Patents by Inventor Nicholas Moores

Nicholas Moores 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: 12380581
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Composite sensor data can be generated based on information from multiple exposures captured at different exposure times. In examples, a first depth determination technique is applied to a first subset of pixels and a second depth determination technique is applied to a second subset of the pixels. The first subset of pixels may correspond to pixels that are associated with a highly-reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongzhe Chen, Venkata Subrahmanyam Chandra Sekhar Chebiyyam, Samuel Russell Holladay, Robert Nicholas Moor, Jonathan Solheim, Shaminda Subasingha, Wuyang Yu
  • Patent number: 12072466
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for detecting feature(s) and object(s) partially or completely obscured by stray light effects in the visible light spectrum are discussed herein. Non-visible light can be emitted from emitters. Light from an environment including visible and non-visible light can be captured at a sensing system via a lens system. The sensing system can filter the captured light using a dual band-pass filter to direct certain non-visible and visible light spectra to a beam splitter that then directs the non-visible light to a non-visible light sensor and the visible light to a visible light sensor. The sensor data generated by the non-visible light sensor can then be used to identify and classify feature(s) and object(s) that may be obscured by stray light effects in the data generated by the visible light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan McMichael, Robert Nicholas Moor, Sasidhar Saladi, Haiming Wang
  • Patent number: 11994591
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. The sensor may generate first image data at a first configuration and second image data at a second configuration. An estimated depth of an object may be determined from the first image data, and an actual depth of the object may be determined from the second image data, based on the estimated depth. In examples, the first and second configurations have different modulation frequencies such that a nominal maximum depth in the first configuration is greater than the nominal maximum depth in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Yongzhe Chen, Mehran Ferdowsi, Samuel Holladay, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Harrison Thomas Waschura, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 11988775
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can be impacted by glare. In some examples, an emitter system for illuminating a field of view can be dynamically altered to provide different illumination intensities at different regions in the field of view. For instance, locations at which a highly-reflective object or other object that is likely to cause glare may be illuminated at a lower illumination intensity, e.g., to reduce the likelihood of pixel saturation in measured data associated with the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Harrison Thomas Waschura, Turhan Karadeniz, Ryan McMichael, Robert Nicholas Moor, Denis Nikitin, Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Joseph Patrick Warga, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 11954877
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can include returns associated with highly reflective objects that cause glare. In some examples, a depth of a sensed surface is determined from the sensor data and additional pixels at the same depth are identified. The subset of pixels at the depth are filtered by comparing a measured intensity value to a threshold intensity value for the depth. Other threshold intensity values can be applied to subsets of pixels at different depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Yongzhe Chen, Mehran Ferdowsi, Samuel Holladay, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Harrison Thomas Waschura, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20240082239
    Abstract: New pharmaceutical uses of 1-[2-(2,4-dimethylphenylsulfanyl)phenyl]piperazine and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: H. Lundbeck A/S
    Inventors: Nicholas Moore, Marianne Dragheim
  • Patent number: 11921261
    Abstract: A lens assembly for systems such as imaging devices. The lens assembly may include at least five lens elements, where one or more of the lens elements includes positive optical power and one or more of the lenses includes negative optical power. The lens assembly may further include an aperture stop located between the lens elements. In some instances, the lens assembly provides a horizontal field of view that is at least 80 degrees while still including a total track length that is less than or equal to 50 millimeters and a diameter that is less than or equal to 13 millimeters. Additionally, in some instances, the lens assembly may cause all rays which impinge the sensor to be less than or equal to approximately 10 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ZOOX, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan McMichael, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Lee Tsung, Clark Pentico
  • Patent number: 11899967
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide an aligned storage strategy for stripes within a long vector for a vector processor, such that the extra computation needed to track strides between input stripes and output stripes may be eliminated. As a result, the stripe locations are located in a more predictable memory access pattern such that memory access bandwidth may be improved and the tendency for memory error may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Lightmatter, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Moore, Gongyu Wang, Bradley Dobbie, Tyler J. Kenney, Ayon Basumallik
  • Patent number: 11861857
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. The sensor may generate first image data at a first configuration and second image data at a second configuration. A disambiguated depth of a surface may be determined from the first image data and the second image data. If the disambiguated depth is greater than a nominal maximum depth of the sensor in the first configuration, an intensity of the surface may be determined from the first image data. If the intensity meets or exceeds a threshold intensity, the surface may be determined to be beyond the nominal maximum depth. If the intensity is less than the threshold intensity, an actual depth of the surface may be determined form the second image data as a distance less than the nominal maximum depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Yongzhe Chen, Mehran Ferdowsi, Samuel Holladay, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Harrison Thomas Waschura, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20230304241
    Abstract: The present invention provides a curb cleaning system having a main body configured in an L shape, an adjustable arm attached to the main body, a guide wheel attached to said adjustable arm, at least two solution nozzles each positioned on complimentary surfaces of said L shape, and a wand attached to the adjustable arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventor: Nicholas Moore
  • Patent number: 11753042
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can include saturated pixels, e.g., due to over-exposure, sensing highly-reflective objects, and/or excessive ambient light. In some examples, parameters associated with power of a time-of-flight sensor can be altered based on characteristics of the saturated pixels, as well as information about non-saturated pixels neighboring the saturated pixels. For example, the neighboring pixels may provide information about whether saturation is due to ambient light, e.g., sunlight, or due to emitted light from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Yongzhe Chen, Mehran Ferdowsi, Samuel Holladay, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Harrison Thomas Waschura, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 11710894
    Abstract: A vehicle mounted sensor assembly includes a frame and a cover connected to the base. When assembled, the frame and the cover define a volume that is divided between a first cavity and a second cavity. A sensor is disposed in the first cavity and one or more antennas are disposed in the second cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Miguel Alexander Espinal, Daniel Glenn Johnson, Robert Nicholas Moor, George Dalman Nelson, III
  • Patent number: 11628166
    Abstract: New pharmaceutical uses of 1-[2-(2,4-dimethylphenylsulfanyl)phenyl]piperazine and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: H. Lundbeck A/S
    Inventors: Nicholas Moore, Marianne Dragheim
  • Patent number: 11561292
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can return unreliable pixels, e.g., in the case of over- or under-exposure. In some examples, parameters associated with power of a time-of-flight sensor can be altered based on a number of unreliable pixels in measured data and/or based on intensity values of the measured data. For example, unreliable pixels can be determined using phase frame information captured at a receiver of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Mehran Ferdowsi, Denis Nikitin
  • Patent number: 11500067
    Abstract: Various lens designs for use in Time of Flight (ToF) sensor systems are discussed. Improvements to a ToF sensor system may be realized by, for example, incorporating a lens having particular features, such as a relatively short track length, fast lens speed (e.g., low f-number), low telecentricity, relatively flat field illumination, and fairly low cost. In some examples, such a lens of a ToF sensor system may be a lens assembly having a fixed focal length and that avoids use of lenses having aspheric surfaces so as to achieve relatively low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan McMichael, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 11483501
    Abstract: A blemish detection and characterization system and techniques for an optical imaging device includes determining a ratio of the light intensity of the image lost to the blemish relative to an expected light intensity of the image without the blemish. The system and technique may include receiving an image, transforming an image into a processed image with transformations and filters, as well as determining a relative magnitude of an intensity of a portion of the processed image relative to another area of the image. The system and technique may include taking an action based on the relative magnitude including rejecting a sensor, reworking the sensor, cleaning the sensor, or providing information about the blemish to a system to use in weighing data collected from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Moor, Nathan Duarte
  • Patent number: 11378523
    Abstract: An imaging device blemish detection test enclosure and techniques for an optical imaging device includes a mounting structure for mounting an optical imaging device, a first body with a concave surface, and a second body holding the mounting structure relative to the first body. The mounting structure and the second body may orient an optical axis of a lens of the optical imaging device towards the concave surface and locate the lens relative to the concave surface where the interface between the first and second bodies is outside of a lens field of view of the lens. The system may include a light source disposed in the second body and directed towards the concave surface of the of the first body providing an evenly illuminating the concave surface. The concave surface may include a surface of a spherical sector greater than a hemisphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Moor, Nathan Duarte
  • Publication number: 20220180538
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. The sensor may generate first image data at a first configuration and second image data at a second configuration. A disambiguated depth of a surface may be determined from the first image data and the second image data. If the disambiguated depth is greater than a nominal maximum depth of the sensor in the first configuration, an intensity of the surface may be determined from the first image data. If the intensity meets or exceeds a threshold intensity, the surface may be determined to be beyond the nominal maximum depth. If the intensity is less than the threshold intensity, an actual depth of the surface may be determined form the second image data as a distance less than the nominal maximum depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Yongzhe Chen, Mehran Ferdowsi, Samuel Holladay, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Harrison Thomas Waschura, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20220180539
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can include returns associated with highly reflective objects that cause glare. In some examples, a depth of a sensed surface is determined from the sensor data and additional pixels at the same depth are identified. The subset of pixels at the depth are filtered by comparing a measured intensity value to a threshold intensity value for the depth. Other threshold intensity values can be applied to subsets of pixels at different depths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Yongzhe Chen, Mehran Ferdowsi, Samuel Holladay, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Harrison Thomas Waschura, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20220156469
    Abstract: Parallelization and pipelining techniques that can be applied to multi-core analog accelerators are described. The techniques descried herein improve performance of matrix multiplication (e.g., tensor-tensor multiplication, matrix-matrix multiplication or matrix-vector multiplication). The parallelization and pipelining techniques developed by the inventors and described herein focus on maintaining a high utilization of the processing cores. A representative processing systemin includes an analog accelerator, a digital processor, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the analog accelerator to output data using linear operations and to control the digital processor to perform non-linear operations based on the output data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Lightmatter, Inc.
    Inventors: Gongyu Wang, Cansu Demirkiran, Nicholas Moore, Ayon Basumallik, Darius Bunandar