Patents by Inventor Giulia GUIDI

Giulia GUIDI 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: 20260185687
    Abstract: Example embodiments described herein involve a system for testing a light-emitting module. The light-emitting module may include a mounting platform configured to hold a light-emitting module for a camera. The mounting platform may also be configured to rotate. The system may further include a housing holding a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array over at least a 90 degree arc of a hemisphere. The system may also include a controller configured to control the photodiodes and the rotation of the mounting platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2026
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Inventors: Choon Ping Chng, Cheng-Han Wu, Lucian Ion, Giulia Guidi
  • Patent number: 12578085
    Abstract: Example embodiments described herein involve a system for testing a light-emitting module. The light-emitting module may include a mounting platform configured to hold a light-emitting module for a camera. The mounting platform may also be configured to rotate. The system may further include a housing holding a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array over at least a 90 degree arc of a hemisphere. The system may also include a controller configured to control the photodiodes and the rotation of the mounting platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2025
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Choon Ping Chng, Cheng-Han Wu, Lucian Ion, Giulia Guidi
  • Patent number: 12571662
    Abstract: A system may include a first sensor of a first type and a second sensor of a second different type and having a detector. A field of view of the second sensor may be formed by a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs) defined by the detector. Control circuitry of the system may be configured to perform operations including obtaining, from the first sensor, first sensor data representing an environment, and determining, based on the first sensor data, information associated with a feature of interest within the environment. The operations may also include determining, based on the information, a particular ROI that corresponds to an expected position of the feature at a later time, obtaining a plurality of ROI sensor data from the particular ROI instead of obtaining full-resolution sensor data, and analyzing the plurality of ROI sensor data to determine one or more attributes of the feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nirav Dharia, Giulia Guidi, Ralph Shepard, Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion
  • Publication number: 20250322669
    Abstract: The technology relates to an exterior sensor system for a vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. The technology includes a close-in sensing (CIS) camera system to address blind spots around the vehicle. The CIS system is used to detect objects within a few meters of the vehicle. Based on object classification, the system is able to make real-time driving decisions. Classification is enhanced by employing cameras in conjunction with lidar sensors. The specific arrangement of multiple sensors in a single sensor housing is also important to object detection and classification. Thus, the positioning of the sensors and support components are selected to avoid occlusion and to otherwise prevent interference between the various sensor housing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2025
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi, Peter Avram
  • Publication number: 20250321584
    Abstract: The technology relates to an exterior sensor system for a vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. The technology includes a close-in sensing (CIS) camera system to address blind spots around the vehicle. The CIS system is used to detect objects within a few meters of the vehicle. Based on object classification, the system is able to make real-time driving decisions. Classification is enhanced by employing cameras in conjunction with lidar sensors. The specific arrangement of multiple sensors in a single sensor housing is also important to object detection and classification. Thus, the positioning of the sensors and support components are selected to avoid occlusion and to otherwise prevent interference between the various sensor housing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2025
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Inventors: Peter Avram, Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi
  • Publication number: 20250263025
    Abstract: The technology provides an interior camera sensing system for self-driving vehicles. The sensor system includes image sensors and infrared illuminators to see the vehicle's cabin and storage areas in all ambient lighting conditions. The system can monitor the vehicle for safety purposes, to detect the cleanliness of the cabin and storage areas, as well as to detect whether packages or other objects have been inadvertently left in the vehicle. The cameras are arranged to focus on selected regions in the vehicle cabin and the system carries out certain actions in response to information evaluated for those regions. The interior space is divided into multiple zones assigned different coverage priorities. Regardless of vehicle size or configuration, certain actions are performed according to various ride checklists and the imagery detected by the interior cameras. The checklists include pre-ride, mid-ride, and post-ride checklists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2025
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Giulia Guidi, Choon Ping Chng
  • Patent number: 12366857
