Patents by Inventor Chang Gi Samuel Hong
Chang Gi Samuel Hong 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).
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Patent number: 11931472Abstract: A system for disinfecting an autonomous vehicle includes a light assembly having LEDs configured to emit UVC light into a passenger compartment of the autonomous vehicle. The light assembly includes a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs. In examples, the heat sink is disposed in the path of forced air associated with a climate control system of the vehicle. The climate control system may be controlled based on a temperature proximate the LEDs and/or the heat sink. In some examples, the light assembly is integrated into the ceiling of the vehicle and can further include visible light emitters and/or other features.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Chang Gi Samuel Hong, James Michael Eccleston, Andrew Frank Raczkowski, Goutham Shanmuga Sundaram, Andrew Mark Stieber
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Publication number: 20230311746Abstract: A reflector unit may behave as a retroreflector to reflect light of a selected color. The reflector unit may comprise a first reflector having a first color, a second reflector having a second color, and a mask that either allows incoming light to reach the first reflector and not the second reflector or allows incoming light to reach the second reflector and not the first reflector. An active light unit may emit light of a particular color in response to receiving light. In this fashion, the active light unit may simulate the operation of a reflector. The reflector unit and the active light unit may operate on a bi-directional vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Da Liu, Chang Gi Samuel Hong, Andrew Mark Stieber
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Patent number: 11730844Abstract: Methods and system for disinfecting an autonomous vehicle includes one or more LEDs coupled to the autonomous vehicle to emit UVC light into a passenger compartment of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle can include sensors to confirm that the passenger compartment is empty and can be configured to prevent ingress of passengers into the passenger compartment while the UVC light is being emitted. Moreover, visible light indicators in the vehicle can be controlled to provide different visual indicators during the disinfecting cycle and when the vehicle is available to a passenger. In examples, the disinfecting cycle can be performed while the autonomous vehicle is in use, e.g., while the autonomous vehicle is traversing to a location to retrieve a passenger. The methods and systems can provide improved cleaning and disinfection of autonomous vehicles without the need to take the vehicles out of operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Chang Gi Samuel Hong, James Michael Eccleston, Andrew Frank Raczkowski, Andrew Mark Stieber, Goutham Shanmuga Sundaram
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Patent number: 11608972Abstract: A reflector unit may behave as a retroreflector to reflect light of a selected color. The reflector unit may comprise a first reflector having a first color, a second reflector having a second color, and a mask that either allows incoming light to reach the first reflector and not the second reflector or allows incoming light to reach the second reflector and not the first reflector. An active light unit may emit light of a particular color in response to receiving light. In this fashion, the active light unit may simulate the operation of a reflector. The reflector unit and the active light unit may operate on a bi-directional vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Da Liu, Chang Gi Samuel Hong, Andrew Mark Stieber
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Patent number: 11242972Abstract: A reflector unit may behave as a retroreflector to reflect light of a selected color. The reflector unit may comprise a first reflector having a first color, a second reflector having a second color, and a mask that either allows incoming light to reach the first reflector and not the second reflector or allows incoming light to reach the second reflector and not the first reflector. An active light unit may emit light of a particular color in response to receiving light. In this fashion, the active light unit may simulate the operation of a reflector. The reflector unit and the active light unit may operate on a bi-directional vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Chang Gi Samuel Hong, Andrew Mark Stieber, George William Sabet Fahmy, Evan David Cook
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Publication number: 20220009407Abstract: A lighting system of a vehicle may include light units and controllers for operating the light units. Each light unit is multifunctional in that the light unit may operate in various modes, which may be invoked at different times under varying circumstances. A light unit on the first end of a vehicle may operate as a headlight if the first end is the front end of the vehicle. On the other hand, the light unit may operate as a tail light if the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. Furthermore, the light unit may operate as a turn signal in either direction or brake light while the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. The light unit includes a lens array positioned to receive light from various light sources. The lighting system may operate in a fashion that allows for lighting redundancy on each end of the vehicle in the event of a lighting controller failure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Moritz Boecker, Chang Gi Samuel Hong, Collin MacGregor
