Patents Examined by Sanjida Naser
  • Patent number: 12360245
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a system that includes a light source to produce a first beam, a diffraction optical element (DOE) to generate, based on the first beam configured to have a first phase information, one or more second beams. The system further includes a DOE control module to configure the DOE, for each of a plurality of times, into a respective one of a plurality of DOE configurations, and cause each of the one or more second beams to have a phase information that is different from a phase information of the first beam, wherein the phase information of each of the one or more second beams is determined by a time sequence of the plurality of DOE configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Chase Salsbury
  • Patent number: 12339405
    Abstract: A laser radar-camera online calibration method and system based on a reflectance map includes: data preprocessing, generating data that meets the input of the neural network part; inputting the preprocessed data into the trained neural network; the neural network will output the edge point features of the reference image and the reflectance map, that is, the reference image and the reflectance map descriptor; by comparing the similarity of the reference image and the reflectance map descriptor, find the matching relationship between the reference image feature and the reflectance map feature point; use the mapping relationship between the reflectance map and the 3D point cloud to find the matching relationship between the reference image and the point cloud; use the EPnP algorithm to estimate the transformation matrix from the given 2D-3D point pair to complete the calibration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: SHANDONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hui Yuan, Yuanchao Yue, Qinglong Miao, Hongji Xu, Qi Jiang
  • Patent number: 12326524
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a LiDAR device and its ranging adjustment method. The ranging adjustment method involves first calibrating the echo intensities at different pixel positions in receiving units of the LiDAR device and then determining the corresponding correction coefficients. Based on these correction coefficients, the method corrects the intensity data output by the pixels at different positions, ensuring consistency in the intensity data output by the corresponding pixels of the same receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: SUTENG INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Changsheng Gong
  • Patent number: 12313777
    Abstract: A distance measuring device applies laser light to a distance measurement region and measures a distance to an object that exists in the distance measurement region. The distance measuring device includes: a condensing lens configured to condense reflected light, of the laser light, reflected by the object; a tubular adjustment member disposed at a stage subsequent to the condensing lens and having a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface formed on an inner surface on which the reflected light condensed by the condensing lens is incident, a tilt angle of the second reflecting surface relative to an optical axis of the condensing lens being different from that of the first reflecting surface; and a photodetector configured to receive the reflected light that has traveled through the adjustment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Ide
  • Patent number: 12313788
    Abstract: LiDAR system and methods discussed herein use ultrafast light pulses. Use of ultrafast light pulses can result in reduced power consumption compared to longer length or conventional light pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: SEYOND, INC.
    Inventors: Rui Zhang, Yimin Li, Junwei Bao
  • Patent number: 12313789
    Abstract: A time of flight range detection device includes a laser configured to transmit an optical pulse into an image scene, a return single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array, a reference SPAD array, a range detection circuit coupled to the return SPAD array and the reference SPAD array, and a laser driver circuit. The range detection circuit in operation determines a distance to an object based on signals from the return SPAD array and the reference SPAD array. The laser driver circuit in operation varies an output power level of the laser in response to the determined distance to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaoyong Yang, Rui Xiao, Arnaud Deleule
  • Patent number: 12298399
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system comprises: a light source configured to generate a pulse signal from the LiDAR system; one or more mirrors configured to steer a returned light pulse associated with the transmitted pulse signal along an optical receive path; a field lens positioned along the optical receive path, wherein the field lens is configured to redirect the returned light pulse; a fiber having a receiving end configured to receive the returned light pulse from the field lens along the optical receive path; and a light detector configured to receive the returned light pulse from an end of the fiber opposite the receiving end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: SEYOND, INC.
