Patents by Inventor Kimberly Toth

Kimberly Toth 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: 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11904779
    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 elude 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 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Giulia Guidi, Choon Ping Chng
  • Patent number: 11887378
    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: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi, Peter Avram
  • Patent number: 11880200
    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 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: WAYMO LLC
    Inventors: Peter Avram, Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi
  • Publication number: 20230186643
    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: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi, Peter Avram
  • Publication number: 20230150440
    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 elude 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 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Giulia Guidi, Choon Ping Chng
  • Publication number: 20230089733
    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 3, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Avram, Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi
  • Patent number: 11608066
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode where vehicle has a drive by wire braking system. For instance, while the vehicle is being controlled in the autonomous driving mode, a signal corresponding to input at a brake pedal of the drive by wire braking system may be received. An amount of braking may be determined based on the received signal. The amount of braking may be used to determine a trajectory for the vehicle to follow. The vehicle may be controlled in the autonomous driving mode using the trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nolan McPeek-Bechtold, Kimberly Toth
  • Patent number: 11587334
    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: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Giulia Guidi, Choon Ping Chng
  • Patent number: 11557127
    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: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi, Peter Avram
  • Patent number: 11493922
    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: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Peter Avram, Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi
  • Publication number: 20210295069
    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: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Giulia Guidi, Choon Ping Chng
  • Publication number: 20210201054
    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: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Jeremy Dittmer, Giulia Guidi, Peter Avram
  • Patent number: 11017248
    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: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Toth, Giulia Guidi, Choon Ping Chng