Patents Examined by Mark Hellner
  • Patent number: 12146955
    Abstract: A range-information acquiring apparatus includes a light source, an image sensor, a control circuit, and a signal processing circuit. The control circuit causes the light source to emit first light toward a scene and subsequently emit second light toward the scene, the first light having a first spatial distribution, the second light having a second spatial distribution. The control circuit causes at least a portion of plural photodetector elements of the photodetector device to detect first reflected light and second reflected light in the same exposure period, the first reflected light being caused by reflection of the first light from the scene, the second reflected light being caused by reflection of the second light from the scene. The signal processing circuit generates range data based on photodetection data output from the photodetector elements of the photodetector device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yumiko Kato, Satoshi Sato, Yasuhisa Inada, Yoshihide Sawada
  • Patent number: 12140704
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ouster, Inc.
    Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl, Marvin Shu, Eric Younge
  • Patent number: 12140673
    Abstract: A frequency shift light modulator includes a resonator and a diffraction grating including a plurality of grooves arranged in parallel in a displacement direction of the resonator, and the diffraction grating is provided on the resonator. By providing the diffraction grating on the resonator, it is easy to realize miniaturization and increase in accuracy of the frequency shift light modulator. Further, it is easy to realize application to a high frequency region in a MHz band, that is, high frequency modulation. It is possible to efficiently obtain an effect based on a combination of the resonator and the diffraction grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kohei Yamada
  • Patent number: 12130642
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an optical sensor includes (i) a first lens array including a plurality of first lenses, (ii) a photodetector array including a plurality of photodetectors each aligned with a respective one of the plurality of first lenses, and (iii) a plurality of signal-modifying elements each aligned with a respective one of the plurality of first lenses. The plurality of signal-modifying elements includes (a) a first signal-modifying optical element having a first spatially-dependent transmission function, and (b) a second signal-modifying optical element having a second spatially-dependent transmission function differing from the first spatially-dependent transmission function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Ascentia Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward R. Dowski, Gregory Johnson
  • Patent number: 12130361
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) LiDAR systems in which the fields of view of multiple illuminators (e.g., lasers) overlap and/or fields of view of multiple detectors (e.g., photodiodes) overlap. Some embodiments provide for illuminators that transmit substantially white pulse sequences that are substantially uncorrelated with each other so that they can be distinguished from one another when detected by a single detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak Hassibi, Behrooz Rezvani
  • Patent number: 12130384
    Abstract: A multiple FOV optical sensor includes a primary mirror having first and second rings of differing curvature to collect light from an object within different FOV. A secondary mirror includes a MEMS MMA in which the mirrors tip and tilt in 2 DOF or add piston in 3 DOF to (I) reflect light from the first ring within the first FOV that is focused at an imaging plane coincident with an imaging detector to form a focused image of the object at the imaging detector or (II) reflect light from the second ring within the second FOV onto the imaging detector (either focused to form a focused image or defocused to form a blurred spot). The MEMS MMA may be configured to alternate between (I) and (II) or to perform both (I) and (II) at the same time with the different FOV either overlapped or spatially separated on the detector. The sensor may be configured as an all-passive sensor, a dual-mode sensor or a hybrid of the two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Andrew W. Dutton, Gerald P. Uyeno, Sean D. Keller, Eric Rogala
  • Patent number: 12123978
    Abstract: A distance measurement method, a distance measurement sensor, and a distance measurement sensing array, for use in improving the signal-to-noise ratio of a distance measurement system and increasing the distance measurement accuracy and a distance measurement distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: NINGBO ABAX SENSING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shuyu Lei
  • Patent number: 12123950
    Abstract: A laser radar includes: a laser, an optical transmission system, a 1-dimensional array of photo-detectors, an optical reception system, and an electronic control system. The laser emits a wavelength of light, and the optical transmission system shapes the light into a beam, and scans the beam along a fan of transmission light paths toward a target. The photo-detectors are capable of time-of-arrival measurements and are sensitive to the wavelength of light. The optical reception system collects the laser light reflected from the target along a fan of reception light paths. The electronic control system synchronizes the scan of the beam with a respective time-of-arrival measurement from each of the photo-detectors, and analyzes the time-of-arrival measurements. The system is configured for all of the transmission light paths and all of the reception light paths to lie in one plane, with all of the reception light paths intersecting with at least one of the transmission light paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: RED CREAMERY, LLC
