Patents by Inventor Vyacheslav B. Birman
Vyacheslav B. Birman 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: 11548388Abstract: A pointer for a gauge or an instrument cluster assembly is provided. The pointer is formed of a light conducting material. In one form, indicia are disposed about the axis of rotation and/or on a surface, the plurality of indicia configured to be selectively illuminated by the pointer. A second end of the pointer may be configured to be selectively rotated adjacent to each indicium of the plurality of indicia and to illuminate the indicia when the light guide pointer is disposed adjacent to the indicia. The second end may be wider than a first end of the pointer. In some variations, the pointer may have a fan shape, and the indicia may be configured as tick marks defining a bar graph. In some forms, opaque material may be disposed on the pointer, the opaque material defining a plurality of indicia on the pointer.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2016Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Curt Ollila, Michael E Carrel, Vyacheslav B Birman
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Publication number: 20210316610Abstract: A pointer for a gauge or an instrument cluster assembly is provided. The pointer is formed of a light conducting material. In one form, indicia are disposed about the axis of rotation and/or on a surface, the plurality of indicia configured to be selectively illuminated by the pointer. A second end of the pointer may be configured to be selectively rotated adjacent to each indicium of the plurality of indicia and to illuminate the indicia when the light guide pointer is disposed adjacent to the indicia. The second end may be wider than a first end of the pointer. In some variations, the pointer may have a fan shape, and the indicia may be configured as tick marks defining a bar graph. In some forms, opaque material may be disposed on the pointer, the opaque material defining a plurality of indicia on the pointer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2016Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Curt Ollila, Michael E. Carrel, Vyacheslav B. Birman
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Patent number: 10365130Abstract: A pointer for an instrument cluster assembly of a motor vehicle is provided. The pointer includes a pointer arm and a light distributor formed of light conducting material. The pointer arm has a proximal end and a distal end. The light distributor is disposed at the proximal end. The light distributor has a light receiving side and a light reflecting surface. The light distributor is configured to receive rays through the light receiving side. The light reflecting surface is configured to reflect rays into the pointer arm. The light receiving side has an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner portion is disposed closer to the distal end of the pointer arm than the outer portion is with respect to the distal end. Angled surfaces are disposed on the inner portion. The angled surfaces are configured to refract rays toward the light reflecting surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav B Birman, Guoqing Wang, Shirley Yu
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Patent number: 10031277Abstract: An assembly includes a light guide having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end has a light-emitting diode package coupled thereto. The assembly may include another light guide, also having a proximal end and a distal end, with a light-emitting diode package coupled to the proximal end. A light housing may be included that defines a cavity therein, wherein at least a portion of the first and second light guides including the distal ends are disposed in the cavity. Further, a dial face may be included that is disposed adjacent to the first and second light guides and the light housing, wherein each of the first and second light guides are configured to illuminate the dial face. In some variations, flexible printed circuit boards are attached to and electrically connected with the light-emitting diode packages.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav B Birman, Curt Ollila
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Patent number: 10025017Abstract: A light guide assembly for illuminating two gauges utilizing a single light guide includes of a two pairs of light sources such as LEDs, OLED's, quantum dots or other useful light sources functioning to emit light in opposite directions. A light guide receives the light emitted by the LEDs and leaks light out of its open surfaces. A protrusion from the light guide which leaks light in a specific orientation depending on its geometry illuminates a second gauge. An opaque gauge which covers the main portion of the light guide and is located above the light guide.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav B Birman, Cristian Leonard Fitz
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Publication number: 20170176224Abstract: A pointer for an instrument cluster assembly of a motor vehicle is provided. The pointer includes a pointer arm and a light distributor formed of light conducting material. The pointer arm has a proximal end and a distal end. The light distributor is disposed at the proximal end. The light distributor has a light receiving side and a light reflecting surface. The light distributor is configured to receive rays through the light receiving side. The light reflecting surface is configured to reflect rays into the pointer arm. The light receiving side has an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner portion is disposed closer to the distal end of the pointer arm than the outer portion is with respect to the distal end. Angled surfaces are disposed on the inner portion. The angled surfaces are configured to refract rays toward the light reflecting surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Guoqing Wang, Shirley Yu
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Patent number: 9677918Abstract: A light housing for propagating light therethrough is disclosed. The light housing includes a base surface, indented surfaces extending from and connected to the base surface, and roof portions extending from and connected to the base surface. The indented surfaces form openings for light emission through the openings. Each roof portion extends over one of the openings. An instrument cluster assembly for a motor vehicle including the light housing is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Vyacheslav B Birman, Richard Sanders, Michael J Hartmeyer
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Publication number: 20170153374Abstract: An assembly includes a light guide having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end has a light-emitting diode package coupled thereto. The assembly may include another light guide, also having a proximal end and a distal end, with a light-emitting diode package coupled to the proximal end. A light housing may be included that defines a cavity therein, wherein at least a portion of the first and second light guides including the distal ends are disposed in the cavity. Further, a dial face may be included that is disposed adjacent to the first and second light guides and the light housing, wherein each of the first and second light guides are configured to illuminate the dial face. In some variations, flexible printed circuit boards are attached to and electrically connected with the light-emitting diode packages.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2016Publication date: June 1, 2017Inventors: Vyacheslav B Birman, Curt Ollila
