Patents Assigned to Ouster, Inc.
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Publication number: 20210333371Abstract: A LIDAR system can automatically determine, based on analysis of data collected from the sensor channels during operation, whether fog is present. If fog is present, the LIDAR system can operate in a fog mode, and if fog is not present, the LIDAR system can operate in a “clear-air” mode. The two modes can differ from each other with respect to the emitter signals and/or the signal processing applied to the sensor data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: Ouster, Inc.Inventor: Angus Pacala
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Patent number: 11150347Abstract: Embodiments describe optical imagers that include one or more micro-optic components. Some imagers can be passive imagers that include a light detection system for receiving ambient light from a field. Some imagers can be active imagers that include a light emission system in addition to the light detection system. The light emission system can be configured to emit light into the field such that emitted light is reflected off surfaces of an object in the field and received by the light detection system. In some embodiments, the light detection system and/or the light emission system includes micro-optic components for improving operational performance.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2018Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: OUSTER, INC.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl
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Publication number: 20210318434Abstract: Embodiments describe a solid state electronic scanning LIDAR system that includes a scanning focal plane transmitting element and a scanning focal plane receiving element whose operations are synchronized so that the firing sequence of an emitter array in the transmitting element corresponds to a capturing sequence of a photosensor array in the receiving element. During operation, the emitter array can sequentially fire one or more light emitters into a scene and the reflected light can be received by a corresponding set of one or more photosensors through an aperture layer positioned in front of the photosensors. Each light emitter can correspond with an aperture in the aperture layer, and each aperture can correspond to a photosensor in the receiving element such that each light emitter corresponds with a specific photosensor in the receiving element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Applicant: Ouster, Inc.Inventors: Angus PACALA, Mark FRICHTL
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Publication number: 20210306609Abstract: An optical system for collecting distance information within a field is provided. The optical system may include lenses for collecting photons from a field and may include lenses for distributing photons to a field. The optical system may include lenses that collimate photons passed by an aperture, optical filters that reject normally incident light outside of the operating wavelength, and pixels that detect incident photons. The optical system may further include illumination sources that output photons at an operating wavelength.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Applicant: Ouster, Inc.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl
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Patent number: 11131773Abstract: Embodiments describe optical imagers that include one or more micro-optic components. Some imagers can be passive imagers that include a light detection system for receiving ambient light from a field. Some imagers can be active imagers that include a light emission system in addition to the light detection system. The light emission system can be configured to emit light into the field such that emitted light is reflected off surfaces of an object in the field and received by the light detection system. In some embodiments, the light detection system and/or the light emission system includes micro-optic components for improving operational performance.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2018Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Ouster, Inc.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl
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Publication number: 20210278506Abstract: A light ranging system including a shaft; a first circuit board assembly that includes a stator assembly comprising a plurality of stator elements arranged about the shaft on a surface of the first circuit board assembly; a second circuit board assembly rotationally coupled to the shaft, wherein the second circuit board assembly includes a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor elements arranged about the shaft on a surface of the second circuit board assembly such that the plurality of rotor elements are aligned with and spaced apart from the plurality of stator elements; a stator driver circuit disposed on either the second or the first circuit board assemblies and configured to provide a drive signal to the plurality of stator elements, thereby imparting an electromagnetic force on the plurality of rotor elements to drive a rotation of the second circuit board assembly about the shaft; and a light ranging device mechanically coupled to the second circuit board assembly such that the light ranging dType: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Applicant: Ouster, Inc.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl, Marvin Shu, Eric Younge
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Publication number: 20210278505Abstract: A light ranging system including a shaft; a first circuit board assembly that includes a stator assembly comprising a plurality of stator elements arranged about the shaft on a surface of the first circuit board assembly; a second circuit board assembly rotationally coupled to the shaft, wherein the second circuit board assembly includes a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor elements arranged about the shaft on a surface of the second circuit board assembly such that the plurality of rotor elements are aligned with and spaced apart from the plurality of stator elements; a stator driver circuit disposed on either the second or the first circuit board assemblies and configured to provide a drive signal to the plurality of stator elements, thereby imparting an electromagnetic force on the plurality of rotor elements to drive a rotation of the second circuit board assembly about the shaft; and a light ranging device mechanically coupled to the second circuit board assembly such that the light ranging dType: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Applicant: Ouster, Inc.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl, Marvin Shu, Eric Younge
