Patents by Inventor Todd R. Witkowski

Todd R. Witkowski 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).

  • Publication number: 20180122225
    Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device including a trainable transceiver, a camera, and a control circuit coupled to the trainable transceiver and the camera. The control circuit is configured to use the camera to identify the remote device by comparing information received via the camera to information stored in memory, and the control circuit is configured to automatically transmit an activation signal formatted to control the remote device in response to identifying the remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. GEERLINGS, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Marc A. Smeyers, Jonathan E. Dorst, Douglas C. Papay
  • Publication number: 20180123806
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method of re-programming memory, and in particular, to wirelessly re-programming software, such as the application code, residing in memory of a trainable transceiver. The wireless re-programming of memory allows for software in the trainable transceiver to be updated or replaced from a remote location, where a direct or wired connection to the product is not otherwise available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chris H. VUYST, Todd R. WITKOWSKI, Carl L. SHEARER, Steven L GEERLINGS, Thomas D. Klaver
  • Patent number: 9947159
    Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device includes a trainable transceiver and a remote button module. The trainable transceiver base station configured to be mounted in the vehicle at a first location and the remote button module separated from the base station and configured to be mounted in the vehicle at a second location. The remote button module is configured to wirelessly transmit a command signal to the base station in response to receiving a user input at a user input device, and the base station responds to receiving the command signal by transmitting an activation signal to the remote device, wherein the activation signal is formatted to control the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Thomas S. Wright, Todd R. Witkowski, Bradley R. Hamlin
  • Patent number: 9922548
    Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device including a trainable transceiver, a camera, an output device, and a control circuit coupled to the trainable transceiver and the camera. The control circuit is configured to use data received from the camera to determine if the vehicle is well positioned within a garage, and the control circuit is configured to provide an indication that the vehicle is well positioned using the output device in response to determining that the vehicle is well positioned within a garage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Marc A. Smeyers, Jonathan E. Dorst, Douglas C. Papay
  • Patent number: 9875650
    Abstract: A trainable transceiver for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device includes a transceiver circuit configured based on training information to communicate with the remote device, a communications device configured to communicate with a mobile communications device, and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit, and coupled to the communications device. The control circuit is configured to transmit diagnostic information related to the trainable transceiver to a mobile communications device via the communications device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Steven L. Geerlings, Thomas S. Wright, Marc A. Smeyers, Jonathan E. Dorst, Douglas C. Papay
  • Patent number: 9858806
    Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device including a trainable transceiver, a camera, and a control circuit coupled to the trainable transceiver and the camera. The control circuit is configured to use the camera to identify the remote device by comparing information received via the camera to information stored in memory, and the control circuit is configured to automatically transmit an activation signal formatted to control the remote device in response to identifying the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Marc A. Smeyers, Jonathan E. Dorst, Douglas C. Papay
  • Publication number: 20170352286
    Abstract: A trainable transceiver is provided for a vehicle for transmitting signals to a device remote from the vehicle. The trainable transceiver includes an RF transceiver configured to receive an RF signal during a training mode in order 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 of the received RF signal; an interface configured to communicate with an Internet-connected device; and a controller coupled to the local memory device and the interface, the controller configured to retrieve the channel data from the local memory device and transfer the channel data for storage remote from the vehicle using the interface. The controller may also receive channel data from the remote memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas D. Klaver, Jonathan E. Dorst, Steven L. Geerlings, Thomas S. Wright
  • Patent number: 9819498
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method of re-programming memory, and in particular, to wirelessly re-programming software, such as the application code, residing in memory of a trainable transceiver. The wireless re-programming of memory allows for software in the trainable transceiver to be updated or replaced from a remote location, where a direct or wired connection to the product is not otherwise available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chris H. Vuyst, Todd R. Witkowski, Carl L. Shearer, Steven L. Geerlings, Thomas D. Klaver
  • Patent number: 9805589
    Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device includes a camera, a trainable transceiver, and a control circuit coupled to the camera and the trainable transceiver. The control circuit is configured to use geographic location information to determine when to initiate a process of using the camera to identify the remote device and transmit an activation signal formatted to control the remote device. Upon initiation of the process, the control circuit is configured to use the camera to identify the remote device by comparing information received via the camera to information stored in memory, and wherein the control circuit is configured to automatically transmit an activation signal formatted to control the remote device, using the trainable transceiver, in response to identifying the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Marc A. Smeyers, Jonathan E. Dorst, Douglas C. Papay
  • Publication number: 20170294065
    Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a device, the system including a trainable transceiver, communications electronics, and a processing circuit coupled to the trainable transceiver and the communications electronics. The processing circuit is configured to train the trainable transceiver to control a device using information received from a cloud computing system remote from the device and vehicle via the communications electronics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Douglas C. Papay, Carl L. Shearer
  • Publication number: 20170249834
