Patents by Inventor Ryan McMichael
Ryan McMichael 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: 20200225497Abstract: A LIDAR system may include a laser diode that emits a beam having a slow axis and a fast axis so that a cross-section of the beam has a width substantially greater than a height. A first three-element lens may be optically aligned with a photodetector of the LIDAR system. A second three-element lens may be optically aligned with the diode laser. The second three-element lens may include at least one lens having a predetermined astigmatism that reduces the width of the beam with respect to the height.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventor: Ryan McMichael
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Publication number: 20200172095Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser emitter configured to emit a laser pulse in a sample direction of a sample area of a scene. A sensor element of the LIDAR system is configured to sense a return pulse, which is a reflection from the sample area corresponding to the emitted laser pulse. The LIDAR system may compare a width of the emitted laser pulse to a width of the return pulse in the time-domain. The comparison of the width of the emitted pulse to the width of the return pulse may be used to determine an orientation or surface normal of the sample area relative to the sample direction. Such a comparison leads to a measurement of the change of pulse width, referred to as pulse broadening or pulse stretching, from the emitted pulse to the return pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2020Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Adam Berger, Ryan McMichael, Bertrand Robert Douillard
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Publication number: 20200158876Abstract: 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. The first image data and the second image data may be combined to provide disambiguated depth and improved intensity values for imaging the environment. In some examples, the first and second configurations may have different modulation frequencies, different integration times, and/or different illumination intensities. In some examples, configurations may be dynamically altered based on depth and/or intensity information of a previous frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2018Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Turhan Karadeniz, Ryan McMichael, Robert Nicholas Moor, Denis Nikitin, Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha
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Patent number: 10591740Abstract: A LIDAR system may include a laser diode that emits a beam having a slow axis and a fast axis so that a cross-section of the beam has a width substantially greater than a height. A first three-element lens may be optically aligned with a photodetector of the LIDAR system. A second three-element lens may be optically aligned with the diode laser. The second three-element lens may include at least one lens having a predetermined astigmatism that reduces the width of the beam with respect to the height.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Panosense Inc.Inventor: Ryan McMichael
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Patent number: 10556585Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser emitter configured to emit a laser pulse in a sample direction of a sample area of a scene. A sensor element of the LIDAR system is configured to sense a return pulse, which is a reflection from the sample area corresponding to the emitted laser pulse. The LIDAR system may compare a width of the emitted laser pulse to a width of the return pulse in the time-domain. The comparison of the width of the emitted pulse to the width of the return pulse may be used to determine an orientation or surface normal of the sample area relative to the sample direction. Such a comparison leads to a measurement of the change of pulse width, referred to as pulse broadening or pulse stretching, from the emitted pulse to the return pulse.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Panosense Inc.Inventors: Adam Berger, Ryan McMichael, Bertrand Robert Douillard
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Publication number: 20190385025Abstract: A system for detecting and/or mitigating the effects of an obstruction on a surface of a sensor may include a surface configured to receive the sensor, and comprising a sensor window configured to provide a path through which the sensor senses the environment. The system may also include a vibratory actuator configured to facilitate vibration of the sensor window and a heating element configured to heat the sensor window. The system may further include an obstruction detection system configured to detect an obstruction, such as moisture, and an obstruction mitigation controller configured to initiate activation of the vibratory actuator and/or the heating element to mitigate the obstruction. The obstruction detection system may be configured to receive a signal from one or more sensors and detect the obstruction based at least in part on the signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2018Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Ryan McMichael, Daniel Elliot Schabb, Anubhav Thakur, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Jon Robert Torrey
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Publication number: 20190339368Abstract: A LIDAR system includes one or more LIDAR sensor assemblies, which may be mounted to a vehicle or other object. Each LIDAR sensor assembly includes a laser light source to emit laser light, and a light sensor to produce a light signal in response to sensing reflected light corresponding to reflection of the laser light emitted by the laser light source from a reference surface that is fixed in relation to the LIDAR sensor assembly. A controller of the LIDAR sensor assembly may calibrate the LIDAR sensor assembly based at least in part on a signal from the light sensor indicating detection of reflected light corresponding to reflection of a pulse of laser light reflected from the reference surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Adam Berger, Riley Andrews, Ryan McMichael, Denis Nikitin, Brian Alexander Pesch, Brian Pilnick
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Patent number: 10460473Abstract: Techniques for calibrating a camera utilizing a calibration station. The camera calibration station may be configured to emit collimated light toward a camera housed in a cradle. The camera may capture images of the collimated light at pre-determined positions throughout a calibration sequence. A computing system associated with the camera calibration station may utilize reference locations determined based on the collimated light at the pre-determined positions compared to measured locations of the collimated light at the pre-determined positions to determine intrinsics of the camera (e.g., focal length of lens, optical center of lens, etc.) and an error associated therewith. Based at least in part on the error being less than a threshold error, the computing system may store the intrinsic parameters of the camera.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2018Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Ryan McMichael, Till Kroeger, Robert Nicholas Moor, Maxwell Yaron
