Patents by Inventor Gregory J. Nagel

Gregory J. Nagel 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: 20230286438
    Abstract: A rearview assembly for a vehicle is provided that includes: a housing; a rearview element configured to display images of a scene to the rear of the vehicle, the rearview element disposed in the housing; a circuit board mounted in the housing behind the rearview element, the circuit board having a substantially planar surface and a peripheral edge; and a capacitive touch zone on a surface of the housing, the capacitive touch zone comprising a conductive component mounted to the circuit board, wherein the conductive component comprises a first portion mounted to the planar surface of the circuit board and a second portion extending beyond the peripheral edge of the circuit board at an angle to the planar surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph P. Brigham, Jochen Peter, Matthew P. Waligorski, Kyle G. Jones, Robert R. Turnbull, Gregory J. Nagel
  • Publication number: 20220340081
    Abstract: A system for securing a motor to a circuit board of a rearview assembly may comprise a display element having an orientation; a motor having at least two motor terminals; a motherboard having a connection header; and a motor connection printed circuit board defining at least two slots and having a body portion and an end portion. Traces may extend from the at least two slots to the end portion of the motor connection printed circuit board. Each of the at least two motor terminals may be inserted into one of the at least two slots defined by the motor connection printed circuit board; and a portion of each of the at least two motor terminals may extend through the slot in which it has been inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric S. Lundy, Gregory J. Nagel, Richard B. Kollewehr
  • Patent number: 11238715
    Abstract: A device capable of and method for communicating auxiliary data over an alarm network tandem line, whereby noise signals are filtered. The noise signals have an amplitude less than a first threshold. Further, a tandem signal is transmitted or received via a tandem port, wherein the signal transmitted or received is substantially synchronous with a noise signal peak or the transmission does not contain a period greater than the first duration. The period is measured as between two of: one or more disruption point, packet beginning, and packet finish, adjacently disposed. The disruption point is a point where the tandem signal is below a first amplitude threshold. Further, the combined amplitude of the tandem signal and the noise signal is greater than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gregory J. Nagel
  • Publication number: 20210217285
    Abstract: A device capable of and method for communicating auxiliary data over an alarm network tandem line, whereby noise signals are filtered. The noise signals have an amplitude less than a first threshold. Further, a tandem signal is transmitted or received via a tandem port, wherein the signal transmitted or received is substantially synchronous with a noise signal peak or the transmission does not contain a period greater than the first duration. The period is measured as between two of: one or more disruption point, packet beginning, and packet finish, adjacently disposed. The disruption point is a point where the tandem signal is below a first amplitude threshold. Further, the combined amplitude of the tandem signal and the noise signal is greater than the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gregory J. Nagel
  • Patent number: 10984643
    Abstract: A device capable of and method for communicating auxiliary data over an alarm network tandem line, whereby noise signals are filtered. The noise signals have an amplitude less than a first threshold. Further, a tandem signal is transmitted or received via a tandem port, wherein the signal transmitted or received is substantially synchronous with a noise signal peak or the transmission does not contain a period greater than the first duration. The period is measured as between two of: one or more disruption point, packet beginning, and packet finish, adjacently disposed. The disruption point is a point where the tandem signal is below a first amplitude threshold. Further, the combined amplitude of the tandem signal and the noise signal is greater than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gregory J. Nagel
  • Publication number: 20210027597
    Abstract: A device capable of and method for communicating auxiliary data over an alarm network tandem line, whereby noise signals are filtered. The noise signals have an amplitude less than a first threshold. Further, a tandem signal is transmitted or received via a tandem port, wherein the signal transmitted or received is substantially synchronous with a noise signal peak or the transmission does not contain a period greater than the first duration. The period is measured as between two of: one or more disruption point, packet beginning, and packet finish, adjacently disposed. The disruption point is a point where the tandem signal is below a first amplitude threshold. Further, the combined amplitude of the tandem signal and the noise signal is greater than the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gregory J. Nagel
  • Patent number: 9440588
    Abstract: A system is configured to reduce glare form a trailing vehicle. The system may include a forward facing light sensor, partially enclosed in an interior mirror housing. This forward facing light sensor is configured to detect ambient light, such that the system can determine a day time condition or a nighttime condition. The system may also include rear facing light sensors, each included in separate mirror assemblies. Based upon an ambient light detected and a glare of a trailing vehicle, the system may be configured to change the reflectance of an electro-optic element in order to reduce glare independently in the separate mirror assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Barry K. Nelson, David J. Schmidt, Gregory J. Nagel
  • Patent number: 8879140
    Abstract: A power supply for supplying direct current (DC) power from a pulse width modulated (PWM) source includes a connector configured to be in electrical communication with a PWM power source. A hold-up circuit is in electrical communication with the connector and is configured to convert electrical power supplied from the PWM power source to DC power. This DC power is supplied to a drive circuit where a microcontroller is configured to control the drive circuit by supplying the DC power from the drive circuit to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Nagel, Robert R. Turnbull
  • Publication number: 20140268281
    Abstract: A system is configured to reduce glare form a trailing vehicle. The system may include a forward facing light sensor, partially enclosed in an interior mirror housing. This forward facing light sensor is configured to detect ambient light, such that the system can determine a day time condition or a nighttime condition. The system may also include rear facing light sensors, each included in separate mirror assemblies. Based upon an ambient light detected and a glare of a trailing vehicle, the system may be configured to change the reflectance of an electro-optic element in order to reduce glare independently in the separate mirror assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Barry K. Nelson, David J. Schmidt, Gregory J. Nagel
  • Publication number: 20120287496
    Abstract: A power supply for supplying direct current (DC) power from a pulse width modulated (PWM) source includes a connector configured to be in electrical communication with a PWM power source. A hold-up circuit is in electrical communication with the connector and is configured to convert electrical power supplied from the PWM power source to DC power. This DC power is supplied to a drive circuit where a microcontroller is configured to control the drive circuit by supplying the DC power from the drive circuit to a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory J. Nagel, Robert R. Turnbull
  • Patent number: 5621531
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning individual sections of pipe includes directing a beam of collimated light in the general direction of the pipeline and scanning the beam laterally. A target, having a retro reflective portion, is positioned in a location that will be traversed by the scanning beam. A reflection of the beam produced by the reflective portion is received and processed. The scanning is discontinued when the reflective portion is located and the beam is aimed in a direction related to the position of the retro reflective target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Laser Alignment, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Van Andel, Gary L. Utter, Gregory J. Nagel