Patents by Inventor Brendan Hermalyn

Brendan Hermalyn 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).

  • Publication number: 20240080414
    Abstract: Example implementations are provided for an arrangement of co-aligned rotating sensors. One example device includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter that emits light pulses toward a scene according to a pointing direction of the device. The device also includes a LIDAR receiver that detects reflections of the emitted light pulses reflecting from the scene. The device also includes an image sensor that captures an image of the scene based on at least external light originating from one or more external light sources. The device also includes a platform that supports the LIDAR transmitter, the LIDAR receiver, and the image sensor in a particular relative arrangement. The device also includes an actuator that rotates the platform about an axis to adjust the pointing direction of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Simon Verghese, Brendan Hermalyn
  • Patent number: 11917281
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to multiple operating modes to expand dynamic range. An example embodiment includes a camera system. The camera system may include a first image sensor having a first dynamic range corresponding to a first range of luminance levels in a scene. The system may also include a second image sensor having a second dynamic range corresponding to a second range of luminance levels in the scene. The camera system may further include a processor coupled to the first image sensor and the second image sensor. The processor may be configured to execute instructions to identify objects of a first type in a first image of the scene captured by the first image sensor and identify objects of a second object type in a second image of the scene captured by the second image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Wendel, Jeremy Dittmer, Brendan Hermalyn, Benjamin Ingram
  • Publication number: 20230415097
    Abstract: A system for directly capturing and measuring greenhouse gasses from a mixture of gasses over a wide range of concentrations from ambient air to combustion exhaust products including: an emissions capture reaction vessel; a reaction media container configured to house a volume of reaction media, the reaction media configured to extract a constituent gas from gas flowing through the emissions capture reaction vessel and capture constituent gas; an intake and exhaust manifold configured to receive and release, respectively a portion of a gas stream via a first access tap on the exhaust stack; a computer system comprised of sensors and actuators connected to a network to directly measure efficiency and uptake of a system, and a fan arranged within the housing and configured to influence the amount and speed of the gas stream processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Brendan Hermalyn, John Kolaczynski, Samuel Patterson, Mihir Juvvadi, Thomas Evenat, Peter Schultz
  • Publication number: 20230393058
    Abstract: An example system for measuring emissions from a building includes a housing, a plurality of sensors arranged in the housing to detect concentrations of gas constituents in gas exiting the building, a gas flow sensor to detect a gas flow rate of the gas exiting the building, and a computing device to perform functions of calculating a total emissions of the particular gas constituent being tracked from a concentration of the particular gas constituent detected by the plurality of sensors and the gas flow rate, calculating an emission rate of the particular gas constituent being tracking, determining whether the total emissions and the emission rate of the particular gas constituent are within acceptable ranges, and based on the total emissions and the emission rate of the particular gas constituent being outside the acceptable ranges, outputting a prompt to a building computer system or operator indicating an alert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Brendan Hermalyn, John Kolaczynski, Samuel Patterson, Mihir Juvvadi, Thomas Evenat
  • Publication number: 20230393244
    Abstract: The technology relates to autonomous vehicles that use a perception system to detect objects and features in the vehicle's surroundings. A camera assembly having a ring-type structure is provided that gives the perception system an overall 360° field of view around the vehicle. Image sensors are arranged in camera modules around the assembly to provide a seamless panoramic field of view. One subsystem has multiple pairs of image sensors positioned to provide the overall 360° field of view, while another subsystem provides a set of image sensors generally facing toward the front of the vehicle to provide enhanced object identification. The camera assembly may be arranged in a housing located on top of the vehicle. The housing may include other sensors such as LIDAR and radar. The assembly includes a chassis and top and base plates, which may provide EMI protection from other sensors disposed in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Kimberly Geneva Toth, Brendan Hermalyn, Shane Mcguire, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Jeremy Dittmer, Andreas Wendel
  • Patent number: 11838689
    Abstract: Example implementations are provided for an arrangement of co-aligned rotating sensors. One example device includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter that emits light pulses toward a scene according to a pointing direction of the device. The device also includes a LIDAR receiver that detects reflections of the emitted light pulses reflecting from the scene. The device also includes an image sensor that captures an image of the scene based on at least external light originating from one or more external light sources. The device also includes a platform that supports the LIDAR transmitter, the LIDAR receiver, and the image sensor in a particular relative arrangement. The device also includes an actuator that rotates the platform about an axis to adjust the pointing direction of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Simon Verghese, Brendan Hermalyn
  • Patent number: 11794782
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to features for improving the modularity and interoperability of sensors and in particular, sensors deployed for use in vehicle related sensing applications. In some aspects, the disclosed technology encompasses a sensor aggregation module (e.g., sensor pod) that includes a sensor enclosure having an interior volume configured for housing one or more sensors, a data port integrated into an exterior surface of the sensor enclosure, wherein the data port is configured to be electrically coupled to a vehicle data port, and a plurality of sensor ports disposed within an interior volume of the sensor enclosure, wherein the sensor ports are configured for modular connectivity to the one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Hermalyn, Radu Raduta, Devin Cass
