| GENTEX CORPORATION Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120120482 | MODULAR DAY MODE/NIGHT MODE HELMENT-MOUNTED DISPLAY - A helmet mounted display (HMD) system comprising (i) a display device adapted to be positioned between an eye of a person wearing the helmet and a vision-related device; and (ii) a step-in visor which is positioned between the eye of the user and the display device. The vision-related device is removably attached to an accessory joint so that it can be interchanged between an outer visor for use during the day and night vision goggles for use during the night. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120099173 | VEHICULAR REARVIEW MIRROR WITH INCREASED FIELD-OF-VIEW - 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. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120092745 | VEHICULAR REARVIEW MIRROR ELEMENTS AND ASSEMBLIES INCORPORATING THESE ELEMENTS - The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120092744 | VEHICULAR REARVIEW MIRROR ELEMENTS AND ASSEMBLIES INCORPORATING THESE ELEMENTS - The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120086997 | VEHICULAR REARVIEW MIRROR ELEMENTS AND ASSEMBLIES INCORPORATING THESE ELEMENTS - The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120026570 | MULTI-ZONE MIRRORS - A multi-zone reflector having an opaque zone and a transflective zone. The reflector includes a supporting base, a lower reflecting layer disposed adjacent the supporting base, and an upper reflecting layer extending over the opacifying layer and the transflective zone of the reflector. The lower reflecting layer substantially completely covers the transflective zone, and the opacifying layer is disposed substantially outside the transflective zone adjacent to the lower reflecting layer. Over at least a portion of the transflective zone, the upper and lower reflecting layers have a common surface. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20110317242 | VEHICULAR REARVIEW MIRROR ELEMENTS AND ASSEMBLIES INCORPORATING THESE ELEMENTS - The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110310497 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAKING AND ASSEMBLING A MULTI-LENS OPTICAL DEVICE - A system for aligning a plurality of high-precision lenses in a lens train. Each of the lenses has at least two alignment tabs disposed around the perimeter of the lens. The lenses are aligned by placing the lenses in a jig having a plurality of high-precision alignment blocks. The lenses are attached to a lower-precision shroud, having slots that receive the alignment tabs. A gap-filling adhesive is used to provide a high-precision fit for the lenses in the shroud. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110168687 | Heaters for Automotive Mirrors and Rearview Assemblies Using the Same - A vehicular rearview assembly with a heating element. The heating element is affixed behind and in thermal communication with the mirror element of the assembly. The heating element includes a plurality of heating zones that operate in alternation according to a pre-determined time-sequence. A peripheral area of the mirror element is heated up to at least as high a temperature as an inner area of the mirror element. Switching the heating zones on and off so as to have only one heating zone on at a time is determined by a controlling circuitry at least a portion of which may be separated from the assembly and disposed in a different part of the vehicle. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110141381 | MODULAR LIGHT SOURCE/ELECTRONICS AND AUTOMOTIVE REARVIEW ASSEMBLIES USING THE SAME - A vehicular rearview assembly comprising a light source illuminating the mirror system within the housing of the assembly. The light source is a layered structure including generally co-extensive optical elements such as a light-guiding element that accepts light from light emitters and distributes this light along an area that is not transverse with respect to a display of the assembly. Light distributed and outcoupled through the light-guiding element illuminates the whole display, while radiation from other emitters may traverse the light-guiding element in order to highlight respectively corresponding segments of the display. The display may be configured in a spatially-segmented fashion to increase brightness of displayed indicia. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110080629 | ELECTRO-OPTICAL ELEMENT INCLUDING IMI COATINGS - An electrochromic element comprises a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a second substrate in spaced-apart relationship to the first substrate and having a third surface facing the second surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, and an electrochromic medium located between the first and second substrates, wherein the electrochromic medium has a light transmittance that is variable upon application of an electric field thereto. The electrochromic element further comprises a transparent electrode layer covering at least a portion of at least a select one of the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface, wherein the transparent electrode layer comprises an insulator/metal/insulator stack. The materials utilized to construct the insulator/metal/insulator stack are selected to optimize optical and physical properties of the electrochromic element such as reflectivity, color, electrical switch stability, and environmental durability. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110075265 | SPLIT LASER EYE PROTECTION SYSTEM - A laser eye protection (LEP) system for a helmet having a helmet-mounted display (HMD) system. The LEP system includes a large outer visor, which provides ballistic protection, LEP and a display surface for the HMD, and a smaller inner visor, which also provides LEP. LEP is split between the two visors, so that the outer visor can block light in a wavelength that overlaps with the peak wavelength range of the HMD without impairing the wearer's ability to view HMD imagery. The outer visor also preferably does not block near IR light, which allows image-enhancement devices to be positioned within the protective envelope of the outer visor while the smaller inner visor protects the wearer from near IR threats. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110011520 | METHOD OF MAKING A COMPOSITE SHEET - The invention relates to a method of making a composite sheet. A plurality of layers is first assembled, each layer being comprised of an untreated, unidirectional array of strands. The assembled layers are then placed adjacent one another to form an assembled sheet, with adjacent layers being in a non-parallel orientation, and without any of the layers having been treated with a matrix or binding component. The assembled sheet is then impregnated with a matrix component, which comprises a binding component and may also comprise a radiation-absorbing component. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110002028 | Thin-Film Coatings, Electro-Optic Elements and Assemblies Incorporating These Elements - Electro-optic elements are becoming commonplace in a number of vehicular and architectural applications. Various electro-optic element configurations provide variable transmittance and or variable reflectance for windows and mirrors. The present invention relates to various thin-film coatings, electro-optic elements and assemblies incorporating these elements. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20100321758 | Vehicular Rearview Mirror Elements and Assemblies Incorporating These Elements - The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. Area of the effective field of view of the electro-optic mirror element substantially equals to that defined by the outermost perimeter of the element. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100301022 | METHOD OF LASER-WELDING USING THERMAL TRANSFER DEPOSITION OF A LASER-ABSORBING DYE - Using a thermal transfer technique to transfer a laser-absorbing dye from a transfer medium to a receiving substrate, then activating the dye by exposure to a laser source to affect a weld between the receiving substrate and an adjacent second substrate at a desired joint region. The same laser may optionally be used to both transfer the laser-absorbing dye to a receiving substrate and weld the receiving substrate and the second substrate. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100277786 | Rearview Mirror Assemblies With Anisotropic Polymer Laminates - Anisotropic film laminates for use in image-preserving reflectors such as rearview automotive mirror assemblies, and related methods of fabrication. A film may comprise an anisotropic layer such as a light-polarizing layer and other functional layers. The film having controlled water content is heated under omnidirectional pressure and vacuum to a temperature substantially equal to or above a lower limit of a glass-transition temperature range of the film so as to be laminated to a substrate. The laminate is configured as part of a mirror structure so as to increase contrast of light produced by a light source positioned behind the mirror structure and transmitted through the mirror structure towards a viewer. The mirror structure is devoid of any extended distortion and is characterized by SW and LW values less than 3, more preferably less than 2, and most preferably less than 1. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100246017 | VEHICULAR REARVIEW MIRROR ELEMENTS AND ASSEMBLIES INCORPORATING THESE ELEMENTS - The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. Area of the effective field of view of the electro-optic mirror element substantially equals to that defined by the outermost perimeter of the element. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100215903 | Thin-Film Coatings, Electro-Optic Elements and Assemblies Incorporating These Elements - Electro-optic elements are becoming commonplace in a number of vehicular and architectural applications. Various electro-optic element configurations provide variable transmittance and or variable reflectance for windows and mirrors. The present invention relates to various thin-film coatings, electro-optic elements and assemblies incorporating these elements. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100195908 | DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING AND SYSTEMS INCORPORATING THE SAME - In at least one embodiment, a spectrally mozaiced digital image is provided with missing color data imputed for each pixel. At least one embodiment of the present invention is related to circuitry configured to perform at least a portion of the calculations related to demosaicing a high dynamic range image. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100188540 | IMAGING DEVICE - The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100187407 | IMAGING DEVICE - The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100165437 | Variable Reflectance Mirrors and Windows - Various structures for variable reflectance rearview mirrors and variable transmittance windows are disclosed. One embodiment pertains to the provision of a polarized reflector in a rearview mirror. Another embodiment pertains to the provision of a switchable cholesteric liquid crystal element in a window. Yet another embodiment pertains to the provision of a plurality of apertures in a reflector layer of a rearview mirror where the apertures are sized and positioned in alignment with light emitting areas of a display positioned behind the reflector layer. In another embodiment, a moveable display or mirror element is attached to a rearview mirror housing. