Patents by Inventor Peter Craig
Peter Craig 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).
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Publication number: 20180334123Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to airbag systems for vehicles. The airbag systems may reduce the secondary impact forces felt by an object upon rebounding from an initial impact with an external airbag by encasing or substantially surrounding the pedestrian with the external airbag. The airbag system may include an initial impact airbag and a secondary impact airbag, wherein the secondary impact airbag is configured to reduce injury caused by a secondary impact of an object upon after an initial impact of the object with the initial impact airbag. The initial impact airbag may be configured to be deployed at a location where the object is predicted to collide with the vehicle. The secondary impact airbag may comprise one or more arms configured to surround the object upon the initial impact.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventors: Peter Craig Lombrozo, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Daniel Lynn Larner, Atul Gupta
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Patent number: 10106124Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to airbag systems for vehicles. The airbag systems may reduce the secondary impact forces felt by an object upon rebounding from an initial impact with an external airbag by encasing or substantially surrounding the pedestrian with the external airbag. The airbag system may include an external airbag configured to deploy in a vehicle's external environment in order to reduce the likelihood of an object colliding directly with the vehicle and at least one adhesive layer arranged on the external airbag, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to reduce injury caused by a secondary impact of an object upon after an initial impact of the object with the external airbag by causing the object to stick to the external airbag.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Daniel Lynn Larner, Courtney McCool, Peter Craig Lombrozo
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Publication number: 20180217242Abstract: The disclosure relates to determining whether an optical interferent is located on a sensor window and providing a way to identify and discard erroneous sensor data. An example system includes a housing, having a first sensor window and a second sensor window, a laser light source, and an optical sensor. The first window has a first property for deflecting water, and the second window has a second property for deflecting water different from the first property. The source is configured to generate a beam of light through the first window. One or more processors are configured to receive sensor data from the optical sensor and determine that an optical interferent is located on a surface of at least one of the first window and the sensor window based on a comparison between sensor data corresponding to the first window and sensor data corresponding to the second window.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2017Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: Peter Craig Lombrozo, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera
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Patent number: 10029638Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to airbag systems for vehicles. The airbag systems may reduce the secondary impact forces felt by an object upon rebounding from an initial impact with an external airbag by encasing or substantially surrounding the pedestrian with the external airbag. The airbag system may include an initial impact airbag and a secondary impact airbag, wherein the secondary impact airbag is configured to reduce injury caused by a secondary impact of an object upon after an initial impact of the object with the initial impact airbag. The initial impact airbag may be configured to be deployed at a location where the object is predicted to collide with the vehicle. The secondary impact airbag may comprise one or more arms configured to surround the object upon the initial impact.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Peter Craig Lombrozo, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Daniel Lynn Larner, Atul Gupta
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Patent number: 10023145Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to deployable structures, such as airbag systems, for vehicles. A system is disclosed for reducing likelihood of injury to a passenger in a collision. The system may include a seat configured to accommodate the passenger and an airbag system. At least a portion of the airbag system may be incorporated into a vehicle prior to deployment of the airbag system. The airbag system may include an airbag and a locking feature. The locking feature may be configured to lock the airbag with a locking portion of a vehicle when the airbag system has been deployed. The locking feature may be attached to the airbag. Aside from airbags, other confining structures, such as nets, shades, curtains, etc., may also be used as deployable structures.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2016Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Daniel Lynn Larner, Thomas Daniel, Courtney McCool, Atul Gupta, Peter Craig Lombrozo
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Publication number: 20180142511Abstract: The technology relates to assisting in the closing of a vehicle door by automatically pulling a door closed. One or more computing devices having one or more processors may receive, from one or more sensors, information indicating that a door on the vehicle is not closed. In response to the received information indicating that the door is not closed, the one or more computing devices may determine to send a triggering signal to close the door. The one or more computing devices may send the triggering signal to the actuator and the actuator may receive the triggering signal. In response to receiving the triggering signal the actuator may be activated to close the door of the vehicle without user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Peter Craig Lombrozo, Andrew Paul Warburton, Robert John Ellis