  • Patent number: 11774349
    Abstract: An example system for measuring emissions from a building includes a housing, a plurality of sensors arranged in the housing to detect concentrations of gas constituents in gas exiting the building, a gas flow sensor to detect a gas flow rate of the gas exiting the building, and a computing device to perform functions of calculating a total emissions of the particular gas constituent being tracked from a concentration of the particular gas constituent detected by the plurality of sensors and the gas flow rate, calculating an emission rate of the particular gas constituent being tracking, determining whether the total emissions and the emission rate of the particular gas constituent are within acceptable ranges, and based on the total emissions and the emission rate of the particular gas constituent being outside the acceptable ranges, outputting a prompt to a building computer system or operator indicating an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Thalo Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendan Hermalyn, John Kolaczynski, Samuel Patterson, Mihir Juvvadi, Thomas Evenat
  • Patent number: 11762063
    Abstract: The technology relates to autonomous vehicles that use a perception system to detect objects and features in the vehicle's surroundings. A camera assembly having a ling-type structure is provided that gives the perception system an overall 360° field of view around the vehicle. Image sensors are arranged in camera modules around the assembly to provide a seamless panoramic field of view. One subsystem has multiple pairs of image sensors positioned to provide the overall 360° field of view, while another subsystem provides a set of image sensors generally facing toward the front of the vehicle to provide enhanced object identification. The camera assembly may be arranged in a housing located on top of the vehicle. The housing may include other sensors such as LIDAR and radar. The assembly includes a chassis and top and base plates, which may provide EMI protection from other sensors disposed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Geneva Toth, Brendan Hermalyn, Shane Mcguire, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Jeremy Dittmer, Andreas Wendel
  • Publication number: 20230266235
    Abstract: An example system for measuring emissions from a building includes a housing, a plurality of sensors arranged in the housing to detect concentrations of gas constituents in gas exiting the building, a gas flow sensor to detect a gas flow rate of the gas exiting the building, and a computing device to perform functions of calculating a total emissions of the particular gas constituent being tracked from a concentration of the particular gas constituent detected by the plurality of sensors and the gas flow rate, calculating an emission rate of the particular gas constituent being tracking, determining whether the total emissions and the emission rate of the particular gas constituent are within acceptable ranges, and based on the total emissions and the emission rate of the particular gas constituent being outside the acceptable ranges, outputting a prompt to a building computer system or operator indicating an alert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Brendan Hermalyn, John Kolaczynski, Samuel Patterson, Mihir Juvvadi, Thomas Evenat
  • Publication number: 20230219034
    Abstract: A system for directly capturing and measuring greenhouse gasses from a mixture of gasses over a wide range of concentrations from ambient air to combustion exhaust products including: an emissions capture reaction vessel; a reaction media container configured to house a volume of reaction media, the reaction media configured to extract a constituent gas from gas flowing through the emissions capture reaction vessel and capture constituent gas; an intake and exhaust manifold configured to receive and release, respectively a portion of a gas stream via a first access tap on the exhaust stack; a computer system comprised of sensors and actuators connected to a network to directly measure efficiency and uptake of a system, and a fan arranged within the housing and configured to influence the amount and speed of the gas stream processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Brendan Hermalyn, John Kolaczynski, Samuel Patterson, Mihir Juvvadi, Thomas Evenat, Peter Schultz
  • Publication number: 20230194681
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that provide both an image of a scene and depth information for the scene. An example system includes at least one time-of-flight (ToF) sensor and an imaging sensor. The ToF sensor and the imaging sensor are configured to receive light from a scene. The system also includes at least one light source and a controller that carries out operations. The operations include causing the at least one light source to illuminate at least a portion of the scene with illumination light according to an illumination schedule. The operations also include causing the at least one ToF sensor to provide information indicative of a depth map of the scene based on the illumination light. The operations additionally include causing the imaging sensor to provide information indicative of an image of the scene based on the illumination light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Caner Onal, David Schleuning, Brendan Hermalyn, Simon Verghese, Alex McCauley, Brandyn White, Ury Zhilinsky
  • Patent number: 11675174
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical systems. An example optical system includes at least one primary optical element configured to receive incident light from a scene and a plurality of relay mirrors optically coupled to the at least one primary optical element. The optical system also includes a lens optically coupled to the plurality of relay mirrors, and an image sensor configured to receive focused light from the lens. The image sensor includes a first light-sensitive area and a second light-sensitive area. The primary optical element, the plurality of relay mirrors, and the lens interact with the incident light to form a first focused light portion and a second focused light portion. The first focused light portion forms a first image portion of the scene on the first light-sensitive area and the second focused light portion forms a second image portion of the scene on the second light-sensitive area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Brendan Hermalyn
  • Publication number: 20230125032
