David P O'Connell

US Patent:

7937667, May 3, 2011

Filed:

Sep 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/861904

Inventors:

Mark E. Kramer - Zeeland MI, US
Niall R. Lynam - Holland MI, US
David P. O'Connell - Ada MI, US
Vernon R. Nise - Caledonia MI, US

Assignee:

Donnelly Corporation - Holland MI

International Classification:

G06F 13/00
G06F 15/00

US Classification:

715781, 715744

Abstract:

A user-interactive display system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly, a portable hand-held device, and a display device. The portable hand-held device is operable to communicate a first signal to a vehicle-based receiver. A user input is actuatable so that a user can select an item from a listing of choices displayed by the display device, whereby the user-interactive display system (a) displays at the display device data associated with the selected item in response to the user-selection of the selected item from the listing of choices, and/or (b) audibly plays at an audio device of the vehicle data associated with the selected item in response to the user-selection of the selected item from the listing of choices.

US Patent:

20020071475, Jun 13, 2002

Filed:

Dec 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/732287

Inventors:

Timothy Betzner - Kokomo IN, US
David O'Connell - Canfield OH, US
Peter Straub - St. Marys PA, US
Michael Boehm - Warren OH, US

International Classification:

G01K007/22
G01K001/14

US Classification:

374/185000, 374/208000

Abstract:

A temperature sensor incorporating flexible circuit technology. A flexible circuit sensor subassembly is composed of a flexible printed circuit substrate on which is printed a sensor circuit. In a preferred example the flexible circuit sensor subassembly, the sensor circuit has a sensor at a distal end, as for example a surface mount device (SMD) thermistor, a plurality of trace pads at a proximate end, and an interconnecting conductive trace between each trace pad and the sensor. A crimp terminal is respectively crimped onto each trace pad to provide a flexible circuit sensor assembly, wherein the crimp terminals are configured as needed for interfacing with an external circuit. The location of the sensor may be selectively located anywhere on the conductive traces to thereby easily size the probe length of the flexible circuit sensor subassembly to suit a any particular application and fit into any housing. A housing id molded over the flexible circuit sensor assembly. The housing either alone or located in an external shell provides a temperature sensor for a particular purpose. In a variation of the flexible circuit sensor assembly, electronic components can be integrated with the sensor circuit to provide a smart sensor circuit, which may include multiple sensing devices.

US Patent:

20110202862, Aug 18, 2011

Filed:

Apr 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/097576

Inventors:

Mark E. Kramer - Zeeland MI, US
Niall R. Lynam - Holland MI, US
David P. O'Connell - Ada MI, US
Vernon R. Nise - Caledonia MI, US

Assignee:

DONNELLY CORPORATION - Holland MI

International Classification:

G06F 3/048

US Classification:

715771

Abstract:

A user-interactive display system for a vehicle includes a portable hand-held device capable of being carried into and out of the vehicle and a display device viewable by the driver of the vehicle. The portable hand-held device is operable to communicate with a vehicle-based receiver, and the display device is operable to display a listing of choices in response to the communication. A user input of an interior rearview mirror assembly is actuatable by a user to select an item from the displayed listing of choices. The user-interactive display system is operable to at least one of (a) display at the display device data associated with the selected item in response to the user-selection of the selected item from the listing of choices and (b) audibly play at an audio device in the vehicle data associated with the selected item in response to the user-selection of the selected item from the listing of choices.

