Eric J Hoekstra, Age 5415060 Loxley Ln, Lansing, MI 48906

6406152, Jun 18, 2002

Oct 9, 2001

09/973097

Eric J. Hoekstra - Holland MI
Kenneth L. Schierbeek - Zeeland MI

Donnelly Corporation - Holland MI

G02B 508

359603, 359608, 359267, 359839

A vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system includes an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and at least one exterior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly. Each mirror assembly includes an electrochromic reflective element that assumes a partial reflectance level in response to a signal applied thereto. A drive circuit applies a drive signal to each of the electrochromic reflective elements. The drive circuit may include a digital controller, a master drive circuit responsive to the digital controller to apply a first drive signal to one of the electrochromic reflective elements and a slave drive circuit responsive to the digital controller to apply a second drive signal to a second of the electrochromic reflective elements. The second drive signal may be derived from the first drive signal. The drive circuit may include a digital controller and a switching power supply controlled by the digital controller to produce a drive signal.

6445178, Sep 3, 2002

Feb 23, 2000

09/511587

Eric J. Hoekstra - Holland MI

Donnelly Corporation - Holland MI

G01B 730

32420712, 324202, 32420724, 32420725

A magnetic level sensor is adapted for interconnecting with a vertically moving component of a vehicle such that the level sensor determines a vertical orientation of the component of the vehicle relative to the frame or chassis of the vehicle. The magnetic level sensor includes a magnetic angular measurement device interconnected to the component of the vehicle such that vertical movement of the component causes a corresponding relative rotational movement of a magnetic element associated with the angular measurement device. An electronic control is included for analyzing an output of the angular measurement device and determining an angle of rotation of the magnetic element and thus a vertical movement of the component. The control further determines an error or offset in the output of the angular measurement device and adjusts an output of the control in response to the error or offset. The control thus continuously calibrates an output of the angular measurement device to account for manufacturing irregularities and drift in sensor output due to temperature variations and aging of the sensors and magnets over time.

6474820, Nov 5, 2002

Jun 17, 2002

10/173479

Eric J. Hoekstra - Holland MI
Kenneth L. Schierbeek - Zeeland MI

Donnelly Corporation - Holland MI

G02B 508

359603, 359608, 359267

A vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system includes an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and at least one exterior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly. Each mirror assembly includes an electrochromic reflective element that assumes a partial reflectance level in response to a signal applied thereto. A drive circuit applies a drive signal to each of the electrochromic reflective elements. The drive circuit may include a digital controller, a master drive circuit responsive to the digital controller to apply a first drive signal to one of the electrochromic reflective elements and a slave drive circuit responsive to the digital controller to apply a second drive signal to a second of the electrochromic reflective elements. The second drive signal may be derived from the first drive signal. The drive circuit may include a digital controller and a switching power supply controlled by the digital controller to produce a drive signal.

6485081, Nov 26, 2002

Aug 25, 2000

09/648560

Robert L. Bingle - Holland MI
Roger L. Koops - Hamilton MI
Niall R. Lynam - Holland MI
Kevin C. McCarthy - Tucson AZ
Eric J. Hoekstra - Holland MI
Kenneth Schofield - Holland MI
Eugenie V. Uhlmann - Tucson AZ
Gimtong Teowee - Tucson AZ
Brent J. Bos - Tucson AZ
David W. Taylor - Fenton MI

Donnelly Corporation - Holland MI

E05B 6510

296 76, 49141, 70264, 292DIG 43, 292DIG 65, 3404255

A release system adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle includes a gas operable assist device and at least one of a manual input device and an occupant detector. The release system is positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid. The compartment has a release mechanism for opening the deck lid and the release system is adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment. The gas operable assist device is connectable to the release mechanism and is operable to actuate the release mechanism to open the deck lid in response to a user input to the manual input device or a detection of an occupant within the compartment by the occupant detector. The gas operable assist device includes at least one of a compressed gas container and a pyrotechnic element.

