Patents by Inventor Benjamin B. Hilldore
Benjamin B. Hilldore 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).
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Patent number: 11740479Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 15, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin B. Hilldore, Tom B. Sherman, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Adam R. Heintzelman, Keith W. Bigoness, Donald L. Bareman, Joshua D. Lintz
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Publication number: 20220004011Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin B. Hilldore, Tom B. Sherman, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Adam R. Heintzelman, Keith W. Bigoness, Donald L. Bareman, Joshua D. Lintz
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Patent number: 11131857Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 26, 2018Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin B. Hilldore, Tom B. Sherman, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Adam R. Heintzelman, Keith W. Bigoness, Donald L. Bareman, Joshua D. Lintz
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Patent number: 11027657Abstract: A system for variable transmittance mirrors is disclosed wherein the variable transmittance mirrors may be controlled in response to images captured from a camera. The system may comprise a first imager, a first variable transmittance mirror, and a controller. The first imager comprises a pixel array. Further, the first imager is configured to capture image data. The first variable transmittance mirror has a first level of transmittance. Finally, the controller is configured to assign a first light intensity value to one or more pixels and change the first level of transmittance to a second level of transmittance based at least in part on the detected first light intensity. Such as system has the advantage of eliminating the need for a dedicated glare sensor, therefore reducing the number of devices, the costs, obstructions in a user's field of view, and a more aesthetically appealing appearance.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin B. Hilldore, Barry K. Nelson
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Publication number: 20200164807Abstract: A system for variable transmittance mirrors is disclosed wherein the variable transmittance mirrors may be controlled in response to images captured from a camera. The system may comprise a first imager, a first variable transmittance mirror, and a controller. The first imager comprises a pixel array. Further, the first imager is configured to capture image data. The first variable transmittance mirror has a first level of transmittance. Finally, the controller is configured to assign a first light intensity value to one or more pixels and change the first level of transmittance to a second level of transmittance based at least in part on the detected first light intensity. Such as system has the advantage of eliminating the need for a dedicated glare sensor, therefore reducing the number of devices, the costs, obstructions in a user's field of view, and a more aesthetically appealing appearance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2019Publication date: May 28, 2020Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin B. Hilldore, Barry K. Nelson
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Patent number: 10412312Abstract: An image capture system is provided for a vehicle equipped with a display for displaying streamed video images of a scene proximate the vehicle. The image capture system includes a camera for capturing video images of the scene proximate the vehicle at a selected exposure time and streaming the video images, and an image processing unit for receiving the streamed video images, processing the streamed video images and supplying the streamed video images to the display. The image processing unit is configured to detect amplitude-modulated light sources in the streamed video images, and adjust the exposure time of the camera to match a multiple of a modulation frequency of the amplitude-modulated light sources decreasing a flicker intensity of the amplitude-modulated light sources in the streamed video images supplied to the display.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventor: Benjamin B. Hilldore
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Publication number: 20180373048Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Benjamin B. Hilldore, Tom B. Sherman, Kurtis L. Geerlings, Adam R. Heintzelman, Keith W. Bigoness, Donald L. Bareman, Joshua D. Lintz
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Patent number: 10154200Abstract: An imager module for a vehicle is disclosed. The imager module comprises an imager configured to capture image data over a plurality of image frames based on incoming light in a field of view and an optic device configured to control a transmission of the incoming light. The module comprises a controller configured to identify an exposure time for the imager based on environmental lighting conditions and adjust the exposure time by a flicker mitigation period. The adjustment of the exposure time mitigates an appearance of a periodic light source in the image data. The controller is further configured to control the transmission of the optic device to control the transmission of the incoming light.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Brock R. Rycenga, Benjamin B. Hilldore, Barry K. Nelson
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Publication number: 20180041684Abstract: An image capture system is provided for a vehicle equipped with a display for displaying streamed video images of a scene proximate the vehicle. The image capture system includes a camera for capturing video images of the scene proximate the vehicle at a selected exposure time and streaming the video images, and an image processing unit for receiving the streamed video images, processing the streamed video images and supplying the streamed video images to the display. The image processing unit is configured to detect amplitude-modulated light sources in the streamed video images, and adjust the exposure time of the camera to match a multiple of a modulation frequency of the amplitude-modulated light sources decreasing a flicker intensity of the amplitude-modulated light sources in the streamed video images supplied to the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2017Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventor: Benjamin B. Hilldore
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Patent number: 9836657Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for determining the presence and period of dashed line lane markers in a roadway. The system includes an imager configured to capture a plurality of high dynamic range images exterior of the vehicle and a processor, in communication with the at least one imager such that the processor is configured to process at least one high dynamic range image. The period of the dashed lane markers in the image is calculated for detecting the presence of the dashed lane marker and for tracking the vehicle within the markers. The processor communicates an output for use by the vehicle for use in lane departure warning (LDW) and/or other driver assist features.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin B. Hilldore, Brock R. Rycenga, Micah W. TerHaar
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Publication number: 20170339326Abstract: An imager module for a vehicle is disclosed. The imager module comprises an imager configured to capture image data over a plurality of image frames based on incoming light in a field of view and an optic device configured to control a transmission of the incoming light. The module comprises a controller configured to identify an exposure time for the imager based on environmental lighting conditions and adjust the exposure time by a flicker mitigation period. The adjustment of the exposure time mitigates an appearance of a periodic light source in the image data. The controller is further configured to control the transmission of the optic device to control the transmission of the incoming light.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Brock R. Rycenga, Benjamin B. Hilldore, Barry K. Nelson
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Publication number: 20150294165Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for determining the presence and period of dashed line lane markers in a roadway. The system includes an imager configured to capture a plurality of high dynamic range images exterior of the vehicle and a processor, in communication with the at least one imager such that the processor is configured to process at least one high dynamic range image. The period of the dashed lane markers in the image is calculated for detecting the presence of the dashed lane marker and for tracking the vehicle within the markers. The processor communicates an output for use by the vehicle for use in lane departure warning (LDW) and/or other driver assist features.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: Benjamin B. Hilldore, Brock R. Rycenga, Micah W. TerHaar
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Patent number: 9098751Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for determining the presence and period of dashed line lane markers in a roadway. The system includes an imager configured to capture a plurality of high dynamic range images exterior of the vehicle and a processor, in communication with the at least one imager such that the processor is configured to process at least one high dynamic range image. The period of the dashed lane markers in the image is calculated for detecting the presence of the dashed lane marker and for tracking the vehicle within the markers. The processor communicates an output for use by the vehicle for use in lane departure warning (LDW) and/or other driver assist features.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin B. Hilldore, Brock R. Rycenga, Micah W. TerHaar
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Publication number: 20130028473Abstract: A system and method for determining the presence and period of dashed line lane markers in a roadway. The system includes an imager configured to capture a plurality of high dynamic range images exterior of the vehicle and a processor, in communication with the at least one imager such that the processor is configured to process at least one high dynamic range image. The period of the dashed lane markers in the image is calculated for detecting the presence of the dashed lane marker and for tracking the vehicle within the markers. The processor communicates an output for use by the vehicle for use in lane departure warning (LDW) and/or other driver assist features.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Inventors: Benjamin B. Hilldore, Brock R. Rycenga, Micah W. TerHaar