Patents by Inventor William R. Spence

William R. Spence 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).

  • Monitoring and automatic equipment control systems
    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
  • Monitoring and automatic equipment control systems
    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
  • Vehicular rearview mirror assembly including integrated backlighting for a liquid crystal display (LCD)
    Patent number: 8237909
    Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror assembly (600) includes an electrochromic (EC) glass element (303) and a printed circuit board (603) for mounting electrical components. A liquid crystal display (LCD) (615) is mounted to the printed circuit board (603), while a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (608) are also mounted to the same printed circuit board below the LCD (603) for providing backlighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: John B. Ostreko, Danny L. Minikey, Jr., Andrew J. LeVesque, William R. Spence, Peter Wm. VanderWel, John B. Wallace, Frederick T. Bauer, Mark W. Newton, Ethan J. Lee, Jeremy A. Fogg
  • Vehicle accessory microphone
    Patent number: 8224012
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in a housing. Circuitry is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone has a main lobe directed forwardly and attenuates signals originating from the sides and/or rear. The transducers can advantageously include multiple transducers, which, with the circuit, produce a desired sensitivity pattern. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Alan R Watson, Robert C Knapp, Robert R Turnbull, William R Spence, G. Bruce Poe, Michael A Bryson
  • VEHICULAR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY INCLUDING INTEGRATED BACKLIGHTING FOR A LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD)
    Publication number: 20100201896
    Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror assembly (600) includes an electrochromic (EC) glass element (303) and a printed circuit board (603) for mounting electrical components. A liquid crystal display (LCD) (615) is mounted to the printed circuit board (603), while a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (608) are also mounted to the same printed circuit board below the LCD (603) for providing backlighting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: John B. Ostreko, Danny L. Minikey, JR., Andrew J. LeVesque, William R. Spence, Peter Wm. VanderWel, John B. Wallace, Frederick T. Bauer, Mark W. Newton, Ethan J. Lee, Jeremy A. Fogg
  • Blind connector for rearview mirror
    Patent number: 7746535
    Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly comprising a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device and a circuit board with a second electrical connection device, with first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device being configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the rear housing section are moved relatively towards each other. The rearview mirror assembly can also include a circuit board with a third electrical connection device and a reflective element with a fourth electrical connection device, with third electrical connection device and the fourth electrical connection device being configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the reflective element are moved relatively towards each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Julie A. Kelley, Andrew J. LeVesque, Kenton J. Ypma, Kristi L. Hooper, William R. Spence, John B. Ostreko, Peter Wm. VanderWel
  • Vehicle accessory microphone having mechanism for reducing line-induced noise
    Patent number: 7616768
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in one or more housings. A processing circuit is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone in combination with the processing circuit very effectively cancels noise. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Alan R. Watson, Michael A. Bryson, William R. Spence
  • BLIND CONNECTOR FOR REARVIEW MIRROR
    Publication number: 20080310006
    Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly comprising a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device and a circuit board with a second electrical connection device, with first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device being configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the rear housing section are moved relatively towards each other. The rearview mirror assembly can also include a circuit board with a third electrical connection device and a reflective element with a fourth electrical connection device, with third electrical connection device and the fourth electrical connection device being configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the reflective element are moved relatively towards each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Julie A. Kelley, Andrew J. LeVesque, Kenton J. Ypma, Kristi L. Hooper, William R. Spence, John B. Ostreko, Peter Wm. VanderWel
  • Vehicle accessory microphone assembly having a windscreen with hydrophobic properties
    Patent number: 7136494
    Abstract: A microphone assembly for a vehicle accessory includes one or more transducers positioned in a microphone housing. The microphone housing has at least one acoustic port to which the transducer is acoustically coupled. The microphone assembly further includes a windscreen sealed across the acoustic port. The windscreen having hydrophobic properties to prevent water from penetrating the microphone housing through the acoustic port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Alan R. Watson, Robert C. Knapp, Robert R. Turnbull, William R. Spence, G. Bruce Poe, Michael A. Bryson
  • Vehicle accessory microphone
    Patent number: 7130431
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in a housing. Circuitry is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone has a main lobe directed forwardly and attenuates signals originating from the sides and/or rear. The transducers can advantageously include multiple transducers, which, with the circuit, produce a desired sensitivity pattern. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Alan R. Watson, Robert C. Knapp, Robert R. Turnbull, William R. Spence, G. Bruce Poe, Michael A. Bryson
  • Vehicle accessory microphone
    Patent number: 6882734
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in one or more housings. A processing circuit is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone in combination with the processing circuit very effectively cancels noise. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Alan R. Watson, Michael A. Bryson, William R. Spence
  • Monitoring and automatic equipment control systems
    Publication number: 20040230358
    Abstract: The present invention relates to monitoring and automatic control systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Mark W. Pierce, Jon H. Bechtel, William R. Spence, Robert R. Turnbull, El-Sayed Eid
  • Vehicle accessory microphone having mechanism for reducing line-induced noise
    Publication number: 20040202336
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in one or more housings. A processing circuit is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone in combination with the processing circuit very effectively cancels noise. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Alan R. Watson, Michael A. Bryson, William R. Spence
  • Vehicle accessory microphone
    Publication number: 20040170293
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in a housing. Circuitry is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone has a main lobe directed forwardly and attenuates signals originating from the sides and/or rear. The transducers can advantageously include multiple transducers, which, with the circuit, produce a desired sensitivity pattern. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Alan R. Watson, Robert C. Knapp, Robert R. Turnbull, William R. Spence, G. Bruce Poe, Michael A. Bryson
  • Microphone assembly having a windscreen of high acoustic resistivity and/or hydrophobic material
    Patent number: 6614911
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in a housing. Circuitry is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone has a main lobe directed forwardly and attenuates signals originating from the sides and/or rear. The transducers can advantageously include multiple transducers, which, with the circuit, produce a desired sensitivity pattern. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Alan R. Watson, Robert C. Knapp, Robert R. Turnbull, William R. Spence, G. Bruce Poe, Michael A. Bryson
  • Vehicle accessory microphone
    Publication number: 20020110256
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in one or more housings. A processing circuit is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone in combination with the processing circuit very effectively cancels noise. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Alan R. Watson, Michael A. Bryson, William R. Spence