Patents by Inventor Samuel A. Williams

Samuel A. Williams 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: 11054505
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described that relate to a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device. The LIDAR device includes a fiber laser configured to emit light within a wavelength range, a scanning portion configured to direct the emitted light in a reciprocating manner about a first axis, and a plurality of detectors configured to sense light within the wavelength range. The device additionally includes a controller configured to receive target information, which may be indicative of an object, a position, a location, or an angle range. In response to receiving the target information, the controller may cause the rotational mount to rotate so as to adjust a pointing direction of the LIDAR. The controller is further configured to cause the LIDAR to scan a field-of-view (FOV) of the environment. The controller may determine a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the environment based on data from scanning the FOV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-yves Droz, Gaetan Pennecot, Anthony Levandowski, Drew Eugene Ulrich, Zach Morriss, Luke Wachter, Dorel Ionut Iordache, William McCann, Daniel Gruver, Bernard Fidric, Samuel William Lenius
  • Publication number: 20210199976
    Abstract: A combiner assembly for a ceiling mounted projection head up display system for an aircraft cabin has an optical combiner (10), and a support mechanism (30, 32, 35) for supporting the optical combiner to be movable between an operational position and a stowage position, above the user, and laterally displaced, and facing an underside of the projector assembly by means of a lateral component of movement and a rotation component to reach the stowage position under the projector assembly (20). Such a two axis movement can make better use of limited headroom in cabins such as those of small aircraft, by enabling a stowage location offset to one side of the line of sight, while providing sufficient clearance from the user's head and from cabin structure, during the movement and/or when in the storage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Samuel William Harris, Russell Christopher West
  • Patent number: 11029396
    Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system can emit light toward an environment and detect responsively reflected light to determine a distance to one or more points in the environment. The reflected light can be detected by a plurality of plurality of photodiodes that are reverse-biased using a high voltage. Signals from the plurality of reverse-biased photodiodes can be amplified by respective transistors and applied to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The signal from a particular photodiode can be applied to the ADC by biasing a respective transistor corresponding to the particular photodiode while not biasing transistors corresponding to other photodiodes. The gain of each photodiode/transistor pair can be controlled by adjusting the bias voltage applied to each photodiode using a digital-to-analog converter. The gain of each photodiode/transistor pair can be controlled based on the detected temperature of each photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Samuel William Lenius
  • Publication number: 20210162486
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention there as provided a method of forming a riveted joint comprising a UHSS layer and a non-UHSS layer using a self-piercing rivet comprising a head and a shank, an outer diameter of a top of the shank being greater than an outer diameter of a bottom of the shank before insertion of the rivet, the method comprising pushing the self-piercing rivet into the UHSS layer such that the lower portion of the shank flares outwards and cuts a slug from the UHSS, and pushing the flared shank of the self-piercing rivet and the slug into the non-UHSS layer such that the non-UHSS layer deforms into a die recess and flows around an outer surface of the flared shank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Russell John Trinick, Samuel Williams, Elliot Jones
  • Patent number: 11014589
    Abstract: A collision avoidance system obtains movement indicative data of plural vehicles included in separate vehicle systems. The movement indicative data can be obtained from sensors onboard the vehicles. The system determines an identification of which of the vehicles are included in the separate vehicle systems based on the movement indicative data that are obtained and determines a collision risk between two or more vehicle systems of the separate vehicle systems based on the movement indicative data that are obtained and the identification of which of the vehicles are in the separate vehicle systems. The system automatically changes movement of at least one of the two or more vehicle systems responsive to determining the collision risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel William Golden, Jason William Brown, Scott Dulmage, David Eldredge
  • Patent number: 10990694
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for processing private data using a workflow action are described. A method may include identifying, at a user device that is authenticated to access a local system, an action of a workflow that is running on an external server that is external to the local system. The action may involve processing private data stored within the local system. The method may further include receiving, at the user device, a direct data query associated with the action, the direct data query including a set of encoded instructions that are self-extracting upon being executed by a browser of the user device. The method may further include executing, by the browser of the user device, the set of encoded instructions to directly access the private data and transmitting an indication of a result of the action based on directly accessing the private data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Eliot Chasman, David Chungnan Wu, Hugh Francis Cockburn, Alex Edelstein, Antoine Barseni, Franck Thomas, Antoine Magnier, Nhi Nguyen, Benoit Dufourd, Samantha Reynard, Samuel William Bailey
  • Publication number: 20210115954
