Patents by Inventor Stephen Kenneth Helwig
Stephen Kenneth Helwig 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: 11092306Abstract: A vehicular lighting assembly (and methods of making the same) that includes a parabolic reflector; a translucent lens element; and a light source configured to emanate light that strikes an interior surface of the reflector and exits the assembly through the element. Further, an interior surface of the lens element comprises one or more fluted regions that are substantially invisible and configured to refract light from the source away from oncoming vehicles. In addition, the fluted region can be within, on, or integral with, the interior and/or exterior surfaces of the lens element in certain configurations.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
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Patent number: 11083051Abstract: An exemplary running board assembly includes a running board with a deck having a plurality of spaced-apart raised sections. The raised sections are made of a thermally conductive polymer and include an electrically conductive element configured to allow electric current to flow through the raised sections.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stuart C. Salter, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Jeffrey Alan Mesko
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Patent number: 11047541Abstract: A vehicular lighting assembly (and methods of making the same) that includes a parabolic reflector; a translucent lens element; and a light source configured to emanate light that strikes an interior surface of the reflector and exits the assembly through the element. Further, an interior surface of the lens element comprises one or more fluted regions that are substantially invisible and configured to refract light from the source away from oncoming vehicles. In addition, the fluted region can be within, on, or integral with, the interior and/or exterior surfaces of the lens element in certain configurations.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
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Patent number: 10766409Abstract: A vehicle taillight assembly is provided that includes a housing having a light transmissive lens, a brake light located in the housing, a strobe light located in the housing and a controller activating the strobe light to strobe when the brake light is activated. The strobe light may also be activated when a turn signal light or reverse light is activated. The strobe light has a light source illuminating light onto a light pipe.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Paul Kenneth Dellock
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Publication number: 20200180707Abstract: A disclosed tailgate accessory assembly includes an accessory body portion and a mount portion. The accessory body portion can include features that provide additional storage space, work surfaces or cargo securement features. The mount portion includes a first post spaced a distance from a second post, wherein each of the first post and the second post are configured for insertion into corresponding openings in a tailgate. A clip is provided for engaging a portion of the tailgate in a locked position for holding the accessory body portion to the tailgate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2018Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventors: Aaron Bradley Johnson, Thomas William Partch, Brian Kenneth Sullivan, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Joshua Robert Hemphill
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Patent number: 10627073Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle headlamp de-condensation. An example exterior lamp of a vehicle includes a housing, a cover coupled to the housing to define a cavity, and a lamp assembly within the cavity. The lamp assembly includes an LED, a heat sink coupled to the LED that is configured to dissipate heat and define a chamber, desiccant located within the chamber to collect moisture from the cavity, and a vent fluidly coupled to the chamber to remove the moisture from the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stephen Kenneth Helwig, David A. Brown, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter
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Publication number: 20200041087Abstract: A running board top plate is provided that comprises a plurality of light-diffusing waveguides, a reflective layer positioned around a portion of each light-diffusing waveguide, a base layer configured to receive one or more of the light-diffusing waveguides and the reflective layer, and a clear lens layer positioned over the light-diffusing waveguides, the reflective layer, and the base layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2018Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Stuart C. Salter, Jeffrey Alan Mesko
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Publication number: 20200032975Abstract: A vehicular lighting assembly (and methods of making the same) that includes a parabolic reflector; a translucent lens element; and a light source configured to emanate light that strikes an interior surface of the reflector and exits the assembly through the element. Further, an interior surface of the lens element comprises one or more fluted regions that are substantially invisible and configured to refract light from the source away from oncoming vehicles. In addition, the fluted region can be within, on, or integral with, the interior and/or exterior surfaces of the lens element in certain configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
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Patent number: 10539285Abstract: A running board top plate is provided that comprises a plurality of light-diffusing waveguides, a reflective layer positioned around a portion of each light-diffusing waveguide, a base layer configured to receive one or more of the light-diffusing waveguides and the reflective layer, and a clear lens layer positioned over the light-diffusing waveguides, the reflective layer, and the base layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2018Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Stuart C. Salter, Jeffrey Alan Mesko
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Publication number: 20200022225Abstract: This disclosure relates to a running board assembly for a motor vehicle, and in particular relates to a heated running board and a corresponding method. An exemplary running board assembly includes a running board with a deck having a plurality of spaced-apart raised sections. The raised sections are made of a thermally conductive polymer and include an electrically conductive element configured to allow electric current to flow through the raised sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stuart C. Salter, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Jeffrey Alan Mesko