6513252, Feb 4, 2003

Mar 31, 2000

09/540702

Kenneth L. Schierbeek - Zeeland MI
Eric J. Hoekstra - Holland MI
Rodney K. Blank - Zeeland MI
Merdad Veiseh - Grand Haven MI
Gregory H. DeVette - West Olive MI
Kenneth Schofield - Holland MI

Donnelly Corporation - Holland MI

G01C 1738

33356, 33357, 324244

A compass compensation system is provided for automatically continuously calibrating an electronic compass for a vehicle, without requiring an initial manual calibration or preset of the vehicle magnetic signature. The system initially adjusts a two axis sensor of the compass in response to a sampling of at least one initial data point. The system further calibrates the compass by sampling data points that are substantially opposite to one another on a plot of a magnetic field and averaging an ordinate of the data points to determine a respective zero value for the Earth magnetic field. The system also identifies a change in magnetic signature and adjusts the sensor assembly.

6595649, Jul 22, 2003

Oct 31, 2002

10/285008

Eric J. Hoekstra - Holland MI
Kenneth L. Schierbeek - Zeeland MI

Donnelly Corporation - Holland MI

G02B 508

359603, 359267, 359608

A vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system includes an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and at least one exterior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly. Each mirror assembly includes an electrochromic reflective element that assumes a partial reflectance level in response to a signal applied thereto. A drive circuit applies a drive signal to each of the electrochromic reflective elements. The drive circuit may include a digital controller, a master drive circuit responsive to the digital controller to apply a first drive signal to one of the electrochromic reflective elements and a slave drive circuit responsive to the digital controller to apply a second drive signal to a second of the electrochromic reflective elements. The second drive signal may be derived from the first drive signal. The drive circuit may include a digital controller and a switching power supply controlled by the digital controller to produce a drive signal.

6783167, Aug 31, 2004

Nov 21, 2002

10/301315

Robert L. Bingle - Holland MI
Roger L. Koops - Hamilton MI
Niall R. Lynam - Holland MI
Kevin C. McCarthy - Tucson AZ
Eric J. Hoekstra - Holland MI
Kenneth Schofield - Holland MI
Eugenie V. Uhlmann - Tucson AZ
Gimtong Teowee - Tucson AZ
Brent J. Bos - Tucson AZ
David W. Taylor - Fenton MI

Donnelly Corporation - Holland MI

E05B 6510

296 76, 49141, 292DIG 43, 292DIG 65, 340522, 362464, 362501

A safety sensing and/or release system for opening a closed compartment of a vehicle comprises a sensing element for sensing the presence of an occupant within the closed compartment of the vehicle, a control responsive to the sensing element, and a release system. The control is operable to provide an output signal in response to a detection of an occupant by the sensing element. The control may be selectably locked to limit providing an unintentional output signal. The release system is operable to open the closed compartment in response to the output signal of the control. The control may be selectably locked in response to an input signal indicative of at least one of the vehicle ignition being on and the vehicle moving, in order to prevent the compartment from unexpectedly opening while the vehicle is moving.

6922902, Aug 2, 2005

Jan 28, 2003

10/352691

Kenneth L. Schierbeek - Zeeland MI, US
Eric J. Hoekstra - Holland MI, US
Rodney K. Blank - Zeeland MI, US
Merdad Veiseh - Grand Haven MI, US
Gregory H. DeVette - West Olive MI, US
Kenneth Schofield - Holland MI, US

Donnelly Corporation - Holland MI

G01C017/38

33356, 33357, 324244

A compass compensation system is provided for automatically and continuously calibrating an electronic compass for a vehicle, without requiring an initial manual calibration or preset of the vehicle magnetic signature. The system initially adjusts a two axis sensor of the compass in response to a sampling of at least one initial data point. The system further calibrates the compass by sampling data points that are substantially opposite to one another on a plot of a magnetic field and averaging an ordinate of the data points to determine a respective zero value for the Earth magnetic field. The system also identifies a change in magnetic signature and adjusts the sensor assembly.