    Abstract: The technology relates to autonomous vehicles that use a perception system to detect objects and features in the vehicle's surroundings. A camera assembly having a ling-type structure is provided that gives the perception system an overall 360° field of view around the vehicle. Image sensors are arranged in camera modules around the assembly to provide a seamless panoramic field of view. One subsystem has multiple pairs of image sensors positioned to provide the overall 360° field of view, while another subsystem provides a set of image sensors generally facing toward the front of the vehicle to provide enhanced object identification. The camera assembly may be arranged in a housing located on top of the vehicle. The housing may include other sensors such as LIDAR and radar. The assembly includes a chassis and top and base plates, which may provide EMI protection from other sensors disposed in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Kimberly Geneva Toth, Brendan Hermalyn, Shane Mcguire, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Jeremy Dittmer, Andreas Wendel
  • Patent number: 11609313
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that provide both an image of a scene and depth information for the scene. An example system includes at least one time-of-flight (ToF) sensor and an imaging sensor. The ToF sensor and the imaging sensor are configured to receive light from a scene. The system also includes at least one light source and a controller that carries out operations. The operations include causing the at least one light source to illuminate at least a portion of the scene with illumination light according to an illumination schedule. The operations also include causing the at least one ToF sensor to provide information indicative of a depth map of the scene based on the illumination light. The operations additionally include causing the imaging sensor to provide information indicative of an image of the scene based on the illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Caner Onal, David Schleuning, Brendan Hermalyn, Simon Verghese, Alex McCauley, Brandyn White, Ury Zhilinsky
  • Publication number: 20230032410
    Abstract: Example implementations are provided for an arrangement of co-aligned rotating sensors. One example device includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter that emits light pulses toward a scene according to a pointing direction of the device. The device also includes a LIDAR receiver that detects reflections of the emitted light pulses reflecting from the scene. The device also includes an image sensor that captures an image of the scene based on at least external light originating from one or more external light sources. The device also includes a platform that supports the LIDAR transmitter, the LIDAR receiver, and the image sensor in a particular relative arrangement. The device also includes an actuator that rotates the platform about an axis to adjust the pointing direction of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Simon Verghese, Brendan Hermalyn
  • Patent number: 11561282
    Abstract: The technology relates to autonomous vehicles that use a perception system to detect objects and features in the vehicle's surroundings. A camera assembly having a ring-type structure is provided that gives the perception system an overall 360° field of view around the vehicle. Image sensors are arranged in camera modules around the assembly to provide a seamless panoramic field of view. One subsystem has multiple pairs of image sensors positioned to provide the overall 360° field of view, while another subsystem provides a set of image sensors generally facing toward the front of the vehicle to provide enhanced object identification. The camera assembly may be arranged in a housing located on top of the vehicle. The housing may include other sensors such as LIDAR and radar. The assembly includes a chassis and top and base plates, which may provide EMI protection from other sensors disposed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Geneva Toth, Brendan Hermalyn, Shane Mcguire, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Jeremy Dittmer, Andreas Wendel
  • Patent number: 11470284
    Abstract: Example implementations are provided for an arrangement of co-aligned rotating sensors. One example device includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter that emits light pulses toward a scene according to a pointing direction of the device. The device also includes a LIDAR receiver that detects reflections of the emitted light pulses reflecting from the scene. The device also includes an image sensor that captures an image of the scene based on at least external light originating from one or more external light sources. The device also includes a platform that supports the LIDAR transmitter, the LIDAR receiver, and the image sensor in a particular relative arrangement. The device also includes an actuator that rotates the platform about an axis to adjust the pointing direction of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Simon Verghese, Brendan Hermalyn
  • Publication number: 20220276384
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that provide information about a scene based on a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor and a structured light pattern. In an example embodiment, a sensor system could include at least one ToF sensor configured to receive light from a scene. The sensor system could also include at least one light source configured to emit a structured light pattern and a controller that carries out operations. The operations include causing the at least one light source to illuminate at least a portion of the scene with the structured light pattern and causing the at least one ToF sensor to provide information indicative of a depth map of the scene based on the structured light pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Caner Onal, David Schleuning, Brendan Hermalyn, Simon Verghese, Alexander McCauley, Brandyn White, Ury Zhilinsky
  • Publication number: 20220264014
    Abstract: Systems and methods of capturing imagery are provided. In particular, an imaging platform can be configured to capture imagery using a dual-axis steering mirror and one or more image capture devices. The line of sight angle of the imaging platform can be controlled by controlling the motion of the steering mirror in accordance with a motion profile. In example embodiments, the motion profile can correspond to a sawtooth wave. The imaging platform can further include one or more position sensors used to determine a position and/or orientation of the imaging platform along a path on which the imaging platform travels. The motion of the steering mirror can then be controlled to rotate about a first axis and a second axis to compensate for line of sight errors based at least in part on the determined position and/or orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: M. Dirk Robinson, Jonathan Dyer, Joshua Levine, Brendan Hermalyn, Ronny Votel, Matt William Messana