    Abstract: A method for joining two workpieces, which each have a joining surface for joining the workpieces, applies a viscous adhesive to a first joining surface in the form of a continuous material strand along an application path extending in an application direction. The joining surfaces are arranged facing each other in order to delimit an intermediate gap, in which the material strand is arranged. The workpieces are joined to each other in the region of the material strand by at least one further joining device. The first joining surface includes an alternately arranged hybrid adhering regions and adhering regions. A further joining device is arranged in each hybrid adhering region. The adhesive amount applied in each length unit measured in the application direction in the hybrid adhering regions is less than the adhesive amount applied in each length unit measured in the application direction in the adhering regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Atlas Copco IAS UK Limited
    Inventor: Samuel WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 10971787
    Abstract: A device is provided that includes a first waveguide configured to guide propagation of RF waves inside the first waveguide. A first side of the first waveguide is configured to emit an evanescent field associated with the propagation of the RF waves inside the first waveguide. The device also includes a second waveguide having a second side positioned within a predetermined distance to the first side of the first waveguide. The second waveguide is configured to guide propagation, inside the second waveguide, of induced RF waves associated with the evanescent field from the first waveguide. The device also includes a first probe coupled to the first waveguide and configured to emit the RF waves for propagation inside the first waveguide. The device also includes a second probe coupled to the second waveguide and configured to receive induced RF waves propagating inside the second waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-yves Droz, Adam Brown, Daniel L. Rosenband, Samuel William Lenius
  • Publication number: 20210001905
    Abstract: A control system and method determine an energy demand associated with delivery of cargo in a trip. The energy demand represents how much electric energy is needed to move cargo vehicles that carry the cargo through the trip. Locations of energy tenders and states of charge of the energy tenders are determined. A schedule for the cargo vehicles to deliver the cargo to a delivery location within a delivery time slot is determined. This schedule is determined based on the energy demand, the locations of the energy tenders, and the states of charge of the energy tenders. The system and method direct which of the energy tenders that the cargo vehicles are to couple with, be powered by, and move with for powering the cargo along routes to the delivery location of the trip within the designated time slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, Samuel William Golden, Robert James Foy, David Michael Peltz, Nathan Thomas North, Milan Karunaratne
  • Patent number: 10862579
    Abstract: A device is provided that includes a first platform having a first side, and a second platform having a second side positioned within a predetermined distance to the first side. The device also includes an actuator configured to cause a relative rotation between the first platform and the second platform such that the first side of the first platform remains within the predetermined distance to the second side of the second platform. The device also includes a probe mounted to the first platform, and a plurality of probes mounted to the second platform. The device also includes a signal conditioner coupled to the plurality of probes. The signal conditioner may select one of the plurality of probes based on an orientation of the first platform relative to the second platform. The signal conditioner may then to use the selected probe for wireless communication with the probe on the first platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Daniel L. Rosenband, Pierre-Yves Droz, Min Wang, Etai Bruhis, Adam Brown, Samuel William Lenius
  • Patent number: 10855129
    Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) includes a first plurality of conductive paths having first ends at an inner radius of the PCB and second ends at an outer radius of the PCB. The PCB further includes a second plurality of conductive paths having first ends at an outer radius of the PCB and second ends at an inner radius of the PCB. The PCB further includes a first plurality of conductive vias that pass through the PCB at the outer radius of the PCB and couple second ends of the first plurality of conductive paths to first ends of the second plurality of conductive paths. The PCB further includes a second plurality of conductive vias that pass through the PCB at the inner radius of the PCB and electrically couple second ends of the second plurality of conductive paths to first ends of the first plurality of conductive paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Samuel William Lenius, Paul Karplus, Alexander Danilo Zbrozek
  • Publication number: 20200353491
    Abstract: A containment tank assembly is described that includes a tank including an inner surface and a cleaning apparatus mounted to the tank. The cleaning apparatus includes an elongate arm and a rotary spray head assembly rotationally coupled to an end of the elongate arm. A rotating nozzle assembly is rotationally coupled to the rotary spray head. A magnetic field source is coupled to the rotary spray head so as to generate a spatially changing magnetic field in accordance with a rotation of the rotary spray head assembly in relation to the end of the elongate arm. A magnet field sensor is carried in a fixed relation to the elongate arm. The magnetic field sensor, in operation, generates a sensor signal that varies in accordance with the spatially changing magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the rotary spray head assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Geoffrey Adriaan Tanner, Collin Adam Wicks, Samuel William Scully, John Esong Ekpenyong
  • Patent number: 10822007
    Abstract: A control system and method determine an energy demand associated with delivery of cargo in a trip. The energy demand represents how much electric energy is needed to move cargo vehicles that carry the cargo through the trip. Locations of energy tenders and states of charge of the energy tenders are determined. A schedule for the cargo vehicles to deliver the cargo to a delivery location within a delivery time slot is determined. This schedule is determined based on the energy demand, the locations of the energy tenders, and the states of charge of the energy tenders. The system and method direct which of the energy tenders that the cargo vehicles are to couple with, be powered by, and move with for powering the cargo along routes to the delivery location of the trip within the designated time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, Samuel William Golden, Robert James Foy, David Michael Peltz, Nathan Thomas North, Milan Karunaratne
