or in groups through a series of conductive paths, deposited on a transparent underlayer and connected to a control electronics, in which: i) said LED sources are integrated in the form of dice, i.e., of elements obtained by dividing up a semiconductor wafer and without package; ii) said dice are integrated on, and electrically connected to, said underlayer via technologies of the chip-on-board type; and iii) said transparent underlayer 1 is pre-arranged for being at least in part superimposed on the windscreen of the vehicle, in such a way that at least part of the information presented to the user is superimposed on the background, said background being visible to the user through said windscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
    Inventors: Piermario Repetto, Sabino Sinesi, Sara Padovani, Stefano Bernard, Denis Bollea, Davide Capello, Piero Perlo, Alberto Pairetti, Michele Antonipieri
  • Publication number: 20110026206
    Abstract: A user-interface device comprises a plurality of indication elements (3), each provided with a visual indication (4), mounted on a structure (5). The indication elements (3) comprise identification means (9b, 10, 11, 11?) adapted for co-operating with detection means (6, 7) of the device (1), for unique identification the indication elements (3). The identification means (9b, 10, 11, 11?) comprise an electrically conductive layer (10) on a respective side face (6b) of the indication element (3) and an electrically insulating layer (9b) superimposed on the electrically conductive layer. The detection means (6, 7) comprise one or more contact elements (7) set up against a respective a side face (6b) of the indication element (3). The electrically insulating layer (9b) has one or more windows (11) for exposure of respective local portions of the underlying electrically conductive layer (10), each window (11) being made in a position substantially corresponding to a respective contact element (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Stefano Bernard, Giorgio Masoero, Cosimo Carvignese, Diego Marzorati
  • Patent number: 7800290
    Abstract: An emitter (F) for incandescent light sources, in particular a filament, capable of being brought to incandescence by the passage of electric current is obtained in such a way as to have a value of spectral absorption ? that is high in the visible region of the spectrum and low in the infrared region of the spectrum, said absorption ? being defined as ?=1????, where ? is the spectral reflectance and ? is the spectral transmittance of the emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Daniele Pullini, Piermario Repetto, Leonid Doskolovich, Stefano Bernard, Vito Lambertini, Piero Perlo, Davide Capello, Mauro Brignone, Nello Li Pira
  • Patent number: 7784422
    Abstract: A speed-indicating instrument for a motor vehicle provided with a cruise-control system comprises a dial (1) provided with a speed-indicating pointer (3) that co-operates with a graduated scale (5). Displayed in a position adjacent to the graduated scale (5) is an arc of light (6) terminating at one end (6a) that indicates on the graduated scale (5) the cruise-speed value set. Said arc of light is displayed using a first optical filter (7) and a second optical filter (8) superimposed on one another and backlighted, at least one of which being controlled in angular position about the centre (4) of the dial (1) as a function of the cruise speed set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Piermario Repetto, Stefano Bernard