    Inventors: Jim Li, Yimin Li, Junwei Bao
  • Patent number: 12298435
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide optical sensing systems, optical sensing methods, and integrated transmitter/receiver (TX/RX) modules. An exemplary optical sensing system includes an integrated TX/RX module and a controller coupled to the integrated TX/RX module. The integrated TX/RX module includes a laser emitter, one or more optics, and a receiver frontend. The laser emitter is configured to emit an optical signal toward the one or more optics. The one or more optics are configured to form the optical signal received from the laser emitter into a predefined shape and direct the optical signal having the predefined shape to an environment surrounding the optical sensing system. The receiver frontend is configured to receive a returned optical signal from the environment and convert the returned optical signal into an electrical signal. The laser emitter, the one or more optics, and the receiver frontend are assembled in a single package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yue Lu, Youmin Wang
  • Patent number: 12270941
    Abstract: A light detection and ranging system is provided using a first electromagnetic radiation of a first emitting structure as local oscillator signal for a second electromagnetic radiation received from the outside of the light detection and ranging system, wherein the first and second electromagnetic radiations are coherent and the resulting signal is detected by a detecting structure. The resulting signal corresponds to an information of a target at the outside of the light detection and ranging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: George Rakuljic
  • Patent number: 12265178
    Abstract: A lidar, and an anti-interference method therefor, may modulate a transmitting time of the lidar by injecting random time jitter at a time interval in a sequence of the transmitting time, and cause the lidar to transmit a laser pulse according to a modulated transmitting time. When an echo received by the lidar includes an expected echo of the local lidar and an unexpected echo from other lidars, because the transmitting time and the expected receiving time of the echo are correlated, injecting random time jitter in the transmitting time of the lidar may disrupt the correlation between the transmitting time of the local lidar and the transmitting time of other lidars. Thus, when a plurality of lasers are used together in one scenario and cause crosstalk, the anti-interference method for the lidar above can be used to fight against crosstalk to some extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: SUTENG INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shaodong Yang
  • Patent number: 12228682
    Abstract: A system including an optical scanner to transmit an optical beam towards an object. The system includes a first optical element to receive a returned reflection having a lag angle; and direct the returned reflection to generate a first directed beam. The system includes a beam directing unit to receive the first directed beam; and direct, based on a first array voltage, the first directed beam to generate a second directed beam at a first location on a different optical element. The beam directing unit to direct, based on a second array voltage, the second steered beam from the first location on the different optical element to a second location on the different optical element to compensate for the lag angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Aeva, Inc.
    Inventor: Shijun Xiao
  • Patent number: 12222456
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an optical sensing system, a method for controlling a receiver gain in the optical sensing system, and a receiver in the optical sensing system. The exemplary optical sensing system includes a transmitter configured to emit light beams at a plurality of vertical detection angles to scan an object. The optical sensing system further includes a receiver having a detector configured to detect the light beams returned by the object. The optical sensing system also includes a controller configured to dynamically vary a gain of the detector for detecting the light beams of the respective vertical detection angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU WOYA LAIDELING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yue Lu, Vipul Chawla, Youmin Wang
  • Patent number: 12210122
    Abstract: A scanning system includes a transmitter, a scanning structure, and a controller. The transmitter is configured to transmit a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light beam that includes a plurality of frequency ramps including up-chirps and down-chirps that are matched into up-down chirp pairs. The scanning structure is configured to oscillate about a scanning axis such that a deflection angle of the scanning structure continuously varies over time in an angular range between two maximum deflection angles. The controller is configured to segment the angular range into a plurality of sub-angular ranges and assign each up-down chirp pair to a different sub-angular range of the plurality of sub-angular ranges. Each up-down chirp pair includes an up-chirp transmitted in an assigned sub-angular range during a first scanning movement of the scanning structure and a down-chirp transmitted in the assigned sub-angular range during a second scanning movement of the scanning structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Norbert Druml
  • Patent number: 12204027
    Abstract: A distance measuring device is disclosed that includes a controller operably coupled with a receiver to receive different amplification channels. The controller includes a time of flight core configured to determine time of flight information for the light pulse; and a decider block configured to determine a measurement correction value for the device based on a determination of a presence of a reflective background that is different than a measurement correction value selected for the device when there exists a diffuse background or an absence of a background into a reading field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Datalogic IP Tech S.r.l.