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Patent number: 9879463Abstract: The technology relates to assisting in the closing of a vehicle door by automatically pulling a door closed. One or more computing devices having one or more processors may receive, from one or more sensors, information indicating that a door on the vehicle is not closed. In response to the received information indicating that the door is not closed, the one or more computing devices may determine to send a triggering signal to close the door. The one or more computing devices may send the triggering signal to the actuator and the actuator may receive the triggering signal. In response to receiving the triggering signal the actuator may be activated to close the door of the vehicle without user input.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Peter Craig Lombrozo, Andrew Paul Warburton, Robert John Ellis
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Publication number: 20170362257Abstract: Provided herein is a multifunctional particle and methods of forming the same. The multifunctional particle includes a surface of the particle; a first moiety coupled to the surface and having at least one substantially hydrophobic appendage; and a second moiety coupled to the surface and having at least one appendage comprising a reactive functional group and a substantially hydrophilic repeating unit, whereby the particle is substantially superhydrophobic as a result of the substantially hydrophobic appendage, chemically reactive as a result of the reactive functional group, and migratory to a surface of a substantially hydrophobic matrix in which the particle may be included as a result of the substantially hydrophilic repeating unit. Additionally, antimicrobial functional groups may be coupled to the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2015Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventor: Peter Craig Venema
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Patent number: 9783172Abstract: Methods and systems for steering-based oscillatory braking are described herein. A method may involve making a determination, by a computing device, to reduce a speed of a vehicle. The vehicle may include a pair of wheels. The method may further involve providing instructions to turn the pair of wheels of the vehicle in an oscillatory manner, such that each wheel of the pair of wheels is turned in substantially the same direction and turning of the pair of wheels oscillates each wheel of the pair of wheels between given directions about a direction of travel of the vehicle so as to reduce the speed of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2016Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Waymo LLCInventor: Peter Craig Lombrozo
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Publication number: 20170260615Abstract: Provided herein is a multifunctional particle and methods of forming the same. The multifunctional particle includes: a silica particle; a hydrophobic silane; and a silane coupling agent; where each of the hydrophobic silane and the silane coupling agent are chemically bonded to the surface of the silica particle; where the multifunctional particle is superhydrophobic and chemically reactive.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2016Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Peter Craig Venema, Brent William Barbee, Jordan Moriah Larson
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Publication number: 20170247929Abstract: The technology relates to assisting in the closing of a vehicle door by automatically pulling a door closed. One or more computing devices having one or more processors may receive, from one or more sensors, information indicating that a door on the vehicle is not closed. In response to the received information indicating that the door is not closed, the one or more computing devices may determine to send a triggering signal to close the door. The one or more computing devices may send the triggering signal to the actuator and the actuator may receive the triggering signal. In response to receiving the triggering signal the actuator may be activated to close the door of the vehicle without user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2016Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Peter Craig Lombrozo, Andrew Paul Warburton, Robert John Ellis
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Patent number: 9650054Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining the location of a vehicle. According to one aspect the method and apparatus the movements of motor rotors in a vehicle are monitored and used to determine speed, travel distance and/or travel path of a vehicle may be determined. Using various navigation techniques, the distance and travel path may then be used to determine the vehicle's location. Furthermore, movements of the motor rotors may also be used to report the positions of the steering and drive systems for the purpose of informing the vehicle controller as a method of feedback.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Peter Craig Lombrozo, Carsten Jensen, Andrew Barton-Sweeney, Russell Smith, Daniel Lynn Larner
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Patent number: 9352682Abstract: An example apparatus includes (i) a mounting module configured to be coupled to a support frame of a vehicle, (ii) a component-support module configured to support a component of the vehicle, and (iii) a motion-guiding module coupled to the component-support module and the mounting module. The motion-guiding module is configured to guide motion of the component-support module toward the mounting module. The apparatus further includes (iv) a deformable tab coupled to the motion-guiding module. The deformable tab is configured to (a) in response to the deformable tab absorbing a force that is less than a predetermined level, resist motion of the component-support module toward the mounting module and (b) in response to the deformable tab absorbing a force that is greater than the predetermined level, deform to a position that allows the component-support module to move toward the mounting module in response to force applied to the component-support module.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2015Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventor: Peter Craig Lombrozo
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Patent number: 9341224Abstract: A system is provided that includes a mounting module configured to be coupled to a support frame and an object-support module configured to support an object. The mounting module comprises an area configured to allow at least a portion of an object supported by the object-support module to pass through the area. The system further includes a motion-guiding module coupled to the object-support module and the mounting module. The motion-guiding module is configured to guide motion of the object-support module along a first axis of the system toward the mounting module in response to a threshold force applied to the object-support module along the first axis. The motion-guiding module is configured to resist motion of the object-support module along a second axis of the system that is perpendicular to the first axis of the system.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2014Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Peter Craig Lombrozo, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Daniel Lynn Larner, Thomas Daniel
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Publication number: 20160114770Abstract: Methods and systems for steering-based oscillatory braking are described herein. A method may involve making a determination, by a computing device, to reduce a speed of a vehicle. The vehicle may include a pair of wheels. The method may further involve providing instructions to turn the pair of wheels of the vehicle in an oscillatory manner, such that each wheel of the pair of wheels is turned in substantially the same direction and turning of the pair of wheels oscillates each wheel of the pair of wheels between given directions about a direction of travel of the vehicle so as to reduce the speed of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2016Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventor: Peter Craig Lombrozo
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Patent number: 9296839Abstract: Provided herein is a multifunctional particle and methods of forming the same. The multifunctional particle includes: a silica particle; a hydrophobic silane; and a silane coupling agent; where each of the hydrophobic silane and the silane coupling agent are chemically bonded to the surface of the silica particle; where the multifunctional particle is superhydrophobic and chemically reactive.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: VELOX FLOW, LLCInventors: Peter Craig Venema, Brent William Barbee, Jordan Moriah Larson
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Patent number: 9290201Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to determining by what degree a driver is gripping a steering wheel. In one example, a computer may send an electrically assisted power steering system (EPS) motor an excitation command to move. The EPS motor may respond by moving a flexible coupling between the steering wheel and the EPS motor. This may cause a corresponding movement at the steering wheel. A torque sensor may generate pattern data by monitoring the flexible coupling during the movement. The EPS motor may generate system position data for the entire steering system, for example, from the tires to the steering wheel. The pattern data and the system position data may be compared by the computer to determine the degree of grip. In this regard, the computer may determine the degree of a driver's grip without the need for additional sensors.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2014Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventor: Peter Craig Lombrozo
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Patent number: 9260092Abstract: Methods and systems for steering-based oscillatory braking are described herein. A method may involve making a determination, by a computing device, to reduce a speed of a vehicle. The vehicle may include a pair of wheels. The method may further involve providing instructions to turn the pair of wheels of the vehicle in an oscillatory manner, such that each wheel of the pair of wheels is turned in substantially the same direction and turning of the pair of wheels oscillates each wheel of the pair of wheels between given directions about a direction of travel of the vehicle so as to reduce the speed of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventor: Peter Craig Lombrozo
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Patent number: 9205828Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining the location of a vehicle. According to one aspect the method and apparatus the movements of motor rotors in a vehicle are monitored and used to determine speed, travel distance and/or travel path of a vehicle may be determined. Using various navigation techniques, the distance and travel path may then be used to determine the vehicle's location. Furthermore, movements of the motor rotors may also be used to report the positions of the steering and drive systems for the purpose of informing the vehicle controller as a method of feedback.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Peter Craig Lombrozo, Carsten Jensen, Andrew Barton-Sweeney, Russell Smith, Daniel Lynn Larner
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Patent number: D777069Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2015Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: YooJung Ahn, Peter Craig Lombrozo