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).
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Publication number: 20230168136Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2021Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Paul Donald Schmalenberg, Ercan Mehmet Dede
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Publication number: 20230167667Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2021Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Paul Donald Schmalenberg, Ercan Mehmet Dede
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Patent number: 11662611Abstract: A tunable optical metamaterial system includes a tunable optical metamaterial, an actuator module to selectively activate the tunable optical metamaterial, and a control system to selectively control the actuator module. The tunable optical metamaterial includes a substrate composed at least in part of an electroactive polymer (EAP), and an optically active particle array that includes a plurality of optically active elongated members populated spaced apart on the substrate in two or more orientations to form confocal lenses that are optically responsive to the expansion of the substrate. The control module, is configured to control the optical properties of the tunable optical metamaterial by causing the electrical activation of the substrate via the actuator module to selectively expand the substrate in a manner that alters the spacing between the optically active elongated members.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Frederico Marcolino Quintao Severgnini, Paul D. Schmalenberg
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Patent number: 11665788Abstract: A transparent display system includes a transparent display, a touch-sensitive layer, and a heater layer. The touch-sensitive layer is connected to the transparent display and is configured to detect a touch-based input to the transparent display. The heater layer is connected to the transparent display and includes a trace array and one or more electrodes operable to activate the trace array to generate heat to heat at least a portion of the transparent display based on the touch-based input.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2022Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Ercan Mehmet Dede, Sean P. Rodrigues
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Patent number: 11663730Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to an improved camera system including directional optics to estimate the depth of grayscale and color images. In one embodiment, a camera system includes a graded lens to receive light associated with a scene and resolve multiple angles of the light according to parameters of the graded lens. The camera system also includes a detector that senses the light from the graded lens per pixel to integrate multiple views of the scene into a single image to estimate depth associated with objects and the single image includes data for views of the objects that overlap having resolved angles in association with the parameters.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Sean P. Rodrigues
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Publication number: 20230152517Abstract: Embodiments of a thermally modulated photonic switch are presented herein. One embodiment comprises a topology-optimized structure that includes dispersed silicon and silicon dioxide. This topology-optimized structure includes an input waveguide, a first output waveguide, and a second output waveguide. The topology-optimized structure routes a light beam from the input waveguide to the first output waveguide, when the topology-optimized structure is at a first predetermined temperature that causes a refractive index of the silicon in the topology-optimized structure to assume a first predetermined value, and the topology-optimized structure routes a light beam from the input waveguide to the second output waveguide, when the topology-optimized structure is at a second predetermined temperature that causes the refractive index of the silicon in the topology-optimized structure to assume a second predetermined value that is distinct from the first predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2021Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Yuqing Zhou
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Patent number: 11635567Abstract: Embodiments of a thermally modulated photonic switch are presented herein. One embodiment comprises a topology-optimized structure that includes dispersed silicon and silicon dioxide. This topology-optimized structure includes an input waveguide, a first output waveguide, and a second output waveguide. The topology-optimized structure routes a light beam from the input waveguide to the first output waveguide, when the topology-optimized structure is at a first predetermined temperature that causes a refractive index of the silicon in the topology-optimized structure to assume a first predetermined value, and the topology-optimized structure routes a light beam from the input waveguide to the second output waveguide, when the topology-optimized structure is at a second predetermined temperature that causes the refractive index of the silicon in the topology-optimized structure to assume a second predetermined value that is distinct from the first predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Yuqing Zhou
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Patent number: 11609421Abstract: A tunable optical metamaterial system includes a tunable optical metamaterial, an actuator module to selectively activate the tunable optical metamaterial, and a control system to selectively control the actuator module. The tunable optical metamaterial includes a substrate defined by one or more fluid-filled pockets formed by one or more electroactive polymer (EAP) layers defining a reservoir containing a fluid that is induced to a change in volumetric configuration or 3D orientation when electrically activated. The optically active array of resonators are populated on an electroactive surface of the one or more fluid-filled pockets and are optically responsive to the change in volumetric configuration of the one or more fluid-filled pockets. The control module is to selectively control, via the actuator module, the optical properties of the tunable optical metamaterial by causing the electrical activation of the fluid-filled pockets.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Ercan M. Dede, Paul D. Schmalenberg
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Patent number: 11579272Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to calibrate a LiDAR using a reflect array calibration target having a spatially varying spectral reflectance profile. A frequency modulated continuous wave LiDAR emits a beam that spans a range of wavelengths, and, therefore, spatially varying spectral features in the reflectance profile can be used as indicia of where the LiDAR beam hits the calibration target. For example, the center has one absorption wavelength and the periphery has another, such that alignment is achieved by changing the alignment direction to maximize the spectral feature at the one absorption wavelength while minimizing the spectral feature at the other absorption wavelength. Alternatively, at least one spectral feature can have a center wavelength that changes as a function of space. Thus, the LiDAR is aligned by changing the beam direction to shift the center wavelength to a value corresponding to the target center.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2019Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Paul D. Schmalenberg, Sean P. Rodrigues
