Gentex Corporation

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Getex Corporation

Joshua D Lintz

Kurtis L Geerlings

Adam R Heintzelman

Steven J Veenman

Xiaoxu Niu

William L Tonar

Bradley R Hamlin

Jason D Hallack

Matthew W Remijn

David M Falb

Jeremy A Schut

Mark A VanVuuren

David M Bostrom

David J Cammenga

Richard T Fish, Jr

Jordan D Miller

Bradley A Bosma

Heidi Nelson

Keith W Bigoness

George A Neuman

Danny L Minikey, Jr

Mark R Roth

Andrew D Weller

Thomas S Wright

Donald L Bareman

Ethan J Lee

Mario F Saenger Nayver

Tom B Sherman

Benjamin B Hilldore

Christopher B Case

Ryan B Balili

Brian G Brackenbury

Steven L Geerlings

Nigel T Lock

Darin D Tuttle

Michael A Bryson

Eric S Sloterbeek

Michael F Lisowski

Jim L Schneider

Joseph A DeGroot

Brett C Pothoof

Derek S Blaskowski

Kasen Keith Anderson

Carl L Shearer, Jr

Mark A Vanvuuren

A rearview assembly for a vehicle is provided including a reflective element; an infrared illumination source configured to emit infrared light through the reflective element to illuminate a field of view; and an optical element disposed behind the reflective element and configured to direct infrared light from the infrared illumination source towards the field of view. The optical element including: a molded portion comprised of a visibly opaque material that is substantially transparent to the infrared light, the molded portion having a front surface and a rear surface; and a reflector disposed on the rear surface of the molded portion and configured to substantially reflect infrared light emitted from the illumination source that passes through the molded portion towards the field of view.

Rearview assembly for a vehicle having visibly opaque optical element for reflecting infrared light

A rearview apparatus for a vehicle includes a first measurement device configured to detect a vehicle orientation. The first measurement device is in connection with a portion of the vehicle that maintains a fixed relationship relative to a body of the vehicle. A second measurement device is configured to detect an apparatus orientation of the rearview apparatus, which is adjustable relative to the body of the vehicle. A controller is in communication with the first measurement device and the second measurement device. The controller is configured to identify an orientation difference between the vehicle orientation and the apparatus orientation.

Vehicle rearview display system with orientation sensing

An imaging system includes an illumination source configured to illuminate at least a portion of a vehicle interior. A camera is configured to capture one or more images of the portion of the vehicle interior. A controller is in communication with the illumination source and the camera. The controller is configured to receive the one or more images, identify a glare associated with an occupant of the vehicle interior in the one or more images, and generate and communicate a signal to adjust the illumination source to limit the glare.

Illumination control for an imaging system

A system for calibrating a driver monitoring system in a vehicle comprises a rearview assembly comprising a housing, a mount secured to a vehicle surface, and a barrel extending between the housing and the mount; an imager disposed in the rearview assembly; a processor in communication with the imager; a memory comprising a file containing information on stationary landmarks proximate the imager; and a controller operable to: receive images of the vehicle's interior and calibrate the imager by identifying a substantially stationary landmark in a first image used during an initial calibration; wherein the controller is configured to re-calibrate the driver monitoring operations based, at least in part, on a detection of the substantially stationary landmark being in a different location in a second image relative to the first image. One of the ends of the barrel is connected with a moveable joint.

Rearview assembly adjustment system

A system and corresponding method are disclosed for biometric operations. The system may comprise an illumination source, a polarization selector, an imager, and a controller. The illumination source may illuminate a biometric feature. The polarization selector may receive light reflected from the biometric feature and be operable between two states selectively transmitting different polarizations. The imager may receive the light selectively transmitted by the polarization selector and generate one or more images. The controller may perform a biometric authentication based, at least in part, on the one or more images. In operation, the polarization selector may switch between states so that the system may capture two separate image sets, each based on light of a different polarization. Accordingly, adverse reflections, such as those off an eyeball or glasses, may be substantially eliminated or reduced in at least one of the image sets.