    Abstract: The technology relates to an exterior sensor system for a vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. The technology includes a close-in sensing (CIS) camera system to address blind spots around the vehicle. The CIS system is used to detect objects within a few meters of the vehicle. Based on object classification, the system is able to make real-time driving decisions. Classification is enhanced by employing cameras in conjunction with lidar sensors. The specific arrangement of multiple sensors in a single sensor housing is also important to object detection and classification. Thus, the positioning of the sensors and support components are selected to avoid occlusion and to otherwise prevent interference between the various sensor housing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Peter Avram, Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi
  • Publication number: 20250180196
    Abstract: Example embodiments described herein involve a system for testing a light-emitting module. The light-emitting module may include a mounting platform configured to hold a light-emitting module for a camera. The mounting platform may also be configured to rotate. The system may further include a housing holding a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array over at least a 90 degree arc of a hemisphere. The system may also include a controller configured to control the photodiodes and the rotation of the mounting platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Choon Ping Chng, Cheng-Han Wu, Lucian Ion, Giulia Guidi
  • Patent number: 12319206
    Abstract: The technology provides an interior camera sensing system for self-driving vehicles. The sensor system includes image sensors and infrared illuminators to see the vehicle's cabin and storage areas in all ambient lighting conditions. The system can monitor the vehicle for safety purposes, to detect the cleanliness of the cabin and storage areas, as well as to detect whether packages or other objects have been inadvertently left in the vehicle. The cameras are arranged to focus on selected regions in the vehicle cabin and the system carries out certain actions in response to information evaluated for those regions. The interior space is divided into multiple zones assigned different coverage priorities. Regardless of vehicle size or configuration, certain actions are performed according to various ride checklists and the imagery detected by the interior cameras. The checklists include pre-ride, mid-ride, and post-ride checklists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Giulia Guidi, Choon Ping Chng
  • Patent number: 12260650
    Abstract: The technology relates to an exterior sensor system for a vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. The technology includes a close-in sensing (CIS) camera system to address blind spots around the vehicle. The CIS system is used to detect objects within a few meters of the vehicle. Based on object classification, the system is able to make real-time driving decisions. Classification is enhanced by employing cameras in conjunction with lidar sensors. The specific arrangement of multiple sensors in a single sensor housing is also important to object detection and classification. Thus, the positioning of the sensors and support components are selected to avoid occlusion and to otherwise prevent interference between the various sensor housing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi, Peter Avram
  • Patent number: 12241618
    Abstract: Example embodiments described herein involve a system for testing a light-emitting module. The light-emitting module may include a mounting platform configured to hold a light-emitting module for a camera. The mounting platform may also be configured to rotate. The system may further include a housing holding a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array over at least a 90 degree arc of a hemisphere. The system may also include a controller configured to control the photodiodes and the rotation of the mounting platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Choon Ping Chng, Cheng-Han Wu, Lucian Ion, Giulia Guidi
  • Patent number: 12105200
    Abstract: A system includes a near-infrared (NIR) illuminator, an NIR image sensor, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device, and control circuitry configured to perform operations. The operations include causing the NIR illuminator to illuminate a portion of an environment, and obtaining, from the NIR image sensor, NIR image data representing the portion of the environment illuminated by the NIR illuminator. The operations also include detecting a retroreflector within the NIR image data and, based on detecting the retroreflector within the NIR image, determining a position of the retroreflector within the environment. The operations further include, based on the position of the retroreflector within the environment, adjusting at least one parameter of the LIDAR device in connection with scanning the retroreflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Caner Onal, Nirav Dharia, Giulia Guidi
  • Patent number: 12059994
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical systems, vehicles, and methods that are configured to illuminate and image a wide field of view of an environment. An example optical system includes a camera having an optical axis and an outer lens element disposed along the optical axis. The optical system also includes a plurality of illumination modules, each of which includes at least one light-emitter device configured to emit light along a respective emission axis and a secondary optical element optically coupled to the at least one light-emitter device. The secondary optical element is configured to provide a light emission pattern having an azimuthal angle extent of at least 170 degrees so as to illuminate a portion of an environment of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Giulia Guidi
  • Publication number: 20240183519
    Abstract: Example embodiments described herein involve a system for testing a light-emitting module. The light-emitting module may include a mounting platform configured to hold a light-emitting module for a camera. The mounting platform may also be configured to rotate. The system may further include a housing holding a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array over at least a 90 degree arc of a hemisphere. The system may also include a controller configured to control the photodiodes and the rotation of the mounting platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Choon Ping Chng, Cheng-Han Wu, Lucian Ion, Giulia Guidi
