Patents by Inventor Carl Warren Craddock
Carl Warren Craddock 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: 20240320810Abstract: A system is provided that includes an image sensor coupled to a vehicle, and control circuitry configured to perform operations including receiving, from the image sensor, an input stream comprising high dynamic range (HDR) image data associated with an environment of the vehicle, and processing the input stream at the vehicle by applying a global tone mapping, followed by offline image processing that can include applying a local tone mapping to the globally tone mapped images of the same input stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2024Publication date: September 26, 2024Inventors: Xiaoying He, Ryan Geiss, Pieter Kapsenberg, Carl Warren Craddock, Zhinan Xu, Lucian Ion, Ajay Chandra Venkata Gummalla
-
Patent number: 12056898Abstract: The disclosure relates to assessing operation of a camera. In one instance, a volume of space corresponding to a first vehicle in an environment of a second vehicle may be identified using sensor data generated by a LIDAR system of the second vehicle. An image captured by a camera of the second vehicle may be identified. The camera may have an overlapping field of view of the LIDAR system at a time when the sensor data was generated. An area of the image corresponding to the volume of space may be identified and processed in order to identify a vehicle light. The operation of the camera may be assessed based on the processing.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2021Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Chen Wu, Carl Warren Craddock, Andreas Wendel
-
Patent number: 12020412Abstract: A system is provided that includes an image sensor coupled to a vehicle, and control circuitry configured to perform operations including receiving, from the image sensor, an input stream comprising high dynamic range (HDR) image data associated with an environment of the vehicle, and processing the input stream at the vehicle by applying a global tone mapping, followed by offline image processing that can include applying a local tone mapping to the globally tone mapped images of the same input stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2021Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Xiaoying He, Ryan Geiss, Pieter Kapsenberg, Carl Warren Craddock, Zhinan Xu, Lucian Ion, Ajay Chandra Venkata Gummalla
-
Patent number: 12014524Abstract: The technology relates to determining whether a camera is occluded. For instance, an image may be captured using a camera having red, green, and blue pixels each including a photosensor. Output values for the photosensors of each of the red pixels, green pixels, and blue pixels may be determined for the images. The output values of the green pixels may be compared to one or more of the output values of the red pixels or the output values of the blue pixels. That the camera is occluded is determined based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2023Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Vlad Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
-
Patent number: 11972342Abstract: A image sensor includes a first integrated circuit layer including pixel sensors that are grouped based on position into pixel sensor groups, a second integrated circuit layer in electrical communication with the first integrated circuit layer, the second integrated circuit layer including image processing circuitry groups that are configured to each receive pixel information from a corresponding pixel sensor group, the image processing circuitry groups further configured to perform image processing operations on the pixel information to provide processed pixel information during operation of the image sensor, a third integrated circuit layer in electrical communication with the second integrated circuit layer, and the third integrated circuit layer including neural network circuitry groups that are configured to each receive the processed pixel information from a corresponding image processing circuitry group and perform analysis for object detection on the processed pixel information during operation of theType: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Lucian Ion, Vlad Constantin Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
-
Patent number: 11776163Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are presented for rendering color images. One method may include receiving first color values of a first image from a first image capture device. The first color values may represent colors in a first color space. The method also may include applying first color transformation information to the first color values to generate first transformed color values of the first image in a particular color space and applying desaturation information to the first transformed color values to generate first desaturated color values of the first image. Further, the method may include providing the first desaturated color values of the first image for rendering on a display device.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Vlad Constantin Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
-
Publication number: 20230267648Abstract: The technology relates to determining whether a camera is occluded. For instance, an image may be captured using a camera having red, green, and blue pixels each including a photosensor. Output values for the photosensors of each of the red pixels, green pixels, and blue pixels may be determined for the images. The output values of the green pixels may be compared to one or more of the output values of the red pixels or the output values of the blue pixels. That the camera is occluded is determined based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2023Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicant: WAYMO LLCInventors: Vlad Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
-
Patent number: 11699207Abstract: The disclosure relates to assessing operation of two or more cameras. These cameras may be a group of cameras of a perception system of a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode. A first image captured by a first camera and a second image captured by a second camera may be received. A first feature vector for the first image and a second feature vector for the second image may be generated. A similarity score may be determined using the first feature vector and the second feature vector. This similarity score may be used to assess the operation of the two cameras and an appropriate action may be taken.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2018Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Carl Warren Craddock, Andreas Wendel
-
Patent number: 11670005Abstract: The technology relates to determining whether a camera is occluded. For instance, an image may be captured using a camera having red, green, and blue pixels each including a photosensor. Output values for the photosensors of each of the red pixels, green pixels, and blue pixels may be determined for the images. The output values of the green pixels may be compared to one or more of the output values of the red pixels or the output values of the blue pixels. That the camera is occluded is determined based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Vlad Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
-
Patent number: 11227409Abstract: The disclosure relates to assessing operation of a camera. In one instance, a volume of space corresponding to a first vehicle in an environment of a second vehicle may be identified using sensor data generated by a LIDAR system of the second vehicle. An image captured by a camera of the second vehicle may be identified. The camera may have an overlapping field of view of the LIDAR system at a time when the sensor data was generated. An area of the image corresponding to the volume of space may be identified and processed in order to identify a vehicle light. The operation of the camera may be assessed based on the processing.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2018Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Chen Wu, Carl Warren Craddock, Andreas Wendel
-
