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).

  • Patent number: 9430939
    Abstract: A wireless control system for wireless control of a remote electronic system is configured to provide information to a user using a multi-colored LED. The system includes a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a wireless control signal having control data which will control the remote electronic system, a multi-colored light emitting diode display configured to provide an indication of a state of the wireless control system, and a control circuit coupled to the trainable transmitter circuit configured to transmit the wireless control signal through the trainable transmitter circuit based on the state of the wireless control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carl Shearer, William M. Jarocha, Jeremy Bos, Todd R. Witkowski
  • Patent number: 9370041
    Abstract: A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver using a Bluetooth communications standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Patent number: 9318017
    Abstract: A wireless control system for use in a vehicle and for use with a remote electronic system is provided. The wireless control system includes a transceiver for mounting in the vehicle. The transceiver is configured to communicate according to a Bluetooth communications standard. The transceiver is further configured to provide a control signal to the remote electronic system. The transceiver is also trainable to provide a carrier frequency and control information for the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra, Robert F. Buege
  • Publication number: 20150364033
    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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Chris H. Vuyst, Thomas S. Wright, Steven L. Geerlings
  • Patent number: 9176482
    Abstract: Control systems for mounting in a vehicle and for transmitting a signal to a receiver associated with a device for opening or closing a movable barrier when the receiver receives an authorized signal are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Carl L. Shearer, Steven L. Geerlings, Thomas D. Klaver
  • Publication number: 20150311935
    Abstract: A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver using a Bluetooth communications standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Todd R. WITKOWSKI, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Publication number: 20150302733
    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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Steven L. Geerlings, Thomas S. Wright, Marc A. Smeyers, Jonathan E. Dorst, Douglas C. Papay
  • Publication number: 20150302737
    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: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. GEERLINGS, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Marc A. Smeyers, Jonathan E. Dorst, Douglas C. Papay
  • Publication number: 20150302732
    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: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas S. WRIGHT, Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Douglas C. Papay, Carl L. Shearer
  • Publication number: 20150302738
    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: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Marc A. Smeyers, Jonathan E. Dorst, Douglas C. Papay
  • Publication number: 20150302734
    Abstract: A system for controlling a remote device 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 cause the trainable transceiver to control a remote device in response to a signal received from a cloud computing system, wherein the signal is received from the cloud computing system using the communications electronics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. GEERLINGS, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Douglas C, Papay, Carl L. Shearer
  • Publication number: 20150302729
    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: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Horia-Eduard Pilat, Carl L. Shearer, Todd R. Witkowski
  • Publication number: 20150302735
    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: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Marc A. Smeyers, Jonathan E. Dorst, Douglas C. Papay
  • Publication number: 20150302731
    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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Douglas C. Papay, Carl L. Shearer
  • Publication number: 20150302736
    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: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Marc A. Smeyers, Jonathan E. Dorst, Douglas C. Papay
  • Publication number: 20150302730
    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: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Geerlings, Todd R. Witkowski, Thomas S. Wright, Douglas C. Papay, Carl L. Shearer
  • Publication number: 20150228139
    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: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. GEERLINGS, Thomas S. WRIGHT, Todd R. WITKOWSKI, Bradley R. HAMLIN
  • Publication number: 20150228132
    Abstract: A trainable transceiver base station for controlling a remote device includes a first transceiver circuit, a power connection, and a control circuit. The first transceiver circuit is configured to transmit activation signals to the remote device, the activation signals formatted based on training information and formatted to control the remote device. The power connection is configured to receive electrical power from a vehicle. The control circuit is configured to cause the first transceiver circuit to transmit the activation signal when a command signal is received at the trainable transceiver base station. The trainable transceiver base station is located at a first location within the vehicle, and the trainable transceiver base station is configured to receive the command signal from a remote button module located at a second location within the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. GEERLINGS, Thomas S. WRIGHT, Todd R. WITKOWSKI, Bradley R. HAMLIN
  • Patent number: 9024801
    Abstract: A method for configuring a transmitter device to transmit a recognized transmission to a receiving device is provided. The method includes transmitting a first transmission and transmitting a second transmission after the first transmission. The method further includes receiving, during the second transmission, a user input signal from an interface for receiving signals from one or more user interface elements. The method further includes storing an attribute associated with the second transmission in a memory device in response to the user input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Steven L. Geerlings
  • Publication number: 20150113175
    Abstract: The present application relates to an in-vehicle control system for synchronizing files with a remote source. The remote source includes a storage device configured to store a first file. The system includes a communications device capable of establishing a wireless communication link with the remote source. The communications device is configured to send, receive, or both send and receive files to and/or from the remote source. The system further includes a memory device configured to store a second file. The system yet further includes a data processing device coupled to the communications device, the data processing device configured to perform a comparison of the first file of the remote source and the second file of the memory device, wherein the data processing device is further configured to synchronize the file of the remote source and the file of the in-vehicle control system based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daniel Brzezinski, Michael S. Bahamonde, Todd R. Witkowski, Michael A. Supanich