    Inventor: Dmitriy Yavid
  • Patent number: 12111289
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for imaging of soft and hard tissues with ultrasound. Such systems and methods can provide for non-contact and quantitative ultrasound images of bone and soft tissue. A method for imaging a biological body segment of soft and hard tissues includes setting geometry and material properties according to a model of the biological body segment to thereby generate a simulated time series data set. The method further includes collecting reflective and transmissive time series data of the biological body segment to thereby form an experimental time series data set and minimizing a difference between the simulated time series data set and the experimental time series data set, thereby imaging the biological body segment. Regularizing travel-time and/or using full waveform tomographic techniques with level set methods enable recovery of cortical bone geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jonathan Randall Fincke, Brian W. Anthony
  • Patent number: 12111396
    Abstract: A device for scanning Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave LiDAR range measurement comprises a light source that produces light having a varying frequency, a splitter that splits the light into reference light and output light, and a distribution matrix (36) that distributes the output light among a plurality of free space couplers that outcouple the output light into free space. A plurality of optical waveguides guide input light that was reflected at an object. A detector detects a superposition of the input light with the reference light, and a calculation unit determines the range to the object from the superposition detected by the detector. The device further comprises a common optical waveguide that is optically connected to the plurality of optical waveguides and the detector so that input light that is guided in any of the optical waveguides propagates through the common optical waveguide towards the detector without passing the distribution matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Scantinel Photonics GmbH
    Inventors: Sandeep Ummethala, Naser Hosseini, Vladimir Davydenko
  • Patent number: 12111420
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for systems and methods for improved LIDAR return light capture efficiency. One example method may include emitting, by an emitter, a first light pulse in a first path. The example method may also include transmitting, by a polarizing beam splitter in the first path and aligned with an aperture of a reflective element, a portion of the first light pulse, wherein the reflective element is disposed of in the first path. The example method may also include reflecting, by a reflective surface of the reflective element, a second light pulse in a second path, the second light pulse including a return pulse based on the first light pulse being reflected from an object. The example method may also include detecting, by a detector, the detector disposed in the second path of the second light pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryan T. Davis, Mohamed S. Seghilani, Richard S. D'Alo
  • Patent number: 12104907
    Abstract: A compact celestial tracker includes a platform, a rotation stage that rotatably coupled to the platform to rotate a plane of the platform about a rotation axis and that supports the platform on a substrate, an off-axis parabolic mirror mounted to one side of the platform and having a focal plane directed at an acute angle that is between the rotation axis and the plane of the platform to reflect and focus the beam at a point above another side of the platform, and a detector coupled to the other side of the platform to receive and detect the reflected and focused beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Joshua Lentz, Kevin Brink
  • Patent number: 12105201
    Abstract: An information processing device includes a server device, wherein a point cloud integrating section acquires point cloud data, and a deviation amount calculating section acquires aerial photograph data with a bird's view on a ground surface from sky. Then, the deviation amount calculating section calculates deviation amounts between absolute positions on the aerial photograph data and absolute positions for point clouds included in the point cloud data, wherein the absolute positions on the aerial photograph data and for point clouds correspond to predetermined reference points and. A trajectory correcting section corrects a travelling trajectory extracted from the point cloud data by a trajectory extracting section, based on the deviation amounts calculated in the deviation amount calculating section, wherein the absolute positions for point clouds in the point cloud data are corrected based on the correction result of the trajectory correcting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsumi Amano, Reiji Matsumoto, Kazuki Oyama, Naoto Norimatsu
  • Patent number: 12099143
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave irradiated by an irradiator (10) is incident on and reflected by a movable reflection unit (20). The control unit (30) controls the irradiator (10) and the movable reflection unit (20). A sensor (40) is disposed at a position through which the electromagnetic wave when an irradiation direction of the electromagnetic wave is moved in a first direction. Then, the control unit (30) executes the following processing in setting a movement range of the movable reflection unit (20). First, a detection value (first detection value) of the sensor (40) when light is irradiated at a first position Sa positioned ahead of the sensor (40) in the first direction is recognized. Next, a detection value (second detection value) of the sensor (40) when light is irradiated at a second position Sb positioned behind the sensor (40) in the first direction is recognized. Then, the movement range of the movable reflection unit (20) is set using the first detection value and the second detection value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Yamamoto, Shogo Miyanabe
