Patents by Inventor Benjamin Isaac

Benjamin Isaac 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: 11385642
    Abstract: Techniques relating to training a model for detecting that a vehicle is likely to perform a cut-in maneuver are described. Computing device(s) can receive log data associated with vehicles in an environment and can detect an event in the log data, wherein an event corresponds to a cut-in maneuver performed by a vehicle. In an example, the computing device(s) can generate training data based at least in part on converting a portion of the log data that corresponds to the event into a top-down representation of the environment and inputting the training data into a model, wherein the model is trained to output an indication of whether another vehicle is likely to perform another cut-in maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Haggblade, Benjamin Isaac Mattinson
  • Patent number: 11347228
    Abstract: Techniques are discussed for controlling a vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle, based on occluded areas in an environment. An occluded area can represent areas where sensors of the vehicle are unable to sense portions of the environment due to obstruction by another object. An occlusion grid representing the occluded area can be stored as map data or can be dynamically generated. An occlusion grid can include occlusion fields, which represent discrete two- or three-dimensional areas of driveable environment. An occlusion field can indicate an occlusion state and an occupancy state, determined using LIDAR data and/or image data captured by the vehicle. An occupancy state of an occlusion field can be determined by ray casting LIDAR data or by projecting an occlusion field into segmented image data. The vehicle can be controlled to traverse the environment when a sufficient portion of the occlusion grid is visible and unoccupied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: William Anthony Silva, Dragomir Dimitrov Anguelov, Benjamin Isaac Zwiebel, Juhana Kangaspunta
  • Publication number: 20220136269
    Abstract: An inlet mixer system for a gas heater includes a housing in fluid communication with an inlet of a combustion blower, and first and second mixer inserts, each removably positionable within the housing. Each mixer insert includes a body defining a mixing chamber, an air intake, and a plurality of orifices disposed radially about the body and extending through the body, which provide respective volumetric flow rates of a fuel gas. When the first mixer insert is positioned within the housing, the inlet mixer system is configured for use with a first fuel gas, and when the second mixer insert is positioned within the housing, the inlet mixer system is configured for use with a second fuel gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William Julian Roy, Benjamin Isaac Corn
  • Publication number: 20220135157
    Abstract: Track pad includes a first link member that extends upwardly from the shoe member including a first lug member extending from the first link member in a first direction, as well as a second lug member and a third lug member both extending from the first link member in a second direction opposite of the first direction. The track pad also defines a first side cavity that extends from the first lateral end toward the second lateral end, jogging from the front end toward the rear end along the track chain traveling direction, and downwardly toward the ground engaging surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Isaac Jones
  • Publication number: 20220127870
    Abstract: Swimming pool or spa gas heaters, cabinets, water header manifolds, and heat exchangers include: gas heaters having an air gap between a cabinet and combustion chamber to reduce heat transfer to sides of the cabinet; gas heaters having a user interface that is repositionable on a top panel; gas heater cabinets including a removable top panel that can be hung on a side panel; gas heaters having a built-in dual junction box; gas heaters having a top-accessible igniter and burner that are interlocked to maintain positioning thereof; adaptable water manifolds including connectable inlet and outlet fittings that adjust effective inlet and outlet positions; heat exchangers having a plurality of tube-and-fin subassemblies arranged in a semi-circular configuration; and water manifolds including internal cartridges that divide the water manifold into a plurality of chambers for improved circulation through a heat exchanger are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Isaac Corn, Michael Damion Mercer, Vance Elliot Willis
  • Publication number: 20220119051
    Abstract: A swage tool includes a plurality of swage projections that each defines an angular circumferential extent, and the sum of each of these angular circumferential extents is at least 290 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Isaac Jones, Stan Robert Parrott, Allen J. Weeks, George H. Meiner, IV, Scott A. Hudson
  • Patent number: 11254887
    Abstract: An oxidation-reduction desulfurization system includes a reactor vessel with sour gas inlet at the bottom and a gas outlet at the top. A primary stage phase separator includes a vertically-oriented pipe with an inlet located inside the reactor vessel. The ratio of the reactor vessel diameter to the pipe inlet diameter is in a range of 2:1 to 5:1. Surface foam and non-gaseous multi-phase mixture including emulsion flow into a partially gas-filled upper section of the vertically-oriented pipe and freefall to a lower level, thereby facilitating mechanical breaking of the foam and the emulsion. A secondary stage phase separator connected to the gas outlet separates non-gaseous surge from sweet gas. Valves and a controller automatically maintain target levels of the non-gaseous multi-phase mixture and non-gaseous surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: STREAMLINE INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter J Photos, Franklin Hailey Brown, II, David Sisk, Benjamin Isaac Tyler, Michael A Pue