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100110553 | Rearview Mirror Assemblies with Anisotropic Polymer Laminates - Anisotropic film laminates for use in image-preserving reflectors such as rearview automotive mirror assemblies, and related methods of fabrication. A film may comprise an anisotropic layer such as a light-polarizing layer and other functional layers. The film having controlled water content is heated under omnidirectional pressure and vacuum to a temperature substantially equal to or above a lower limit of a glass-transition temperature range of the film so as to be laminated to a substrate. The laminate is configured as part of a mirror structure so as to increase contrast of light produced by a light source positioned behind the mirror structure and transmitted through the mirror structure towards a viewer. The mirror structure is devoid of any extended distortion and is characterized by SW and LW values less than 3, more preferably less than 2, and most preferably less than 1. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100091377 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING AND CALIBRATING A HELMET-MOUNTED DISPLAY - A helmet mounted display (HMD) system comprising a display pod having a light wave optical element. The display pod is designed to be attached to a base plate located above the brow of a helmet using opposing hook and loop-style fastener pads or alternatively, a pair of locking disks. The mounting position of the display pod is adjustable within three degrees of freedom, including lateral positioning along a plane that is co-planar to a mounting surface for the display pod, as well as rotation about an axis that is perpendicular to the mounting surface. The HMD system is adapted to compensate for variations in mounting position using a bore sighting adjustment. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100045899 | DISCRETE LED BACKLIGHT CONTROL FOR A REDUCED POWER LCD DISPLAY SYSTEM - Backlit LCD displays are becoming commonplace within many vehicle applications. The unique advantage of this invention is that it optimizes system power savings for display of low dynamic range (LDR) images by dynamically controlling spatially adjustable backlighting. This is accomplishes through use of a control technique that takes into account the sequential nature of the video display process. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100020380 | Vehicular Rearview Mirror Elements and Assemblies Incorporating These Elements - The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. Area of the effective field of view of the electro-optic mirror element substantially equals to that defined by the outermost perimeter of the element. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20090303566 | Vehicular Rearview Mirror Elements And Assemblies Incorporating These Elements - The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090296190 | Rearview Mirror Assemblies With Anisotropic Polymer Laminates - Anisotropic film laminates for use in image-preserving reflectors such as rearview automotive mirror assemblies, and related methods of fabrication. A film may comprise an anisotropic layer such as a light-polarizing layer and other functional layers. The film having controlled water content is heated under omnidirectional pressure and vacuum to a temperature substantially equal to or above a lower limit of a glass-transition temperature range of the film so as to be laminated to a substrate. The laminate is configured as part of a mirror structure so as to increase contrast of light produced by a light source positioned behind the mirror structure and transmitted through the mirror structure towards a viewer. The mirror structure is devoid of any extended distortion and is characterized by SW and LW values less than 3, more preferably less than 2, and most preferably less than 1. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090207513 | Multi-Zone Mirrors - A multi-zone reflector having an opaque zone and a transflective zone. The reflector includes a supporting base, a lower reflecting layer disposed adjacent the supporting base, and an upper reflecting layer extending over the opacifying layer and the transflective zone of the reflector. The lower reflecting layer substantially completely covers the transflective zone, and the opacifying layer is disposed substantially outside the transflective zone adjacent to the lower reflecting layer. Over at least a portion of the transflective zone, the upper and lower reflecting layers have a common surface. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090040588 | Electrochromic Rearview Mirror Incorporating a Third Surface Reflector - 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. The second electrode further includes a region in front of the light source and/or light sensor that is at least partially transmissive. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090010494 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE EQUIPMENT - 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. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090002822 | Variable Reflectance Mirrors and Windows - Various structures for variable reflectance rearview mirrors and variable transmittance windows are disclosed. One embodiment pertains to the provision of a polarized reflector in a rearview mirror. Another embodiment pertains to the provision of a switchable cholesteric liquid crystal element in a window. Yet another embodiment pertains to the provision of a plurality of apertures in a reflector layer of a rearview mirror where the apertures are sized and positioned in alignment with light emitting areas of a display positioned behind the reflector layer. In another embodiment, a moveable display or mirror element is attached to a rearview mirror housing. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20080302657 | Method and Apparatus for Ion Milling - The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for ion milling, and more particularly relates to methods and apparatus for smoothing a surface using ion milling. | 12-11-2008 |
