Patents by Inventor Kurtis L. Geerlings

Kurtis L. Geerlings 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: 20210339707
    Abstract: A user monitoring apparatus for identifying a user of a vehicle includes a scanning apparatus configured to capture identifying information comprising a facial feature of the user in a field of view. A panel comprises a display portion. The apparatus further includes a feedback apparatus disposed behind the panel and configured to communicate alignment information visually indicating an alignment of the facial feature within the field of view of the scanning apparatus. The feedback apparatus includes at least one emitter configured to emit an alignment emission through an optical element thereby illuminating the alignment information on the display portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua D. Lintz, David M. Bostrom, Christopher B. Case, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Xiaoxu Niu, Adam R. Heintzelman
  • Patent number: 11151399
    Abstract: An alignment system comprises a first diffractive optical element comprising an image and a laser source. The image is visible when the laser source is viewed from a desired field of view through the diffractive optical element. The laser source may be configured to produce a beam of light that will extend through at least a portion of the first diffractive optical element, thereby illuminating the image. The first diffractive optical element and the laser source may be disposed in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kurtis L. Geerlings, Winston D. Carr, Adam R. Heintzelman, Xiaoxu Niu
  • Publication number: 20210302798
    Abstract: An electro-optic element is disclosed. The electro-optic element may comprise a voltage control device electrically connected to an electrode of the electro-optic medium. In some embodiments, the voltage control device may be a transistor. The voltage control device may be operable to receive a supply voltage and to output an activation voltage to an electro-optic medium of the electro-optic element. Additionally, the electro-optic element may further comprise a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to receive at least one feedback signal. Based, at least in part, on the feedback signals, the control circuit may accordingly control the activation voltage output by the voltage control devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaoxu Niu, Robert R. Turnbull, Mario F. Saenger Nayver, Andrew D. Weller, Kurtis L. Geerlings
  • Patent number: 11130195
    Abstract: A laser ablation process can be configured to reduce the appearance of or eliminate a potentially objectionable diffraction effect that can occur when a workpiece or product that has been subjected to the ablation process interacts with light. The diffraction effect can be reduced by introducing irregularity into the arrangement of overlapping laser spots during the process. Other process parameters may be modified to reduce the diffraction effect, such as laser scan speed, laser pulse frequency, the position of the focal plane of the laser, the configuration of raster lines, or the energy profile of the laser beam, for example. The process modifications and configurations are particularly useful with products including an ablated surface that is intended to reflect light or to allow light to pass therethrough as part of its function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kurtis L. Geerlings, David J. Cammenga, Donald L. Bareman, Henry A. Luten
  • Patent number: 11131857
    Abstract: An imager assembly including calibration functionality and a housing. An imager is disposed inside the housing. The imager includes a lens assembly. An electro-optic element is disposed on a wall of the housing and operable between a substantially clear condition and a substantially darkened condition. A light source directs light at the electro-optic element which redirects the light toward the lens assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin B. Hilldore, Tom B. Sherman, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Adam R. Heintzelman, Keith W. Bigoness, Donald L. Bareman, Joshua D. Lintz
  • Publication number: 20210291737
    Abstract: A system and rearview assembly is disclosed. The system includes a rearview assembly, an imager, and a controller. The rearview assembly comprises a backlight. Further, the rearview assembly is operable to provide a driver with a view of a scene rearward of a vehicle. Additionally, the rearview assembly is operable to emit light to illuminate the driver with at least one of infra-red and near infra-red light from the backlight. The imager is operable to image the driver in the at least one of infra-red and near infra-red light. The controller is communicatively connected to the imager and operable to analyze images of the driver to perform at least one of a biometric and a driver awareness analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaoxu Niu, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Joshua D. Lintz, Andrew D. Weller
  • Patent number: 11126056
    Abstract: A method for removing a material from a surface of a substrate includes impinging a laser beam on the material during a first sweep to remove the material from the surface along a first line and impinging the laser beam on the material during a second sweep to remove the material from the surface along a second line adjacent to the first line. The first line includes first artifacts that form a first portion of an array of artifacts on the surface. The second line includes second artifacts that form a second portion of the array of artifacts on the surface. A first laser pulse of the laser beam corresponding with the second sweep is synchronized with a start of the second sweep when transitioning between the first line and the second line such that the start of the second sweep coincides with the first laser pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry A. Luten, Donald L. Bareman, Thomas J. Scott, Kurtis L. Geerlings, William L. Tonar, Niels A. Olesen