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Patent number: 10359507Abstract: A LIDAR system includes one or more LIDAR sensor assemblies, which may be mounted to a vehicle or other object. Each LIDAR sensor assembly includes a laser light source to emit laser light, and a light sensor to produce a light signal in response to sensing reflected light corresponding to reflection of the laser light emitted by the laser light source from a reference surface that is fixed in relation to the LIDAR sensor assembly. A controller of the LIDAR sensor assembly may calibrate the LIDAR sensor assembly based at least in part on a signal from the light sensor indicating detection of reflected light corresponding to reflection of a pulse of laser light reflected from the reference surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Panosense Inc.Inventors: Adam Berger, Riley Andrews, Ryan McMichael, Denis Nikitin, Brian Alexander Pesch, Brian Pilnick
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Patent number: 10295660Abstract: Techniques are described for aligning optical components within a LIDAR assembly. The techniques may be performed to align the optical components during manufacturing or assembly of the LIDAR assembly. For example, a first optical element (e.g., one of a light source or light sensor) may be installed in the LIDAR assembly. An optimal alignment for a second optical element (e.g., the other of the light source or light sensor) may be determined and the second optical element may be installed at the optimal alignment. The optimal alignment for the second optical element may be determined based on detected signals, for example, which may correspond to an alignment resulting in a strongest return signal, highest quality return signal, and/or minimal interference. Additionally, or alternatively, techniques may be used to align optical components at runtime by using an actuator to move one or more components of the LIDAR assembly during operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Panosense Inc.Inventors: Ryan McMichael, Adam Berger, Brian Pilnick, Denis Nikitin, Brian Alexander Pesch
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Patent number: 10109183Abstract: An interface for transferring data between a non-rotating body and a rotating body of a sensor assembly using a bidirectional communication link. For instance, the interface may include a first data transmitter coupled to the rotating body and configured to transmit first data signals representing sensor signals generated by the sensor assembly. A first data receiver is coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive the first data signals via a first wireless coupling. The interface further includes a second data transmitter coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transmit second data signals. A second data receiver is coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive the second data signals via a second wireless coupling. In some instances, the first data signals may be transmitted using a first wavelength and the second data signals may be transmitted using a second, different wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Panosense Inc.Inventors: Joshua Franz, Riley Andrews, Ryan McMichael, Arthur Benemann, Denis Nikitin
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Publication number: 20180267152Abstract: A LIDAR system emits laser bursts, wherein each burst has at least a pair of pulses. The pulses of each pair are spaced by a time interval having a variable duration to reduce effects of cross-talk. For example, certain embodiments may have multiple emitter/sensor channels that are used sequentially, and each channel may use a different duration for inter-pulse spacing to reduce the effects of cross-talk between channels. The durations may also be varied over time. The emitters and sensors are physically arranged in a two-dimensional array to achieve a relatively fine vertical pitch. The array has staggered rows that are packed using a hexagonal packing arrangement. The channels are used in a sequential order that is selected to maximize spacing between consecutively used channels, further reducing possibilities for inter-channel cross-talk.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2017Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Ryan McMichael, Adam Berger, Brian Pilnick, Denis Nikitin, Riley Andrews
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Patent number: 10048358Abstract: A LIDAR system emits laser pulses, wherein each pulse is associated with a power level. A laser emitter is adjusted during operation of a LIDAR system using power profile data associated with the laser. The power profile data is obtained during a calibration procedure and includes information that associates charge duration for a laser power supply with the actual power output by laser. The power profiles can be used during operation of the LIDAR system. A laser pulse can be emitted, the reflected light from the pulse received and analyzed, and the power of the next pulse can be adjusted based on a lookup within the power profile for the laser. For instance, if the power returned from a pulse is too high (e.g., above some specified threshold), the power of the next pulse is reduced to a specific value based on the power profile.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Panosense Inc.Inventors: Adam Berger, Denis Nikitin, Riley Andrews, Ryan McMichael, Brian Pilnick
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Publication number: 20180188360Abstract: A LIDAR system emits laser pulses, wherein each pulse is associated with a power level. A laser emitter is adjusted during operation of a LIDAR system using power profile data associated with the laser. The power profile data is obtained during a calibration procedure and includes information that associates charge duration for a laser power supply with the actual power output by laser. The power profiles can be used during operation of the LIDAR system. A laser pulse can be emitted, the reflected light from the pulse received and analyzed, and the power of the next pulse can be adjusted based on a lookup within the power profile for the laser. For instance, if the power returned from a pulse is too high (e.g., above some specified threshold), the power of the next pulse is reduced to a specific value based on the power profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2017Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Adam Berger, Denis Nikitin, Riley Andrews, Ryan McMichael, Brian Pilnick
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Publication number: 20180188361Abstract: A LIDAR system includes one or more LIDAR sensor assemblies, which may be mounted to a vehicle or other object. Each LIDAR sensor assembly includes a laser light source to emit laser light, and a light sensor to produce a light signal in response to sensing reflected light corresponding to reflection of the laser light emitted by the laser light source from a reference surface that is fixed in relation to the LIDAR sensor assembly. A controller of the LIDAR sensor assembly may calibrate the LIDAR sensor assembly based at least in part on a signal from the light sensor indicating detection of reflected light corresponding to reflection of a pulse of laser light reflected from the reference surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2017Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Adam Berger, Riley Andrews, Ryan McMichael, Denis Nikitin, Brian Alexander Pesch, Brian Pilnick
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Publication number: 20180188545Abstract: A LIDAR system may include a laser diode that emits a beam having a slow axis and a fast axis so that a cross-section of the beam has a width substantially greater than a height. A first three-element lens may be optically aligned with a photodetector of the LIDAR system. A second three-element lens may be optically aligned with the diode laser. The second three-element lens may include at least one lens having a predetermined astigmatism that reduces the width of the beam with respect to the height.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2017Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventor: Ryan McMichael