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Patent number: 11556175Abstract: A device that uses brainwave activity to allow a user to perform hands-free tasks is disclosed. For example, the device can include a transparent display, an electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor, and a processing circuitry coupled to the transparent display and the EEG sensor. The EEG sensor can be configured to sense an EEG signal corresponding to brain activity associated with a user of the device. The processing circuitry can be configured to display a visual stimulus on the transparent display and generate a control signal associated with a task of the user based on the EEG signal. Therefore, the user can use his brainwave activity to perform hands-free tasks.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Muhamed K. Farooq, Sean P. Rodrigues
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Publication number: 20230004029Abstract: Embodiments of a dual-sided transparent display panel are presented herein. One embodiment comprises a first panel subassembly and a second panel subassembly, each of the first and second panel subassemblies including a plurality of adjacent layers, the plurality of adjacent layers including, from an innermost layer to an outermost layer, a first electrode layer, a first polyimide layer, a liquid-crystal matrix, a second polyimide layer, a second electrode layer, and a glass layer; a waveguide disposed between an inner surface of the first electrode layer of the first panel subassembly and an inner surface of the first electrode layer of the second panel subassembly; and one or more light sources disposed along an edge of the waveguide that is perpendicular to the inner surface of the first electrode layer of the first panel subassembly and the inner surface of the first electrode layer of the second panel subassembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Sean P. Rodrigues
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Patent number: 11536947Abstract: Systems and methods provide technology for a tunable vehicle window system to adjust a view for a window. The technology includes a window assembly comprising a tunable optical metamaterial deployed on a surface of a window, the tunable optical metamaterial including a transparent electroactive substrate having disposed thereon an optically active particle array, the optically active particle array including resonators having elongated members arranged in two or more orientations. The technology includes a controller to receive a signal from a photosensor indicative of a condition of incoming light to the vehicle, determine a change in a view for the window assembly based on the received photosensor signal, and control a voltage applied to the substrate to selectively expand or contract the substrate within a plane substantially parallel to the window surface and in a manner to adjust the view for the window assembly according to the determined view change.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Chungchih Chou
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Publication number: 20220396205Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2021Publication date: December 15, 2022Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Hiroshi Ukegawa
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Publication number: 20220397464Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2021Publication date: December 15, 2022Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Ercan Mehmet Dede
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Publication number: 20220396148Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2021Publication date: December 15, 2022Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Frederico Marcolino Quintao Severgnini, Ercan Mehmet Dede
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Patent number: 11513266Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to a camera system. In one embodiment, the camera system includes a lens to receive light associated with an object and a first component, operatively connected to the lens, that inverts the light. The camera system also includes a second component, operatively connected to the first component, that resolves an angle of the light. A detector array, operatively connected to the second component, senses the light using a pixel to form an image to estimate depth of the object.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Sean P. Rodrigues
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Patent number: 11513380Abstract: Embodiments of a dual-sided transparent display panel are presented herein. One embodiment comprises a first layer of electro-optic material, the first layer of electro-optic material including an outer surface and an inner surface; a second layer of electro-optic material, the second layer of electro-optic material including an outer surface and an inner surface; a waveguide disposed between the inner surface of the first layer of electro-optic material and the inner surface of the second layer of electro-optic material; one or more light sources disposed along an edge of the waveguide that is perpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces of the first and second layers of electro-optic material; a first grating coating adjacent to the outer surface of the first layer of electro-optic material; and a second grating coating adjacent to the outer surface of the second layer of electro-optic material.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Sean P. Rodrigues
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Publication number: 20220334413Abstract: An optical metasurface which shifts resonant frequency in response to changing temperature. The optical metasurface includes a membrane printed in a pattern from materials with a high coefficient of thermal expansion (“CTE”). The optical metasurface can include a plurality of high CTE fibers/structures in a first direction and a plurality of low CTE fibers/structures in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Alternatively, the high CTE substrate can include a plurality of high CTE fibers/structures in only a first direction. The high CTE substrate can include a plurality of high CTE fibers and a plurality of low CTE fiber in a pattern which creates desired sensing domains. An array of nanostructures is formed on the high CTE substrate. The array of nanostructures is designed to resonate with light transmitted through or impinging upon the optical metasurface. The resonant frequency of the response can be tuned thermally.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2021Publication date: October 20, 2022Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Sean P. RODRIGUES, Ercan Mehmet DEDE
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Publication number: 20220334414Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2021Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Paul Donald Schmalenberg, Yuqing Zhou, Ercan Mehmet Dede
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Publication number: 20220334641Abstract: A device that uses brainwave activity to allow a user to perform hands-free tasks is disclosed. For example, the device can include a transparent display, an electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor, and a processing circuitry coupled to the transparent display and the EEG sensor. The EEG sensor can be configured to sense an EEG signal corresponding to brain activity associated with a user of the device. The processing circuitry can be configured to display a visual stimulus on the transparent display and generate a control signal associated with a task of the user based on the EEG signal. Therefore, the user can use his brainwave activity to perform hands-free tasks.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2021Publication date: October 20, 2022Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Muhamed K. FAROOQ, Sean P. RODRIGUES