  • Patent number: 11071497
    Abstract: A wearable medical device includes a frame and a lens coupled to the frame. The lens is configured to be positioned proximate eyes of a user. At least one lamp device is coupled to the frame. The at least one lamp device emits light forward from the frame. A controller activates and controls the at least one lamp device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason D. Hallack, Thomas S. Wright, Joshua D. Lintz, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Bradley R. Hamlin
  • Patent number: 11066046
    Abstract: An authentication apparatus configured to identify a user comprises a scanning apparatus configured to capture identifying information of the user and a feedback apparatus configured to communicate alignment information for the scanning apparatus to a user. A controller is in communication with the scanning apparatus and the alignment apparatus. The controller is configured to activate the feedback apparatus to reveal the alignment information identifying an alignment with the scanning apparatus. The controller is further configured to capture the identifying information of the user and identify the user in response to the identifying information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: GETEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua D. Lintz, David M. Bostrom, Christopher B. Case, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Xiaoxu Niu, Adam R. Heintzelman
  • Patent number: 11054562
    Abstract: An illumination system is provided that includes a light source configured to emit a first handedness polarization of light onto a body, the first handedness polarization of light having at least one of a circular and an elliptical polarization. The body reflects a second handedness polarization of light. An optical filter is configured to at least one of absorb and reflect the second handedness polarization of light and transmit the first handedness polarization of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: William L. Tonar, David J. Cammenga, Kurtis L. Geerlings
  • Patent number: 11054113
    Abstract: A light assembly is configured to selectively illuminate an operating region in a surgical suite. The assembly comprises a plurality of lighting modules comprising a plurality of light sources configured to emit light. The assembly further comprises at least one imager configured to capture image data disposed in at least one of the lighting modules. An articulating head assembly is configured to support each of the lighting modules. The articulating head assembly comprises a plurality of actuators configured to rotate each of the lighting modules about a first axis and a second axis. The assembly further comprises a controller. The controller is configured to scan the image data for at least one region of interest comprising at least one of a shaded region and a contaminated region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignees: GENTEX CORPORATION, MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
    Inventors: Jason D. Hallack, Joshua D. Lintz, David M. Falb, Kurtis L. Geerlings, William L. Tonar, Bradley R. Hamlin, Jeremy A. Schut, Mark A. VanVuuren, Steven J. Veenman, Jordan D. Miller, Heidi Nelson
  • Publication number: 20210168919
    Abstract: An illumination system for a lighting assembly comprises a light assembly configured to selectively illuminate an operating region in a surgical suite and a plurality of light sources positioned within the light assembly and configured to emit light. The system further comprises at least one imager configured to capture image data and a controller. The controller is configured to scan the image data in at least one region of interest for a shaded region and identify a location of the shaded region within the region of interest. The controller is further configured to control the light assembly to activate at least one of the light sources to emit light impinging on the shaded region within the region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason D. Hallack, Joshua D. Lintz, David M. Falb, Kurtis L. Geerlings, William L. Tonar, Bradley R. Hamlin, Jeremy A. Schut, Mark A. VanVuuren, Steven J. Veenman, Jordan Miller, Heidi Nelson
  • Patent number: 11009760
    Abstract: A product includes a substrate, at least one of a conductive layer or a coating layer, and an ablated surface on the substrate. The substrate is at least partially transparent to visible light. The at least one of the conductive layer or the coating layer are disposed over at least a portion of the substrate. The ablated surface includes an interleaved surface profile having a plurality of non-overlapped laser spots and a plurality of overlapped laser spots formed by subjecting the substrate to an interleaving laser ablation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kurtis L. Geerlings
  • Patent number: 10962493
