Patents by Inventor Daniel Chou

Daniel Chou 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: 12276786
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for using a self-illuminating harp to calibrate for distortion. In particular, apparatus, methods and systems are provided for imaging and analyzing self-illuminated harp in order to correct for lens distortion. In various implementations, an array of media is strung plumb which resembles a harp. The media can be light fibers or other suitable material which can be strung in a straight line. The cores of translucent fibers are illuminated. These are configured to scatter light throughout their bulk which escapes the core by egressing along the length of fiber. This light produces plumb lines which can be imaged, analyzed and model. In some implementations, imaging is performed by rotation to include a full FOV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Chou, Yongjun Wang, Nigel Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 12225321
    Abstract: The present technology is directed to determining an accuracy of an infrared (IR) camera, and more particularly, validating a distortion accuracy of an IR camera. The present technology can receive one or more images of a calibration harp captured by the IR camera, wherein the one or more images include a plurality of lines corresponding to a plurality of strings of the calibration harp. The present technology can further determine a degree of distortion of the plurality of lines based on a distortion error coefficient, wherein the distortion error coefficient is computed based on edge points of the plurality of lines on the one or more images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Yongjun Wang, Marco Antonio Gaxiola Michel, Daniel Chou
  • Patent number: 12148607
    Abstract: A lamp and epitaxial processing apparatus are described herein. In one example, the lamp includes a bulb, a filament, and a plurality of filament supports disposed in spaced-apart relation to the filament, each of the filament supports having a hook support and a hook. The hook includes a connector configured to fasten the hook to the hook support, a first vertical portion extending from the connector toward the filament, and a rounded portion extending from an end of the first vertical portion distal from the connector and configured to wrap around the filament. A second vertical portion extends from an end of the rounded portion distal from the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion has a length between 60% and 100% of the length of the first vertical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yao-Hung Yang, Shantanu Rajiv Gadgil, Kaushik Rao, Vincent Joseph Kirchhoff, Sagir Kadiwala, Munirah Mahyudin, Daniel Chou
  • Patent number: 12031849
    Abstract: An illuminated sensor target includes a light source. Actuating the light source illuminates the sensor target. The illuminated sensor target is recognized by one or more sensors of a vehicle during a calibration process, and is used to calibrate the one or more sensors of the vehicle during the calibration process. The illuminated sensor target is illuminated during at least part of the calibration process, which may involve rotation of the vehicle about a turntable, with the illuminated sensor target positioned within a range of the turntable along with other sensors targets, which may also be illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Zhi Yuan Sherwin Lau, Daniel Chou, Kayla Holman, Derek Wu
  • Publication number: 20240162030
    Abstract: A lamp and epitaxial processing apparatus are described herein. In one example, the lamp includes a bulb, a filament, and a plurality of filament supports disposed in spaced-apart relation to the filament, each of the filament supports having a hook support and a hook. The hook includes a connector configured to fasten the hook to the hook support, a first vertical portion extending from the connector toward the filament, and a rounded portion extending from an end of the first vertical portion distal from the connector and configured to wrap around the filament. A second vertical portion extends from an end of the rounded portion distal from the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion has a length between 60% and 100% of the length of the first vertical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Yao-Hung YANG, Shantanu Rajiv GADGIL, Kaushik RAO, Vincent Joseph KIRCHHOFF, Sagir KADIWALA, Munirah MAHYUDIN, Daniel CHOU
  • Publication number: 20240146004
    Abstract: A modular socket system with automatic power interruption includes modular socket, a detected data collection and system determination module, a power-off execution module, and a sever database. The modular socket continuously receives power-off signals, and transmits the power-off signals to the detected data collection and system determination module for the determination of power-off, and the power-off execution module executes a power-off procedure accordingly. The detected data collection and system determination module includes a detected data collecting module and a power-off determining system module connected. The detected data collecting module has an optical identifying module and a connection status determining module connected. The power-off determining system module includes an unplug detecting and determining module, a poor contact determining module, a Bluetooth offline determining module, and a hardware disconnection determining module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: HSIU SHEN CHOW, DANIEL CHOU
  • Publication number: 20240034347
    Abstract: A sensor calibration system periodically receives scene data from a detector in a calibration scene. The calibration scene includes calibration targets. The sensor calibration system generates a calibration map based on the scene data. The calibration map is a virtual representation of the calibration scene and includes features of the calibration targets that can be used as ground truth features for calibrating AV sensors. The sensor calibration system can periodically update the calibration map. For instance, the sensor calibration system receives the scene data at a predetermined frequency and updates the calibration map every time it receives new scene data. The predetermined frequency may be a frequency of the detector completing a full scan of the calibration scene. The sensor calibration system provides a latest version of the calibration map for being used by an AV to calibrate a sensor on the AV 110.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Chou, Nigel Rodrigues, Jordan Michael Croom
  • Patent number: 11881392
    Abstract: A lamp and epitaxial processing apparatus are described herein. In one example, the lamp includes a bulb, a filament, and a plurality of filament supports disposed in spaced-apart relation to the filament, each of the filament supports having a hook support and a hook. The hook includes a connector configured to fasten the hook to the hook support, a first vertical portion extending from the connector toward the filament, and a rounded portion extending from an end of the first vertical portion distal from the connector and configured to wrap around the filament. A second vertical portion extends from an end of the rounded portion distal from the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion has a length between 60% and 100% of the length of the first vertical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yao-Hung Yang, Shantanu Rajiv Gadgil, Kaushik Rao, Vincent Joseph Kirchhoff, Sagir Kadiwala, Munirah Mahyudin, Daniel Chou
  • Publication number: 20230421720
    Abstract: The present technology is directed to determining an accuracy of an infrared (IR) camera, and more particularly, validating a distortion accuracy of an IR camera. The present technology can receive one or more images of a calibration harp captured by the IR camera, wherein the one or more images include a plurality of lines corresponding to a plurality of strings of the calibration harp. The present technology can further determine a degree of distortion of the plurality of lines based on a distortion error coefficient, wherein the distortion error coefficient is computed based on edge points of the plurality of lines on the one or more images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Yongjun Wang, Marco Antonio Gaxiola Michel, Daniel Chou
  • Publication number: 20230377870
    Abstract: A lamp and epitaxial processing apparatus are described herein. In one example, the lamp includes a bulb, a filament, and a plurality of filament supports disposed in spaced-apart relation to the filament, each of the filament supports having a hook support and a hook. The hook includes a connector configured to fasten the hook to the hook support, a first vertical portion extending from the connector toward the filament, and a rounded portion extending from an end of the first vertical portion distal from the connector and configured to wrap around the filament. A second vertical portion extends from an end of the rounded portion distal from the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion has a length between 60% and 100% of the length of the first vertical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Yao-Hung YANG, Shantanu Rajiv Gadgil, Kaushik Rao, Vincent Joseph Kirchhoff, Sagir Kadiwala, Munirah Mahyudin, Daniel Chou
  • Patent number: 11814067
    Abstract: A sensor calibration system periodically receives scene data from a detector in a calibration scene. The calibration scene includes calibration targets. The sensor calibration system generates a calibration map based on the scene data. The calibration map is a virtual representation of the calibration scene and includes features of the calibration targets that can be used as ground truth features for calibrating AV sensors. The sensor calibration system can periodically update the calibration map. For instance, the sensor calibration system receives the scene data at a predetermined frequency and updates the calibration map every time it receives new scene data. The predetermined frequency may be a frequency of the detector completing a full scan of the calibration scene. The sensor calibration system provides a latest version of the calibration map for being used by an AV to calibrate a sensor on the AV 110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Chou, Nigel Rodrigues, Jordan Michael Croom
  • Patent number: 11792356
    Abstract: The present technology is directed to determining an accuracy of an infrared (IR) camera, and more particularly, validating a distortion accuracy of an IR camera. The present technology can receive one or more images of a calibration harp captured by the IR camera, wherein the one or more images include a plurality of lines corresponding to a plurality of strings of the calibration harp. The present technology can further determine a degree of distortion of the plurality of lines based on a distortion error coefficient, wherein the distortion error coefficient is computed based on edge points of the plurality of lines on the one or more images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Yongjun Wang, Marco Antonio Gaxiola Michel, Daniel Chou
  • Patent number: 11718315
    Abstract: A sensor calibration system periodically receives scene data from a detector in a calibration scene. The calibration scene includes calibration targets. The sensor calibration system generates a calibration map based on the scene data. The calibration map is a virtual representation of the calibration scene and includes features of the calibration targets that can be used as ground truth features for calibrating AV sensors. The sensor calibration system can periodically update the calibration map. For instance, the sensor calibration system receives the scene data at a predetermined frequency and updates the calibration map every time it receives new scene data. The predetermined frequency may be a frequency of the detector completing a full scan of the calibration scene. The sensor calibration system provides a latest version of the calibration map for being used by an AV to calibrate a sensor on the AV 110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Chou, Nigel Rodrigues, Jordan Michael Croom
  • Publication number: 20230228601
    Abstract: An illuminated sensor target includes a light source. Actuating the light source illuminates the sensor target. The illuminated sensor target is recognized by one or more sensors of a vehicle during a calibration process, and is used to calibrate the one or more sensors of the vehicle during the calibration process. The illuminated sensor target is illuminated during at least part of the calibration process, which may involve rotation of the vehicle about a turntable, with the illuminated sensor target positioned within a range of the turntable along with other sensors targets, which may also be illuminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Zhi Yuan Sherwin Lau, Daniel Chou, Kayla Holman, Derek Wu
  • Publication number: 20230182765
    Abstract: A sensor calibration system periodically receives scene data from a detector in a calibration scene. The calibration scene includes calibration targets. The sensor calibration system generates a calibration map based on the scene data. The calibration map is a virtual representation of the calibration scene and includes features of the calibration targets that can be used as ground truth features for calibrating AV sensors. The sensor calibration system can periodically update the calibration map. For instance, the sensor calibration system receives the scene data at a predetermined frequency and updates the calibration map every time it receives new scene data. The predetermined frequency may be a frequency of the detector completing a full scan of the calibration scene. The sensor calibration system provides a latest version of the calibration map for being used by an AV to calibrate a sensor on the AV 110.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Chou, Nigel Rodrigues, Jordan Michael Croom
  • Publication number: 20230185085
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for using a self-illuminating harp to calibrate for distortion. In particular, apparatus, methods and systems are provided for imaging and analyzing self-illuminated harp in order to correct for lens distortion. In various implementations, an array of media is strung plumb which resembles a harp. The media can be light fibers or other suitable material which can be strung in a straight line. The cores of translucent fibers are illuminated. These are configured to scatter light throughout their bulk which escapes the core by egressing along the length of fiber. This light produces plumb lines which can be imaged, analyzed and model. In some implementations, imaging is performed by rotation to include a full FOV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Chou, Yongjun Wang, Nigel Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20230184890
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for using a retroflected target for calibrating environmental geometric sensing systems. In particular, apparatus and methods are provided for unstructured calibrations using a plurality of spatial sensing data acquisitions and the data correlations thereof. In various implementations, a combined LiDAR-RADAR detector is used to associate one with the other. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a predetermined LiDAR detector is used as a reference frame for RADAR segmentation. Specifically, a LiDAR point-of-interest is conveyed to RADAR system for unstructured calibration. To that end, RADAR and LiDAR can be calibrated with one another without the need for absolute positioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Chou, Matthew Clayton Jones, Juan Fasola
  • Publication number: 20230186518
    Abstract: To calibrate a set of sensors with respect to one another, such as the respective position and orientation of the sensors, a sensor calibration system uses a well-measured calibration scene in which the objects within the calibration scene have established positions, and optionally orientations (e.g., rotational directions), within the calibration scene and with respect to one another. The calibration scene is captured by a set of sensors to generate respective sensor views of the scene. Each sensor view is analyzed to detect control objects (e.g., features thereof) with respect to the coordinates of each sensor view. Using the known relationship of the calibration objects within the calibration scene, the sensors are calibrated to determine calibration parameters for a joint coordinate system that the maps the detected positions in the sensor view with the relative positions of the measured calibration scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Chou, Yongjun Wang, Nigel Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20230182766
    Abstract: A sensor calibration system periodically receives scene data from a detector in a calibration scene. The calibration scene includes calibration targets. The sensor calibration system generates a calibration map based on the scene data. The calibration map is a virtual representation of the calibration scene and includes features of the calibration targets that can be used as ground truth features for calibrating AV sensors. The sensor calibration system can periodically update the calibration map. For instance, the sensor calibration system receives the scene data at a predetermined frequency and updates the calibration map every time it receives new scene data. The predetermined frequency may be a frequency of the detector completing a full scan of the calibration scene. The sensor calibration system provides a latest version of the calibration map for being used by an AV to calibrate a sensor on the AV 110.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Chou, Nigel Rodrigues, Jordan Michael Croom
  • Publication number: 20230171375
    Abstract: The present technology is directed to determining an accuracy of an infrared (IR) camera, and more particularly, validating a distortion accuracy of an IR camera. The present technology can receive one or more images of a calibration harp captured by the IR camera, wherein the one or more images include a plurality of lines corresponding to a plurality of strings of the calibration harp. The present technology can further determine a degree of distortion of the plurality of lines based on a distortion error coefficient, wherein the distortion error coefficient is computed based on edge points of the plurality of lines on the one or more images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Yongjun Wang, Marco Antonio Gaxiola Michel, Daniel Chou