    Inventors: Salvatore Valerio Cani, Enrico Lorenzoni, Lorenzo Girotti
  • Patent number: 12181576
    Abstract: A time-of-flight based distance measuring method and a time-of-flight based distance measuring system are provided. The distance measuring method includes: sending N consecutive pulses from a transmitter side intermittently, N being a positive integer greater than one, wherein the N consecutive pulses are reflected by a target object, and a reflection signal is generated accordingly, during arrival of the reflected signal at a receiver side, sampling the reflected signal multiple times according to a predetermined sampling interval within a predetermined sampling duration and accordingly generating a sampling result; detecting time of flight of a single pulse of the N consecutive pulses traveling from the transmitter side to the receiver side according to the sampling result; and measuring a distance between the target object and a reference position according to the time of flight. The distance measuring method maintains good measurement quality, measures the distance rapidly, and consumes low power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Meng-Ta Yang
  • Patent number: 12153168
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system. In an example, the LiDAR system includes a laser source, a scanner, a beam deflecting unit, and a controller. The laser source is configured to emit a laser beam towards an object. The scanner is configured to receive a returned laser beam from the object, and deflect the returned laser beam towards a beam deflecting unit to form a first laser beam traveling along a first direction. The first direction deviates from a reference direction by a deviation angle. The beam deflecting unit is configured to receive the first laser beam, and deflect the first laser beam to form a second laser beam towards a photosensor. The controller is configured to dynamically control a deflection angle of the beam deflecting unit to cause the second laser beam to be deflected towards the photosensor to compensate the deviation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chao Wang, Wenbin Zhu, Yonghong Guo, Lingkai Kong
  • Patent number: 12145671
    Abstract: A LiDAR system is provided. The LiDAR system includes a first data transmission apparatus, a second data transmission apparatus, a rotator, and a central shaft. The first data transmission apparatus and the second data transmission apparatus are located in the LiDAR system. The rotator is connected with the central shaft through a bearing, the rotator is connected to a bearing rotor, and the central shaft is connected to a bearing stator. The first data transmission apparatus includes a first optical module and a second optical module. The second data transmission apparatus includes a third optical module, a coupling optical system, and a fourth optical module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: SUTENG INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dinglong Ma
  • Patent number: 12140676
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to imaging LiDARs with optical antennas fed by optical waveguides. The optical antennas can be activated through an optical switch network that connects the optical antennas to a laser source to a receiver. A microlens array is positioned between a lens of the LiDAR system and the optical antennas, the microlens array being positioned so as to transform an emission angle from a corresponding optical antenna to match a chief ray angle of the lens. Methods of use and fabrication are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: nEye Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Joon Seok, Xiaosheng Zhang, Kyungmok Kwon, Ming Chiang A. Wu
  • Patent number: 12130363
    Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a laser source and a polygon scanner. The laser source is configured to generate a first beam. The polygon scanner includes a frame and a plurality of mirrors coupled to the frame, each mirror comprising a glass material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Anthony Buoniconti, IV, Yonggang Ha, Zhongjie Li, Cal Alden Smith
  • Patent number: 12117568
    Abstract: A laser radar device of the present invention includes: an optical oscillator oscillating laser light; an optical modulator modulating the laser light oscillated by the optical oscillator; an optical antenna radiating the laser light modulated by the optical modulator to an atmosphere, and receiving scattered light from a radiation target as received light; an optical receiver performing heterodyne detection on the received light received by the optical antenna; and a signal processor calculating for a range bin a spectrum of a received signal obtained by the heterodyne detection by the optical receiver, calculating a signal to noise ratio of the range bin, and integrating the spectrum of the range bin and spectra of one or more range bins adjacent to the range bin when the signal to noise ratio is less than or equal to a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuki Kotake, Yutaka Kajiyama