Gentex Corporation () is an American electronics and technology company that develops, designs and manufactures automatic-dimming

rear-view mirror A rear-view mirror (or rearview mirror) is a flat mirror in automobiles and other vehicles, designed to allow the driver to see rearward through the vehicle's rear window (rear windshield). In cars, the rear-view mirror is usually affixed to ...

s, camera-based driver assistance systems, and other equipment for the global automotive industry. They produce dimmable aircraft windows for the commercial, business and general aviation markets. In addition, the company produces photoelectric smoke detectors, signaling devices, and the

HomeLink Wireless Control System The HomeLink Wireless Control System is a radio frequency (RF) transmitter integrated into some automobiles that can be programmed to activate devices such as garage door openers, RF-controlled lighting, gates and locks, including those with rol ...

for the North American fire protection market. Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation is based in

Zeeland, Michigan Zeeland ( ) is a city in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,719 at the 2020 census. The city is located at the western edge of Zeeland Charter Township. Its name is taken from the Dutch province of Zeeland. Hist ...

. They created the first dual-sensor photoelectric smoke detector, and pioneered

electrochromic Electrochromism is a phenomenon in which a material displays changes in color or opacity in response to an electrical stimulus. In this way, a smart window made of an electrochromic material can block specific wavelengths of ultraviolet, vis ...

automatic-dimming mirrors for the automotive industry and smart windows for the aviation industry. Gentex has more than 1,700 patents on various technologies and products. In analyses of the industry in 2001, Gentex had the highest market-to-book value of any automotive supplier. As of 2020, about 98 percent of the company's sales are derived from the automotive market. As of 2018, less than 1 percent of the company's business comes from aerospace applications of dimmable windows. Gentex Corporation is considered a major player in the Fire Protection Systems Market.

History

Gentex was founded in 1974 by Fred Bauer as a manufacturer of fire protection products. Bauer became CEO of the company in May 1986, and also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He retired in 2018, and was succeeded by Steve Downing as CEO and by James Wallace as Chairman of the Board.

Fire protection

Gentex created the first dual-sensor photoelectric

smoke detector A smoke detector is a device that senses smoke, typically as an indicator of fire. Smoke detectors are usually housed in plastic enclosures, typically shaped like a disk about in diameter and thick, but shape and size vary. Smoke can be detecte ...

, considered to be less prone to

false alarm A false alarm, also called a nuisance alarm, is the deceptive or erroneous report of an emergency, causing unnecessary panic and/or bringing resources (such as emergency services) to a place where they are not needed. False alarms may occur with ...

s, while still quickly detecting smoldering fires. Gentex smoke detectors are used in hospitals, hotels, offices and other buildings worldwide. In the early 1990s, Gentex introduced a smoke detector equipped with a

strobe light A strobe light or stroboscopic lamp, commonly called a strobe, is a device used to produce regular flashes of light. It is one of a number of devices that can be used as a stroboscope. The word originated from the Ancient Greek ('), meaning ...

which is designed to alert deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Gentex manufactures a wide range of photoelectric detectors for fire alarm systems, standalone, and interconnect systems.

Automotive

Mirrors

Gentex first introduced a

that automatically adjusts to potentially dangerous glare conditions in 1982. Gentex began selling an automatic dimming mirror based on

electrochromism Electrochromism is a phenomenon in which a material displays changes in color or opacity in response to an electrical stimulus. In this way, a smart window made of an electrochromic material can block specific wavelengths of ultraviolet, vis ...

in 1987. An electrochromic gel is placed between two pieces of glass, which allows the mirror to dim in proportion to the glare level. The reduction of glare eliminates the temporary blind spot caused by the

Troxler effect Troxler's fading, also called Troxler fading or the Troxler effect, is an optical illusion affecting visual perception. When one fixates on a particular point for even a short period of time, an unchanging stimulus away from the fixation point w ...

after the glare source leaves the field of view. These mirrors have forward- and rearward-facing sensors to measure the ambient light level and glare of approaching vehicles, respectively. In 1991, exterior electrochromic mirrors were added to the Gentex product line. These mirrors operate on the same principle as the interior mirrors. In 1997 the geometry of the mirror's surface was adapted to create spherically curved glass with the goals of eliminating blind spots and offering an expanded field of view. Gentex introduced the Gentex Full Display Mirror, which provides a video display with a panoramic view of what is behind the vehicle.

Air quality and smoke detection

Gentex is expanding its smoke detection capabilities, developing sensing units for use in cars and other vehicles, to continuously sample air quality for smoke, vaping, and other airborne contaminants. Sensors in publicly used vehicles could have both sanitation and security applications.

Additional features

* Compass/Temperature display * Map light *

OnStar OnStar Corporation is a subsidiary of General Motors that provides subscription-based communications, in-vehicle security, emergency services, turn-by-turn navigation, and remote diagnostics systems throughout the United States, Canada, China, ...

* Tire pressure indicator * SmartBeam, the company's

automatic headlight dimmer A headlamp is a lamp attached to the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead. Headlamps are also often called headlights, but in the most precise usage, ''headlamp'' is the term for the device itself and ''headlight'' is the term fo ...

* Automotive grade microphones * Rear camera display (RCD) - a realtime panoramic view of the rear of the vehicle only when in reverse gear * Exterior mirror turn signal repeaters * Complex exterior mirror geometries

Aerospace

Gentex and PPG Aerospace have delivered

smart windows for the

Boeing The Boeing Company () is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and p ...

787 Dreamliner. These windows use viologens and a

redox Redox (reduction–oxidation, , ) is a type of chemical reaction in which the oxidation states of substrate change. Oxidation is the loss of electrons or an increase in the oxidation state, while reduction is the gain of electrons or a ...

agent to adjust the amount of light that is allowed through the window, a similar technology to Gentex' auto-dimming rearview mirrors. The aircraft windows are electronically controlled: an electrical signal affects the action of a conductive medium between layers of glass. The windows can be adjusted by the passenger or crew to control the amount of light that enters, with five levels from completely clear to completely darkened. The windows are 60 percent larger than standard aircraft windows. The aircraft window was included in the exhibition ''Design Life Now: National Design Triennial'', which appeared at the Smithsonian's

Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is a design museum housed within the Andrew Carnegie Mansion in Manhattan, New York City, along the Upper East Side's Museum Mile. It is one of 19 museums that fall under the wing of the Smithsonian Inst ...

in New York City at the

Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is an art museum and exhibition space located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. The museum was founded as the Boston Museum of Modern Art in 1936. Since then it has gone through multiple na ...

in 2007. Gentex is also developing electronically dimmable windows for aircraft that are capable of automatically responding to changes in sunlight, adapting for example when an aircraft turns. The windows can darken to complete black-out capability in under 30 seconds. Gentex is AS9100 certified, an industry standard required by the majority of major aircraft manufacturers, and is capable of meeting production standards as an

Original Equipment Manufacturer An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is generally perceived as a company that produces non-aftermarket parts and equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer. It is a common industry term recognized and used by many professional or ...

(OEM) for aircraft.

References

{{Reflist

External links

official Gentex website

2006 Auto parts suppliers of the United States Fire detection and alarm companies Manufacturing companies based in Michigan Zeeland, Michigan American companies established in 1974 Manufacturing companies established in 1974 1974 establishments in Michigan Companies listed on the Nasdaq