Patents by Inventor Michael A. Epstein

Michael A. Epstein 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: 20230259836
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for confirming the identity of a passenger and changing destination of a vehicle. This may include receiving dispatching instructions to pick up a first passenger at a pickup location and to drop off the first passenger at a first destination as well as authentication information for authenticating a first client computing device of the first passenger. Once the client device is authenticated and a second passenger enters the vehicle, the vehicle is maneuvered towards the first destination. While doing so, a location of the vehicle is compared to location information received from the client computing devices. A notification is sent to a dispatching server based on the comparison and a second destination location is received in response. The vehicle is then maneuvered towards the second destination instead of the first destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: John Wesley Dyer, Luis Torres, Yu-Hsin Chen, Michael Epstein
  • Publication number: 20230209120
    Abstract: A remote control that receives state information from an associated media device is disclosed. The remote control, in response to receiving data indicating that the media device is in a content state, may update an input assembly to indicate that the assembly may be used to perform a movement function. The remote control may instruct the media device to perform a movement function in response to a selection gesture, where the degree of movement is a single unit. In response to a swipe gesture, the remote control may instruct the media device to perform a linear movement with a greater degree of movement. Buttons and functions of the remote control may be further adapted in response to a menu-based state, or other states of the media device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Neil EPSTEIN, Jonathan ELISON, Michael JOU, Julie Biron MALETZ, Thomas LORETAN
  • Patent number: 11669783
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for confirming the identity of a passenger and changing destination of a vehicle. This may include receiving dispatching instructions to pick up a first passenger at a pickup location and to drop off the first passenger at a first destination as well as authentication information for authenticating a first client computing device of the first passenger. Once the client device is authenticated and a second passenger enters the vehicle, the vehicle is maneuvered towards the first destination. While doing so, a location of the vehicle is compared to location information received from the client computing devices. A notification is sent to a dispatching server based on the comparison and a second destination location is received in response. The vehicle is then maneuvered towards the second destination instead of the first destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: John Wesley Dyer, Luis Torres, Yu-Hsin Chen, Michael Epstein
  • Publication number: 20230168677
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for reducing inconvenience to other road users caused by stopped autonomous vehicles. As an example, a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode may be stopped at a first location. While the vehicle is stopped, sensor data is received from a perception system of the vehicle. The sensor data may identify a road user. Using the sensor data, a value indicative of a level of inconvenience to the road user caused by stopping the vehicle at the first location may be determined. The vehicle is controlled in the autonomous driving mode to cause the vehicle to move from the first location and in order to reduce the value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: John Wesley Dyer, Michael Epstein, Ken Hu
  • Patent number: 11657318
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to training models for identification of events likely to cause discomfort to passengers of autonomous vehicles and for assessment of overall ride quality of autonomous vehicle rides. For instance, ride data may be associated with a ride quality value indicative of a level of discomfort and/or a first overall ride quality value indicating an overall ride quality provided by the passenger for the first ride. This ride data may be used to train a model such that the model is configured to, in response to receiving ride data for a second ride as input, output a list of events likely to cause discomfort to a passenger during the second ride and/or such that the model is configured to, in response to receiving second ride data for a second ride as input, output a second overall ride quality value for the second ride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Ioan-Alexandru Sucan, Fang Da, Poonam Suryanarayan, Nathaniel Fairfield, Yutaka Leon Suematsu, Omer Baror, Jian Leong, Michael Epstein
  • Publication number: 20230152812
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for controlling an autonomous vehicle to respond to queuing behaviors at pickup or drop-off locations. As an example, a request to pick up or drop off a passenger at a location may be received. The location may be determined to likely have a queue for picking up and dropping off passengers. Based on sensor data received from a perception system, whether a queue exists at the location may be determined. Once it is determined that a queue exists, it may be determined whether to join the queue to avoid inconveniencing other road users. Based on the determination to join the queue, the vehicle may be controlled to join the queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: John Wesley Dyer, Michael Epstein
  • Patent number: 11543824
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for controlling an autonomous vehicle to respond to queuing behaviors at pickup or drop-off locations. As an example, a request to pick up or drop off a passenger at a location may be received. The location may be determined to likely have a queue for picking up and dropping off passengers. Based on sensor data received from a perception system, whether a queue exists at the location may be determined. Once it is determined that a queue exists, it may be determined whether to join the queue to avoid inconveniencing other road users. Based on the determination to join the queue, the vehicle may be controlled to join the queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: John Wesley Dyer, Michael Epstein