    Abstract: A detector is provided including a plurality of nanofiber chemical sensors, each having an electrical characteristic; and a processing and alarm circuit in electrical communication with the plurality of nanofiber chemical sensors; wherein the electrical characteristics of at least one of the plurality of nanofiber chemical sensors changes in the presence of a first airborne material; wherein the electrical characteristics of at least one of the plurality of nanofiber chemical sensors changes in the presence of a second airborne material; and wherein the changes in the electrical characteristics of at least one of the plurality of nanofiber chemical sensors in the presence of the first airborne material are different from the changes in the electrical characteristics of at least one of the plurality of nanofiber chemical sensors in the presence of the second airborne material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: David J. Cammenga, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Joel C. Nemes, William L. Tonar, David E. Christian, Darin D. Tuttle, Xiaoxu Niu
  • Patent number: 10955719
    Abstract: A transparent photovoltaic (TPV) integrated directly into the structure of an electrochromic (EC) device is beneficial in that it can eliminate at least one substrate and provide more uniform coloring. Integration of a transparent photovoltaic with an electrochromic device may also reduce or eliminate the need for an electrical bus on a substrate. In some embodiments, positioning the TPV internally with the EC cell may eliminate the need for additional substrate layers or a conductive layer on one side of the TPV cell. Integrating a PV cell into the EC device can additionally reduce the need for external wiring and an external power supply. Alternatively, the TPV can assist in charging a battery where the battery can be used to power the EC device when there is no sunlight available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sue F. Franz, William L. Tonar, David J. Cammenga, George A. Neuman, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Donald L. Bareman, Kevin L. Ash
  • Publication number: 20210072612
    Abstract: An electro-optic system where an electrical potential is changed and/or regulated to achieve a desired potential applied to an electro-optic medium. The electro-optic system comprises an electro-optic medium disposed in a chamber defined in part by two electrodes. A power source is connected to the two electrodes and thereby operable to apply an electrical potential to the electrochromic medium across the two electrodes. A voltmeter is operable to measure an electrical potential between two points within the chamber. Additionally, a controller is connected to the voltmeter and the power source and is operable to regulate the electrical potential applied by the power source based, at least in part, on the electrical potential measured between the two points within the chamber by the voltmeter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaoxu Niu, Adam R. Heintzelman, Kurtis L. Geerlings
  • Patent number: 10925140
    Abstract: An illumination system for a lighting assembly comprises a light assembly configured to selectively illuminate an operating region in a surgical suite and a plurality of light sources positioned within the light assembly and configured to emit light. The system further comprises at least one imager configured to capture image data and a controller. The controller is configured to scan the image data in at least one region of interest for a shaded region and identify a location of the shaded region within the region of interest. The controller is further configured to control the light assembly to activate at least one of the light sources to emit light impinging on the shaded region within the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason D. Hallack, Joshua D. Lintz, David M. Falb, Kurtis L. Geerlings, William L. Tonar, Bradley R. Hamlin, Jeremy A. Schut, Mark A. VanVuuren, Steven J. Veenman
  • Publication number: 20200390392
    Abstract: A wearable medical device includes a frame and a lens coupled to the frame. The lens is configured to be positioned proximate eyes of a user. At least one lamp device is coupled to the frame. The at least one lamp device emits light forward from the frame. A controller activates and controls the at least one lamp device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Jason D. Hallack, Thomas S. Wright, Joshua D. Lintz, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Bradley R. Hamlin
  • Patent number: 10828124
    Abstract: An illumination system for a medical suite comprises a light assembly comprising at least one illumination source configured to selectively direct a light emission in a region of the surgical suite. The system further comprises an imager configured to capture image data in a field of view in the medical suite. A controller is in communication with the light assembly and the imager. The controller is configured to detect a location of the marker in the image data and control the light assembly to direct the light emission within the region based on the location of the marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kurtis L. Geerlings, Thomas S. Wright, David M. Falb, Christopher J. Adamski, Jeremy A. Schut, William L. Tonar, Jason D. Hallack, Michael J. Metivier, Brian J. Beardsley
  • Publication number: 20200301525
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive assembly and method of making includes a first electrically conductive layer disposed on a first substrate and a second electrically conductive layer disposed on a second substrate. A piezoelectric film is disposed between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer. The piezoelectric film includes a plurality of aligned piezoelectric particles disposed in a polymeric matrix and is characterized by a haze value of about 5% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Tonar, George A. Neuman, Mario F. Saenger Nayver, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Sue F. Franz