Patents by Inventor Harold C. Ockerse
Harold C. Ockerse 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: 7019275Abstract: The system of the present invention is configured to detect moisture on a surface and includes a sensor that may be divided into a plurality of subwindows. At least one of the subwindows has a sensitivity that is independently variable. The system may further include an optical system operative to direct light rays from at least a portion of the surface onto the sensor, and a processing system in communication with the sensor and operative to independently adjust the sensitivity of the at least one subwindow and to analyze data from the sensor to detect moisture. The processing system may control the windshield wipers based upon a number of subwindows in which moisture is detected.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2004Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Joseph S. Stam, Harold C. Ockerse, Charles David Kibler, IV
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Patent number: 6968273Abstract: An electronic compass system includes a magnetic sensor circuit having at least two sensing elements for sensing perpendicular components of the Earth's magnetic field vector. A processing circuit is coupled to the sensor circuit to filter, process, and compute a heading. The processing circuit further selects an approximating geometric pattern, such as a sphere, ellipsoid, ellipse, or circle, determines an error metric of the data points relative to the approximating pattern, adjusts the pattern to minimize the error, thereby obtaining a best fit pattern. The best fit pattern is then used to calculate the heading for each successive sensor reading provided that the noise level is not noisy and until a new best fit pattern is identified. The electronic compass system is particularly well suited for implementation in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2002Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Harold C. Ockerse, Jon H. Bechtel, Mark D. Bugno
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Patent number: 6943342Abstract: The inventive sensor device includes a support structure, a sensing element mounted on the support substrate for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto, and an encapsulant encapsulating the sensing element on the support structure. The encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of the sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident the lens portion onto the active surface of the sensing element. The collector portion may be a parabolic reflector that reflects incident light by total internal reflection. The sensor device may be incorporated into an assembly including a diffuser positioned across an aperture, and/or may be incorporated into a vehicle accessory such as a rearview mirror assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2004Date of Patent: September 13, 2005Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Harold C. Ockerse
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Patent number: 6928366Abstract: An electronic compass system includes a magnetic sensor circuit having at least two sensing elements for sensing perpendicular components of the Earth's magnetic field vector. A processing circuit is coupled to the sensor circuit to filter, process, and compute a heading. The processing circuit further selects an approximating geometric pattern, such as a sphere, ellipsoid, ellipse, or circle, determines an error metric of the data points relative to the approximating pattern, adjusts the pattern to minimize the error, thereby obtaining a best fit pattern. The best fit pattern is then used to calculate the heading for each successive sensor reading provided that the noise level is not noisy and until a new best fit pattern is identified. The electronic compass system is particularly well suited for implementation in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2004Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Harold C. Ockerse, Jon H. Bechtel, Mark D. Bugno
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Patent number: 6868322Abstract: An imaging system of the invention includes an image array sensor including a plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels generates a signal indicative of the amount of light received on the pixel. The imaging system further includes an analog to digital converter for quantizing the signals from the pixels into a digital value. The system further includes a memory including a plurality of allocated storage locations for storing the digital values from the analog to digital converter. The number of allocated storage locations in the memory is less than the number of pixels in the image array sensor. According to another embodiment, an imaging device includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels arranged in an array; and a multi-layer interference filter disposed over said pixel array, said multi-layer interference filter being patterned so as to provide filters of different colors to neighboring pixels or groups of pixels.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Joseph S. Stam, Mark W. Pierce, Harold C. Ockerse
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Patent number: 6861636Abstract: A moisture sensing system of the present invention includes first and second sensor arrays, at least one optical system operative to image the same portion of the surface onto both of the sensor arrays, and a processing system in communication with the sensor arrays and operative to analyze images from the sensor arrays to detect moisture. The sensor arrays may be two-dimensional sensor arrays that are separate or different portions of the same sensor array. This system may be used to control the windshield wipers of a vehicle. The processing system may be configured to subtract an image obtained from the first sensor array from an image obtained from the second sensor array to distinguish between near field and far field objects.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2003Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Harold C. Ockerse, John K. Roberts
