Patents by Inventor Kevin Mark Karol

Kevin Mark Karol has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11912233
    Abstract: A door interface system for a vehicle door includes a sensor and a visual indicator. The sensor may be a proximity sensor and may be positioned proximate to the visual indicator such that it will detect an object proximate to the proximity sensor. The visual indicator may convey the position of the sensor and/or a status of the vehicle door. The door interface system is configured to control the vehicle door based at least in part on detecting an object proximate the visual indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ZOOX, INC.
    Inventors: Auver Cedric Austria, Amy Chong, Andrew Allen Haskin, Kevin Mark Karol, Michael Moshe Kohen, Ishan Sain, Jingyi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11733960
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system may implement techniques to emit warning sounds from a vehicle to notify other entities in an environment with the vehicle of the vehicle operation. A vehicle computing system may be configured to emit warning sounds based on a speed associated with the vehicle. The vehicle computing system may determine a planned vehicle trajectory and that a speed corresponding to the planned vehicle trajectory is associated with the warning sound emission. The vehicle computing system may determine a time that the vehicle will be at the speed and may emit the warning sound substantially at the time. In some examples, the vehicle computing system may emit a different sound prior to the time and may transition to the warning sound associated with the speed at the time. By warning other entities of the vehicle operation, the warning sound emission system may improve the safety of vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Mark Karol, Andrew E. Beller, Jacob Avi Harper, Turhan Karadeniz, George Dalman Nelson, III, Lowell Ray Pickett, Shaminda Subasingha
  • Patent number: 11624228
    Abstract: A door interface system for a vehicle door includes a sensor and a visual indicator. The sensor may be a proximity sensor and may be positioned proximate to the visual indicator such that it will detect an object proximate to the proximity sensor. The visual indicator may convey the position of the sensor and/or a status of the vehicle door. The door interface system is configured to control the vehicle door based at least in part on detecting an object proximate the visual indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Auver Cedric Austria, Amy Chong, Andrew Allen Haskin, Kevin Mark Karol, Michael Moshe Kohen, Ishan Sain, Jingyi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11104269
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system may implement techniques to dynamically modify warning signals from a vehicle to ensure that an object (e.g., dynamic object) is notified of the vehicle operation. A vehicle computing system may emit a first warning signal including an audio and/or visual signal and may detect an object reaction to the first warning signal. Based on a determination that the object reaction does not substantially alter the ability for the vehicle to overcome the object, the vehicle computing system may modify a frequency, volume, luminosity, color, shape, motion, etc. of the first warning signal to emit a second warning signal. The vehicle computing system may continually modify warning signals until the object reacts according to an expected reaction or becomes irrelevant to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Mark Karol
  • Patent number: 11027648
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system may implement techniques to dynamically adjust a volume and/or frequency of a sound emitted from a vehicle to warn an object (e.g., dynamic object) of a potential conflict with the vehicle. The techniques may include determining a baseline noise level and/or frequencies proximate to the object. The baseline noise level and/or frequencies may be determined based on an identification of one or more noise generating objects in the environment. The vehicle computing system may determine the volume and/or a frequency of the sound based in part on the baseline noise level and/or frequencies, an urgency of the warning, a probability of conflict between the vehicle and the object, a speed of the object, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Avi Harper, Kevin Mark Karol, Michael Moshe Kohen, Forrest Leighton Merrill, Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Jeremy Yi-Xiong Yang
  • Publication number: 20210114514
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system may implement techniques to dynamically modify warning signals from a vehicle to ensure that an object (e.g., dynamic object) is notified of the vehicle operation. A vehicle computing system may emit a first warning signal including an audio and/or visual signal and may detect an object reaction to the first warning signal. Based on a determination that the object reaction does not substantially alter the ability for the vehicle to overcome the object, the vehicle computing system may modify a frequency, volume, luminosity, color, shape, motion, etc. of the first warning signal to emit a second warning signal. The vehicle computing system may continually modify warning signals until the object reacts according to an expected reaction or becomes irrelevant to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventor: Kevin Mark Karol
  • Publication number: 20200156538
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system may implement techniques to dynamically adjust a volume and/or frequency of a sound emitted from a vehicle to warn an object (e.g., dynamic object) of a potential conflict with the vehicle. The techniques may include determining a baseline noise level and/or frequencies proximate to the object. The baseline noise level and/or frequencies may be determined based on an identification of one or more noise generating objects in the environment. The vehicle computing system may determine the volume and/or a frequency of the sound based in part on the baseline noise level and/or frequencies, an urgency of the warning, a probability of conflict between the vehicle and the object, a speed of the object, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Jacob Avi Harper, Kevin Mark Karol, Michael Moshe Kohen, Forrest Leighton Merrill, Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Jeremy Yi-Xiong Yang