  • Publication number: 20200341282
    Abstract: A wearable head-up display which allows for convenient and safe stowage when not in use. A hinge component is positioned within the optical path from an image projector to a display component which ensures optical alignment for projection. A detection means is provided to signal when the wearable device is in a folded position in order to deactivate the projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Rory Thomas Alexander MILLS, Samuel William HARRIS
  • Publication number: 20200320485
    Abstract: The present subject matter involves a system and method for producing and processing electronic transactions, including electronic checks, in a secure manner. In various embodiments, a secure server provides an electronic check service that maps payees to participating lockbox service providers and provides electronic payment instructions from the payor to the lockbox service providers to process payments to the payees. In various embodiments, a check is printed to fulfill Check21 Act requirements, electronic images are obtained of front and back of the printed check, and check image pairs are created of the electronic images of the front and back of the printed check. In various embodiments, paper items are processed where the electronic check service does not find an electronic deposit match. In various embodiments, the electronic lockbox files are used in a secure electronic payment platform that assists in the generation of electronic checks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Rodney Pete Springhetti, Lawrence Francis Buettner, Samuel William Golbach, Christopher Wade Clausen
  • Publication number: 20200306489
    Abstract: A breathing assistance apparatus that comprises a housing with inner and outer walls and an upper surface, wherein the walls and upper surface are integrally formed as a single part to avoid seams or joins between the walls to reduce the risk of damage to electronics within the apparatus as a result of liquid leaks. Also disclosed is a control system for a heating element of a humidifier which provides a secondary or back up protection mechanism to disable power to the heating element if a first electronic protection circuit does not cause the first switching member to disable power to the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Douglas Richard Wright, Peter Lawrence Grylls, Andrew Paul Maxwell Salmon, Philip John Dickinson, Yi-Cheng Sun, Silvan Terence Butler, Sergiu Constantin Filip, Samuel William Saunders, Andrew Martin Letton
  • Patent number: 10775987
    Abstract: A processor can cause operation tracking screens to be presented on a display. The operation tracking screens can include first and second screen areas. Some of the first screen areas can have graphical control elements configured to receive information associated with actions associated with a sequence of operations. The actions can include first and second actions performed concurrently. The second screen areas can have a graphical representation of stages of the sequence of operations. The graphical representation of the stages can be of a default sequence of the stages, in response to an initiation of the sequence of operations, and can be modified to include a graphical representation of an additional stage in response to a determination of a result of a condition being a specific value. The processor can receive signals associated with the information associated with the actions and can cause the sequence of operations to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Samuel William Bailey, Jason Teller, Nathan Edward Lipke, Anvitha Jaishankar, James Johnson, Yucheng Wang, Hugh Cockburn
  • Patent number: 10725795
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing dynamic creation of an external code segment within a cloud based computing environment. For instance, an exemplary system having at least a processor and a memory therein includes means for executing object code comprising software instructions that when executed create an instance of an external segment of software instructions that is to perform business logic, wherein a name of the external segment of software instructions is to be first received during runtime of the object code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Edward Lipke, Samuel William Bailey, James Johnson, Hugh Cockburn
  • Patent number: 10700970
    Abstract: A controller in a vehicle consist is configured to receive data of measured brake system characteristics of a first vehicle of the consist and one or more remote vehicles of the consist. The controller is configured to communicate with the remote vehicles for coordinated travel along a route based on the received data. The controller is configured to switch from communicating with the remote vehicles, and receiving the brake system data from the remote vehicles, over a first wireless channel to a second wireless channel responsive to when the first wireless channel becomes unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, Todd William Goodermuth, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, David Allen Eldredge, Samuel William Golden
  • Publication number: 20200201660
    Abstract: Computing systems, database systems, and related methods are provided for supporting dynamic validation workflows. One exemplary method involves a server of a database system receiving a graphical representation of a validation process from a client device coupled to a network, converting the graphical representation of the validation process into validation code, and storing the validation code at the database system in association with a database object type. Thereafter, the validation process is performed with respect to an instance of the database object type using the validation code in response to an action with respect to the instance of the database object type in a database of the database system. The action triggering the validation process can be based on user-configurable triggering criteria, and the validation process may generate user-configurable notifications based on one or more field values of the database object instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventor: Samuel William Bailey