US Patent:

D4465741, Aug 14, 2001

Filed:

Aug 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

D/127420

Inventors:

Carter J. Thomas - Cedarburg WI
David J. O'Connell - Sheboygan WI
Mary J. Reid - Sheboygan WI

Assignee:

Kohler Co. - Kohler WI

International Classification:

2302

US Classification:

D232801

US Patent:

20220270409, Aug 25, 2022

Filed:

May 13, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/663227

Inventors:

- Auburn Hills MI, US
Niall R. Lynam - Holland MI, US
David P. O'Connell - Ada MI, US
Vernon R. Nise - Caledonia MI, US

International Classification:

G06V 40/20
B60K 35/00
B60K 37/06
B60R 1/12
B60R 11/02
G01C 21/36
H04M 1/60
G06V 20/58
G06V 20/59
G06V 20/56
G06F 3/01
G01C 21/26
G06F 3/16
H04N 5/232
H04N 7/18

Abstract:

A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and a camera disposed at the interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly behind and viewing through an electrochromic mirror reflective element into the interior cabin of the vehicle. Supplemental sources of near infrared illumination are integrated into the mirror assembly that, when powered to emit near infrared light, illuminate at least a front seating area within the interior cabin of the vehicle. Presence of the camera is not readily apparent to an occupant sitting in the interior cabin of the vehicle. The interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly includes a processor that processes image data captured by the camera. The camera at least views a driver-side front seating area of the vehicle and, via processing at the processor of image data captured by the camera, the driver seated at the driver-side front seating area is monitored.

US Patent:

20210383104, Dec 9, 2021

Filed:

Aug 23, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/445631

Inventors:

- Auburn Hills MI, US
Niall R. Lynam - Holland MI, US
David P. O'Connell - Ada MI, US
Vernon R. Nise - Caledonia MI, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
B60K 35/00
B60K 37/06
B60R 1/12
B60R 11/02
G01C 21/36
H04M 1/60
G06F 3/01
G01C 21/26
G06F 3/16
H04N 5/232
H04N 7/18

Abstract:

A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in a vehicle and including a mirror reflective element. A camera is disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly and views a driver sitting at a driver seat of the equipped vehicle. The camera is operable to capture image data. A control includes a vision system-on-a-chip image processor that processes image data captured by the camera. The control, via processing at the vision system-on-a-chip image processor of image data captured by the camera, determines driver movement. The vehicular driver monitoring system generates an output responsive at least in part to the determined driver movement.

US Patent:

20210129795, May 6, 2021

Filed:

Jan 11, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/248115

Inventors:

- Holland MI, US
David P. O'Connell - Ada MI, US
Kenneth C. Peterson - Ada MI, US

International Classification:

B60R 25/20
G06F 3/042
B60Q 1/00
G06F 3/0481

Abstract:

A method for generating an output for controlling a vehicular function of a vehicle includes providing (i) a vehicular sensing device having at least one illumination source operable to backlight a plurality of icons, each icon representative of a respective vehicle function, and (ii) a plurality of sensors, each sensor having a respective field of sensing associated with a respective icon of the plurality of icons. With the vehicular sensing device disposed at a vehicle, and with the at least one illumination source activated to backlight the plurality of icons, the backlit icons are viewable at an exterior portion of the vehicle, and the sensors sense movement of a person's hand or foot in a field of sensing of one of the sensors, and a controller generates an output to control the vehicular function that is represented by the respective backlit icon associated with that sensor.

US Patent:

20200216023, Jul 9, 2020

Filed:

Mar 16, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/819668

Inventors:

- Holland MI, US
David P. O'Connell - Ada MI, US
Kenneth C. Peterson - Ada MI, US

International Classification:

B60R 25/20
G06F 3/042
B60Q 1/00
G06F 3/0481

Abstract:

A vehicular sensing device for a vehicular function control system includes a plurality of sensors and at least one illumination source operable to backlight a plurality of icons at a cover element, each icon of the plurality of icons representative of a respective vehicle function. With the vehicular sensing device disposed at a vehicle, and with the at least one illumination source activated to backlight the plurality of icons, the backlit icons are viewable at an exterior portion of the vehicle, and each sensor of the plurality of sensors has a respective field of sensing associated with a respective icon of the plurality of icons. Responsive to sensing by one of the sensors of proximity or movement of a user in the field of sensing of that sensor, a controller generates an output to control the vehicle function that is represented by the respective backlit icon associated with that sensor.