Patents by Inventor Joseph S. Stam

Joseph S. Stam 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).

  • Patent number: 8924078
    Abstract: An image acquisition and processing system includes an image sensor and one or more processors that are configured to receive at least a portion of at least one image from the image sensor. The dynamic aim of the image sensor is configured as a function of at least one feature extracted from at least a portion of an image. To accomplish the task, the system utilizes a series of adaptive thresholds used in parallel comparators to determine whether or not a pixel in a given image scene falls on the edge of a given lane line on a road. The location of the lane lines are then used to determine the scene vanishing point, which ideally will be co-located at the optical scene center. If they are not in agreement, the pixel data set being processed can be adjusted to accommodate for any disagreement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver M. Jeromin, Steven M. Currie, Gregory S. Bush, Eric J. Walstra, Joseph S. Stam, Timothy S. Cornell
  • Patent number: 8912476
    Abstract: The present invention relates to various improvements relating to automatic vehicle equipment control systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Fogg, Gregory M. Ejsmont, Darin D. Tuttle, Joseph S. Stam
  • Patent number: 8583331
    Abstract: The present invention relates to monitoring and automatic control systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Mark W. Pierce, Jon H. Bechtel, William R. Spence, Robert R. Turnbull, El-Sayed Eid
  • Publication number: 20130235600
    Abstract: The present invention relates to various improvements relating to automatic vehicle equipment control systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Fogg, Gregory M. Ejsmont, Darin D. Tuttle, Joseph S. Stam
  • Patent number: 8326483
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved image sensor-processor interconnections and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved image sensor-processor interconnections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Mark W. Pierce, Jon H. Bechtel, William R. Spence, Robert R. Turnbull, El-Sayed Eid
  • Publication number: 20120123638
    Abstract: A system for automatically controlling vehicle equipment includes 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 vehicle equipment, for example 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: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Joseph S. Stam
  • Publication number: 20120116632
    Abstract: A system for automatically controlling vehicle equipment includes 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 vehicle equipment, for example 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: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Joseph S. Stam
  • Publication number: 20120072080
    Abstract: An image acquisition and processing system includes an image sensor and one or more processors that are configured to receive at least a portion of at least one image from the image sensor. The dynamic aim of the image sensor is configured as a function of at least one feature extracted from at least a portion of an image. To accomplish the task, the system utilizes a series of adaptive thresholds used in parallel comparators to determine whether or not a pixel in a given image scene falls on the edge of a given lane line on a road. The location of the lane lines are then used to determine the scene vanishing point, which ideally will be co-located at the optical scene center. If they are not in agreement, the pixel data set being processed can be adjusted to accommodate for any disagreement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: OLIVER JEROMIN, STEVEN CURRIE, GREGORY S. BUSH, ERIC J. WALSTRA, JOSEPH S. STAM, TIMOTHY S. CORNELL
  • Patent number: 8120652
    Abstract: A system for automatically controlling vehicle equipment includes 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 vehicle equipment, for example 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: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H Bechtel, Joseph S Stam
  • Patent number: 8065053
    Abstract: An improved image acquisition and processing system includes an image sensor and one or more processors that are configured to receive at least a portion of at least one image from the image sensor. The dynamic aim of the image sensor is configured as a function of at least one feature extracted from at least a portion of an image. The processors are further configured to generate at least one vehicle equipment control signal as a function of the extracted feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Gregory S. Bush, Timothy S. DeBruine, Eric J. Walstra
  • Patent number: 8045760
    Abstract: The present invention relates to various improvements relating to automatic vehicle equipment control systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Eric J. Walstra, Keith H. Berends, Brock R. Rycenga, Kevin J. Longworth, David A. Meekhof
  • Publication number: 20110125374
    Abstract: An improved image acquisition and processing system includes an image sensor and one or more processors that are configured to receive at least a portion of at least one image from the image sensor. The dynamic aim of the image sensor is configured as a function of at least one feature extracted from at least a portion of an image. The processors are further configured to generate at least one vehicle equipment control signal as a function of the extracted feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Gregory S. Bush, Timothy S. DeBruine, Eric J. Walstra
  • Patent number: 7881839
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes at least one image sensor, and at least one processor. The processor is configured to receive at least a portion of at least one image from the at least one image sensor, wherein an aim of the at least one image sensor is a function of the at least one image. The processor is further configured to generate at least one vehicle equipment control signal as a function of at least one feature extracted from at least a portion of at least one image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Gregory S. Bush, Timothy S. DeBruine, Eric J. Walstra
  • Patent number: 7825600
    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: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    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
  • Patent number: 7718943
    Abstract: The present invention provides various improvements in components for optical based moisture sensing systems and to moisture sensing systems incorporating the components. In at least one embodiment an imager sensor based moisture sensing system is provided that is capable of detecting a moisture pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan D. Johnson, Joseph S. Stam, Jon H. Bechtel
  • Patent number: 7700906
    Abstract: The present invention relates to various optical elements, related manufacturing methods and systems incorporating the optical elements. In at least one embodiment an optical element is provided that improves a vision system's capability to accurately measure a spectral characteristic of a distant light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Jon H. Bechtel
  • Patent number: 7696903
    Abstract: A traffic system for alerting a driver of a vehicle to a traffic sign includes a sensor and a control unit. The sensor may be an image sensor and the control unit may comprise a graphic processing unit (GPU) to detect the optical flow of objects in the captured images so as to distinguish moving vehicles from non-moving objects. The speed of vehicles may be detected such that the system may (1) activate lights to warn a driver if he is traveling too fast or (2) display the speed to either the driver or a police officer. The system may also be implemented and used as a geographic border monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Frederick T. Bauer, Robert Steel
  • Patent number: 7683326
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system is disclosed comprising a high dynamic range. The systems and methods are advantages for rear vision, collision avoidance, obstacle detection, adaptive cruise control, rain sensing, exterior light control, and lane departure warning, as well as other applications where a given scene may comprise objects having widely varying brightness values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Stam, Keith H. Berends, Gregory S. Bush, Jeremy B. Banks, Eric J. Walstra
  • Patent number: 7663798
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Tonar, Jeffrey A. Forgette, John S. Anderson, Jon H. Bechtel, John W. Carter, Joseph S. Stam, David J. Cammenga
  • Patent number: 7653215
    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: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph S. Stam