Patents by Inventor Mark Alexander

Mark Alexander 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: 11616573
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing operations based on LIDAR communications are described. An example device may include one or more processors and a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to receive data associated with a modulated optical signal emitted by a transmitter of a first LIDAR device and received by a receiver of a second LIDAR device coupled to a vehicle and the device, generate a rendering of an environment of the vehicle based on information from one or more LIDAR devices coupled to the vehicle, and update the rendering based on the received data. Updating the rendering includes updating an object rendering of an object in the environment of the vehicle. The instructions further cause the device to provide the updated rendering for display on a display coupled to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Salil Shree Pandit, Mark Alexander Shand, Reed Gerard Alexander Morse
  • Publication number: 20230092544
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods involving Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR or lidar) systems. Namely, an example method includes causing a light source of a LIDAR system to emit light along an emission vector. The method also includes adjusting the emission vector of the emitted light and determining an elevation angle component of the emission vector. The method further includes dynamically adjusting a per pulse energy of the emitted light based on the determined elevation angle component. An example system includes a vehicle and a light source coupled to the vehicle. The light source is configured to emit light along an emission vector toward an environment of the vehicle. The system also includes a controller operable to determine an elevation angle component of the emission vector and dynamically adjust a per pulse energy of the emitted light based on the determined elevation angle component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Alexander Shand
  • Publication number: 20230068593
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to processes for making various polymorphs of tucatinib, designated herein as Form I, Form II, and Form III of tucatinib. These forms can then be used to prepare pharmaceutical formations containing tucatinib. Tucatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is indicated for the treatment of breast cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Thierry BONNAUD, Adam Ross PATTERSON, Zoe PRENTICE, Mark Alexander WRIGHT
  • Patent number: 11592524
    Abstract: Methods and systems for laser point clouds are described herein. The method and system may include receiving, at a computing device, lidar data indicative of an environment of a vehicle from a first lidar data source, where the lidar data includes a first plurality of data points indicative of locations of reflections from the environment and further includes a respective intensity for each data point. The method and system also include determining a first surface normal for at least a first data point of the first plurality of data points. The method and system further includes determining a first angle of incidence for the first data point based on the surface normal. Additionally, the method and system includes adjusting the intensity of the first data point based on the first angle of incidence to create a first adjusted intensity for the first data point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Mingcheng Chen, Christian Lauterbach, Blaise Gassend, Nathaniel Quillin, Luke Wachter, Gil Shotan, Mark Alexander Shand
  • Publication number: 20230040638
    Abstract: A method of automatically scheduling a service provider appointment at a target location is provided. The method includes receiving a first calendar schedule of a first service provider, and a target assignment that includes a target area, a target assignment type, and the target location. A first time slot can be identified in the first calendar schedule. A comprehensive operation time associated with the target assignment and the first service provider can be determined based on at least an estimated travel time and an estimated operation time to perform the target assignment based on the target area and the target assignment type. The method further includes notifying the comprehensive operation time to a user. Related systems and computer program products are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Mark Alexander Gustafson, Michael Robert Klinker, Rudolf F. Hattenkofer
  • Patent number: 11561281
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to selective deactivation of light emitters for interference mitigation in light detection and ranging (lidar) devices. An example method includes deactivating one or more light emitters within a lidar device during a firing cycle. The method also includes identifying whether interference is influencing measurements made by the lidar device. Identifying whether interference is influencing measurements made by the lidar device includes determining, for each light detector of the lidar device that is associated with the one or more light emitters deactivated during the firing cycle, whether a light signal was detected during the firing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Mark Alexander Shand
  • Patent number: 11558566
    Abstract: One example system comprises a LIDAR sensor that rotates about an axis to scan an environment of the LIDAR sensor. The system also comprises one or more cameras that detect external light originating from one or more external light sources. The one or more cameras together provide a plurality of rows of sensing elements. The rows of sensing elements are aligned with the axis of rotation of the LIDAR sensor. The system also comprises a controller that operates the one or more cameras to obtain a sequence of image pixel rows. A first image pixel row in the sequence is indicative of external light detected by a first row of sensing elements during a first exposure time period. A second image pixel row in the sequence is indicative of external light detected by a second row of sensing elements during a second exposure time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Blaise Gassend, Benjamin Ingram, Andreas Wendel, Mark Alexander Shand
