Patents by Inventor William C. Ince
William C. Ince 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: 10807515Abstract: A vehicular adaptive driving beam headlighting system includes a camera disposed at and viewing forwardly through a windshield of a vehicle. A control includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the camera at night to detect headlights present in a field of view of the camera of an oncoming vehicle that is approaching the equipped vehicle along a traffic lane to the left of a traffic lane of a road that the equipped vehicle is travelling along. A left-side headlamp is disposed at a left-side front portion of the equipped vehicle and a right-side headlamp is disposed at a right-side front portion of the equipped vehicle. Responsive to detection of headlights of an oncoming vehicle, the left-side headlamp beam of light is adjusted to reduce glaring a driver of the oncoming vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Publication number: 20190039507Abstract: A vehicular adaptive driving beam headlighting system includes a camera disposed at and viewing forwardly through a windshield of a vehicle. A control includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the camera at night to detect headlights present in a field of view of the camera of an oncoming vehicle that is approaching the equipped vehicle along a traffic lane to the left of a traffic lane of a road that the equipped vehicle is travelling along. A left-side headlamp is disposed at a left-side front portion of the equipped vehicle and a right-side headlamp is disposed at a right-side front portion of the equipped vehicle. Responsive to detection of headlights of an oncoming vehicle, the left-side headlamp beam of light is adjusted to reduce glaring a driver of the oncoming vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Patent number: 10086747Abstract: A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at and viewing forwardly through a windshield of the equipped vehicle and operable to capture image data. A control operable to process captured image data utilizing algorithmic decision-making, which uses an edge detection algorithm. The control is operable to process captured image data to detect a pedestrian present in the field of view of the camera. The control is operable to process captured image data to detect an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle. Responsive to pedestrian detection, the control is operable to generate an alert to a driver of the equipped vehicle. Responsive to detection of an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, a light beam of a headlight of the equipped vehicle is adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Publication number: 20140362594Abstract: A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at and viewing forwardly through a windshield of the equipped vehicle and operable to capture image data. A control operable to process captured image data utilizing algorithmic decision-making, which uses an edge detection algorithm. The control is operable to process captured image data to detect a pedestrian present in the field of view of the camera. The control is operable to process captured image data to detect an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle. Responsive to pedestrian detection, the control is operable to generate an alert to a driver of the equipped vehicle. Responsive to detection of an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, a light beam of a headlight of the equipped vehicle is adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Patent number: 8814401Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes an imaging device and a control operable to process image data captured by the imaging device. The control is operable to process the captured image data to detect at least one of (i) a sign ahead of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an animal ahead of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a pedestrian ahead of the equipped vehicle. The control is operable to process the captured image data to detect an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle. An illumination source is operable to illuminate generally forwardly and/or generally sidewardly of the equipped vehicle, and wherein illumination emanating from the illumination source is adjustable.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Publication number: 20120182425Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes an imaging device and a control operable to process image data captured by the imaging device. The control is operable to process the captured image data to detect at least one of (i) a sign ahead of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an animal ahead of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a pedestrian ahead of the equipped vehicle. The control is operable to process the captured image data to detect an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle. An illumination source is operable to illuminate generally forwardly and/or generally sidewardly of the equipped vehicle, and wherein illumination emanating from the illumination source is adjustable.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2012Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Patent number: 8142059Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes a control and an imaging device having a forward field of view. The control is operable to process image data captured by the imaging device to determine if an object imaged by the imaging device is an object of interest present generally forwardly and/or sidewardly of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the road. An illumination source is operable to illuminate generally forwardly and/or sidewardly of the vehicle. The illumination source includes an array of light emitting diodes and illumination emanating from the illumination source is adjustable via selectively activating at least some individual light emitting diodes of the array of light emitting diodes. Adjustment of the illumination source is responsive to determination by the control that an imaged object is an object of interest to the driver of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Publication number: 20120051599Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes a control and an imaging device having a forward field of view. The control is operable to process image data captured by the imaging device to determine if an object imaged by the imaging device is an object of interest present generally forwardly and/or sidewardly of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the road. An illumination source is operable to illuminate generally forwardly and/or sidewardly of the vehicle. The illumination source includes an array of light emitting diodes and illumination emanating from the illumination source is adjustable via selectively activating at least some individual light emitting diodes of the array of light emitting diodes. Adjustment of the illumination source is responsive to determination by the control that an imaged object is an object of interest to the driver of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Patent number: 8070332Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes an imaging device, an illumination source and a control. The illumination source is directed generally forwardly with respect to a direction of forward travel of the vehicle. The imaging device captures image data and the control processes the captured image data to detect an object of interest generally forwardly and sidewardly of the vehicle. The control is operable to adjust the illumination source in response to detection of an object of interest. The imaging device may be synchronized with flashing of at least one lighting element of the illumination source to capture image data during a time period that the lighting element is being flashed. The control may adjust the illumination source to direct illumination toward an area encompassing a detected object of interest when the object of interest is detected.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Publication number: 20110176003Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes an imaging device, an illumination source and a control. The illumination source is directed generally forwardly with respect to a direction of forward travel of the vehicle. The imaging device captures image data and the control processes the captured image data to detect an object of interest generally forwardly and sidewardly of the vehicle. The control is operable to adjust the illumination source in response to detection of an object of interest. The imaging device may be synchronized with flashing of at least one lighting element of the illumination source to capture image data during a time period that the lighting element is being flashed. The control may adjust the illumination source to direct illumination toward an area encompassing a detected object of interest when the object of interest is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2011Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: MAGNA ELECTRONICSInventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Patent number: 7914187Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes a detection device, an illumination source and a control. The illumination source is directed generally forwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the vehicle, and has an adjustable principal axis of illumination. The detection device may be operable to determine a gaze direction of a driver or driving instructor of a vehicle or may detect a sign or other object of interest, such as a deer or pedestrian or the like, generally forwardly and sidewardly of the vehicle. The control is operable to adjust the principal axis of illumination of the illumination source in response to an output of the detection device so as to provide enhanced illumination at areas sideward and forward of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Patent number: 7775699Abstract: A bifunctional vehicle headlamp is described. In one embodiment, a headlamp comprises a light source and a reflector, which cooperate to form a light pattern, a lens positioned forward of the reflector and configured to project a desired beam pattern, and a light shield disposed between the lens and the reflector. The light shield has a first shade that selectively blocks a first portion of the light pattern to form a first beam pattern, and a second shade that selectively blocks a second portion of the light pattern to form a second beam pattern.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2006Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Amir P. Fallahi, William C. Ince
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Publication number: 20090016073Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes a detection device, an illumination source and a control. The illumination source is directed generally forwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the vehicle, and has an adjustable principal axis of illumination. The detection device may be operable to determine a gaze direction of a driver or driving instructor of a vehicle or may detect a sign or other object of interest, such as a deer or pedestrian or the like, generally forwardly and sidewardly of the vehicle. The control is operable to adjust the principal axis of illumination of the illumination source in response to an output of the detection device so as to provide enhanced illumination at areas sideward and forward of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2008Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Publication number: 20080025035Abstract: A bifunctional vehicle headlamp is described. In one embodiment, a headlamp comprises a light source and a reflector, which cooperate to form a light pattern, a lens positioned forward of the reflector and configured to project a desired beam pattern, and a light shield disposed between the lens and the reflector. The light shield has a first shade that selectively blocks a first portion of the light pattern to form a first beam pattern, and a second shade that selectively blocks a second portion of the light pattern to form a second beam pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2006Publication date: January 31, 2008Inventors: Amir P. Fallahi, William C. Ince