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Patent number: 6853897Abstract: The system of the present invention is configured to detect moisture on a surface and includes a sensor that may be divided into a plurality of subwindows. At least one of the subwindows has a sensitivity that is independently variable. The system may further include an optical system operative to direct light rays from at least a portion of the surface onto the sensor, and a processing system in communication with the sensor and operative to independently adjust the sensitivity of the at least one subwindow and to analyze data from the sensor to detect moisture. The processing system may control the windshield wipers based upon a number of subwindows in which moisture is detected.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2004Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Joseph S. Stam, Harold C. Ockerse, Charles David Kibler, IV
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Publication number: 20040254727Abstract: An electronic compass system includes a magnetic sensor circuit having at least two sensing elements for sensing perpendicular components of the Earth's magnetic field vector. A processing circuit is coupled to the sensor circuit to filter, process, and compute a heading. The processing circuit may determine whether too much noise is present in the output signals received from said magnetic sensor circuit as a function of the relative strength of the Earth's magnetic field vector. The magnetic sensor circuit may include three magnetic field sensing elements contained in a common integrated package having a plurality of leads extending therefrom for mounting to a circuit board. The sensing elements need not be perpendicular to each other or parallel or perpendicular with the circuit board. The electronic compass system is particularly well suited for implementation in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Inventors: Harold C. Ockerse, Jon H. Bechtel, Mark D. Bugno
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Patent number: 6831268Abstract: The inventive sensor device includes a support structure, a sensing element mounted on the support substrate for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto, and an encapsulant encapsulating the sensing element on the support structure. The encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of the sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident the lens portion onto the active surface of the sensing element. The collector portion may be a parabolic reflector that reflects incident light by total internal reflection. The sensor device may be incorporated into an assembly including a diffuser positioned across an aperture, and/or may be incorporated into a vehicle accessory such as a rearview mirror assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2002Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Harold C. Ockerse
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Publication number: 20040236510Abstract: An electronic compass system includes a magnetic sensor circuit having at least two sensing elements for sensing perpendicular components of the Earth's magnetic field vector. A processing circuit is coupled to the sensor circuit to filter, process, and compute a heading. The processing circuit further selects an approximating geometric pattern, such as a sphere, ellipsoid, ellipse, or circle, determines an error metric of the data points relative to the approximating pattern, adjusts the pattern to minimize the error, thereby obtaining a best fit pattern. The best fit pattern is then used to calculate the heading for each successive sensor reading provided that the noise level is not noisy and until a new best fit pattern is identified. The electronic compass system is particularly well suited for implementation in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Inventors: Harold C. Ockerse, Jon H. Bechtel, Mark D. Bugno
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Publication number: 20040217266Abstract: The inventive sensor device includes a support structure, a sensing element mounted on the support substrate for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto, and an encapsulant encapsulating the sensing element on the support structure. The encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of the sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident the lens portion onto the active surface of the sensing element. The collector portion may be a parabolic reflector that reflects incident light by total internal reflection. The sensor device may be incorporated into an assembly including a diffuser positioned across an aperture, and/or may be incorporated into a vehicle accessory such as a rearview mirror assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2004Publication date: November 4, 2004Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Harold C. Ockerse
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Publication number: 20040202001Abstract: The present invention relates to information display assemblies and various covert displays using the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2004Publication date: October 14, 2004Inventors: John K. Roberts, Frederick T. Bauer, Darin D. Tuttle, Harold C. Ockerse, Robert R. Turnbull, David M. Falb
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Patent number: 6774988Abstract: The optical system of the present invention includes a lens system assembly, a spectral filter material and a pixel array configured such that small, distant, light sources can be reliably detected. The optical system of the present invention provides accurate measurement of the brightness of the detected light sources and identification of the peak wavelength and dominant wavelength of the detected light sources. Use of the optical system of the present invention provides the ability to distinguish headlights of oncoming vehicles and taillights of leading vehicles from one another, as well as, from other light sources.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2002Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Joseph S. Stam, Jon H. Bechtel, Spencer D. Reese, Darin D. Tuttle, Gregory S. Bush, Harold C. Ockerse
