Waymo LLC patent applications on June 6th, 2024

Patent Applications by Waymo LLC on June 6th, 2024

Waymo LLC: 7 patent applications

Waymo LLC has applied for patents in the areas of G01S17/931 (4), G01S7/481 (2), G01J1/00 (2), G01S17/89 (2), G01S7/4813 (2)

With keywords such as: light, optical, lens, assembly, surface, include, housing, vehicles, sensors, and module in patent application abstracts.

Patent Applications by Waymo LLC

20240182065.Identification of Proxy Calibration Targets for a Fleet of Vehicles_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Volker Grabe of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Colin Braley of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Volodymyr Ivanchenko of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Alexander Meade of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): B60W60/00, B62D15/02, G01C21/34, G06V20/56, G08G1/00, H04W4/46

Abstract: example embodiments relate to identification of proxy calibration targets for a fleet of sensors. an example method includes collecting, using a sensor coupled to a vehicle, data about one or more objects within an environment of the vehicle. the sensor has been calibrated using a ground-truth calibration target. the method also includes identifying, based on the collected data, at least one candidate object, from among the one or more objects, to be used as a proxy calibration target for other sensors coupled to vehicles within a fleet of vehicles. further, the method includes providing, by the vehicle, data about the candidate object for use by one or more vehicles within the fleet of vehicles.

20240183519.Infrared Light Module Uniformity Rotational Test Module_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Choon Ping Chng of Los Altos CA (US) for waymo llc, Cheng-Han Wu of Sunnyvale CA (US) for waymo llc, Lucian Ion of Santa Clara CA (US) for waymo llc, Giulia Guidi of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): F21V21/30, B60K35/00, B60Q3/51, G01J1/00

Abstract: example embodiments described herein involve a system for testing a light-emitting module. the light-emitting module may include a mounting platform configured to hold a light-emitting module for a camera. the mounting platform may also be configured to rotate. the system may further include a housing holding a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array over at least a 90 degree arc of a hemisphere. the system may also include a controller configured to control the photodiodes and the rotation of the mounting platform.

20240183707.STRAY-LIGHT TESTING STATION_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Chen David Lu of Campell CA (US) for waymo llc, Matthew Thomas Daniel Rinehart of San Mateo CA (US) for waymo llc, Joshua Chia Fong Wang of San Jose CA (US) for waymo llc, Michael Shagam of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): G01J1/02, G01J1/04, G01J1/44, H04N25/00

Abstract: methods, systems, and apparatus, for a stray-light testing station. in one aspect, the stray-light testing station includes an illumination assembly including a spatially extended light source and one or more optical elements arranged to direct a beam of light from the spatially extended light source along an optical path to an optical receiver assembly including a lens receptacle configured to receive a lens module and position the lens module in the optical path downstream from the parabolic mirror so that the lens module focuses the beam of light from the spatially extended light source to an image plane, and a moveable frame supporting the optical receiver assembly including one or more adjustable alignment stages to position the optical receiver assembly relative to the illumination assembly such that the optical path of the illumination assembly is within a field of view of the optical receiver assembly.

20240183959.METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING OBSTRUCTIONS ON A SENSOR HOUSING_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Gil SHOTAN of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Luke WACHTER of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Colin BRALEY of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Christian LAUTERBACH of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Xiaoxiang HU of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Ming ZOU of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): G01S7/497, G01S7/481, G01S17/931

Abstract: one example method involves obtaining a plurality of scans of a field-of-view (fov) of a light detection and ranging (lidar) device disposed inside a housing. obtaining each scan of the plurality of scans comprises: transmitting, through a plurality of sections of the housing, a plurality of light pulses emitted from the lidar device in different directions toward the housing; and detecting a plurality of returning light pulses comprising reflected portions of the transmitted plurality of light pulses that are reflected back toward the lidar device. the method also involves detecting an obstruction that at least partially occludes the lidar device from scanning the fov through the housing based on the plurality of scans.

20240184017.Anti-Reflection Coated Lens for Fast Axis Collimation_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Thanh Tu of San Jose CA (US) for waymo llc, Yeh-Jiun Tung of Sunnyvale CA (US) for waymo llc, James Dunphy of San Jose CA (US) for waymo llc, Hongqin Shi of San Jose CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): G02B1/11, G01S13/89, G01S17/89, G02B27/02, G02B27/30

Abstract: an optical system comprises a light emitter, an optical waveguide, and a lens that optically couples the light emitter to the optical waveguide. the lens has a long axis and a plurality of surfaces surrounding the long axis, the plurality of surfaces including a convex surface and a flat surface. the convex surface faces the light emitter such that light emitted by the light emitter enters the lens through the convex surface. in some examples, the lens serves as a fast axis collimation (fac) lens. in some examples, the flat surface serves as a mounting surface to mount the lens on a substrate such that the convex surface faces the light emitter and an output surface of the lens opposite the convex surface faces the optical waveguide. in some examples, the convex surface includes an anti-reflection coating.

20240184296.SENSOR INTEGRATION FOR LARGE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): William Grossman of East Palo Alto CA (US) for waymo llc, Benjamin Pitzer of East Palo Alto CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): G05D1/00, B60R1/12, G01S7/481, G01S13/86, G01S17/86, G01S17/87, G01S17/931, G05D1/247, G05D1/249, G01S13/931

Abstract: the technology relates to autonomous vehicles for transporting cargo and/or people between locations. distributed sensor arrangements may not be suitable for vehicles such as large trucks, busses or construction vehicles. side view mirror assemblies are provided that include a sensor suite of different types of sensors, including lidar, radar, cameras, etc. each side assembly is rigidly secured to the vehicle by a mounting element. the sensors within the assembly may be aligned or arranged relative to a common axis or physical point of the housing. this enables self-referenced calibration of all sensors in the housing. vehicle-level calibration can also be performed between the sensors on the left and right sides of the vehicle. each side view mirror assembly may include a conduit that provides one or more of power, data and cooling to the sensors in the housing.

20240186867.Method of Determining Runout_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)

Inventor(s): Morgan McMahon of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc

IPC Code(s): H02K11/215, G01D5/14, G01D18/00, H02K11/33

Abstract: a method for determining runout error includes generating a first magnetic field to interact with a second magnetic field generated by four or more poles of a magnet ring mounted to a first platform. the interaction may cause the first platform to rotate relative to a second platform. the method may further include receiving, from a magnetic field sensor, data including respective boundaries between neighboring poles of the four or more poles relative to a corresponding nominal boundary defined by substantially uniform boundary spacing. the method may include determining a magnetic field pattern from the data and, based on the pattern, determining an angular position of the four or more poles. the method may further include determining an angular difference between the determined angular position and a nominal angular position. the method may also include determining a runout error based on an amplitude of the angular difference.

Waymo LLC patent applications on June 6th, 2024