  • Patent number: 11225807
    Abstract: Swimming pool or spa gas heaters, cabinets, water header manifolds, and heat exchangers include: gas heaters having an air gap between a cabinet and combustion chamber to reduce heat transfer to sides of the cabinet; gas heaters having a user interface that is repositionable on a top panel; gas heater cabinets including a removable top panel that can be hung on a side panel; gas heaters having a built-in dual junction box; gas heaters having a top-accessible igniter and burner that are interlocked to maintain positioning thereof; adaptable water manifolds including connectable inlet and outlet fittings that adjust effective inlet and outlet positions; heat exchangers having a plurality of tube-and-fin subassemblies arranged in a semi-circular configuration; and water manifolds including internal cartridges that divide the water manifold into a plurality of chambers for improved circulation through a heat exchanger are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Isaac Corn, Michael Damion Mercer, Norman Gregory Beaty, Vance Elliot Willis, William Julian Roy
  • Publication number: 20210347383
    Abstract: Techniques to predict object behavior in an environment are discussed herein. For example, such techniques may include determining a trajectory of the object, determining an intent of the trajectory, and sending the trajectory and the intent to a vehicle computing system to control an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle computing system may implement a machine learned model to process data such as sensor data and map data. The machine learned model can associate different intentions of an object in an environment with different trajectories. A vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle, can be controlled to traverse an environment based on object's intentions and trajectories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth Michael Siebert, Gowtham Garimella, Benjamin Isaac Mattinson, Samir Parikh, Kai Zhenyu Wang
  • Publication number: 20210269065
    Abstract: Techniques relating to detecting that a vehicle is likely to enter a lane region in front of another vehicle is described. In an example, computing device(s) onboard a first vehicle can receive sensor data associated with an environment of the first vehicle. Based at least in part on an attribute determined from the sensor data, the computing device(s) can determine that a second vehicle proximate the first vehicle is predicted to enter a lane region in front of the first vehicle from a different direction of travel (e.g., by performing a u-turn, n-point turn, exiting a parting spot or driveway, etc.). In an example, the computing device(s) can determine an instruction for controlling the first vehicle based at least in part on the determining that the second vehicle is predicted to enter the lane region in front of the first vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Haggblade, Benjamin Isaac Mattinson
  • Publication number: 20210271241
    Abstract: Techniques relating to training a model for detecting that a vehicle is likely to perform a cut-in maneuver are described. Computing device(s) can receive log data associated with vehicles in an environment and can detect an event in the log data, wherein an event corresponds to a cut-in maneuver performed by a vehicle. In an example, the computing device(s) can generate training data based at least in part on converting a portion of the log data that corresponds to the event into a top-down representation of the environment and inputting the training data into a model, wherein the model is trained to output an indication of whether another vehicle is likely to perform another cut-in maneuver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Haggblade, Benjamin Isaac Mattinson
  • Patent number: 11104392
    Abstract: A sprocket and an idler sharing a common wheel member are manufactured by a method that includes providing a common wheel member, providing an idler flange annular attachment, and providing a tooth annular attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Isaac Jones, David J. Hakes
  • Publication number: 20210263525
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for a combined machine learned (ML) model that may generate a track confidence metric associated with a track and/or a classification of an object. Techniques may include obtaining a track. The track, which may include object detections from one or more sensor data types and/or pipelines, may be input into a machine-learning (ML) model. The model may output a track confidence metric and a classification. In some examples, if the track confidence metric does not satisfy a threshold, the ML model may cause the suppression of the output of the track to a planning component of an autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Subhasis Das, Shida Shen, Kai Yu, Benjamin Isaac Zwiebel
  • Publication number: 20210237761
    Abstract: Tracking a current and/or previous position, velocity, acceleration, and/or heading of an object using sensor data may comprise determining whether to associate a current object detection generated from recently received (e.g., current) sensor data with a previous object detection generated from formerly received sensor data. In other words, a track may identify that an object detected in former sensor data is the same object detected in current sensor data. However, multiple types of sensor data may be used to detect objects and some objects may not be detected by different sensor types or may be detected differently, which may confound attempts to track an object. An ML model may be trained to receive outputs associated with different sensor types and/or a track associated with an object, and determine a data structure comprising a region of interest, object classification, and/or a pose associated with the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Subhasis Das, Kai Yu, Benjamin Isaac Zwiebel
