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).

  • Patent number: 10337954
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a housing, at least one lamp located in the housing, at least one beam alignment light source positioned in the housing and configured to project an image to aid in alignment of the at least one lamp, and at least one beam alignment mechanism operably coupled to the housing and configured to adjust the direction of light from the at least one lamp based on an image projected by the beam alignment light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Kenneth Helwig, David A. Brown, Simon Howard Curwood, Diane Marie LaHaie, Matt W. Roosen, Brian Carroll, Ken Alan Ward
  • Patent number: 10323818
    Abstract: A vehicle light assembly is provided that includes a light source, a lens in front of the light source, conductive circuitry provided on the lens and forming a capacitive sensor for sensing moisture on the lens and a heater for removing the moisture, and switching circuitry for selectively energizing one of the capacitive sensor and the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Pietro Buttolo
  • Patent number: 10300843
    Abstract: A vehicle side marker is provided herein. The side marker may include a translucent lens having a texture thereon. A substrate may be attached to the lens. A first photoluminescent structure and a second photoluminescent structure are disposed between an exterior surface of the lens and the substrate. The first and second photoluminescent structures are configured to luminesce in response to excitation by a light source. The first photoluminescent structure may include a long persistent photoluminescent material therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sleiman N. Abdelnour, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Patent number: 10288249
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting assembly includes a lighting component, a metallic layer formed on a first portion of the lighting component to establish a reflective surface, a micro-pattern formed on a second portion of the lighting component to establish a non-reflective surface, and a coating that includes a phosphor mixture applied to the micro-pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Patent number: 10286837
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Patent number: 10240737
    Abstract: A light assembly for a vehicle is provided herein. The light assembly includes a housing and a lens. A light source is disposed between the housing and lens. A bulb shield is disposed between the light source and the lens. A peripheral portion of the bulb shield has a first optical transmittance and a central region of the bulb shield has a second optical transmittance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Patent number: 10227032
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp alignment system is provided that includes a headlamp located on a vehicle, an adjuster module for adjusting aim of the headlamp, and a camera located on the vehicle. Sensors may determine distance and orientation of the vehicle relative to a wall. A controller processes images of a beam on the wall acquired by the camera and determines the aim of the headlamp based on the images. The controller controls the adjuster module to align the headlamp based on the determined aim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 10207628
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a bezel defining a lamp cavity. A lamp assembly includes a base slide coupled with the bezel. A lamp slide is slidably coupled with the base slide. A housing bracket is coupled to the lamp slide and to a lamp housing. An actuator is coupled to the lamp slide and configured to move the lamp housing through the lamp cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Publication number: 20190032883
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting assembly includes a lighting component, a metallic layer formed on a first portion of the lighting component to establish a reflective surface, a micro-pattern formed on a second portion of the lighting component to establish a non-reflective surface, and a coating that includes a phosphor mixture applied to the micro-pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Patent number: 10189401
    Abstract: A vehicle light strip is provided herein. The vehicle light strip includes a housing member. A light assembly is disposed inside the housing member and has a light source and a photoluminescent structure that is configured to luminesce in response to light excitation by the light source. An optical element is configured to transmit a portion of luminescent light toward a front wall of the housing member and direct another portion of luminescent light toward at least one side wall of the housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Harry Lobo
  • Patent number: 10137825
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror assembly is provided herein. The mirror assembly includes a first light source disposed within a housing and is operably coupled with a first light output window disposed on an outboard portion of the housing. A door ajar sensor is disposed within a vehicle. Emitted light is emanated from the first light output window through a window of the vehicle when the door ajar sensor detects a vehicle door is in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Ulrich Stuhec, Keith Hoelscher, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Publication number: 20180336786
    Abstract: A method and system for avoiding collisions in a motor vehicle is provided. Specifically, a motor vehicle includes one or more proximity sensors on an interior door of the motor vehicle that are configured to determine that an operator is going to open a car door. The motor vehicle also includes a collision detection assembly configured to detect if another motor vehicle or obstacle is approaching. If the other motor vehicle or obstacle is approaching the motor vehicle at about the same time the operator is moving to open a door, the motor vehicle may actuate one or more warning signals, including but not limited to, exterior lights and an interior warning chime, and may also prohibit unlatch of the car door for a period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Aaron Bradley Johnson
  • Patent number: 10132460
    Abstract: An exemplary vehicle lighting assembly includes, among other things, a lens, a light source, a phosphor layer, and a reflective layer that is separate from the lens and is disposed between the phosphor layer and the light source. An exemplary vehicle lighting method includes, among other things, activating a light source to charge a phosphor layer, and reflecting light from the phosphor layer through a lens using a reflective layer between the phosphor layer and the light source. The reflective layer is separate from the lens. The lens includes geometric features that reflect light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Publication number: 20180320854
    Abstract: A vehicle light assembly is provided that includes a light source, a lens in front of the light source, conductive circuitry provided on the lens and forming a capacitive sensor for sensing moisture on the lens and a heater for removing the moisture, and switching circuitry for selectively energizing one of the capacitive sensor and the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Pietro Buttolo
  • Publication number: 20180320884
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Pietro Buttolo
  • Publication number: 20180319323
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising: a front, a rear, a first side, and a second side; a first light capable of emitting light from the first side; a controller in communication with the first light; an exterior sensor that provides data to the controller, which determines whether an object is approaching the first side of the vehicle; and the controller causes the first light to emit light from the first side, when the controller determines that an object is approaching the first side. The first light is capable of emitting flashing light in a first color; and the controller causes the first light to emit flashing light in the first color, when the controller determines that an object is approaching the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Patent number: 10118542
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising: a front, a rear, a first side, and a second side; a first light capable of emitting light from the first side; a controller in communication with the first light; an exterior sensor that provides data to the controller, which determines whether an object is approaching the first side of the vehicle; and the controller causes the first light to emit light from the first side, when the controller determines that an object is approaching the first side. The first light is capable of emitting flashing light in a first color; and the controller causes the first light to emit flashing light in the first color, when the controller determines that an object is approaching the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Publication number: 20180312103
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a housing. One or more lamps are located in the housing. A beam alignment light source is positioned in the housing and is configured to aid in alignment of the one or more lamps. A beam alignment mechanism is operably coupled to the housing and configured to adjust the direction of light from at least one of the one or more lamps. A method of aligning the vehicle headlamp includes the steps of: illuminating an alignment light source within the vehicle headlamp; projecting the illuminated alignment light source onto a surface; aligning the alignment light source to a pre-determined position on the surface; and adjusting one or more lamps to correspond with the pre-determined position of the alignment light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen Kenneth Helwig, David A. Brown, Simon Howard Curwood, Diane Marie LaHaie, Matt W. Roosen, Brian Carroll, Ken Alan Ward
  • Publication number: 20180304820
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 10106075
    Abstract: A hazard notification system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of exterior lights and a positioning system configured to identify a location of the vehicle. The system further comprises a controller. The controller is configured to identify the vehicle in an unestablished parking region based on the location and receive an indication of a parked condition of the vehicle. In response to the parked condition and the vehicle located in the unestablished parking region, the controller is configured to activate the exterior lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Pietro Buttolo