  • Patent number: 12092766
    Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to injection locking on-chip laser(s) and external on-chip resonator(s). A system includes a first integrated circuit chip and a second integrated circuit chip. The first integrated circuit chip and the second integrated circuit chip are separate integrated circuit chips and can be optically coupled to each other. The first integrated circuit chip includes a laser configured to emit light via a first path and a second path. The second integrated circuit chip includes a resonator formed of an electrooptic material. The resonator can receive the light emitted by the laser of the first integrated circuit chip via the first path and return feedback light to the laser of the first integrated circuit chip via the first path. The feedback light can cause injection locking of the laser to the resonator to control the light emitted by the laser (e.g., via the first and second paths).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Levy, Ayan Chakrabarty, Vala Fathipour, Karim El Amili
  • Patent number: 12092482
    Abstract: A method for laser distance measuring includes: emitting an incident ray ? having an incident angle ? to a reflective surface of a laser reflecting mirror (31), the incident ray ? being reflected by the laser reflecting mirror (31) to generate a first reflected ray ?, and the first reflected ray ? irradiating an object to be measured (1000); capturing a second reflected ray ? and generating a laser image on a laser imaging plane (3221), the second reflected ray ? being generated by the reflective surface of the laser reflecting mirror (31) reflecting a return ray ? generated after the first reflected ray ? irradiates a surface of the object to be measured; and determining, based on the laser image, a measurement distance A according to a geometrical trigonometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: SHANGHAI RUIYU BIOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaojia Zhang, Puwen Luo, Yifei Wu
  • Patent number: 12085671
    Abstract: A distance detector 10 includes a light projecting unit 100 which projects light toward a target body, a light receiving unit 200 which receives a reflected light from the target body, a time detection unit 310 which detects a light receiving time from the projecting of measuring light by the light projecting unit 100 to the receiving of the reflected light by the light receiving unit 200, a calculation unit 320 which calculates the distance to the target body based on a detection result of the light receiving time by the time detection unit 310, and an evaluation unit 340 which evaluates the reliability of a calculation result of the distance to the target body by the calculation unit 320 based on a deviation of the distance corresponding to the calculation result from a reference value regarding the distance to the target body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignees: NIKON VISION CO., LTD., NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehito Nonomura, Takeshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 12085651
    Abstract: A LIDAR assembly defining a horizontal axis and a vertical axis is provided. The LIDAR assembly includes a LIDAR unit. The LIDAR unit includes a housing defining a cavity. The LIDAR unit further includes a first plurality of emitters disposed within the cavity and a second plurality of emitters disposed within the cavity. Each of the first plurality of emitters is configured to emit a first laser beam at a first wavelength. Conversely, each of the second plurality of emitters is configured to emit a second laser beam at a second wavelength that is different than the first wavelength. The LIDAR assembly includes an optic positioned outside of the housing. The optic is configured to optically act on the first laser beam and the second laser beam in a different manner to widen a field of view of the LIDAR unit along the vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Bryan Borden, James Allen Haslim
  • Patent number: 12085647
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for occlusion detection. One example method involves a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device scanning at least a portion of an external structure within a field-of-view (FOV) of the LIDAR device. The LIDAR device is physically coupled to the external structure. The scanning comprises transmitting light pulses toward the external structure through an optical window, and receiving reflected light pulses through the optical window. The reflected light pulses comprise reflections of the transmitted light pulses returning back to the LIDAR device from the external structure. The method also involves detecting presence of an occlusion that at least partially occludes the LIDAR device from scanning the FOV based on at least the scan of the at least portion of the external structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Paul Karplus, Blaise Gassend, Nicholas Armstrong-Crews, Scott McCloskey
  • Patent number: 12085674
    Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device includes a first wafer layer, a laser assembly disposed on the first wafer layer, a capping layer, a second wafer layer, and a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). The capping layer is coupled to the first wafer layer and configured to seal the laser assembly. The second wafer layer is at least partially coupled to the first wafer layer. The PIC is formed on the second wafer layer. The second wafer includes an exit feature configured to outcouple laser light from the laser assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Sen Lin, Andrew Steil Michaels