Polarized biometric operations

A rearview mirror assembly that includes a housing and a printed circuit board (PCB) located in the housing. The rearview mirror assembly further includes a monitoring system that includes an image capturing module, an illumination source connected to the PCB, and an optical element aligned with the illumination source. The optical element is configured to redirect an illumination from the illumination source toward an occupant position in an automobile.

Rearview mirror assembly

An imaging system may comprise a first lens and a second lens; at least one light valve; and an image sensor in optical communication with the light valve. The first lens may be in optical communication with the light valve; and the second lens may be in optical communication with the light valve. The light valve may be configured to have a first polarization state and a second polarization state. The first polarization state may allow light to pass through the light valve and the second polarization state may reflect light that strikes the light valve.

Switchable view imaging system

An imaging system includes a mirror assembly. An imager is centrally disposed on the mirror assembly and configured to acquire an image of a biometric feature of a vehicle occupant within a field of view of the imager. A first light source is disposed within the mirror assembly and configured to project a ray of light onto a target surface corresponding to an eye of the vehicle occupant. The first light source is spaced from the target surface by a first distance. The first light source is spaced from the imager by a second distance. The ray of light forms an angle of incidence having legs extending from the target surface to the first light source and to the imager, and wherein the first distance and the second distance are operable to define the angle of incidence in the range of 5° to 15°.

Imaging system for a vehicle

An asymmetrically reflective member is disclosed. This asymmetrically reflective member may be utilized in a rearview assembly to hide an imager disposed there behind. The member may comprise a substrate and an asymmetric transflective coating. The substrate may have a first side and a second side. The asymmetric transflective coating may be associated with the substrate. Additionally, the asymmetric transflective coating may have a transflective layer, a plurality of dielectric layers, and one or more absorptive layers interleaved with the plurality of dielectric layers. Further, the member may have a first side and a second side. The reflectance of the first side may be substantially greater than the reflectance of the second side.

Concealment panel with asymmetric reflectance

An illumination system for a lighting assembly comprises a light assembly configured to selectively illuminate an operating region in a surgical suite and a plurality of light sources positioned within the light assembly and configured to emit light. The system further comprises at least one imager configured to capture image data and a controller. The controller is configured to scan the image data in at least one region of interest for a shaded region and identify a location of the shaded region within the region of interest. The controller is further configured to control the light assembly to activate at least one of the light sources to emit light impinging on the shaded region within the region of interest.

Systems and methods for detection and illumination of regions of interest

An imager assembly including calibration functionality and a housing. An imager is disposed inside the housing. The imager includes a lens assembly. An electro-optic element is disposed on a wall of the housing and operable between a substantially clear condition and a substantially darkened condition. A light source directs light at the electro-optic element which redirects the light toward the lens assembly.

Dynamic calibration of optical properties of a dimming element

Iris reader

An alignment system may comprise a housing defining a channel having a first end and a second end; a light source disposed at the first end of the channel; and an alignment image disposed at the second end of the channel. The light source may be in optical communication with the alignment image. The alignment system may further comprise a baffle extending around at least a portion of an inner perimeter of the channel, the baffle defining a backlight aperture. The light source may be in selective optical communication with the alignment image.

Alignment system

A user monitoring apparatus for identifying a user of a vehicle includes a scanning apparatus configured to capture identifying information comprising a facial feature of the user in a field of view. A panel comprises a display portion. The apparatus further includes a feedback apparatus disposed behind the panel and configured to communicate alignment information visually indicating an alignment of the facial feature within the field of view of the scanning apparatus. The feedback apparatus includes at least one emitter configured to emit an alignment emission through an optical element thereby illuminating the alignment information on the display portion.

Authentication concealment and alignment systems

A system and rearview assembly is disclosed. The system includes a rearview assembly, an imager, and a controller. The rearview assembly comprises a backlight. Further, the rearview assembly is operable to provide a driver with a view of a scene rearward of a vehicle. Additionally, the rearview assembly is operable to emit light to illuminate the driver with at least one of infra-red and near infra-red light from the backlight. The imager is operable to image the driver in the at least one of infra-red and near infra-red light. The controller is communicatively connected to the imager and operable to analyze images of the driver to perform at least one of a biometric and a driver awareness analysis.

Near infra-red emitting rearview assembly

Growing community of inventors

Allendale, MI, United States of America

Joshua D Lintz