Patents by Inventor Jon Bechtel
Jon Bechtel 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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Publication number: 20080044062Abstract: A system and method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps including an image sensor and a controller to generate headlamp control signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2007Publication date: February 21, 2008Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Joseph Stam, Jon Bechtel, Spencer Reese, John Roberts, William Tonar, G. Poe
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Publication number: 20080037693Abstract: A communications system for controlling equipment associated with a vehicle, includes a micro-controller (604) and a digital serial communication link (621, 622, 662, 663) using a multiplexed timing signal and first data signal. A camera or image sensor (650) located in the vehicular component communicates with the micro-controller (604) via the digital serial communication link.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2007Publication date: February 14, 2008Inventors: Jeremy Andrus, Timothy Friend, Jon Bechtel, Robert Turnbull
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Publication number: 20080030835Abstract: The inventive electrochromic mirror may be used in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly having a light source positioned behind the electrochromic mirror for selectively projecting light through the mirror and/or a light sensor positioned behind the electrochromic mirror for selectively receiving light through the mirror. The electrochromic mirror includes front and rear spaced elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, a layer of transparent conductive material disposed on the rear surface of the front element, an electrochromic material is contained within the chamber, and a second electrode overlies the front surface of the rear element in contact with the electrochromic material. The second electrode includes a layer of reflective material and a partially transmissive coating of and is disposed over substantially all of the front surface of the rear element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2007Publication date: February 7, 2008Inventors: William Tonar, Jeffrey Forgette, John Anderson, Jon Bechtel, John Carter, Joseph Stam, David Cammenga
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Publication number: 20070288166Abstract: 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: August 21, 2007Publication date: December 13, 2007Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Harold Ockerse, Jon Bechtel, Mark Bugno
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Publication number: 20070194208Abstract: A control system is disclosed for automatically detecting moisture on the windshield of a vehicle. The automatic moisture detecting system includes an optical system for imaging a portion of the windshield onto an image array sensor, such as a CMOS active pixel sensor. The voltage of each of the pixels which represents the illumination level is converted to a corresponding gray scale value by an analog digital converter. The spatial frequency composition of the gray scale values are analyzed to determine the amount of rain present in order to provide a control signal to control the operation of the windshield wipers of the vehicle as a function of the amount of moisture present. The system is also adapted to detect the level of fog both on the interior of the windshield as well as the exterior of the windshield.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2007Publication date: August 23, 2007Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Joseph Stam, Jon Bechtel, John Roberts
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Publication number: 20070124076Abstract: 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: November 7, 2006Publication date: May 31, 2007Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: Harold Ockerse, Jon Bechtel, Mark Bugno
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Publication number: 20070067048Abstract: An electrical control system is disclosed for controlling a plurality of variable transmittance windows. The electrical control system of the present invention comprises a master control circuit for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for the variable transmission windows, and a plurality of window control circuits coupled to each of the master control circuits. Because the window control circuits can sense abnormal load conditions in the variable transmission windows, the system further includes an interface to a security system to inform of a potential intrusion. Each window control circuit controls the transmittance of at least one of the variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from the master control circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2006Publication date: March 22, 2007Inventors: Jon Bechtel, David Poll
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Publication number: 20070051885Abstract: An image sensor has an imager die onto which is adhered an optical spacer. The imager die and optical spacer may be supported by a dam-and-fill construction which allows light to pass through the optical spacer and onto the imager die. The image sensor may generate control signals for use in a variety of automatic vehicle equipment controls and may be incorporated into an automotive vehicle such as by inclusion into a rearview mirror assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2006Publication date: March 8, 2007Applicant: Gentex CorporationInventors: Steven Creswick, Stephen Otey, Spencer Reese, Jon Bechtel, Joseph Stam
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Publication number: 20060268416Abstract: Light sensors having a wide dynamic range are used in a variety of applications. A wide dynamic range light sensor includes an exposed photodiode light transducer accumulating charge in proportion to light incident over an integration period. Sensor logic determines a light integration period prior to the beginning of integration and the charge is reset. Charge accumulated by the exposed light transducer over the light integration period is measured and a pulse having a width based on the accumulated charge is determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2006Publication date: November 30, 2006Inventors: Robert Nixon, Eric Fossum, Jon Bechtel