  • Patent number: 11048265
    Abstract: Techniques are discussed for controlling a vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle, based on occluded areas in an environment. An occluded area can represent areas where sensors of the vehicle are unable to sense portions of the environment due to obstruction by another object. An occlusion grid representing the occluded area can be stored as map data or can be dynamically generated. An occlusion grid can include occlusion fields, which represent discrete two- or three-dimensional areas of driveable environment. An occlusion field can indicate an occlusion state and an occupancy state, determined using LIDAR data and/or image data captured by the vehicle. An occupancy state of an occlusion field can be determined by ray casting LIDAR data or by projecting an occlusion field into segmented image data. The vehicle can be controlled to traverse the environment when a sufficient portion of the occlusion grid is visible and unoccupied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: William Anthony Silva, Dragomir Dimitrov Anguelov, Benjamin Isaac Zwiebel, Juhana Kangaspunta
  • Publication number: 20210181758
    Abstract: Tracking a current and/or previous position, velocity, acceleration, and/or heading of an object using sensor data may comprise determining whether to associate a current object detection generated from recently received (e.g., current) sensor data with a previous object detection generated from formerly received sensor data. In other words, a track may identify that an object detected in former sensor data is the same object detected in current sensor data. However, multiple types of sensor data may be used to detect objects and some objects may not be detected by different sensor types or may be detected differently, which may confound attempts to track an object. An ML model may be trained to receive outputs associated with different sensor types and/or a track associated with an object, and determine a data structure comprising a region of interest, object classification, and/or a pose associated with the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Subhasis Das, Benjamin Isaac Zwiebel, Kai Yu, James William Vaisey Philbin
  • Publication number: 20210129929
    Abstract: A track chain assembly comprises a plurality of interlocking track chain members wherein each track chain member defines a track chain traveling direction, a lateral direction perpendicular to the track chain traveling direction, and includes a shoe member defining a shoe width along the lateral direction; and a first track pad member defining a first track pad maximum width along the lateral direction, and a second track pad member defining a second maximum track pad width along the lateral direction, wherein a ratio of either track pad maximum widths to the shoe member width ranges from 1:4 to 3:4. The first and the second track pad members each include a first projection disposed at one lateral extremity of the first track pad member and a second projection disposed at another lateral extremity of the second track pad member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gustavo Acosta, David Jennings Hakes, Benoit Abello, Benjamin Isaac Jones, Udo Nott
  • Patent number: 10960944
    Abstract: A track chain member includes a first rib coupling the shoe member to the first lug; and a second rib coupling the shoe member to the second lug, defining a first side recess between the first rib and the second rib. The first side recess also extends from the exterior of the shoe member and underneath the first top surface, the first lateral end defines a first lateral end width along the track chain traveling direction, and the first side recess also spans the majority of the first lateral end width along the track chain traveling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Isaac Jones, Mircea Dumitru
  • Publication number: 20210070385
    Abstract: A track chain member includes a shoe member, and a first rail member extending from the shoe member. The first rail member includes a first lug defining a first bore defining a first longitudinal axis and including a first bushing retention shelf disposed in the first bore, as well as a second lug including a second bushing retention shelf disposed in the second bore. A third lug extends in a direction opposite that of the first lug and second lug and is disposed axially between the first lug and the second lug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Isaac Jones, Mircea Dumitru
  • Patent number: 10933930
    Abstract: A track chain assembly comprises a plurality of interlocking track chain members wherein each track chain member defines a track chain traveling direction, a lateral direction perpendicular to the track chain traveling direction, and includes a shoe member defining a shoe width along the lateral direction; and a first track pad member defining a first track pad maximum width along the lateral direction, and a second track pad member defining a second maximum track pad width along the lateral direction, wherein a ratio of either track pad maximum widths to the shoe member width ranges from 1:4 to 3:4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gustavo Acosta, David Jennings Hakes, Benoit Abello, Benjamin Isaac Jones, Udo Nott