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Publication number: 20170148216Abstract: A see-through display system includes an image generator configured to emit a generated image for viewing by a vehicle occupant. A combiner is configured to reflect the generated image in a field of view of the occupant to create a virtual image. The combiner has variable light transmission and/or reflection capability. A light sensor assembly is electrically coupled to the combiner, which includes a light sensor configured to measure brightness, preferably as viewed behind the virtual image. A controller is configured to interpret the brightness measured by the light sensor and adjust the amount of light transmitted through the combiner based on the brightness.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Daniel Arthur Brudzynsky
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Patent number: 9589677Abstract: A gauge assembly which has a gauge surface including graphics representing a vehicle operating parameter. A pointer arm is provided which is made out of a light guide or light transmitting material. The pointer arm includes a step portion in an operative portion of the second bottom surface for reducing light received by said second surface adjacent the step portion and providing an overall even light throughout the operative illuminated viewing surface of the pointer arm.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Richard Daniel Sanders, Guoqing Wang
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Publication number: 20160229337Abstract: A light guide assembly for illuminating two gauges utilizing a single light guide includes of a two pairs of light sources such as LEDs, OLED's, quantum dots or other useful light sources functioning to emit light in opposite directions. A light guide receives the light emitted by the LEDs and leaks light out of its open surfaces. A protrusion from the light guide which leaks light in a specific orientation depending on its geometry illuminates a second gauge. An opaque gauge which covers the main portion of the light guide and is located above the light guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2015Publication date: August 11, 2016Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Cristian Leonard Fitz
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Patent number: 9365159Abstract: A gauge assembly for a motor vehicle includes a gauge surface with graphics representing a vehicle operating parameter and a pointer supported for movement about an axis to indicate a current condition of the vehicle operating parameter by pointing to a specific location on the gauge surface. The pointer includes a pointer arm extending away from a hub and a bottom surface with a negative slope angled away from a plane normal to the axis toward the gauge surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2013Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Christopher J. Volpe
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Patent number: 9312813Abstract: An instrument cluster assembly is disclosed and includes at least one gauge. The gauge comprises a dial surface and a ring spaced apart from the dial surface. The ring has an outer surface and an inner surface that includes ring graphics. The gauge further comprises a pointer rotatable about an axis. The pointer may include a pointer arm including a portion extending into a space defined between the inner surface of the ring and the dial surface and at least partially visible through the ring. The dial surface my include dial graphics.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2013Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Jeremy Rooney
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Publication number: 20160096472Abstract: A light housing for propagating light therethrough is disclosed. The light housing includes a base surface, indented surfaces extending from and connected to the base surface, and roof portions extending from and connected to the base surface. The indented surfaces form openings for light emission through the openings. Each roof portion extends over one of the openings. An instrument cluster assembly for a motor vehicle including the light housing is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2014Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Richard Sanders, Michael J. Hartmeyer
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Publication number: 20160093405Abstract: A gauge assembly which has a gauge surface including graphics representing a vehicle operating parameter. A pointer arm is provided which is made out of a light guide or light transmitting material. The pointer arm includes a step portion in an operative portion of the second bottom surface for reducing light received by said second surface adjacent the step portion and providing an overall even light throughout the operative illuminated viewing surface of the pointer arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Richard Daniel Sanders, Guoqing Wang
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Publication number: 20160091645Abstract: A vehicle instrument cluster lens assembly for a vehicle instruments panel includes a first layer comprised of a quarter-wave plate (?/4). A second layer which is a polarizer, a third layer of another quarter-wave plate (?/4); the first and a fourth layer being a polarizer light to a new orientation. The quarter-wave plates change the orientation of the light angle that it can be seen with a polarized eye glass lens. The vehicle lens assembly functions in a dual manner depending on the light source direction and orientation of the light to prevent light emitted from the instrument as well as making the display light visible to viewers wearing polarized sunglasses.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Jeremy J. Rooney, Gregory O. McConoughey
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Publication number: 20140165901Abstract: An instrument cluster assembly is disclosed and includes at least one gauge. The gauge comprises a dial surface and a ring spaced apart from the dial surface. The ring has an outer surface and an inner surface that includes ring graphics. The gauge further comprises a pointer rotatable about an axis. The pointer may include a pointer arm including a portion extending into a space defined between the inner surface of the ring and the dial surface and at least partially visible through the ring. The dial surface my include dial graphics.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Jeremy Rooney
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Publication number: 20140165904Abstract: A gauge assembly for a motor vehicle includes a gauge surface with graphics representing a vehicle operating parameter and a pointer supported for movement about an axis to indicate a current condition of the vehicle operating parameter by pointing to a specific location on the gauge surface. The pointer includes a pointer arm extending away from a hub and a bottom surface with a negative slope angled away from a plane normal to the axis toward the gauge surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Christopher J. Volpe
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Publication number: 20140165903Abstract: A gauge assembly is disclosed and includes a gauge surface including graphics representing a vehicle operating parameter and a pointer supported for movement about an axis to indicate a current condition of the vehicle operating parameter by pointing to a specific location on the gauge surface. A cap mounted to the pointer along the axis is formed from a plastic film material different than the material forming the pointer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Jeremy Rooney
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Publication number: 20140167947Abstract: A disclosed vehicle instrument panel assembly includes a display disposed within a first plane and configured for generating an image indicative of vehicle operation and a pointer disposed on a second plane spaced apart from the first plane and extending at least partially over the display to highlight the image generated by the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Arthur S. Brown