Waymo LLC patent applications on March 13th, 2025

Patent Applications by Waymo LLC on March 13th, 2025

Waymo LLC: 10 patent applications

Waymo LLC has applied for patents in the areas of G01S13/931 (4), G01S17/931 (3), G01S7/481 (2), G01S7/40 (2), G06V20/56 (2) B60W60/001 (1), F04D1/00 (1), G01S7/023 (1), G01S7/40 (1), G01S7/4802 (1)

With keywords such as: vehicle, radar, configured, device, data, control, computing, difference, sensor, and based in patent application abstracts.

Patent Applications by Waymo LLC

20250083695. DEPOT BEHAVIORS FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Son-Ca Nguyen of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Craig Robinson of Santa Clara CA (US) for waymo llc, Jakob Robert Zwiener of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): B60W60/00, B60W50/14

CPC Code(s): B60W60/001

Abstract: aspects of the disclosure provide for depot behaviors for autonomous vehicles. for instance, a signal to control an autonomous vehicle to a depot area may be received from a server computing device. a prioritized list of staging areas within the depot area may be identified. each staging area of the prioritized list of staging areas enables the vehicle to observe stopping locations at which a need of the vehicle may be addressed. the vehicle may be controlled to a first staging area of the prioritized list. once the vehicle has reached the first staging area, whether a stopping location that meets one or more needs of the vehicle is available may be determined. when is available, the vehicle may be controlled to the available stopping location. when not available, the vehicle may be controlled to a second staging area of the prioritized list.

20250084848. Air Cooling System for Electronic Spinning Assembly_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Rutvik Acharya of San Jose CA (US) for waymo llc, Simon Ellgas of San Jose CA (US) for waymo llc, Benjamin Chen of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): F04D1/00, B60H1/00, F01D25/28

CPC Code(s): F04D1/00

Abstract: example embodiments relate to an air cooling system for an electronic spinning assembly. an example embodiment includes a plurality of vanes coupled to a static base. a vane cover is rotatably coupled to the static base. the vane cover includes at least one air inlet, at least one air duct extending from the vane cover, and at least one choke point disposed in the cover. the at least one choke point is configured to increase a pressure of the airflow.

20250085384. Methods and Systems for Vehicle Radar Coordination and Interference Reduction_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Edward Daniel McCloskey of San Jose CA (US) for waymo llc, Russell Leigh Smith of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): G01S7/02, G01S7/00, G01S7/40, G01S13/08, G01S13/32, G01S13/34, G01S13/86, G01S13/931, G01S15/08, G01S15/931, G01S17/08, G01S17/931

CPC Code(s): G01S7/023

Abstract: a method is provided that includes a vehicle receiving data from an external computing device indicative of at least one other vehicle in an environment of the vehicle. the vehicle may include a sensor configured to detect the environment of the vehicle. the at least one other vehicle may include at least one sensor. the method also includes determining a likelihood of interference between the at least one sensor of the at least one other vehicle the sensor of the vehicle. the method also includes initiating an adjustment of the sensor to reduce the likelihood of interference between the sensor of the vehicle and the at least one sensor of the at least one other vehicle responsive to the determination.

20250085389. Dynamic Loading of Radar Unit Configuration Data Based on Changing Radar Parameters_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Kevin Duncklee of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Brett Coon of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Filip Perich of Santa Clara CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): G01S7/40, G01S7/00, G01S7/35, G01S13/931

CPC Code(s): G01S7/40

Abstract: a method and a radar system are provided in the present disclosure. the radar system includes a radar unit having an antenna array configured to transmit and receive radar signal and a memory configured to store radar calibration parameters and radar channel parameters corresponding to the radar unit. the method provides for operation of the radar system. the radar system also includes a radar processor. the radar processor is configured to cause transmission of radar signals by the antenna array based on the radar channel parameters. the radar processor is also configured to process received radar signals based on the radar calibration parameters. the radar system further includes a central vehicle controller configured to operate a vehicle based on the processed radar signals.