  • Publication number: 20240175728
    Abstract: A system may include a first sensor of a first type and a second sensor of a second different type and having a detector. A field of view of the second sensor may be formed by a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs) defined by the detector. Control circuitry of the system may be configured to perform operations including obtaining, from the first sensor, first sensor data representing an environment, and determining, based on the first sensor data, information associated with a feature of interest within the environment. The operations may also include determining, based on the information, a particular ROI that corresponds to an expected position of the feature at a later time, obtaining a plurality of ROI sensor data from the particular ROI instead of obtaining full-resolution sensor data, and analyzing the plurality of ROI sensor data to determine one or more attributes of the feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Nirav Dharia, Giulia Guidi, Ralph Shepard, Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion
  • Publication number: 20240166144
    Abstract: The technology provides an interior camera sensing system for self-driving vehicles. The sensor system includes image sensors and infrared illuminators to see the vehicle's cabin and storage areas in all ambient lighting conditions. The system can monitor the vehicle for safety purposes, to detect the cleanliness of the cabin and storage areas, as well as to detect whether packages or other objects have been inadvertently left in the vehicle. The cameras are arranged to focus on selected regions in the vehicle cabin and the system carries out certain actions in response to information evaluated for those regions. The interior space is divided into multiple zones assigned different coverage priorities. Regardless of vehicle size or configuration, certain actions are performed according to various ride checklists and the imagery detected by the interior cameras. The checklists include pre-ride, mid-ride, and post-ride checklists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Giulia Guidi, Choon Ping Chng
  • Publication number: 20240144697
    Abstract: The technology relates to an exterior sensor system for a vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. The technology includes a close-in sensing (CIS) camera system to address blind spots around the vehicle. The CIS system is used to detect objects within a few meters of the vehicle. Based on object classification, the system is able to make real-time driving decisions. Classification is enhanced by employing cameras in conjunction with lidar sensors. The specific arrangement of multiple sensors in a single sensor housing is also important to object detection and classification. Thus, the positioning of the sensors and support components are selected to avoid occlusion and to otherwise prevent interference between the various sensor housing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi, Peter Avram
  • Patent number: 11933647
    Abstract: A system may include a first sensor of a first type and a second sensor of a second different type and having a detector. A field of view of the second sensor may be formed by a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs) defined by the detector. Control circuitry of the system may be configured to perform operations including obtaining, from the first sensor, first sensor data representing an environment, and determining, based on the first sensor data, information associated with a feature of interest within the environment. The operations may also include determining, based on the information, a particular ROI that corresponds to an expected position of the feature at a later time, obtaining a plurality of ROI sensor data from the particular ROI instead of obtaining full-resolution sensor data, and analyzing the plurality of ROI sensor data to determine one or more attributes of the feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nirav Dharia, Giulia Guidi, Ralph Shepard, Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion
  • Patent number: 11920770
    Abstract: Example embodiments described herein involve a system for testing a light-emitting module. The light-emitting module may include a mounting platform configured to hold a light-emitting module for a camera. The mounting platform may also be configured to rotate. The system may further include a housing holding a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array over at least a 90 degree arc of a hemisphere. The system may also include a controller configured to control the photodiodes and the rotation of the mounting platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Choon Ping Chng, Cheng-Han Wu, Lucian Ion, Giulia Guidi
  • Publication number: 20240061425
    Abstract: The technology relates to an exterior sensor system for a vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. The technology includes a close-in sensing (CIS) camera system to address blind spots around the vehicle. The CIS system is used to detect objects within a few meters of the vehicle. Based on object classification, the system is able to make real-time driving decisions. Classification is enhanced by employing cameras in conjunction with lidar sensors. The specific arrangement of multiple sensors in a single sensor housing is also important to object detection and classification. Thus, the positioning of the sensors and support components are selected to avoid occlusion and to otherwise prevent interference between the various sensor housing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Peter Avram, Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi