Johnson Controls Technology Company

Gentex Corporation

Prince Corporation

David A Blaker

John D Spencer

Todd R Witkowski

John A VanderPloeg

Carl L Shearer

Jeremy Bos

Matthew William Cardwell

Robert R Turnbull

Steven L Geerlings

Leroy J Kloeppner

G Bruce Poe

Ethan J Lee

Thomas R Olson

Brian S Honeck

Loren D Vredevoogd

Paul Duckworth

William L Tonar

David J Cammenga

Danny L Minikey, Jr

John S Anderson

Bradley R Hamlin

Mark R Roth

David A Theiste

Andrew D Weller

Thomas S Wright

Michael J Suman

Alan R Watson

Darin D Tuttle

Xiaoxu Niu

Sue F Franz

Michael A Bryson

Eric S Sloterbeek

John B Ostreko

Michael G Hendricks

Mark A VanVuuren

Neil J Boehm

Brian L Douthitt

James R Geschke

David L Plangger

Justin D Jansen

Mark W Newton

Christian M Kemperman

Daniel B Lee

Craig R Myers

Michael R Benson

Carsten Schaudel

Michael J Burns

Jr Minikey Danny L

Bruce G Poe

Loren D Vredevoodg

An electro-optic device includes a first electrode electrically connecting with power supply circuitry. A second electrode is spaced from the first electrode and electrically connecting with the power supply circuitry. An electro-optic medium is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. At least one third electrode is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and electrically connecting with one of the first electrode and the second electrode via switching circuitry. The switching circuitry is operable to control an electrical current through the first electrode, the electro-optic medium, and the second electrode.

Multi-segment electro-optic apparatus and control methods

A display device for a vehicle comprises a pixel array comprising a plurality of display elements. The device further comprises at least one test element and a controller. The controller is configured to selectively activate the display elements of the pixel array via a plurality of control signals and identify the activation of the at least one test element in response to at least one of the control signals. The controller is further configured to identify a display fault of the display device by comparing the at least one control signal communicated to the at least one test element to a diagnostic signal communicated from the at least one test element.

System and method for display fault monitoring

An electro-optic (EO) display includes one or more adjustable-intensity color filters; a transparent backlight; and a transflective layer positioned between the adjustable-intensity color filter(s) and the transparent backlight, wherein the transflective layer reflects light off of one surface of the transflective layer and allows light through another surface of the transflective layer.

Selectively-transparent electrochromic display

A rearview device system includes a partially reflective, partially transmissive element, a display module in optical communication with the partially reflective, partially transmissive element, a display element, an optic block in optical communication with the display element, a first circuit board comprising at least one light source configured to emit illumination that propagates through the optic block and edge light the display element, an optic holder operably connected to the optic block, defining at least one aperture, a second circuit board comprising at least one light source configured to emit illumination that propagates through the at least one aperture and the optic block to back light at least one of a portion of the display element and an icon, and wherein light emitted by the light source of the first circuit board and the light source of the second circuit board is visible through the partially reflective, partially transmissive element.

Rearview mirror system with a display

A wireless control system is configured to be trainable to control any number of remotely controlled devices. The system can be configured to gather and learn information relating to a signal transmitted by the original transmitter in a manner that is blind to a user of the system. The system can be designed to learn signals automatically such that fewer steps are necessary for a user to train the system to control a particular remotely controlled device. The system can train to remotely controlled devices in this manner with little or no user action required.

System and method for enrollment of a remotely controlled device in a trainable transmitter

A system for searching stored audio data is described. The system includes a memory configured to store audio data received from a radio receiver and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a search pattern, search the stored audio data for the search pattern, and provide audio data based on the search.

System and method for searching stored audio data based on a search pattern

A multi-display vehicular rearview mirror system () and method includes an electrochromic (EC) glass element () and a plurality of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) () positioned behind EC element (). A plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) () are used for providing backlighting for each respective LCD of the plurality of LCDs such that the LCDs utilize a plurality of imaging devices () for forming substantially a single image across the plurality of LCDs ().