  • Patent number: 11543495
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to LIDAR systems and their operation. An example method includes partitioning a plurality of light-emitter devices into a plurality of groups. Each light-emitter device is associated with a given group of the plurality of groups. The method also includes selecting a group from the plurality of groups according to a predetermined group order and selecting one or more light-emitter devices from the plurality of light-emitter devices of the selected group according to a firing order. The method yet further includes, at a predetermined shot dither time, causing the selected light-emitter device to emit at least one light pulse. The predetermined shot dither time is based on a shot dither schedule. The method may additionally include repeating the method to provide a complete scan in which each light-emitter device of the plurality of light-emitter devices has emitted at least one light pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Mark Alexander Shand
  • Patent number: 11520002
    Abstract: A vessel monitoring service obtains transponder data of a vessel operating within a navigable area. In response to obtaining the transponder data of the vessel, the vessel monitoring service evaluates the transponder data and a plurality of travel segments recorded for a plurality of vessels to identify a travel segment to which the transponder data corresponds. The vessel monitoring service updates the travel segment using the transponder data and determine whether the vessel is engaged in an unauthorized activity. If so, the vessel monitoring service provides an indication that the vessel is engaged in the unauthorized activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Vulcan Technologies LLC
    Inventors: David Martin Moore, Mark Alexander Otterlee, Patrick Dunagan, Leina Tani
  • Patent number: 11513196
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods involving Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR or lidar) systems. Namely, an example method includes causing a light source of a LIDAR system to emit light along an emission vector. The method also includes adjusting the emission vector of the emitted light and determining an elevation angle component of the emission vector. The method further includes dynamically adjusting a per pulse energy of the emitted light based on the determined elevation angle component. An example system includes a vehicle and a light source coupled to the vehicle. The light source is configured to emit light along an emission vector toward an environment of the vehicle. The system also includes a controller operable to determine an elevation angle component of the emission vector and dynamically adjust a per pulse energy of the emitted light based on the determined elevation angle component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Mark Alexander Shand
  • Publication number: 20220364900
    Abstract: A liquid level sensing system for a vehicle tank may include a liquid level display including a display panel and a first number of visual indicators carried by the display panel. The system may also include capacitive sensors to be coupled to the vehicle tank to sense a second number of possible liquid levels being greater than the first number of visual indicators. In addition, the system may include a controller configured to drive the visual indicators in a modulation pattern based upon the capacitive sensors to thereby display a sensed liquid level having a resolution corresponding to the second number of possible liquid levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Herbert R. GINGOLD, Victoria E. Gingold, Mark Alexander MCCORKLE, Patrick Terry Davis
  • Patent number: 11485621
    Abstract: Sensors on an aerial lift device determine the number of occupants in and occupant portion of the aerial lift device. Prior to permitting the occupant portion to rise up off the ground, the system checks the engagement of safety harnesses to verify that the number of engaged safety harnesses matches the number of occupants in the occupant portion of the aerial lift. If the number matches, operation of the aerial lift may be enabled and the occupant portion deployed. If the number does not match, an alarm is sounded and deployment of the occupant portion may be disabled. With pre-deployment safety testing, and no occupants in the occupant portion, the occupant portion may be deployed to verify all operational status of the occupant portion with no occupants. The system may further create a data log to verify the time and successful pre-deployment safety check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tricon Sales LLC
    Inventors: Adrian Men Gee Yip, Anand Rajaratnam, Doug Morrison, Howard Gene Trott, Kent Deric Eldredge, Mark Alexander Thomas
  • Publication number: 20220308191
    Abstract: A computing system may operate a LIDAR device to emit and detect light pulses in accordance with a time sequence including standard detection period(s) that establish a nominal detection range for the LIDAR device and extended detection period(s) having durations longer than those of the standard detection period(s). The system may then make a determination that the LIDAR detected return light pulse(s) during extended detection period(s) that correspond to particular emitted light pulse(s). Responsively, the computing system may determine that the detected return light pulse(s) have detection times relative to corresponding emission times of particular emitted light pulse(s) that are indicative of one or more ranges. Given this, the computing system may make a further determination of whether or not the one or more ranges indicate that an object is positioned outside of the nominal detection range, and may then engage in object detection in accordance with the further determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventor: Mark Alexander Shand
  • Patent number: 11415680