  • Patent number: 11543823
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for reducing inconvenience to other road users caused by stopped autonomous vehicles. As an example, a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode may be stopped at a first location. While the vehicle is stopped, sensor data is received from a perception system of the vehicle. The sensor data may identify a road user. Using the sensor data, a value indicative of a level of inconvenience to the road user caused by stopping the vehicle at the first location may be determined. The vehicle is controlled in the autonomous driving mode to cause the vehicle to move from the first location and in order to reduce the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: John Wesley Dyer, Michael Epstein, Ken Hu
  • Publication number: 20220390944
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to context aware stopping of a vehicle without a driver. As an example, after a passenger has entered the vehicle, the vehicle is maneuvered by one or more processors in an autonomous driving mode towards a destination location along a route. The route is divided into two or more stages. A signal is received by the one or more processors. The signal indicates that the passenger is requesting that the vehicle stop or pull over. In response to the signal, the one or more processors determine a current stage of the route based on a current distance of the vehicle from a pickup location where the passenger entered the vehicle or a current distance of the vehicle from the destination location. The one or more processors then stop the vehicle in accordance with the determined current stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: John Wesley Dyer, Luis Torres, Michael Epstein, Guillaume Dupre, Joshua Seth Herbach
  • Publication number: 20220379914
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to smart signs or physical markers for facilitating passenger trips for autonomous vehicles. For instance, a physical marker remote from the autonomous vehicles may receive a first notification indicating a request for a trip has been made via a client computing device. The physical marker may determine when the client computing device has reached a physical marker, and in response to the determination, the physical marker may send a second notification to a dispatching server computing device indicating that the client computing device has reached a physical marker. Other aspects of the disclosure relate to various features and uses for the physical marker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: John Wesley Dyer, Philip Nemec, Joshua Newby, Michael Epstein
  • Patent number: 11475119
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for recognizing an assigned passenger. For instance, dispatching instructions to pick up a passenger at a pickup location are received. The instructions include authentication information for authenticating a client computing device associated with the passenger. A vehicle is maneuvered in an autonomous driving mode towards the pickup location. The client device is then authenticated. After authentication, a set of pedestrians within a predetermined distance of the vehicle are identified from sensor information generated by a sensor of the vehicle and location information is received over a period of time from the client device. The received location information is used to estimate a velocity of the passenger. This estimated velocity is used to identify a subset of set of pedestrians that is likely to be the passenger. The vehicle is stopped to allow the passenger to enter the vehicle based on the subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: John Wesley Dyer, Luis Torres, Michael Epstein, Yu-Hsin Chen
  • Patent number: 11443634
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to smart signs or physical markers for facilitating passenger trips for autonomous vehicles. For instance, a physical marker remote from the autonomous vehicles may receive a first notification indicating a request for a trip has been made via a client computing device. The physical marker may determine when the client computing device has reached a physical marker, and in response to the determination, the physical marker may send a second notification to a dispatching server computing device indicating that the client computing device has reached a physical marker. Other aspects of the disclosure relate to various features and uses for the physical marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: John Wesley Dyer, Philip Nemec, Joshua Newby, Michael Epstein
  • Patent number: 11422558
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to context aware stopping of a vehicle without a driver. As an example, after a passenger has entered the vehicle, the vehicle is maneuvered by one or more processors in an autonomous driving mode towards a destination location along a route. The route is divided into two or more stages. A signal is received by the one or more processors. The signal indicates that the passenger is requesting that the vehicle stop or pull over. In response to the signal, the one or more processors determine a current stage of the route based on a current distance of the vehicle from a pickup location where the passenger entered the vehicle or a current distance of the vehicle from the destination location. The one or more processors then stop the vehicle in accordance with the determined current stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: John Wesley Dyer, Luis Torres, Michael Epstein, Guillaume Dupre, Joshua Seth Herbach
  • Publication number: 20220191657
