Patents by Inventor Nathaniel J. Gentry

Nathaniel J. Gentry 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).

  • Optical reflector with increased field-of-view
    Patent number: 9381862
    Abstract: An optical element such as a reflector defining a differentiable fiducial surface having a first portion, with a flat region, that seamlessly adjoins, along a curved line, a second portion having a two-dimensionally curved region. The quality of optical imaging in the reflector is drastically improved by reducing the ratio of optical powers measured in two perpendicular directions along the two-dimensionally curved portion of the surface. The vehicular rearview assembly including such a reflector possesses a field-of-view (FOV) that is significantly higher than the FOV of a conventional flat mirror and facilitates visual access to a “blind spot” behind the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel J. Gentry, Robert E. Roush, Jr.
  • OPTICAL REFLECTOR WITH INCREASED FIELD-OF-VIEW
    Publication number: 20140334024
    Abstract: An optical element such as a reflector defining a differentiable fiducial surface having a first portion, with a flat region, that seamlessly adjoins, along a curved line, a second portion having a two-dimensionally curved region. The quality of optical imaging in the reflector is drastically improved by reducing the ratio of optical powers measured in two perpendicular directions along the two-dimensionally curved portion of the surface. The vehicular rearview assembly including such a reflector possesses a field-of-view (FOV) that is significantly higher than the FOV of a conventional flat mirror and facilitates visual access to a “blind spot” behind the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Nathaniel J. Gentry, Robert E. Roush, Jr.
  • Vehicular rearview mirror with increased field-of-view
    Patent number: 8817356
    Abstract: An optical element such as a reflector defining a differentiable fiducial surface having a first portion, with a flat region, that seamlessly adjoins, along a curved line, a second portion having a two-dimensionally curved region. The quality of optical imaging in the reflector is drastically improved by reducing the ratio of optical powers measured in two perpendicular directions along the two-dimensionally curved portion of the surface. The vehicular rearview assembly including such a reflector possesses a field-of-view (FOV) that is significantly higher than the FOV of a conventional flat mirror and facilitates visual access to a “blind spot” behind the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel J Gentry, Robert E Roush, Jr.
  • VEHICULAR REARVIEW MIRROR WITH INCREASED FIELD-OF-VIEW
    Publication number: 20120099173
    Abstract: An optical element such as a reflector defining a differentiable fiducial surface having a first portion, with a flat region, that seamlessly adjoins, along a curved line, a second portion having a two-dimensionally curved region. The quality of optical imaging in the reflector is drastically improved by reducing the ratio of optical powers measured in two perpendicular directions along the two-dimensionally curved portion of the surface. The vehicular rearview assembly including such a reflector possesses a field-of-view (FOV) that is significantly higher than the FOV of a conventional flat mirror and facilitates visual access to a “blind spot” behind the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel J. Gentry, Robert E. Roush, JR.