20250085393. Long Range Steerable LIDAR System_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Pierre-yves Droz of Los Altos CA (US) for waymo llc, Gaetan Pennecot of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Anthony Levandowski of Berkeley CA (US) for waymo llc, Drew Eugene Ulrich of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Zach Morriss of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Luke Wachter of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Dorel Ionut Iordache of Walnut Creek CA (US) for waymo llc, William McCann of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Daniel Gruver of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Bernard Fidric of Cupertino CA (US) for waymo llc, Samuel William Lenius of Sunnyvale CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): G01S7/48, G01S7/481, G01S13/931, G01S17/86, G01S17/87, G01S17/931

CPC Code(s): G01S7/4802

Abstract: systems and methods are described that relate to a light detection and ranging (lidar) device. the lidar device includes a fiber laser configured to emit light within a wavelength range, a scanning portion configured to direct the emitted light in a reciprocating manner about a first axis, and a plurality of detectors configured to sense light within the wavelength range. the device additionally includes a controller configured to receive target information, which may be indicative of an object, a position, a location, or an angle range. in response to receiving the target information, the controller may cause the rotational mount to rotate so as to adjust a pointing direction of the lidar. the controller is further configured to cause the lidar to scan a field-of-view (fov) of the environment. the controller may determine a three-dimensional (3d) representation of the environment based on data from scanning the fov.

20250085402. Systems and Methods for Occlusion Detection_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Jason Watson of San Jose CA (US) for waymo llc, Blaise Gassend of East Palo Alto CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): G01S7/481, G01S17/89, G01S17/931, G06T7/246, G06V10/141, G06V20/56

CPC Code(s): G01S7/4817

Abstract: the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for occlusion detection. an example system includes a primary reflective surface and a rotatable mirror configured to rotate about a rotational axis. the rotatable mirror includes a plurality of secondary reflective surfaces. the system also includes an optical element and a camera that is configured to capture at least one image of the optical element by way of the primary reflective surface and at least one secondary reflective surface of the rotatable mirror.

20250085419. Methods and Systems for Real-time Automotive Radar Sensor Validation_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Michael Fina of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): G01S13/931, B60W30/08

CPC Code(s): G01S13/931

Abstract: example embodiments relate to real-time health monitoring for automotive radars. a computing device may receive radar data from multiple radar units that have partially overlapping fields of view and detect a target object located such that the radar units both capture measurements of the target object. the computing device may determine a power level representing the target object for radar data from each radar unit, adjust these power levels, and determine a power difference between them. when the power difference exceeds a threshold power difference, the computing device may perform a calibration process to decrease the power difference below the threshold power difference or alert the vehicle, including onboard algorithms, to the reduced performance of the radar.

20250085706. Assisted Perception for Autonomous Vehicles_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): David Ian Ferguson of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Wan-Yen Lo of Sunnyvale CA (US) for waymo llc, Nathaniel Fairfield of Rockingham VA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): G05D1/00, B60W40/04, B60W50/00, B60W50/02, G06V20/56, G06V20/58, G07C5/00, H04L67/125

CPC Code(s): G05D1/0246

Abstract: disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing supplemental identification abilities to an autonomous vehicle system. the sensor unit of the vehicle may be configured to receive data indicating an environment of the vehicle, while the control system may be configured to operate the vehicle. the vehicle may also include a processing unit configured to analyze the data indicating the environment to determine at least one object having a detection confidence below a threshold. based on the at least one object having a detection confidence below a threshold, the processor may communicate at least a subset of the data indicating the environment for further processing. the vehicle is also configured to receive an indication of an object confirmation of the subset of the data. based on the object confirmation of the subset of the data, the processor may alter the control of the vehicle by the control system.

20250085707. Use of a Reference Image to Detect a Road Obstacle_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): David Ian Ferguson of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Jiajun Zhu of Sunnyvale CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): G05D1/00, G06T7/00, G06V20/58

CPC Code(s): G05D1/0253

Abstract: methods and systems for use of a reference image to detect a road obstacle are described. a computing device configured to control a vehicle, may be configured to receive, from an image-capture device, an image of a road on which the vehicle is travelling. the computing device may be configured to compare the image to a reference image; and identify a difference between the image and the reference image. further, the computing device may be configured to determine a level of confidence for identification of the difference. based on the difference and the level of confidence, the computing device may be configured to modify a control strategy associated with a driving behavior of the vehicle; and control the vehicle based on the modified control strategy.

20250087094. TESTING A SCHEDULING SYSTEM FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES USING SIMULATIONS_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Cindy Cao Butler of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): G08G1/00, B62D6/00, G06F30/20, G06F119/02

CPC Code(s): G08G1/202

Abstract: aspects of the disclosure provide for the evaluation of a scheduling system software for managing autonomous vehicle scheduling and dispatching. for instance, a problem condition for a simulation may be identified. the simulation may be run using the identified problem condition. the simulation may include a plurality of simulated autonomous vehicles each utilizing its own autonomous vehicle control software and map information common to each simulated autonomous vehicle. the problem condition may relate to a particular simulated autonomous vehicle of the plurality. output of the simulation may be analyzed to determine a score for the scheduling system software. the scheduling system software may be evaluated using the score.

Waymo LLC patent applications on March 13th, 2025