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Publication number: 20060126150Abstract: The inventive electrochromic mirror may be used in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly having a light source positioned behind the electrochromic mirror for selectively projecting light through the mirror. The electrochromic mirror includes front and rear spaced elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, a layer of transparent conductive material disposed on the rear surface of the front element, an electrochromic material is contained within the chamber, and a second electrode overlies the front surface of the rear element in contact with the electrochromic material. The second electrode includes a layer of reflective material and a partially transmissive coating of and is disposed over substantially all of the front surface of the rear element. The second electrode further includes a region in front of the light source that is at least partially transmissive.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2006Publication date: June 15, 2006Inventors: William Tonar, Jeffrey Forgette, John Anderson, Jon Bechtel, John Carter, Joseph Stam, David Cammenga
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Publication number: 20060091813Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2005Publication date: May 4, 2006Inventors: Joseph Stam, Jon Bechtel, John Roberts
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Publication number: 20060076478Abstract: The present invention provides various improvements in components for optical based moisture sensing systems and to moisture sensing systems incorporating the components.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2005Publication date: April 13, 2006Inventors: Ryan Johnson, Joseph Stam, Jon Bechtel
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Publication number: 20060065821Abstract: A control system is disclosed for automatically detecting moisture on the windshield of a vehicle. The automatic moisture detecting system includes an optical system for imaging a portion of the windshield onto an image array sensor, such as a CMOS active pixel sensor. The voltage of each of the pixels which represents the illumination level is converted to a corresponding gray scale value by an analog digital converter. The spatial frequency composition of the gray scale values are analyzed to determine the amount of rain present in order to provide a control signal to control the operation of the windshield wipers of the vehicle as a function of the amount of moisture present. The system is also adapted to detect the level of fog both on the interior of the windshield as well as the exterior of the windshield.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2005Publication date: March 30, 2006Inventors: Joseph Stam, Jon Bechtel, John Roberts
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Publication number: 20060018512Abstract: A system and method of automatically controlling vehicle exterior lights including an image sensor and a controller to generate headlamp control signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2005Publication date: January 26, 2006Inventors: Joseph Stam, Jon Bechtel, Spencer Reese, John Roberts, William Tonar, G. Poe
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Publication number: 20060006319Abstract: 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: August 31, 2005Publication date: January 12, 2006Inventors: Jon Bechtel, Harold Ockerse
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Publication number: 20050242740Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2005Publication date: November 3, 2005Inventors: Joseph Stam, Jon Bechtel, John Roberts
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Publication number: 20050218298Abstract: An imaging system for use in a vehicle headlamp control system includes an opening, an image sensor, a red lens blocking red complement light between the opening and the image sensor, and a red complement lens blocking red light between the opening and the image sensor. Each lens focuses light onto a different subwindow of the image sensor. The imaging system allows processing and control logic to detect the presence of headlamps on oncoming vehicles and tail lights on vehicles approached from the rear for the purpose of controlling headlamps. A light sampling lens may be used to redirect light rays from an arc spanning above the vehicle to in front of the vehicle into substantially horizontal rays. The light sampling lens is imaged by the image sensor to produce an indication of light intensity at various elevations. The processing and control logic uses the light intensity to determine whether headlamps should be turned on or off.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2005Publication date: October 6, 2005Inventors: Jon Bechtel, Joseph Stam, John Roberts
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Publication number: 20050219852Abstract: A system for automatically controlling continuously variable headlamps on a controlled vehicle includes an imaging system capable of determining lateral and elevational locations of headlamps from oncoming vehicles and tail lamps from leading vehicles. The system also includes a control unit that can acquire an image from in front of the controlled vehicle. The image covers a glare area including points at which drivers of oncoming and leading vehicles would perceive the headlamps to cause excessive glare. The image is processed to determine if at least one oncoming or leading vehicle is within the glare area. If at least one vehicle is within the glare area, the headlamp illumination range is reduced. Otherwise, the illumination range is set to full illumination range.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2005Publication date: October 6, 2005Inventors: Joseph Stam, Jon Bechtel, Frederick Bauer
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Publication number: 20050146791Abstract: An automatically dimming mirror includes a dimming element having variable reflectivity, the degree of reflectivity based on a control signal. An ambient light sensor is positioned to receive light from a region generally in front of the vehicle. The ambient light sensor outputs a discrete ambient light signal based on the amount of light incident on the ambient light sensor over an integration period. A glare sensor is positioned to view the scene generally behind the vehicle operator. The glare sensor outputs a discrete glare signal based on the amount of light incident on the glare sensor over an integration period. A dimming logic determines an ambient light level based on the ambient light signal. The glare integration period is determined based on the ambient light level. The glare signal resulting from the glare integration period determines a mirror glare level used to set the dimming element control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2005Publication date: July 7, 2005Inventors: Jon Bechtel, Joseph Stam, Robert Turnbull, Robert Nixon, Eric Fossum
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Publication number: 20050135465Abstract: The present invention relates to various improvements to digital communications and various applications of the improved digital communications.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2004Publication date: June 23, 2005Inventors: Jeremy Andrus, Timothy Friend, Jon Bechtel, Robert Turnbull