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Patent number: 11173829Abstract: A lighting system of a vehicle may include light units and controllers for operating the light units. Each light unit is multifunctional in that the light unit may operate in various modes, which may be invoked at different times under varying circumstances. A light unit on the first end of a vehicle may operate as a headlight if the first end is the front end of the vehicle. On the other hand, the light unit may operate as a tail light if the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. Furthermore, the light unit may operate as a turn signal in either direction or brake light while the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. The light unit includes a lens array positioned to receive light from various light sources. The lighting system may operate in a fashion that allows for lighting redundancy on each end of the vehicle in the event of a lighting controller failure.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Moritz Boecker, Chang Gi Samuel Hong, Collin MacGregor
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Publication number: 20210180772Abstract: A reflector unit may behave as a retroreflector to reflect light of a selected color. The reflector unit may comprise a first reflector having a first color, a second reflector having a second color, and a mask that either allows incoming light to reach the first reflector and not the second reflector or allows incoming light to reach the second reflector and not the first reflector. An active light unit may emit light of a particular color in response to receiving light. In this fashion, the active light unit may simulate the operation of a reflector. The reflector unit and the active light unit may operate on a bi-directional vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2019Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Da Liu, Chang Gi Samuel Hong, Andrew Mark Stieber
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Patent number: 10948147Abstract: A lighting system of a vehicle may include light units and controllers for operating the light units. Each light unit is multifunctional in that the light unit may operate in various modes, which may be invoked at different times under varying circumstances. A light unit on the first end of a vehicle may operate as a headlight if the first end is the front end of the vehicle. On the other hand, the light unit may operate as a tail light if the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. Furthermore, the light unit may operate as a turn signal in either direction or brake light while the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. The light unit includes a lens array positioned to receive light from various light sources. The lighting system may operate in a fashion that allows for lighting redundancy on each end of the vehicle in the event of a lighting controller failure.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2020Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Nahuel Elias Battaglia, Chang Gi Samuel Hong, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Christopher John Stoffel
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Publication number: 20210071839Abstract: A reflector unit may behave as a retroreflector to reflect light of a selected color. The reflector unit may comprise a first reflector having a first color, a second reflector having a second color, and a mask that either allows incoming light to reach the first reflector and not the second reflector or allows incoming light to reach the second reflector and not the first reflector. An active light unit may emit light of a particular color in response to receiving light. In this fashion, the active light unit may simulate the operation of a reflector. The reflector unit and the active light unit may operate on a bi-directional vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2019Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Chang Gi Samuel Hong, Andrew Mark Stieber, George William Sabet Fahmy, Evan David Cook
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Publication number: 20210010650Abstract: A lighting system of a vehicle may include light units and controllers for operating the light units. Each light unit is multifunctional in that the light unit may operate in various modes, which may be invoked at different times under varying circumstances. A light unit on the first end of a vehicle may operate as a headlight if the first end is the front end of the vehicle. On the other hand, the light unit may operate as a tail light if the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. Furthermore, the light unit may operate as a turn signal in either direction or brake light while the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. The light unit includes a lens array positioned to receive light from various light sources. The lighting system may operate in a fashion that allows for lighting redundancy on each end of the vehicle in the event of a lighting controller failure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Nahuel Elias Battaglia, Chang Gi Samuel Hong, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Christopher John Stoffel
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Patent number: 10823353Abstract: A lighting system of a vehicle may include light units and controllers for operating the light units. Each light unit is multifunctional in that the light unit may operate in various modes, which may be invoked at different times under varying circumstances. A light unit on the first end of a vehicle may operate as a headlight if the first end is the front end of the vehicle. On the other hand, the light unit may operate as a tail light if the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. Furthermore, the light unit may operate as a turn signal in either direction or brake light while the first end is the rear end of the vehicle. The light unit includes a lens array positioned to receive light from various light sources. The lighting system may operate in a fashion that allows for lighting redundancy on each end of the vehicle in the event of a lighting controller failure.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Nahuel Elias Battaglia, Chang Gi Samuel Hong, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Christopher John Stoffel