Multi-display mirror system and method for expanded view around a vehicle

An inventive rearview assembly for a vehicle may comprise a mirror element and a display including a light management subassembly. The subassembly may comprise an LCD placed behind a transflective layer of the mirror element. Despite a low transmittance through the transflective layer, the inventive display is capable of generating a viewable display image having an intensity of at least 250 cd/mand up to 3500 cd/m. The display includes a novel backlighting subassembly and novel optical components including a magnifying system, a depolarizer, a reflector, and a reflective polarizer. The display may be configured to display an image having edges contoured to correspond to the edges of the mirror element.

Vehicle rearview mirror assembly including a high intensity display

A system for receiving data for training a trainable transmitter used to subsequently transmit a modulated RF signal having the received data includes an antenna, a capacitive detection circuit and a control circuit. The capacitive detection circuit is coupled to the antenna and configured to detect data provided in a control signal of a remote control transmitter used to remotely actuate a device. The control circuit is coupled to the capacitive detection circuit and is configured to store the received data and to generate the RF signal having the received data to be transmitted by the trainable transmitter to actuate the device.

System and method for receiving data for training a trainable transmitter

A trainable transceiver for learning signal characteristics of an RF control signal received from a remote control transmitter used to remotely actuate a device and for subsequently transmitting a modulated RF signal having the learned signal characteristics includes an antenna, a wideband receiver and a control circuit. The wideband receiver is coupled to the antenna and is configured to receive an RF control signal from the remote control transmitter. The RF control signal includes a control code, a set of data characteristics and an RF carrier frequency. The control circuit is coupled to the wideband receiver and has a training mode in which the control circuit is configured to identify and store the control code of the RF control signal, to identify at least one data characteristic from the set of data characteristics and to identify at least one RF frequency associated with the RF control signal based on the at least one data characteristic.

Trainable remote controller and method for determining the frequency of a learned control signal

A trainable transceiver system includes a trainable transceiver fixedly coupled to a vehicle interior element. The trainable transceiver is configured to receive a characteristic of an activation signal, store the characteristic of the activation signal in memory and to retransmit the characteristic of the activation signal. The trainable transceiver system also includes a portable transmitter that is configured to receive the characteristic of the activation signal from the trainable transceiver, to store the activation signal characteristic and to retransmit the stored activation signal characteristic. The characteristic of the activation signal may be transmitted from the trainable transceiver to the portable transmitter by, for example, an optical transmission or an RF transmission.

Trainable transceiver system

A method for training a trainable RF transmitter to transmit variable code signals used to actuate a remote device having a receiver where the transmitter includes a memory that has stored variable code characteristics for a plurality of different remote devices includes initiating a training sequence and generating at least one RF carrier signal having the variable code characteristics associated with one remote device of the plurality of different remote devices. The method further includes transmitting the at least one RF carrier signal to the receiver of the remote device and repeating the generating and transmitting steps for the variable code characteristics of each remote device in the plurality of different remote device until feedback is received from a user that the remote device is activated. Upon receiving an indication that the remote device is activated, the transmitter stores an identifier of the variable code characteristics that activated the remote device.

System and method for training a transmitter to control a remote control system

An in-vehicle transmitter for wirelessly controlling a plurality of remote electronic systems is described. The transmitter includes a memory configured to store a plurality of wireless control code for the plurality of remote electronic systems. The plurality of wireless control code includes a first code to control the operation of a first remote electronic system and a second code different than the first code to control the operation of a second remote electronic system. The transmitter further includes a control circuit mounted to a vehicle interior element configured, in response to operator actuation of one switch, so that the transmitter provides a first wireless control signal having the first code and a second wireless control signal having the second code.

System and method for wireless control of multiple remote electronic systems

Growing community of inventors

Holland, MI, United States of America

David A Blaker