Patents by Inventor Jon H. Bechtel

Jon H. Bechtel 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).

  • Publication number: 20140078361
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Jeremy C. Andrus
  • Patent number: 8629927
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Jeremy C. Andrus
  • Patent number: 8587706
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Jeremy C. Andrus
  • Patent number: 8583331
    Abstract: The present invention relates to monitoring and automatic control systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Mark W. Pierce, Jon H. Bechtel, William R. Spence, Robert R. Turnbull, El-Sayed Eid
  • Patent number: 8577169
    Abstract: Algorithms for improving the quality of images tone mapped using the bilateral filter are presented. The algorithms involve a localized operator applied to the tone mapping compression factor which enhances apparent image contrast in the low dynamic range output of the tone mapping. At least one embodiment of the present invention is related to circuitry configured to perform at least a portion of related calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Andrus, Jon H. Bechtel, Tom B. Sherman
  • Publication number: 20130250113
    Abstract: An automatic vehicle equipment control system and methods thereof are provided, the system includes at least one imager configured to acquire a continuous sequence of high dynamic range single frame images, a processor, a color spectral filter array including a plurality of color filters, at least a portion of which are different colors, and pixels of an imager pixel array being in optical communication with substantially one spectral color filter, and a lens, wherein the imager is configured to capture a non-saturated image of nearby oncoming headlamps and at least one of a diffuse lane marking and a distant tail lamp in one image frame of the continuous sequence of high dynamic range single frame images, and the system configured to detect at least one of said highway markings and said tail lamps, and quantify light from the oncoming headlamp from data in the one image frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Jeremy C. Andrus, Gregory S. Bush, David J. Wright, Jim L. Schneider, Tom B. Sherman
  • Patent number: 8463035
    Abstract: A spectrally mosaiced digital image is provided with missing color data imputed for each pixel. Circuitry is provided that is configured to perform at least a portion of the calculations related to demosaicing a high dynamic range image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Jeremy C. Andrus, Tom B. Sherman
  • Patent number: 8456327
    Abstract: An automatic vehicle equipment control system and methods thereof are provided, the system includes at least one imager configured to acquire a continuous sequence of high dynamic range single frame images, a processor, a color spectral filter array including a plurality of color filters, at least a portion of which are different colors, and pixels of an imager pixel array being in optical communication with substantially one spectral color filter, and a lens, wherein the imager is configured to capture a non-saturated image of nearby oncoming headlamps and at least one of a diffuse lane marking and a distant tail lamp in one image frame of the continuous sequence of high dynamic range single frame images, and the system configured to detect at least one of said highway markings and said tail lamps, and quantify light from the oncoming headlamp from data in the one image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Jeremy C. Andrus, Gregory S. Bush, David J. Wright, Jim L. Schneider, Tom B. Sherman
  • Patent number: 8378284
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Van Blerkom, Rami Yassine, Jon H Bechtel, Jeremy C Andrus
  • Publication number: 20130009042
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Jeremy C. Andrus
  • Patent number: 8326483
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved image sensor-processor interconnections and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved image sensor-processor interconnections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Mark W. Pierce, Jon H. Bechtel, William R. Spence, Robert R. Turnbull, El-Sayed Eid
  • Patent number: 8305471
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Jeremy C. Andrus
  • Patent number: 8289430
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Jeremy C. Andrus
  • Patent number: 8219217
    Abstract: An electrical control system is disclosed for controlling a plurality of variable transmittance windows. The electrical control system of the present invention comprises a master control circuit for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for the variable transmission windows, and a plurality of window control circuits coupled to each of the master control circuits. Because the window control circuits can sense abnormal load conditions in the variable transmission windows, the system further includes an interface to a security system to inform of a potential intrusion. Each window control circuit controls the transmittance of at least one of the variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from the master control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, David L. Poll
  • Publication number: 20120123638
    Abstract: A system for automatically controlling vehicle equipment includes a controller to generate control signals. The control signals are derived based on information obtained from the image sensor as well as other detected parameters pertaining to the detected light source(s), the vehicle having the inventive control system, and the ambient environment. The control circuit may simply turn certain vehicle equipment, for example exterior lights, on or off, or change the brightness, aim, focus, etc. to produce various beam patterns that maximize the illuminated area in front of the vehicle without causing excessive glare in the eyes of other drivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Joseph S. Stam
  • Publication number: 20120116632
    Abstract: A system for automatically controlling vehicle equipment includes a controller to generate control signals. The control signals are derived based on information obtained from the image sensor as well as other detected parameters pertaining to the detected light source(s), the vehicle having the inventive control system, and the ambient environment. The control circuit may simply turn certain vehicle equipment, for example exterior lights, on or off, or change the brightness, aim, focus, etc. to produce various beam patterns that maximize the illuminated area in front of the vehicle without causing excessive glare in the eyes of other drivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Joseph S. Stam
  • Patent number: 8144223
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Van Blerkom, Jon H Bechtel, Jeremy C Andrus
  • Publication number: 20120050074
    Abstract: An automatic vehicle equipment control system and methods thereof are provided, the system includes at least one imager configured to acquire a continuous sequence of high dynamic range single frame images, a processor, a color spectral filter array including a plurality of color filters, at least a portion of which are different colors, and pixels of an imager pixel array being in optical communication with substantially one spectral color filter, and a lens, wherein the imager is configured to capture a non-saturated image of nearby oncoming headlamps and at least one of a diffuse lane marking and a distant tail lamp in one image frame of the continuous sequence of high dynamic range single frame images, and the system configured to detect at least one of said highway markings and said tail lamps, and quantify light from the oncoming headlamp from data in the one image frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Jeremy C. Andrus, Gregory S. Bush, David J. Wright, Jim L. Schneider, Tom B. Sherman
  • Patent number: 8120652
    Abstract: A system for automatically controlling vehicle equipment includes a controller to generate control signals. The control signals are derived based on information obtained from the image sensor as well as other detected parameters pertaining to the detected light source(s), the vehicle having the inventive control system, and the ambient environment. The control circuit may simply turn certain vehicle equipment, for example exterior lights, on or off, or change the brightness, aim, focus, etc. to produce various beam patterns that maximize the illuminated area in front of the vehicle without causing excessive glare in the eyes of other drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H Bechtel, Joseph S Stam
  • Patent number: 8070329
    Abstract: Improved light emitting optics systems are provided for obtaining desired illumination patterns. Illumination assemblies and systems are provided that incorporate improved light emitting optics systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Harold C. Ockerse, Darin D. Tuttle