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Patent number: 10488008Abstract: A vehicle light assembly comprising a light chamber secured to a vehicle member. The chamber includes a partially transmissive lens and an interior. The interior includes a plurality of isotropically luminant surfaces and a substantially reflective surface. Further, the vehicle light assembly includes a light source arranged within the light chamber, and the light source is substantially oriented to emanate light that initially strikes the substantially reflective surface, propagates within the chamber along the isotropically luminant surfaces, and exits the chamber through the lens.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2015Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Anthony Nicholas Aquilina, Arun Kumar, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Sleiman N Abdelnour
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Patent number: 10488006Abstract: A vehicular lighting assembly (and methods of making the same) that includes a parabolic reflector; a translucent lens element; and a light source configured to emanate light that strikes an interior surface of the reflector and exits the assembly through the element. Further, an interior surface of the lens element comprises one or more fluted regions that are substantially invisible and configured to refract light from the source away from oncoming vehicles. In addition, the fluted region can be within, on, or integral with, the interior and/or exterior surfaces of the lens element in certain configurations.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
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Patent number: 10442429Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system including a computer programmed to determine that a vehicle is traveling in a wrong-way direction. Upon such determination, the computer is programmed to actuate a light of the vehicle to provide a user-detectable pattern external to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Pietro Buttolo, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
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Patent number: 10429025Abstract: A vehicle light assembly including a housing, a light source, a lens disposed in front of the light source, a light sensor disposed in the housing outside of light output from the light source directed at the lens for sensing light reflected off the lens caused by moisture, and a heater disposed on the lens for reducing the moisture when moisture is sensed.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Pietro Buttolo
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Patent number: 10427593Abstract: A light assembly is provided herein. The light assembly includes a pair of light assemblies disposed on opposing sides of a rear portion of a vehicle. Each light assembly includes a housing and a lens. A light source is disposed in the housing and is configured to create a first predefined illumination pattern. A controller is configured to selectively activate the first illumination pattern from one of the pair of housings corresponding to a direction of a vehicle steering wheel rotation.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
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Patent number: 10414335Abstract: A vehicle taillight assembly is provided that includes a housing having a light transmissive lens, a brake light located in the housing, a strobe light located in the housing and a controller activating the strobe light to strobe when the brake light is activated. The strobe light may also be activated when a turn signal light or reverse light is activated. The strobe light has a light source illuminating light onto a light pipe.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Paul Kenneth Dellock
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Publication number: 20190271449Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle headlamp de-condensation. An example exterior lamp of a vehicle includes a housing, a cover coupled to the housing to define a cavity, and a lamp assembly within the cavity. The lamp assembly includes an LED, a heat sink coupled to the LED that is configured to dissipate heat and define a chamber, desiccant located within the chamber to collect moisture from the cavity, and a vent fluidly coupled to the chamber to remove the moisture from the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2018Publication date: September 5, 2019Inventors: Stephen Kenneth Helwig, David A. Brown, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter
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Patent number: 10399483Abstract: An illumination assembly is provided herein. The illumination assembly includes a first light source configured to generate an illumination pattern. A second light source is configured to generate an image within the illumination pattern. A lens is optically coupled with the first and second light sources. A controller is configured to control the activation state of the first and second light sources.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, James J. Surman
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Patent number: 10394112Abstract: A vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a liftgate rotatable between a closed position and an open position, and a video projector mounted to the liftgate. Further, the video projector is configured to project video in a direction away from the vehicle when the liftgate is in the open position. This disclosure also relates to a video projector operable in a video projection mode and a secondary mode, and further relates to a method.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock
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Publication number: 20190248278Abstract: A vehicle taillight assembly is provided that includes a housing having a light transmissive lens, a brake light located in the housing, a strobe light located in the housing and a controller activating the strobe light to strobe when the brake light is activated. The strobe light may also be activated when a turn signal light or reverse light is activated. The strobe light has a light source illuminating light onto a light pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2018Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Paul Kenneth Dellock