Randal G Maes

Title: Randal G. Maes and Expressive Vehicle Lighting

Introduction

Randal G. Maes is an inventor associated with Harrison Township, Michigan. His work includes a vehicle lighting invention that combines conventional vehicle signals with customizable expressive lighting.

Latest Patents

Maes is credited with 1 patent, titled “Expressive Vehicle Lighting Assembly.” The invention describes a vehicle lighting system with a main lighting assembly and a separate expressive lighting assembly housed behind an outer lens. A sensor detects vehicle conditions, such as braking or headlight activation, and signals the main lighting assembly.

The expressive assembly uses transparent plates arranged in a stack, with LEDs positioned in rows and columns on each plate. A control board can address the LEDs individually and illuminate them in a calibrated sequence. The system may receive activation signals from a device such as a fob, and a controller may allow lighting sequences to be downloaded as applications.

Career Highlights

Maes is associated with GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. His patent describes an approach to adding programmable visual expression to vehicle lighting while retaining lighting that responds to standard vehicle conditions.

Collaborations

The supplied information identifies Kenneth J. Foley and Matthew J. Michal as Maes’s coworkers. Their specific roles in the patent or related work are not provided.

Conclusion

Randal G. Maes’s patent presents a vehicle lighting concept that pairs condition-responsive illumination with individually controlled LEDs and customizable sequences.