    Abstract: The technology relates to actively looking for an assigned passenger prior to a vehicle 100 reaching a pickup location. For instance, information identifying the pickup location and client device information for authenticating the assigned passenger is received. Sensor data is received from a perception system of the vehicle identifying objects in an environment of the vehicle. When the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the pickup location, authenticating a client device using the client device information is attempted. When the client device has been authenticated, the sensor data is used to determine whether a pedestrian is within a first threshold distance of the vehicle. When a pedestrian is determined to be within the first threshold distance of the vehicle, the vehicle is stopped prior to reaching the pickup location, to wait for the pedestrian within the first threshold distance of the vehicle to enter the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Philip Nemec, Renaud-Roland Hubert, Joshua Seth Herbach, Min Li Chan, Michael Epstein, Salil Pandit, John Wesley Dyer, Juliet Rothenberg
  • Publication number: 20220162707
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for detecting and targeting genomic rearrangements, in particular gene fusion events, by targeting a DNA molecule of interest with a set or pool of primers, wherein the forward primers and reverse primers produce a PCR amplification product when a genomic rearrangement is present. The present disclosure also relates to methods of bioinformatic analysis to determine whether or not the detection of an amplification product from the selective PCR is actually indicative of the presence of a gene fusion. The present disclosure also related to related methods of diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions associated with such genomic rearrangements, in particular cancers, such as lung cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Samuel Woodhouse, Stefanie Lensing, Tim Forshew, Vincent Plagnol, Matthew Edward Smith, Karen Howarth, Michael Epstein
  • Patent number: 11341826
    Abstract: A robotic-arm apparatus may include a robotic hand dimensioned to approximate a size and movement of a user's hand. The robotic-arm apparatus may also include one or more tactile-sensing pads coupled to at least a portion of the robotic hand, wherein a tactile-sensing pad is configured to detect surface data about a surface in a real-world environment. Additionally, the robotic-arm apparatus may include an actuator configured to move the robotic hand to mimic a motion of a glove worn by the user's hand, wherein the glove is configured to provide haptic feedback corresponding to the surface data to the user's hand. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Wiley, Michael Epstein, Ahmad Byagowi
  • Publication number: 20220121204
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode. For instance, a first location corresponding to a location where the vehicle is to pick up or drop off a passenger is received. A first cost for the vehicle to reach the first location is determined. A second location based on the first location is identified, and a second cost is determined based on a cost for the vehicle to reach the second location and a cost for the passenger to reach the second location. The first cost is compared to the second cost, and a notification is sent based on the notification. In response to sending the notification, instructions to proceed to the second location are received, and in response to receiving the instructions, the vehicle is controlled in the autonomous driving mode to the second location to pick up or drop off the passenger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Seth Herbach, Michael Epstein, Mishika Vora, Guillaume Dupre, Kevin Rawlings
  • Patent number: 11300368
    Abstract: A cross-flow heat exchanger for gas turbine engines which may be utilized to transfer heat from one fluid flow 46 to a second independent fluid flow wherein one of the fluid flows has a high differential inlet pressure and temperature. The heat exchanger has robust construction to inhibit mixing of the fluid flows during a single burst duct event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Kupiszewski, Christopher Charles Glynn, Steven Douglas Johnson, John Andrew Kemme, Mehdi Milani Baladi, Michael Epstein
  • Patent number: 11297473
    Abstract: The technology relates to actively looking for an assigned passenger prior to a vehicle 100 reaching a pickup location. For instance, information identifying the pickup location and client device information for authenticating the assigned passenger is received. Sensor data is received from a perception system of the vehicle identifying objects in an environment of the vehicle. When the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the pickup location, authenticating a client device using the client device information is attempted. When the client device has been authenticated, the sensor data is used to determine whether a pedestrian is within a first threshold distance of the vehicle. When a pedestrian is determined to be within the first threshold distance of the vehicle, the vehicle is stopped prior to reaching the pickup location, to wait for the pedestrian within the first threshold distance of the vehicle to enter the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Philip Nemec, Renaud-Roland Hubert, Joshua Seth Herbach, Min Li Chan, Michael Epstein, Salil Pandit, John Wesley Dyer, Juliet Rothenberg
  • Patent number: 11243535
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode. For instance, a first location corresponding to a location where the vehicle is to pick up or drop off a passenger is received. A first cost for the vehicle to reach the first location is determined. A second location based on the first location is identified, and a second cost is determined based on a cost for the vehicle to reach the second location and a cost for the passenger to reach the second location. The first cost is compared to the second cost, and a notification is sent based on the notification. In response to sending the notification, instructions to proceed to the second location are received, and in response to receiving the instructions, the vehicle is controlled in the autonomous driving mode to the second location to pick up or drop off the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Seth Herbach, Michael Epstein, Mishika Vora, Guillaume Dupre, Kevin Rawlings