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Publication number: 20210274148Abstract: An optical system for collecting distance information within a field is provided. The optical system may include lenses for collecting photons from a field and may include lenses for distributing photons to a field. The optical system may include lenses that collimate photons passed by an aperture, optical filters that reject normally incident light outside of the operating wavelength, and pixels that detect incident photons. The optical system may further include illumination sources that output photons at an operating wavelength.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Applicant: Ouster, Inc.Inventors: Angus PACALA, Mark FRICHTL
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Patent number: 11105925Abstract: A light ranging system can include a laser device and an imaging device having photosensors. The laser device illuminates a scene with laser pulse radiation that reflects off of objects in the scene. The reflections can vary greatly depending on the reflecting surface shape and reflectivity. The signal measured by photosensors can be filtered with a number of matched filter designed according to profiles of different reflected signals. A best matched filter can be identified, and hence information about the reflecting surface and accurate ranging information can be obtained. The laser pulse radiation can be emitted in coded pulses by allowing weights to different detection intervals. Other enhancements include staggering laser pulses and changing an operational status of photodetectors of a pixel sensor, as well as efficient signal processing using a sensor chip that includes processing circuits and photosensors.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2018Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: OUSTER, INC.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl
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Publication number: 20210255281Abstract: Optical systems and methods for collecting distance information are disclosed. An example optical system includes a first transmitting optic, a plurality of illumination sources, a pixel array comprising at least a first column of pixels and a second column of pixels, each pixel in the first column of pixels being offset from an adjacent pixel in the first column of pixels by a first pixel pitch, the second column of pixels being horizontally offset from the first column of pixels by the first pixel pitch, the second column of pixels being vertically offset from the first column of pixels by a first vertical pitch; and a set of input channels interposed between the first transmitting optic and the pixel array.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicant: Ouster, Inc.Inventors: Angus PACALA, Mark FRICHTL, Marvin SHU, Eric YOUNGE
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Patent number: 11086013Abstract: Embodiments describe optical imagers that include one or more micro-optic components. Some imagers can be passive imagers that include a light detection system for receiving ambient light from a field. Some imagers can be active imagers that include a light emission system in addition to the light detection system. The light emission system can be configured to emit light into the field such that emitted light is reflected off surfaces of an object in the field and received by the light detection system. In some embodiments, the light detection system and/or the light emission system includes micro-optic components for improving operational performance.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: OUSTER, INC.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl
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Patent number: 11025885Abstract: An optical system for collecting distance information within a field is provided. The optical system may include lenses for collecting photons from a field and may include lenses for distributing photons to a field. The optical system may include lenses that collimate photons passed by an aperture, optical filters that reject normally incident light outside of the operating wavelength, and pixels that detect incident photons. The optical system may further include illumination sources that output photons at an operating wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: OUSTER, INC.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl
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Patent number: 11016193Abstract: Embodiments describe a solid state electronic scanning LIDAR system that includes a scanning focal plane transmitting element and a scanning focal plane receiving element whose operations are synchronized so that the firing sequence of an emitter array in the transmitting element corresponds to a capturing sequence of a photosensor array in the receiving element. During operation, the emitter array can sequentially fire one or more light emitters into a scene and the reflected light can be received by a corresponding set of one or more photosensors through an aperture layer positioned in front of the photosensors. Each light emitter can correspond with an aperture in the aperture layer, and each aperture can correspond to a photosensor in the receiving element such that each light emitter corresponds with a specific photosensor in the receiving element.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: OUSTER, INC.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl
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Patent number: 11016192Abstract: Embodiments describe a solid state electronic scanning LIDAR system that includes a scanning focal plane transmitting element and a scanning focal plane receiving element whose operations are synchronized so that the firing sequence of an emitter array in the transmitting element corresponds to a capturing sequence of a photosensor array in the receiving element. During operation, the emitter array can sequentially fire one or more light emitters into a scene and the reflected light can be received by a corresponding set of one or more photosensors through an aperture layer positioned in front of the photosensors. Each light emitter can correspond with an aperture in the aperture layer, and each aperture can correspond to a photosensor in the receiving element such that each light emitter corresponds with a specific photosensor in the receiving element.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: OUSTER, INC.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl
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Patent number: 10969490Abstract: A light ranging system including a housing; a shaft defining an axis of rotation; a first circuit board assembly disposed within and coupled to the housing in a fixed relationship such that the first circuit board assembly is aligned along a first plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the first circuit board assembly including a plurality of first circuit elements disposed on a first circuit board; a second circuit board assembly spaced apart from the first circuit board assembly within the housing in a second plane parallel to the first plane and rotationally coupled to the shaft such that the second circuit board assembly rotates about the axis of rotation, the second circuit board assembly including a plurality of second circuit elements disposed on a second circuit board and aligned with and configured to function in wireless cooperation with at least one of the first plurality of circuit elements; and a light ranging device electrically connected to and coupled to rotate with the second circuit boType: GrantFiled: December 4, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: OUSTER, INC.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl, Marvin Shu, Eric Younge
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Patent number: 10948572Abstract: Optical systems and methods for collecting distance information are disclosed. An example optical system includes a first transmitting optic, a plurality of illumination sources, a pixel array comprising at least a first column of pixels and a second column of pixels, each pixel in the first column of pixels being offset from an adjacent pixel in the first column of pixels by a first pixel pitch, the second column of pixels being horizontally offset from the first column of pixels by the first pixel pitch, the second column of pixels being vertically offset from the first column of pixels by a first vertical pitch; and a set of input channels interposed between the first transmitting optic and the pixel array.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: OUSTER, INC.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl, Marvin Shu, Eric Younge
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Patent number: 10884126Abstract: A light ranging system can include a laser device and an imaging device having photosensors. The laser device illuminates a scene with laser pulse radiation that reflects off of objects in the scene. The reflections can vary greatly depending on the reflecting surface shape and reflectivity. The signal measured by photosensors can be filtered with a number of matched filter designed according to profiles of different reflected signals. A best matched filter can be identified, and hence information about the reflecting surface and accurate ranging information can be obtained. The laser pulse radiation can be emitted in coded pulses by allowing weights to different detection intervals. Other enhancements include staggering laser pulses and changing an operational status of photodetectors of a pixel sensor, as well as efficient signal processing using a sensor chip that includes processing circuits and photosensors.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2018Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Ouster, Inc.Inventors: Marvin Shu, Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl
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Patent number: 10859682Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided for calibrating a light ranging system and using the system to track environmental objects. In embodiments, the approach involves installing light ranging devices, such as lidar devices, on the vehicle exterior. The light ranging system may be calibrated using a calibration device to scan the vehicle exterior and construct a three-dimensional model of the vehicle exterior comprising the positions of the installed light ranging devices on the vehicle exterior. The calibrated light ranging system may use the model in conjunction with ranging data collected by the installed light ranging devices to track objects in the environment. In this way, the light ranging system may detect a proximity of environmental objects and help a driver of the vehicle avoid potential collisions. The light ranging system may further measure the vehicle exterior and thereby detect changes to the vehicle exterior.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Ouster, Inc.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Dmitri Garbuzov, Daniel Lu
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Patent number: 10830892Abstract: A light ranging system including a housing; a shaft defining an axis of rotation; a first circuit board assembly disposed within and coupled to the housing in a fixed relationship such that the first circuit board assembly is aligned along a first plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the first circuit board assembly including a plurality of first circuit elements disposed on a first circuit board; a second circuit board assembly spaced apart from the first circuit board assembly within the housing in a second plane parallel to the first plane and rotationally coupled to the shaft such that the second circuit board assembly rotates about the axis of rotation, the second circuit board assembly including a plurality of second circuit elements disposed on a second circuit board and aligned with and configured to function in wireless cooperation with at least one of the first plurality of circuit elements; and a light ranging device electrically connected to and coupled to rotate with the second circuit boType: GrantFiled: December 4, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: OUSTER, INC.Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl, Marvin Shu, Eric Younge
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Patent number: 10830888Abstract: A light ranging system can include a laser device and an imaging device having photosensors. The laser device illuminates a scene with laser pulse radiation that reflects off of objects in the scene. The reflections can vary greatly depending on the reflecting surface shape and reflectivity. The signal measured by photosensors can be filtered with a number of matched filter designed according to profiles of different reflected signals. A best matched filter can be identified, and hence information about the reflecting surface and accurate ranging information can be obtained. The laser pulse radiation can be emitted in coded pulses by allowing weights to different detection intervals. Other enhancements include staggering laser pulses and changing an operational status of photodetectors of a pixel sensor, as well as efficient signal processing using a sensor chip that includes processing circuits and photosensors.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Ouster, Inc.Inventors: Marvin Shu, Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl