Patents by Inventor David L. Paulsen

David L. Paulsen 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: 20240069198
    Abstract: A system includes an electronic circuit configured to provide a detected waveform including a first detected waveform portion corresponding to a first output light pulse triggered at a first trigger time and a second detected waveform portion corresponding to a second output light pulse triggered at a second trigger time. The system further includes one or more processors configured to determine a pulse metric associated with the second output light pulse including by being configured to determine a difference between a measured level on the second detected waveform portion and a modeled reference level determined based on a signal decay model and a measured pulse period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventor: David L. Paulsen
  • Publication number: 20220413142
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit optical pulses using multiple pulse intervals (PIs) that include a first PI and a second PI, where the first PI and the second PI are not equal. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect multiple input optical pulses. The lidar system further includes a processor configured to generate multiple pixels, where each pixel of the multiple pixels corresponds to one of the multiple input optical pulses and is associated with one of the PIs. The processor is further configured to (i) determine, for a particular pixel of the multiple pixels, a group of nearby pixels and (ii) determine whether the particular pixel is range-wrapped based at least in part on the PI associated with each pixel of the group of nearby pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: David L. Paulsen, Christopher Gary Sentelle, Zachary Heylmun, Matthew Hansen
  • Patent number: 11428812
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit multiple optical signals directed into a field of regard of the lidar system. The optical signals include: a first optical signal; a second optical signal emitted a first time period ?1 after the first optical signal; and a third optical signal emitted a second time period ?2 after the second optical signal, where ?2 is different from ?1. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect a first input optical signal and a second input optical signal. The first and second input optical signals each include light from one of the emitted optical signals that is scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Luminar, LLC
    Inventor: David L. Paulsen
  • Publication number: 20200284908
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit multiple optical signals directed into a field of regard of the lidar system. The optical signals include: a first optical signal; a second optical signal emitted a first time period ?1 after the first optical signal; and a third optical signal emitted a second time period ?2 after the second optical signal, where ?2 is different from ?1. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect a first input optical signal and a second input optical signal. The first and second input optical signals each include light from one of the emitted optical signals that is scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventor: David L. Paulsen
  • Patent number: 10571570
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes emitting, by a light source of a lidar system, multiple optical pulses using multiple alternating pulse repetition intervals (PRIs) that include a first PRI and a second PRI, where the first PRI and the second PRI are not equal. The method also includes detecting, by a receiver of the lidar system, multiple input optical pulses and generating, by a processor of the lidar system, multiple pixels. Each pixel of the multiple pixels corresponds to one of the input optical pulses, and each pixel includes a PRI associated with a most recently emitted optical pulse of the multiple optical pulses. The method also includes determining a group of neighboring pixels for a particular pixel of the multiple pixels and determining whether the particular pixel is range-wrapped based at least in part on the PRI associated with each pixel of the group of neighboring pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Luminar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Paulsen, Christopher Gary Sentelle, Zachary Heylmun, Matthew Hansen
  • Patent number: 6999441
    Abstract: In a mesh communication network, a poll request protocol (PRP) is provided in which a special packet is broadcast by the congested node when it is ready to provide services. The controlling node (usually the more congested node) broadcasts a packet to request poll signals from nodes desiring resources of the controlling node. The contending nodes then have equal chances to request the services of the controlling node by sending poll signals. The controlling node can then arbitrate the requests, determine the most fair and efficient use of its resources, and broadcast a scheduling packet to inform the contending nodes when to inform the contending nodes of controlling node scheduling. The contending nodes then send their packets to the controlling node without lost packets caused by congestion collisions. The controlling node can then send data to the contending nodes also without lost packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Ricochet Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: George H. Flammer, III, David L. Paulsen, Michael W. Ritter
  • Publication number: 20030002442
    Abstract: In a mesh communication network, a poll request protocol (PRP) is provided in which a special packet is broadcast by the congested node when it is ready to provide services. The controlling node (usually the more congested node) broadcasts a packet to request poll signals from nodes desiring resources of the controlling node. The contending nodes then have equal chances to request the services of the controlling node by sending poll signals. The controlling node can then arbitrate the requests, determine the most fair and efficient use of its resources, and broadcast a scheduling packet to inform the contending nodes when to inform the contending nodes of controlling node scheduling. The contending nodes then send their packets to the controlling node without lost packets caused by congestion collisions. The controlling node can then send data to the contending nodes also without lost packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Metricom, Inc.
    Inventors: George H. Flammer, David L. Paulsen, Michael W. Ritter
  • Patent number: 5706221
    Abstract: A data filter consists of an electronic circuit with a delay and offset in a feedback loop to a reference input of a comparator to provide low frequency tracking of a binary-level data signal so digital information can be extracted at the output of the comparator by causing the reference input to track a relatively slowly-varying baseband neutral signal level. The delay is preferably implemented by a low-pass filter, providing additional noise immunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Metricom, Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Paulsen
  • Patent number: 5664194
    Abstract: In a computer-driven device, a start-up mode after reset is provided whereby boot-up instructions are by default always accepted directly from an external source. The device may comprise a gate array (GA) which is connected directly via a serial port to a receiving or input device, to receive program code for transfer directly as instructions to a microprocessor-type central processing unit. The central processing unit is part of a computer controlled device containing a microprocessor, memory (a RAM), and typically a bulk erase flash memory device, the flash memory device being unprogrammed when the computer controlled device is fabricated originally. When the computer controlled device first powers up, a special mode of operation ensues in which the gate array directly monitor bits received via the serial port from the input device and shifts them into a local register from which bytes or words are loaded directly into the CPU as instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Metricom, Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Paulsen
  • Patent number: 5515369
    Abstract: In a wireless packet communication system having a plurality of nodes, each having a transmitter and a receiver, the receiver at each node is assigned a seed value and is provided with a channel punchout mask. A node uses its seed value and punchout mask to generate a specific randomly ordered channel hopping band plan on which to receive signals. A node transmits its seed value and punchout mask to target nodes with which it wants to establish communication links, and those target nodes each use the seed value and punchout mask to generate the randomly ordered channel hopping band plan for that node. Subsequently, when one of the target nodes wish to transmit to the node, the target node changes frequency to the frequency of the node according to that node's band plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Metricom, Inc.
    Inventors: George H. Flammer, III, Brett D. Galloway, David L. Paulsen
  • Patent number: 4573129
    Abstract: A bi-directional pen plotter includes two pen stables and a pen holder located between the two pen stables for snatching a pen from either pen stable and for inserting a pen into either pen stable. There are four distinct stops to the motion of the pen holder at each pen stable depending on the four possible combinations of pen locations. Measuring the relative distances travelled by the pen holder in an initialization procedure the positions of all of the pens in the system may be determined uniquely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: David C. Tribolet, David L. Paulsen