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Publication number: 20040153225Abstract: The system of the present invention is configured to detect moisture on a surface and includes a sensor that may be divided into a plurality of subwindows. At least one of the subwindows has a sensitivity that is independently variable. The system may further include an optical system operative to direct light rays from at least a portion of the surface onto the sensor, and a processing system in communication with the sensor and operative to independently adjust the sensitivity of the at least one subwindow and to analyze data from the sensor to detect moisture. The processing system may control the windshield wipers based upon a number of subwindows in which moisture is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2004Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Harold C. Ockerse, Charles David Kibler
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Publication number: 20040144911Abstract: The system of the present invention is configured to detect moisture on a surface and includes a sensor that may be divided into a plurality of subwindows. At least one of the subwindows has a sensitivity that is independently variable. The system may further include an optical system operative to direct light rays from at least a portion of the surface onto the sensor, and a processing system in communication with the sensor and operative to independently adjust the sensitivity of the at least one subwindow and to analyze data from the sensor to detect moisture. The processing system may control the windshield wipers based upon a number of subwindows in which moisture is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2004Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Harold C. Ockerse, Charles David Kibler
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Publication number: 20040130789Abstract: The inventive sensor device includes a support structure, a sensing element mounted on the support substrate for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto, and an encapsulant encapsulating the sensing element on the support structure. The encapsulant includes an integral lens. Alternatively or additionally, the encapsulant may have at least a first zone and a second zone, where the second zone exhibits at least one different characteristic from the first zone, such as a different optical, physical, thermal, or compositional characteristic. In addition, the encapsulant may include an integral diffuser. Further, the sensing element may have an active sensing area of less than 1 mm2, and may be positioned closer to the surface of the integral lens than a distance corresponding to a focal length of the integral lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Harold C. Ockerse, John K. Roberts, Joseph S. Stam
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Publication number: 20040034457Abstract: An imaging system of the invention includes an image array sensor including a plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels generate a signal indicative of the amount of light received on the pixel. The imaging system further includes an analog to digital converter for quantizing the signals from the pixels into a digital value. The system further includes a memory including a plurality of allocated storage locations for storing the digital values from the analog to digital converter. The number of allocated storage locations in the memory is less than the number of pixels in the image array sensor. According to another embodiment, an imaging device includes an image sensor having a plurality pixels arranged in an array; and a multi-layer interference filter disposed over said pixel array, said multi-layer interference filter being patterned so as to provide filters of different colors to neighboring pixels or groups of pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2003Publication date: February 19, 2004Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Mark W. Pierce, Harold C. Ockerse
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Publication number: 20040021853Abstract: The optical system of the present invention includes a lens system assembly, a spectral filter material and a pixel array configured such that small, distant, light sources can be reliably detected. The optical system of the present invention provides accurate measurement of the brightness of the detected light sources and identification of the peak wavelength and dominant wavelength of the detected light sources. Use of the optical system of the present invention provides the ability to distinguish headlights of oncoming vehicles and taillights of leading vehicles from one another, as well as, from other light sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2002Publication date: February 5, 2004Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Jon H. Bechtel, Spencer D. Reese, Darin D. Tuttle, Gregory S. Bush, Harold C. Ockerse
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Patent number: 6681163Abstract: The system of the present invention is configured to detect moisture on a surface and includes a sensor that may be divided into a plurality of subwindows. At least one of the subwindows has a sensitivity that is independently variable. The system may further include an optical system operative to direct light rays from at least a portion of the surface onto the sensor, and a processing system in communication with the sensor and operative to independently adjust the sensitivity of the at least one subwindow and to analyze data from the sensor to detect moisture. The processing system may control the windshield wipers based upon a number of subwindows in which moisture is detected.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2001Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Joseph S. Stam, Harold C. Ockerse, Charles David Kibler, IV
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Patent number: 6679608Abstract: The inventive sensor device provides different fields of view in transverse directions. The sensor device include a support structure, a sensing element mounted on the support substrate for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto, and an encapsulant encapsulating the sensing element on the support structure. The encapsulant includes an integral anamorphic lens. Alternatively or additionally, the encapsulant may have at least a first zone and a second zone, where the second zone exhibits at least one different characteristic from the first zone, such as a different optical, physical, thermal, or compositional characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2002Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Harold C. Ockerse, John K. Roberts