Patents by Inventor Steven L. Willard, II

Steven L. Willard, II 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: 11470063
    Abstract: A configurable transmitter is provided for a vehicle for transmitting signals to a device remote from the vehicle. The configurable transmitter includes an RF transmitter that receives an RF signal during a training mode to learn characteristics of the received RF signal, and to transmit an RF signal to the remote device in an operating mode where the transmitted RF signal includes the learned characteristics of the received RF signal; a local memory device for storing channel data representing the learned characteristics and for storing a unique identification code and a cloud encryption key; an interface that communicates with an Internet server; and a controller coupled to the local memory device and the interface, the controller retrieves the channel data from the local memory device, encrypts the channel data using the cloud encryption key and transfers the encrypted channel data for remote storage in the Internet server through the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Steven L. Willard, II
  • Patent number: 10957138
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a barrier operator system to direct operation of a barrier. The system and method may include adaptively updating an expected time duration for an operational sequence that includes occurrence of an event relating to operation of the barrier operator system and receipt of a status message from the barrier operator system. The system may monitor and record the elapsed time for the operational sequence, and determine the expected time duration for the operational sequence based on the recorded history of elapsed times. If the status message is not received within the expected time duration after occurrence of the event, the system may transmit a status request message to the barrier operator system to obtain information relating to the status of the barrier operator system or the barrier, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas D. Klaver, Kevin J. Key, Steven L. Willard, II, Kelly S. Harrelson
  • Patent number: 10629010
    Abstract: A transmission unit for mounting in a vehicle is disclosed. The transmission unit comprises a transmitter circuit configured to transmit control signals for operating a plurality of remote electronic devices. The transmission unit further comprises a scanning device configured to capture scan data and a controller in communication with the scanning device. The controller is configured to receive the scan data and determine a first identity of a first occupant based on the scan data. The controller is further operable to access a first user profile based on the first identity. The first user profile may comprise a customized or restricted set of control signals, which may be sent by the transmission unit based on an input or gesture from the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. Peterson, Kelly S. Harrelson, Chris H. Vuyst, Steven L. Willard, II
  • Publication number: 20200059456
    Abstract: A configurable transmitter is provided for a vehicle for transmitting signals to a device remote from the vehicle. The configurable transmitter includes an RF transmitter that receives an RF signal during a training mode to learn characteristics of the received RF signal, and to transmit an RF signal to the remote device in an operating mode where the transmitted RF signal includes the learned characteristics of the received RF signal; a local memory device for storing channel data representing the learned characteristics and for storing a unique identification code and a cloud encryption key; an interface that communicates with an Internet server; and a controller coupled to the local memory device and the interface, the controller retrieves the channel data from the local memory device, encrypts the channel data using the cloud encryption key and transfers the encrypted channel data for remote storage in the Internet server through the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Steven L. Willard, II
  • Patent number: 10510244
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods of selectively transmitting commands associated with a single channel. A trainable transceiver may include a channel, an electronic display, and a container element. The channel may be trained to control one or more functions of the remote device. The electronic display may display one or more container elements. The container element of the electronic display may include a first soft key and a second soft key. The container element may be associated with the channel. The first soft key may control a first function of the remote device. The second soft key may control a second function of the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas D. Klaver, Kelly S. Harrelson, Steven L. Willard, II, Kevin J. Key
  • Patent number: 10460542
    Abstract: A communication system for communicating with a barrier operator for remotely controlling operation of a barrier. The communication system may include a remote device that can be handheld or incorporated into a vehicle. The communication system may also include a remote token separate from the remote device and capable of communicating information to the remote device. The remote device may be paired with a communication channel for communicating one or more commands to the barrier operator. The remote device may be configured to suppress or disable communication of a requested command on the communication channel until after information is received from the remote token that authorizes communication of the requested command on the communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steven L. Willard, II
  • Publication number: 20190108702
    Abstract: A communication system for communicating with a barrier operator for remotely controlling operation of a barrier. The communication system may include a remote device that can be handheld or incorporated into a vehicle. The communication system may also include a remote token separate from the remote device and capable of communicating information to the remote device. The remote device may be paired with a communication channel for communicating one or more commands to the barrier operator. The remote device may be configured to suppress or disable communication of a requested command on the communication channel until after information is received from the remote token that authorizes communication of the requested command on the communication channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steven L. Willard, II
  • Publication number: 20190057562
    Abstract: A transmission unit for mounting in a vehicle is disclosed. The transmission unit comprises a transmitter circuit configured to transmit control signals for operating a plurality of remote electronic devices. The transmission unit further comprises a scanning device configured to capture scan data and a controller in communication with the scanning device. The controller is configured to receive the scan data and determine a first identity of a first occupant based on the scan data. The controller is further operable to access a first user profile based on the first identity. The first user profile may comprise a customized or restricted set of control signals, which may be sent by the transmission unit based on an input or gesture from the first user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Peterson, Kelly S. Harrelson, Chris H. Vuyst, Steven L. Willard, II
  • Publication number: 20190051067
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a barrier operator system to direct operation of a barrier. The system and method may include adaptively updating an expected time duration for an operational sequence that includes occurrence of an event relating to operation of the barrier operator system and receipt of a status message from the barrier operator system. The system may monitor and record the elapsed time for the operational sequence, and determine the expected time duration for the operational sequence based on the recorded history of elapsed times. If the status message is not received within the expected time duration after occurrence of the event, the system may transmit a status request message to the barrier operator system to obtain information relating to the status of the barrier operator system or the barrier, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas D. Klaver, Kevin J. Key, Steven L. Willard, II, Kelly S. Harrelson
  • Publication number: 20180225959
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods of selectively transmitting commands associated with a single channel. A trainable transceiver may include a channel, an electronic display, and a container element. The channel may be trained to control one or more functions of the remote device. The electronic display may display one or more container elements. The container element of the electronic display may include a first soft key and a second soft key. The container element may be associated with the channel. The first soft key may control a first function of the remote device. The second soft key may control a second function of the remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas D. Klaver, Kelly S. Harrelson, Steven L. Willard, II, Kevin J. Key