    Abstract: A system for controlling a remote device includes a mobile communications device and a trainable transceiver. The mobile communications device includes a display, a camera flash, a speaker, and a processing circuit coupled to the display, the camera flash, and the speaker. The trainable transceiver includes a transceiver circuit, a communications device, and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit and the communications device. The trainable transceiver is configured to be in communication with the mobile communications device using the communications device, and the control circuit is configured to receive training information from the mobile communications device and train the trainable transceiver to communicate with the remote device based on the training information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas S. WRIGHT, Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Douglas C. Papay, Carl L. Shearer
  • Publication number: 20170221352
    Abstract: A trainable transceiver for controlling a remote device includes a transceiver circuit configured, based on training information, to control the remote device, a communications device configured to communicate with a mobile communications device, an output device, and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit, coupled to the communications device, and coupled to the output device. The control circuit is configured to receive notification information from the mobile communications device via the communications device, and wherein the control circuit is configured to generate an output using the output device based on the notification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Marc A. Smeyers, Jonathan E. Dorst, Douglas C. Papay
  • Publication number: 20170193722
    Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device includes a trainable transceiver and a remote button module. The trainable transceiver base station configured to be mounted in the vehicle at a first location and the remote button module separated from the base station and configured to be mounted in the vehicle at a second location. The remote button module is configured to wirelessly transmit a command signal to the base station in response to receiving a user input at a user input device, and the base station responds to receiving the command signal by transmitting an activation signal to the remote device, wherein the activation signal is formatted to control the remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. GEERLINGS, Thomas S. WRIGHT, Todd R. WITKOWSKI, Bradley R. HAMLIN
  • Patent number: 9691271
    Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a device, the system including a trainable transceiver, communications electronics, and a processing circuit coupled to the trainable transceiver and the communications electronics. The processing circuit is configured to train the trainable transceiver to control a device using information received from a cloud computing system remote from the device and vehicle via the communications electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Douglas C. Papay, Carl L. Shearer
  • Patent number: 9679471
    Abstract: A system for controlling a remote device includes a first trainable transceiver, a second trainable transceiver, and a cloud computing system configured to be in communication with the first trainable transceiver and the second trainable transceiver. The cloud computing system stores a code roll, and the cloud computing system transmits a current value of the code roll to the first trainable transceiver or the second trainable transceiver upon receiving a request transmission from the first trainable transceiver or the second trainable transceiver respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Douglas C. Papay, Carl L. Shearer
  • Patent number: 9652978
    Abstract: A system for controlling a remote device includes a mobile communications device and a trainable transceiver. The mobile communications device includes a display, a camera flash, a speaker, and a processing circuit coupled to the display, the camera flash, and the speaker. The trainable transceiver includes a transceiver circuit, a communications device, and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit and the communications device. The trainable transceiver is configured to be in communication with the mobile communications device using the communications device, and the control circuit is configured to receive training information from the mobile communications device and train the trainable transceiver to communicate with the remote device based on the training information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas S. Wright, Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Douglas C. Papay, Carl L. Shearer
  • Patent number: 9640005
    Abstract: A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device includes a trainable transceiver and a remote button module. The trainable transceiver base station configured to be mounted in the vehicle at a first location and the remote button module separated from the base station and configured to be mounted in the vehicle at a second location. The remote button module is configured to wirelessly transmit a command signal to the base station in response to receiving a user input at a user input device, and the base station responds to receiving the command signal by transmitting an activation signal to the remote device, wherein the activation signal is formatted to control the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Thomas S. Wright, Todd R. Witkowski, Bradley R. Hamlin
  • Patent number: 9620005
    Abstract: A trainable transceiver for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device includes a transceiver circuit configured, based on training information, to control the remote device, a communications device configured to communicate with a mobile communications device, an output device, and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit, coupled to the communications device, and coupled to the output device. The control circuit is configured to receive notification information from the mobile communications device via the communications device, and wherein the control circuit is configured to generate an output using the output device based on the notification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Marc A. Smeyers, Jonathan E. Dorst, Douglas C. Papay
  • Patent number: 9552723
    Abstract: A trainable transceiver for controlling a device includes a transceiver circuit, a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit, and memory coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive a signal from the device via the transceiver circuit. The control circuit is configured to determine a frequency of a channel used by the device based on the signal strength of the signal received from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Chris H. Vuyst, Thomas S. Wright, Steven L. Geerlings
  • Patent number: 9443422
    Abstract: Methods and systems for modifying a carrier frequency for a trainable transmitter may include receiving a request to transmit a control signal from the trainable transmitter to a receiver. A transmission of a first control signal may be made using a trained carrier frequency and a control data. At least part of the carrier frequency may be shifted by a frequency increment. A second control signal may then be generated using the carrier frequency shifted by the frequency increment and the control data. The second control signal may then be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Horia-Eduard Pilat, Carl L. Shearer, Todd R. Witkowski