    Abstract: A computing system may operate a LIDAR device to emit and detect light pulses in accordance with a time sequence including standard detection period(s) that establish a nominal detection range for the LIDAR device and extended detection period(s) having durations longer than those of the standard detection period(s). The system may then make a determination that the LIDAR detected return light pulse(s) during extended detection period(s) that correspond to particular emitted light pulse(s). Responsively, the computing system may determine that the detected return light pulse(s) have detection times relative to corresponding emission times of particular emitted light pulse(s) that are indicative of one or more ranges. Given this, the computing system may make a further determination of whether or not the one or more ranges indicate that an object is positioned outside of the nominal detection range, and may then engage in object detection in accordance with the further determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Mark Alexander Shand
  • Publication number: 20220253274
    Abstract: Media input audio data corresponding to a media stream and microphone input audio data from at least one microphone may be received. A first level of at least one of a plurality of frequency bands of the media input audio data, as well as a second level of at least one of a plurality of frequency bands of the microphone input audio data, may be determined. Media output audio data and microphone output audio data may be produced by adjusting levels of one or more of the first and second plurality of frequency bands based on the perceived loudness of the microphone input audio data, of the microphone output audio data, of the media output audio data and the media input audio data. One or more processes may be modified upon receipt of a mode-switching indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Mark Alexander, Chunjian Li, Joshua Brandon Lando, Alan J. Seefeldt, C. Phillip Brown, Dirk Jeroen Breebaart
  • Patent number: 11406896
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique includes receiving a first story fragment from a storyteller interface of a first computing system. The technique further includes displaying the first story fragment on an audience interface of a second computing system. The technique also includes detecting a trigger on the audience interface of the second computing system. In the technique, the trigger corresponds to the first story fragment. The technique also includes identifying a special effect associated with the trigger. The technique further includes outputting the special effect and the first story fragment on at least one of the storyteller interface displayed on the first computing system and the audience interface displayed on the second computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Charles Cheung, Baback Elmieh, Connie Yeewei Ho, Girish Patangay, Mark Alexander Walsh
  • Publication number: 20220236377
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that facilitate light detection and ranging operations. An example method includes determining, for at least one light-emitter device of a plurality of light-emitter devices, a light pulse schedule. The plurality of light-emitter devices is operable to emit light along a plurality of emission vectors. The light pulse schedule is based on a respective emission vector of the at least one light-emitter device and a three-dimensional map of an external environment. The light pulse schedule includes at least one light pulse parameter and a listening window duration. The method also includes causing the at least one light-emitter device of the plurality of light-emitter devices to emit a light pulse according to the light pulse schedule. The light pulse interacts with an external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventor: Mark Alexander Shand
  • Publication number: 20220235617
    Abstract: A coiled tubing injector for running coiled tubing into and out of a well in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, includes a coiled tubing injector head including a base and a gripping mechanism configured to grip the coiled tubing running through the base and to advance and retract the coiled tubing, and a control system. The control system includes a coiled tubing indicator disposed between the gripping mechanism and a blowout preventer coupled to a head of the well, to indicate a change from presence of the coiled tubing to absence of the coiled tubing. The control system also includes a gripping mechanism control coupled to the coiled tubing indicator and operable to stop movement of gripping mechanism, thus discontinuing movement of the coiled tubing in response to the coiled tubing indicator indicating the change from the presence of the coiled tubing to the absence of the coiled tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventor: Mark Alexander DAY
  • Publication number: 20220226218
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tooth whitening film. The tooth whitening film comprises a dental bleaching agent comprising one or both of a non-hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent and hydrogen peroxide in a hydrogen peroxide-polymer complex, one or more polyphosphates, said one or more polyphosphates comprising one or more cyclic polyphosphates, one or more water soluble film-forming polymers, one or more plasticizers and one or more emulsifiers, wherein the film has a thickness from about 50 ?m to about 500 ?m. A kit comprising one or more such films having a thickness from about 50 ?m to about 150 ?m and a dental aligner is also provided. A process for the manufacture of the film is also provided, together with a method of using such a film to bleach teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Amy LEES, Sarah Lindsay GRANT, Ian Herbert STEVENS, Robert CRICHTON, Mark Alexander LIVINGSTONE, Moira WARNOCK, John Edward CULLEN, Melanie MACFARLANE
  • Publication number: 20220221571
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for managing the operation of sensors in an electronic device. According to certain aspects, the electronic device may detect a change in motion from an initial set of sensor data generated by a sensor(s). A memory cache may store the initial set of sensor data or additional sensor data generated by the sensor(s). The electronic device may initiate a supplemental algorithm that analyzes the cached data. Based on the analysis of the cached data and whether the change in motion is confirmed or whether additional motion is detected, the electronic device may manage the operation of the supplemental algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Felch, Christopher Findeisen, JinJie Chen, Mark Alexander, Shang Shi, Zhuo Wang