Patents by Inventor Sean P. Rodrigues

Sean P. Rodrigues 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: 12187269
    Abstract: A real-time machine perception system and vehicles with real-time perception systems can be adapted for navigation in conflict zone environments and include an optical sensor and an optical processing component coupled to the optical sensor. The optical processing component can be configured to solve a non-linear control problem comprising solving a multi-vehicle merging or multi-vehicle synchronization problem. The optical processing component can perform optical processing on a signal from the optical sensor according to a deep learning algorithm having weights determined by solving the non-linear control problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ercan M. Dede, Paul D. Schmalenberg, Sean P. Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 12158670
    Abstract: Various arrangements described herein relate to a dual-sided display with improved light scattering. In one embodiment, a display is disclosed. The display includes an inside transparent layer disposed parallel to and spaced apart from an outside transparent layer. The display also includes a liquid crystal (LC) layer disposed between the inside transparent layer and the outside transparent layer and together forming a waveguide that is planar. The display includes ground electrodes disposed between the LC layer and the outside transparent layer and arranged in strips along the transparent layer, the strips being spaced apart and parallel. The display includes inside electrodes and outside electrodes disposed between the inside transparent layer and the LC layer and defining a geometric pattern that is in plane with the waveguide and a light source disposed at an edge surface of the waveguide and providing light along the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Kent State University
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Suman Halder, Deng-Ke Yang
  • Patent number: 12146833
    Abstract: A system for use with a randomly dispersed chiral organic solution. The system includes: an infrared laser that outputs a light beam having a wavelength in an IR spectrum; a stage that holds the randomly dispersed chiral organic solution, the stage being arranged to receive the light beam from the infrared laser, the stage including a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) resonating cavity structure configured to generate chiral signals in a linear IR regime, the stage being configured to generate a second harmonic optical signal from the light beam, the second harmonic optical signal being in an ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, the stage being configured to output the second harmonic optical signal; a UV detector that can receive the second harmonic optical signal from the stage; and an analyzer being configured to determine a chiroptical signature for the randomly dispersed chiral organic solution based on the received second harmonic optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sean P. Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20240378432
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to specialized hardware accelerators for deep learning tasks. In one embodiment, a system includes a first waveguide and a second waveguide. The first waveguide is spaced from the second waveguide. The system includes a first phase tuning component, a second phase tuning component, and a signal mixing component. The first phase tuning component includes a first ring resonator that is coupled to the first waveguide. The second phase tuning component includes a second ring resonator that is coupled to the second waveguide. The signal mixing component includes at least a third ring resonator and a fourth ring resonator. The third ring resonator is coupled to the first waveguide and the fourth ring resonator is coupled to the second waveguide. Further, the third ring resonator and the fourth ring resonator are coupled to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiahui Wang, Shanhui Fan, Sean P. Rodrigues, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Publication number: 20240361522
    Abstract: A dual ring resonator including a base substrate, and a silicon oxide layer positioned on the base substrate having a first waveguide, a primary ring resonator optically coupled to the first waveguide, a second waveguide, and a secondary ring resonator optically coupled to the primary ring resonator and the second waveguide. The dual ring resonator further includes at least one heater disposed partially on the primary ring resonator, and a trench within at least the silicon oxide layer and surrounding at least a portion of the first waveguide and the second waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ercan M. Dede, Sean P. Rodrigues, Jiahui Wang, Shanhui Fan
  • Patent number: 12111492
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an adaptable photonic apparatus including an optical neural network. The photonic apparatus includes an optical input that provides an optical signal. The photonic apparatus also includes a chassis component and an optical neural network (ONN). The chassis component includes at least one modular mounting location for receiving a modular network component. The ONN is operably connected with the optical input and is configured to perform optical processing on the optical signal according to a deep learning algorithm. The ONN includes optical components arranged into layers to form the ONN. The modular network component is an additional optical processing component that is configured to function in cooperation with the ONN to adapt the deep learning algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Paul Donald Schmalenberg, Hideo Iizuka, Jae Seung Lee, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Publication number: 20240329167
    Abstract: Embodiments of an integrated apparatus for measuring an external magnetic or other external stimulus are presented herein. This apparatus may include a semiconductor integrated circuit comprising a plurality of metal layers; a solid-state host disposed on the semiconductor integrated circuit and comprising a plurality of color centers; a photonic integrated circuit disposed on the solid-state host and comprising optical modulators and a grating array in optical communication with the plurality of color centers via a material capable of transmitting light below 1000 nm; a microwave antenna formed in a first metal layer in the plurality of metal layers of the semiconductor integrated circuit; and a photodetector in optical communication with the plurality of color centers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Paul Donald Schmalenberg, Sean P. Rodrigues, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Publication number: 20240326825
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle feedback system includes at least one sensor embedded in an interior surface of a vehicle and a processor electrically coupled to the at least one sensor. The processor establishes a baseline for a physiological parameter of an occupant of the vehicle based on feedback from the at least one sensor, and provides an adjustment to at least one of a plurality of vehicle operations when a deviation of the physiological parameter compared to the baseline. The adjustment of the at least one of the plurality of vehicle operations is proportional to the deviation of the physiological parameter from the baseline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Frederico Marcolino Quintao Severgnini, Sean P. Rodrigues, Ercan Dede
  • Patent number: 12092529
    Abstract: A window can be used for object detection and/or identification. The window can have a first side and a second side. An optical grating can be operatively positioned with respect to the first side of the window. A light source can be configured to emit light toward the optical grating. A detector can be operatively positioned to acquire spectroscopic data of the light emitted from the light source after the light has interacted with the optical grating. Using the optical grating, a temperature at or near the first side can be determined. Based on the temperature, it can be determined whether an object is located on the first side of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Paul Donald Schmalenberg, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Patent number: 12060010
    Abstract: A vehicle can include a window including an interior side and an exterior side. The vehicle can include a camera located on an exterior of the vehicle. The camera can be operatively positioned to capture visual data of a blind spot of an external environment of the vehicle. The vehicle can include a dual-sided transparent display forming at least a portion of the window. The vehicle can include a processor operatively connected to the camera and the dual-sided transparent display. The processor can be configured to selectively cause the dual-sided transparent display to display exterior visual information on the exterior side. The processor can be configured to selectively cause the dual-sided transparent to display interior visual information on the interior side. The interior visual information can include the visual data of the blind spot of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Hiroshi Ukegawa
  • Patent number: 12055745
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the brightness of a transparent display are disclosed herein. One embodiment collects ambient light using an array of diffraction gratings disposed on an external surface of a building; filters the ambient light to produce filtered ambient light; generates primary-source light using a light-emitting-diode (LED) light source; and injects, into a transparent edge-lit liquid crystal waveguide display deployed in at least a portion of a window of the building, the primary-source light and the filtered ambient light in a color-synchronized manner. The filtered ambient light improves the brightness of the transparent edge-lit liquid crystal waveguide display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Danny J. Lohan, Ercan Mehmet Dede, Masaaki Kawauchi, Kojiro Tachi, Hiroshi Ando
  • Patent number: 12030382
    Abstract: A vehicle can include a window. The window can include an interior side and an exterior side. The vehicle can include a camera operatively positioned to capture visual data of a portion of an exterior environment of the vehicle. The vehicle can include a dual-sided transparent display forming at least a portion of the window. The vehicle can include a processor operatively connected to the camera and the dual-sided transparent display. The processor can be configured to selectively cause the dual-sided transparent display to display exterior visual information on the exterior side. The processor can be configured to cause the dual-sided transparent display to display interior visual information on the interior side. The interior visual information can include the visual data of the portion of the exterior environment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Frederico Marcolino Quintao Severgnini, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Patent number: 12014510
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to an improved camera system including directional optics to estimate depth of grayscale images. In one embodiment, the camera system includes a lens that receives light associated with a scene and an inverter that inverts the light from the lens. The camera system also includes a metasurface that resolves an angle of the light from the inverter according to parameters of the metasurface. The camera system also includes a detector that senses the light from the metasurface to form image data by integrating intensity of the light per pixel to estimate depth of an object in the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean P. Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20240176058
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the brightness of a transparent display are disclosed herein. One embodiment collects ambient light using an array of diffraction gratings disposed on an external surface of a building; filters the ambient light to produce filtered ambient light; generates primary-source light using a light-emitting-diode (LED) light source; and injects, into a transparent edge-lit liquid crystal waveguide display deployed in at least a portion of a window of the building, the primary-source light and the filtered ambient light in a color-synchronized manner. The filtered ambient light improves the brightness of the transparent edge-lit liquid crystal waveguide display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Danny J. Lohan, Ercan Mehmet Dede, Masaaki Kawauchi, Kojiro Tachi, Hiroshi Ando
  • Patent number: 11986309
    Abstract: The disclosure is related configuring a vehicle according to a user profile, where an individual user profile can be selected from a registry containing one or more user profiles using electroencephalogram (EEG). An additional biometric, such as gait, can also be used. The user profiles can include a variety of the user preferences, such as the preferred climate, seat settings, mode of payment, route to take, and more. A mobile device can also be used to add a layer of security and privacy, where the mobile device has sole access to the user's user profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Muhamed K. Farooq, Chungchih Chou, Sean P. Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 11977281
    Abstract: A silicon on insulator (SOI) photonic device having a waveguide is provided that includes a mode overlap portion with a topology optimized structure situated below an electrode of the capacitance structure. The device can significantly change a refractive index in a volume of mode overlap depending upon the applied potential to the capacitor and allows for a ? phase shift in a modest mode overlap volume. The topology optimized structure has a waveguide and substrate that are partitioned in three dimensions using an extruded projection design. The electrode is a transition metal di-chalcogenide monolayer sheet (2D TMD). The enhanced mode overlay from the topology optimized waveguide portion allows a large reduction in the length of the waveguide with the mode overlap to achieve the needed phase shift for a photonic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Paul Donald Schmalenberg, Yuqing Zhou, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Publication number: 20240133812
    Abstract: A system for use with a randomly dispersed chiral organic solution. The system includes: an infrared laser that outputs a light beam having a wavelength in an IR spectrum; a stage that holds the randomly dispersed chiral organic solution, the stage being arranged to receive the light beam from the infrared laser, the stage including a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) resonating cavity structure configured to generate chiral signals in a linear IR regime, the stage being configured to generate a second harmonic optical signal from the light beam, the second harmonic optical signal being in an ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, the stage being configured to output the second harmonic optical signal; a UV detector that can receive the second harmonic optical signal from the stage; and an analyzer being configured to determine a chiroptical signature for the randomly dispersed chiral organic solution based on the received second harmonic optical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sean P. Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 11965374
    Abstract: A window can be used to detect objects located within an opening. A structure can define the opening. The window can be operatively positioned within the opening. The window can be movable to selectively open and close the opening. The window can include an optical grating operatively positioned near a closing edge of the window. A light source configured to emit light toward the optical grating. A detector operatively positioned to acquire spectroscopic data of the light emitted from the light source after the light has interacted with the optical grating. A processor can be operatively connected to the detector. The processor can be configured to: determine a temperature based on the spectroscopic data; determine, based on the temperature, whether an object is located in the opening; and responsive to determining that an object is located in the opening, control a movement of window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Paul Donald Schmalenberg, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Patent number: 11946814
    Abstract: A window can comprise a first side and a second side substantially parallel to the first side. The window can comprise an optical grating operatively positioned with respect to one of the first side and the second side. The optical grating can be used to determine a temperature at or near the respective one of the first side and the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Patent number: 11906832
    Abstract: A dual side view display includes a waveguide with an inside transparent layer and an outside transparent layer spaced apart from and parallel to the inside transparent layer, and a plurality of inside view liquid crystal (LC) pixels and a plurality of outside view LC pixels disposed within the waveguide. The plurality of outside view LC pixels are disposed within the waveguide parallel to and in-plane with the plurality of inside view LC pixels. The plurality of inside LC pixels includes a plurality of outside blocking layers configured to block light scattered in the plurality of inside view LC pixels from propagating through the outside transparent layer. Also, the plurality of outside view LC pixels includes a plurality of inside blocking layers configured to block light scattered in the plurality of outside view LC pixels from propagating through the inside transparent layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., MIRISE Technology Corporation, Kent State University
    Inventors: Deng-Ke Yang, Yunho Shin, Guangkui Qin, Sean P. Rodrigues