Patents by Inventor Chen David Lu
Chen David Lu 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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Publication number: 20240183707Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for a stray-light testing station. In one aspect, the stray-light testing station includes an illumination assembly including a spatially extended light source and one or more optical elements arranged to direct a beam of light from the spatially extended light source along an optical path to an optical receiver assembly including a lens receptacle configured to receive a lens module and position the lens module in the optical path downstream from the parabolic mirror so that the lens module focuses the beam of light from the spatially extended light source to an image plane, and a moveable frame supporting the optical receiver assembly including one or more adjustable alignment stages to position the optical receiver assembly relative to the illumination assembly such that the optical path of the illumination assembly is within a field of view of the optical receiver assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2024Publication date: June 6, 2024Inventors: Chen David Lu, Matthew Thomas Daniel Rinehart, Joshua Chia Fong Wang, Michael Shagam
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Patent number: 11933666Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for a stray-light testing station. In one aspect, the stray-light testing station includes an illumination assembly including a spatially extended light source and one or more optical elements arranged to direct a beam of light from the spatially extended light source along an optical path to an optical receiver assembly including a lens receptacle configured to receive a lens module and position the lens module in the optical path downstream from the parabolic mirror so that the lens module focuses the beam of light from the spatially extended light source to an image plane, and a moveable frame supporting the optical receiver assembly including one or more adjustable alignment stages to position the optical receiver assembly relative to the illumination assembly such that the optical path of the illumination assembly is within a field of view of the optical receiver assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Chen David Lu, Matthew Thomas Daniel Rinehart, Joshua Chia Fong Wang, Michael Shagam
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Publication number: 20240056565Abstract: Example embodiments relate to identifying defects in optical detector systems based on extent of stray light. An example embodiment includes a method. The method includes capturing, using an optical detector system, an image of a scene that includes a bright object. The method also includes determining a location of the bright object within the image. Further, the method includes determining, based on the location of the bright object within the image, an extent of stray light from the bright object that is represented in the image. In addition, the method includes determining, by comparing the extent of stray light from the bright object that is represented in the image to a predetermined threshold extent of stray light, whether one or more defects are present within the optical detector system. The predetermined threshold extent of stray light corresponds to an expected extent of stray light.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: Chen David Lu, Matthew Rinehart, Volker Grabe
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Publication number: 20230213379Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for a stray-light testing station. In one aspect, the stray-light testing station includes an illumination assembly including a spatially extended light source and one or more optical elements arranged to direct a beam of light from the spatially extended light source along an optical path to an optical receiver assembly including a lens receptacle configured to receive a lens module and position the lens module in the optical path downstream from the parabolic mirror so that the lens module focuses the beam of light from the spatially extended light source to an image plane, and a moveable frame supporting the optical receiver assembly including one or more adjustable alignment stages to position the optical receiver assembly relative to the illumination assembly such that the optical path of the illumination assembly is within a field of view of the optical receiver assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2023Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Chen David Lu, Matthew Thomas Daniel Rinehart, Joshua Chia Fong Wang, Michael Shagam
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Patent number: 11635326Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for a stray-light testing station. In one aspect, the stray-light testing station includes an illumination assembly including a spatially extended light source and one or more optical elements arranged to direct a beam of light from the spatially extended light source along an optical path to an optical receiver assembly including a lens receptacle configured to receive a lens module and position the lens module in the optical path downstream from the parabolic mirror so that the lens module focuses the beam of light from the spatially extended light source to an image plane, and a moveable frame supporting the optical receiver assembly including one or more adjustable alignment stages to position the optical receiver assembly relative to the illumination assembly such that the optical path of the illumination assembly is within a field of view of the optical receiver assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2019Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Chen David Lu, Matthew Thomas Daniel Rinehart, Joshua Chia Fong Wang, Michael Shagam
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Publication number: 20220264083Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a stray-light testing apparatus. In one aspect, the apparatus includes an optical assembly including a spatially extended light source and one or more optical elements arranged to direct light from the spatially extended light source along an optical path, a moveable frame supporting the optical assembly including one or more adjustable alignment features for guiding positioning of the stray-light testing apparatus relative to an onboard camera on a vehicle, and a shrouding mechanism attached to the frame and positioned on the frame such that, when the stray-light testing apparatus is aligned relative to the onboard camera on the vehicle and the optical path of the optical assembly is within the field of view of the onboard camera, ambient light exposure for the onboard camera is below a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Chen David Lu, Erik Chubb
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Patent number: 11330253Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a stray-light testing apparatus. In one aspect, the apparatus includes an optical assembly including a spatially extended light source and one or more optical elements arranged to direct light from the spatially extended light source along an optical path, a moveable frame supporting the optical assembly including one or more adjustable alignment features for guiding positioning of the stray-light testing apparatus relative to an onboard camera on a vehicle, and a shrouding mechanism attached to the frame and positioned on the frame such that, when the stray-light testing apparatus is aligned relative to the onboard camera on the vehicle and the optical path of the optical assembly is within the field of view of the onboard camera, ambient light exposure for the onboard camera is below a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Chen David Lu, Erik Chubb
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Publication number: 20220030218Abstract: Example embodiments relate to identifying defects in optical detector systems based on extent of stray light. An example embodiment includes a method. The method includes capturing, using an optical detector system, an image of a scene that includes a bright object. The method also includes determining a location of the bright object within the image. Further, the method includes determining, based on the location of the bright object within the image, an extent of stray light from the bright object that is represented in the image. In addition, the method includes determining, by comparing the extent of stray light from the bright object that is represented in the image to a predetermined threshold extent of stray light, whether one or more defects are present within the optical detector system. The predetermined threshold extent of stray light corresponds to an expected extent of stray light.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Chen David Lu, Matthew Rinehart, Volker Grabe
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Patent number: 11172192Abstract: Example embodiments relate to identifying defects in optical detector systems based on extent of stray light. An example embodiment includes a method. The method includes capturing, using an optical detector system, an image of a scene that includes a bright object. The method also includes determining a location of the bright object within the image. Further, the method includes determining, based on the location of the bright object within the image, an extent of stray light from the bright object that is represented in the image. In addition, the method includes determining, by comparing the extent of stray light from the bright object that is represented in the image to a predetermined threshold extent of stray light, whether one or more defects are present within the optical detector system. The predetermined threshold extent of stray light corresponds to an expected extent of stray light.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Chen David Lu, Matthew Rinehart, Volker Grabe
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Publication number: 20200382766Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a stray-light testing apparatus. In one aspect, the apparatus includes an optical assembly including a spatially extended light source and one or more optical elements arranged to direct light from the spatially extended light source along an optical path, a moveable frame supporting the optical assembly including one or more adjustable alignment features for guiding positioning of the stray-light testing apparatus relative to an onboard camera on a vehicle, and a shrouding mechanism attached to the frame and positioned on the frame such that, when the stray-light testing apparatus is aligned relative to the onboard camera on the vehicle and the optical path of the optical assembly is within the field of view of the onboard camera, ambient light exposure for the onboard camera is below a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Chen David Lu, Erik Chubb
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Publication number: 20200336732Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a stray-light testing apparatus. In one aspect, the apparatus includes an optical assembly including a spatially extended light source and one or more optical elements arranged to direct light from the spatially extended light source along an optical path, a moveable frame supporting the optical assembly including one or more adjustable alignment features for guiding positioning of the stray-light testing apparatus relative to an onboard camera on a vehicle, and a shrouding mechanism attached to the frame and positioned on the frame such that, when the stray-light testing apparatus is aligned relative to the onboard camera on the vehicle and the optical path of the optical assembly is within the field of view of the onboard camera, ambient light exposure for the onboard camera is below a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2019Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Chen David Lu, Erik Chubb
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Publication number: 20200319022Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for a stray-light testing station. In one aspect, the stray-light testing station includes an illumination assembly including a spatially extended light source and one or more optical elements arranged to direct a beam of light from the spatially extended light source along an optical path to an optical receiver assembly including a lens receptacle configured to receive a lens module and position the lens module in the optical path downstream from the parabolic mirror so that the lens module focuses the beam of light from the spatially extended light source to an image plane, and a moveable frame supporting the optical receiver assembly including one or more adjustable alignment stages to position the optical receiver assembly relative to the illumination assembly such that the optical path of the illumination assembly is within a field of view of the optical receiver assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Chen David Lu, Matthew Thomas Daniel Rinehart, Joshua Chia Fong Wang, Michael Shagam
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Patent number: 10791324Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a stray-light testing apparatus. In one aspect, the apparatus includes an optical assembly including a spatially extended light source and one or more optical elements arranged to direct light from the spatially extended light source along an optical path, a moveable frame supporting the optical assembly including one or more adjustable alignment features for guiding positioning of the stray-light testing apparatus relative to an onboard camera on a vehicle, and a shrouding mechanism attached to the frame and positioned on the frame such that, when the stray-light testing apparatus is aligned relative to the onboard camera on the vehicle and the optical path of the optical assembly is within the field of view of the onboard camera, ambient light exposure for the onboard camera is below a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2019Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Chen David Lu, Erik Chubb
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Publication number: 20200213581Abstract: Example embodiments relate to identifying defects in optical detector systems based on extent of stray light. An example embodiment includes a method. The method includes capturing, using an optical detector system, an image of a scene that includes a bright object. The method also includes determining a location of the bright object within the image. Further, the method includes determining, based on the location of the bright object within the image, an extent of stray light from the bright object that is represented in the image. In addition, the method includes determining, by comparing the extent of stray light from the bright object that is represented in the image to a predetermined threshold extent of stray light, whether one or more defects are present within the optical detector system. The predetermined threshold extent of stray light corresponds to an expected extent of stray light.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2019Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Chen David Lu, Matthew Rinehart, Volker Grabe