Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly is disclosed including a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle, a mirror disposed in the housing, at least one electrically powered device disposed in the housing, and a power supply for receiving power from a vehicle power source having a voltage in excess of about 24 V and for supplying power at a voltage of about 5 V or less to the electrically powered device. The electrically powered device and the power supply exhibit an electromagnetic interference level of less than about 41 dB?V/m for emissions in the frequency range from about 0.4 MHz to about 20 MHz. The mirror is preferably an electrochromic mirror, and the electrically powered device may be a control circuit for the electrochromic mirror.
Abstract: A system and method of automatically controlling exterior vehicle lights includes an image sensor and 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 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:
December 11, 2002
Date of Patent:
September 20, 2005
Assignee:
GENTEX Corporation
Inventors:
Joseph S. Stam, Jon H. Bechtel, Spencer D. Reese, John K. Roberts, William L. Tonar, G. Bruce Poe, Douglas J. Newhouse
Abstract: An automatic vehicle headlamp dimming system which includes an optical system and an imaging processing system. The optical system is configured to discriminate between headlamps and tail lamps, and focus the light rays from the headlamps and tail lamps on different portions of a pixel sensor array. The optical system as well as the image processing system provides for relatively increased discrimination of headlamps and tail lamps of other vehicles and also enables the high beam headlamps of the control vehicle to be controlled as a function of the distance as well as horizontal angular position of other vehicles relative to the controlled vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 2, 2003
Date of Patent:
July 19, 2005
Assignee:
Gentax Corporation
Inventors:
Joseph S. Stam, Jon H. Bechtel, John K. Roberts
Abstract: An environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is provided which incorporates a reflective element with variable reflectance. In one embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of cadmium (Cd). In another embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of lead (Pb). In yet another embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of mercury (Hg). In a further embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC). In yet a further embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of halogen producing chemicals such as bromine (Br).
Abstract: A system and method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps including an image sensor and a controller to generate headlamp control signals.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 19, 2002
Date of Patent:
April 27, 2004
Assignee:
Gentex Corporation
Inventors:
Joseph S. Stam, Jon H. Bechtel, Spencer D. Reese, John K. Roberts, William L. Tonar, G. Bruce Poe
Abstract: An illuminator assembly that is capable of utilizing a plurality of light sources to produce a desired resultant hue, includes a processor, a memory, a plurality of light sources and a detector. The memory is coupled to the processor and stores data and information. Each of the plurality of light sources are coupled to the processor and produce a different color. The processor is capable of independently controlling the intensity of each light source so as to produce a desired resultant hue. The detector is also coupled to the processor. The detector provides the processor with information which the processor utilizes in determining how to adjust the intensity of each of the light sources to provide the desired resultant hue.