Patents by Inventor Michael Tom

Michael Tom 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: 20250291037
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to light detection and ranging (lidar) devices having a light-guide manifold. An example lidar device includes a transmit subsystem. The transmit subsystem includes a light emitter. The transmit subsystem also includes a light-guide manifold optically coupled to the light emitter. Further, the transmit subsystem includes a telecentric lens assembly optically coupled to the light-guide manifold. The lidar device also includes a receive subsystem. The receive subsystem includes the telecentric lens assembly. The receive subsystem also includes an aperture plate having an aperture defined therein. The aperture plate is positioned at a focal plane of the telecentric lens assembly. Further, the receive subsystem includes a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) positioned to receive light traveling through the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2025
    Publication date: September 18, 2025
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Ralph H. Shepard, Augusto Tazzoli, David Hutchison, David Schleuning, Nathaniel Golshan, Nathaniel Quillin, Andrew Abo, Caner Onal, Michael Tom, Robert Lockwood, Kelvin Kwong, Daiwei Li, Drew Ulrich, Simon Ellgas, Chandra Kakani, Erin Eppard, Samuel Lenius, Justin Andrade, James Dunphy
  • Patent number: 12352900
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to light detection and ranging (lidar) devices having a light-guide manifold. An example lidar device includes a transmit subsystem. The transmit subsystem includes a light emitter. The transmit subsystem also includes a light-guide manifold optically coupled to the light emitter. Further, the transmit subsystem includes a telecentric lens assembly optically coupled to the light-guide manifold. The lidar device also includes a receive subsystem. The receive subsystem includes the telecentric lens assembly. The receive subsystem also includes an aperture plate having an aperture defined therein. The aperture plate is positioned at a focal plane of the telecentric lens assembly. Further, the receive subsystem includes a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) positioned to receive light traveling through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Ralph H. Shepard, Augusto Tazzoli, David Hutchison, David Schleuning, Nathaniel Golshan, Nathaniel Quillin, Andrew Abo, Caner Onal, Michael Tom, Robert Lockwood, Kelvin Kwong, Daiwei Li, Drew Ulrich, Simon Ellgas, Chandra Kakani, Erin Eppard, Samuel Lenius, Justin Andrade, James Dunphy
  • Publication number: 20220082660
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to light detection and ranging (lidar) devices having a light-guide manifold. An example lidar device includes a transmit subsystem. The transmit subsystem includes a light emitter. The transmit subsystem also includes a light-guide manifold optically coupled to the light emitter. Further, the transmit subsystem includes a telecentric lens assembly optically coupled to the light-guide manifold. The lidar device also includes a receive subsystem. The receive subsystem includes the telecentric lens assembly. The receive subsystem also includes an aperture plate having an aperture defined therein. The aperture plate is positioned at a focal plane of the telecentric lens assembly. Further, the receive subsystem includes a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) positioned to receive light traveling through the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Ralph H. Shepard, Augusto Tazzoli, David Hutchison, David Schleuning, Nathaniel Golshan, Nathaniel Quillin, Andrew Abo, Caner Onal, Michael Tom, Robert Lockwood, Kelvin Kwong, Daiwei Li, Drew Ulrich, Simon Ellgas, Chandra Kakani, Erin Eppard, Samuel Lenius, Justin Andrade, James Dunphy
  • Patent number: 10571743
    Abstract: A display may have a backlight unit that provides backlight illumination. The backlight unit may include a light guide that distributes light through the display. Light-emitting diodes may emit light into the light guide. A reflector that is overlapped by the light guide may help reflect light upwards through an array of pixels. The backlight unit may have a chassis that receives the reflector, light guide, light-emitting diodes, and optical films such as diffusers and prism films. Optical and mechanical features in the backlight unit may enhance color and intensity uniformity for the backlight illumination and may help enhance durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Byungsoo Ko, Daming Xu, Heesang Suh, Michael Tom, Shin-Ying Lu, Thomas Mueller, Wenyong Zhu, Victor H. Yin, Mookyung Son
  • Publication number: 20180307102
    Abstract: A display may have a backlight unit that provides backlight illumination. The backlight unit may include a light guide that distributes light through the display. Light-emitting diodes may emit light into the light guide. A reflector that is overlapped by the light guide may help reflect light upwards through an array of pixels. The backlight unit may have a chassis that receives the reflector, light guide, light-emitting diodes, and optical films such as diffusers and prism films. Optical and mechanical features in the backlight unit may enhance color and intensity uniformity for the backlight illumination and may help enhance durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Byungsoo Ko, Daming Xu, Heesang Suh, Michael Tom, Shin-Ying Lu, Thomas Mueller, Wenyong Zhu, Victor H. Yin, Mookyung Son
  • Patent number: 4179696
    Abstract: A radar tracking system having a Kalman estimator is disclosed. The estimator is provided with angle and range track error measurements in a coordinate system that is aligned with and normal to the antenna line of sight, commonly referred to as the LOS coordinate system. This estimator implementation uses less computing resources in converting the measurements provided relative to the antenna LOS coordinate system, to predict target position referenced to a stable coordinate system such as geographic, wander azimuth, or inertial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Elmen C. Quesinberry, Michael Tom, James L. Farrell