Publication number: 20210305295Abstract: A image sensor includes a first integrated circuit layer including pixel sensors that are grouped based on position into pixel sensor groups, a second integrated circuit layer in electrical communication with the first integrated circuit layer, the second integrated circuit layer including image processing circuitry groups that are configured to each receive pixel information from a corresponding pixel sensor group, the image processing circuitry groups further configured to perform image processing operations on the pixel information to provide processed pixel information during operation of the image sensor, a third integrated circuit layer in electrical communication with the second integrated circuit layer, and the third integrated circuit layer including neural network circuitry groups that are configured to each receive the processed pixel information from a corresponding image processing circuitry group and perform analysis for object detection on the processed pixel information during operation of theType: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Lucian Ion, Vlad Constantin Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
-
Patent number: 11037968Abstract: A image sensor includes a first integrated circuit layer including pixel sensors that are grouped based on position into pixel sensor groups, a second integrated circuit layer in electrical communication with the first integrated circuit layer, the second integrated circuit layer including image processing circuitry groups that are configured to each receive pixel information from a corresponding pixel sensor group, the image processing circuitry groups further configured to perform image processing operations on the pixel information to provide processed pixel information during operation of the image sensor, a third integrated circuit layer in electrical communication with the second integrated circuit layer, and the third integrated circuit layer including neural network circuitry groups that are configured to each receive the processed pixel information from a corresponding image processing circuitry group and perform analysis for object detection on the processed pixel information during operation of theType: GrantFiled: April 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Lucian Ion, Vlad Constantin Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
-
Publication number: 20210090299Abstract: The technology relates to determining whether a camera is occluded. For instance, an image may be captured using a camera having red, green, and blue pixels each including a photosensor. Output values for the photosensors of each of the red pixels, green pixels, and blue pixels may be determined for the images. The output values of the green pixels may be compared to one or more of the output values of the red pixels or the output values of the blue pixels. That the camera is occluded is determined based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: WAYMO LLCInventors: Vlad Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
-
Patent number: 10891757Abstract: The technology relates to determining whether a camera is occluded. For instance, an image may be captured using a camera having red, green, and blue pixels each including a photosensor. Output values for the photosensors of each of the red pixels, green pixels, and blue pixels may be determined for the images. The output values of the green pixels may be compared to one or more of the output values of the red pixels or the output values of the blue pixels. That the camera is occluded is determined based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2018Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Vlad Constantin Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
-
Publication number: 20200321374Abstract: A image sensor includes a first integrated circuit layer including pixel sensors that are grouped based on position into pixel sensor groups, a second integrated circuit layer in electrical communication with the first integrated circuit layer, the second integrated circuit layer including image processing circuitry groups that are configured to each receive pixel information from a corresponding pixel sensor group, the image processing circuitry groups further configured to perform image processing operations on the pixel information to provide processed pixel information during operation of the image sensor, a third integrated circuit layer in electrical communication with the second integrated circuit layer, and the third integrated circuit layer including neural network circuitry groups that are configured to each receive the processed pixel information from a corresponding image processing circuitry group and perform analysis for object detection on the processed pixel information during operation of theType: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Lucian Ion, Vlad Constantin Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
-
Publication number: 20200160562Abstract: The technology relates to determining whether a camera is occluded. For instance, an image may be captured using a camera having red, green, and blue pixels each including a photosensor. Output values for the photosensors of each of the red pixels, green pixels, and blue pixels may be determined for the images. The output values of the green pixels may be compared to one or more of the output values of the red pixels or the output values of the blue pixels. That the camera is occluded is determined based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2018Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Vlad Constantin Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
-
Publication number: 20200055516Abstract: The disclosure relates to assessing operation of two or more cameras. These cameras may be a group of cameras of a perception system of a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode. A first image captured by a first camera and a second image captured by a second camera may be received. A first feature vector for the first image and a second feature vector for the second image may be generated. A similarity score may be determined using the first feature vector and the second feature vector. This similarity score may be used to assess the operation of the two cameras and an appropriate action may be taken.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2018Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventors: Carl Warren Craddock, Andreas Wendel
-
Patent number: 10038909Abstract: RAW images and/or light field images may be compressed through the use of specialized techniques. The color depth of a light field image may be reduced through the use of a bit reduction algorithm such as a K-means algorithm. The image may then be retiled to group pixels of similar intensities and/or colors. The retiled image may be padded with extra pixel rows and/or pixel columns as needed, and compressed through the use of an image compression algorithm. The compressed image may be assembled with metadata pertinent to the manner in which compression was done to form a compressed image file. The compressed image file may be decompressed by following the compression method in reverse.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Kurt Akeley, Brendan Bevensee, Colvin Pitts, Timothy James Knight, Carl Warren Craddock, Chia-Kai Liang
-
Publication number: 20180070067Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, the optical systems of light field capture devices are optimized so as to improve captured light field image data. Optimizing optical systems of light field capture devices can result in captured light field image data (both still and video) that is cheaper and/or easier to process. Optical systems can be optimized to yield improved quality or resolution when using cheaper processing approaches whose computational costs fit within various processing and/or resource constraints. As such, the optical systems of light field cameras can be optimized to reduce size and/or cost and/or increase the quality of such optical systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Timothy Knight, Colvin Pitts, Kurt Akeley, Yuriy Romanenko, Carl (Warren) Craddock
-
Publication number: 20180070066Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, the optical systems of light field capture devices are optimized so as to improve captured light field image data. Optimizing optical systems of light field capture devices can result in captured light field image data (both still and video) that is cheaper and/or easier to process. Optical systems can be optimized to yield improved quality or resolution when using cheaper processing approaches whose computational costs fit within various processing and/or resource constraints. As such, the optical systems of light field cameras can be optimized to reduce size and/or cost and/or increase the quality of such optical systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Timothy Knight, Colvin Pitts, Kurt Akeley, Yuriy Romanenko, Carl (Warren) Craddock