Patents by Inventor Seth Gilbertson
Seth Gilbertson 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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Patent number: 11752981Abstract: This technology relates to a system for clearing a sensor cover. The system may be comprised of a first sensor that rotates within a sensor cover, a plurality of second sensors that are fixed relative to the sensor cover, a first wiper that is configured to clear the sensor cover of debris, and a motor. The motor may rotate the first wiper in a first direction at a first predetermined rotation rate defined at least in part by a second predetermined rotation rate of the first sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Benjamin Ingram, Eric Schmidt, Seth Gilbertson, Nicholas Wiles
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Patent number: 11719928Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to cleaning rotating sensors having a sensor housing with a sensor input surface. For instance, a first signal indicating that there is a contaminant on the sensor input surface may be received. In response to receiving the first signal, a second signal may be sent in order to cause one or more transducers to generate waves in order to attempt to remove the contaminant from the sensor input surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2020Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Seth Gilbertson, Min Wang, Mincheol Shin, Oliver Simon Matthews, Steffen Walter
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Patent number: 11691598Abstract: This technology relates to system for clearing a sensor cover. The system may include a sprayer, a support, and a positioning device. The sprayer may be mounted to the support and direct a flow of fluid to the sensor cover. The positioning device may be configured to adjust the position of the sprayer on the support. The system may include a nozzle and the nozzle may be positioned to direct the flow of fluid to an area of the sensor cover. The system may include additional sprayers.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventor: Seth Gilbertson
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Patent number: 11661036Abstract: The disclosure provides for a wiper system for cleaning a surface of a sensor housing, such as a sensor housing positioned on top of a vehicle. The wiper system includes a plurality of windows spaced around a sensor housing, and a plurality of wipers positioned around the sensor housing, each of the wipers includes a wiper blade configured to clean a corresponding window of the plurality of windows. The wiper system further includes a drive system including a moveable part coupled to a motor. The motor is configured to drive the drive system to simultaneously rotate the plurality of wipers around the sensor housing such that the plurality of wipers remove debris from the plurality of windows.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2022Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Seth Gilbertson, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Roger Best
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Patent number: 11656327Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems for cleaning a sensor. For example, the sensor may include a housing as well as internal sensor components housed within the housing. The housing may include a sensor input surface through which signals may pass. The system may also include a motor configured to rotate the internal sensor components relative to a mount as well as the mount to which the motor is fixed. The system may also include a wiper including a wiper blade. The wiper may be attached to the mount such that rotating the housing causes the wiper to contact the sensor input surface in order to clean the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Seth Gilbertson, Alexander Grinberg
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Patent number: 11485328Abstract: This technology relates to a system for clearing a sensor cover. The system may be comprised of a first sensor that rotates within a sensor cover, a plurality of second sensors that are fixed relative to the sensor cover, a first wiper that is configured to clear the sensor cover of debris, and a motor. The motor may rotate the first wiper in a first direction at a first predetermined rotation rate defined at least in part by a second predetermined rotation rate of the first sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Benjamin Ingram, Eric Schmidt, Seth Gilbertson, Nicholas Wiles
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Publication number: 20220203938Abstract: The disclosure provides for a wiper system for cleaning a surface of a sensor housing, such as a sensor housing positioned on top of a vehicle. The wiper system includes a plurality of windows spaced around a sensor housing, and a plurality of wipers positioned around the sensor housing, each of the wipers includes a wiper blade configured to clean a corresponding window of the plurality of windows. The wiper system further includes a drive system including a moveable part coupled to a motor. The motor is configured to drive the drive system to simultaneously rotate the plurality of wipers around the sensor housing such that the plurality of wipers remove debris from the plurality of windows.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2022Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Seth Gilbertson, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Roger Best
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Patent number: 11325246Abstract: A device is provided. The device includes a worm drive comprising a worm and a worm gear. The device also includes an actuator comprising a motor, a shaft, and the worm, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate about a shaft axis, and the actuator is configured to (i) drive the worm drive, and (ii) move linearly along the shaft axis. The device also includes a first spring and a second spring, wherein the second ends are fixed, and wherein the first and second springs are configured to resist movement of the actuator along the shaft axis in opposite directions as a result of forces transmitted through the worm drive. The device further includes a linear position encoder configured to determine a position of the actuator along the shaft axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: X Development LLCInventors: Ben Berkowitz, Seth Gilbertson, Marc Strauss
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Publication number: 20220099964Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to cleaning rotating sensors having a sensor housing with a sensor input surface. For instance, a first signal indicating that there is a contaminant on the sensor input surface may be received. In response to receiving the first signal, a second signal may be sent in order to cause one or more transducers to generate waves in order to attempt to remove the contaminant from the sensor input surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Seth Gilbertson, Min Wang, Mincheol Shin, Oliver Simon Matthews, Steffen Walter
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Patent number: 11279324Abstract: The disclosure provides for a wiper system for cleaning a surface of a sensor housing, such as a sensor housing positioned on top of a vehicle. The wiper system includes a plurality of windows spaced around a sensor housing, and a plurality of wipers positioned around the sensor housing, each of the wipers includes a wiper blade configured to clean a corresponding window of the plurality of windows. The wiper system further includes a drive system including a movable part coupled to a motor. The motor is configured to drive the drive system to simultaneously rotate the plurality of wipers around the sensor housing such that the plurality of wipers remove debris from the plurality of windows.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Seth Gilbertson, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Roger Best
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Publication number: 20220063568Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to cleaning rotating sensors having a sensor housing with a sensor input surface. For instance, a first signal from a position sensor indicating a current position of the sensor housing may be received. A second signal to activate a liquid nozzle and an air nozzle, the liquid nozzle being configured to provide a spray of liquid and the air nozzle being configured to provide a puff of gas may be received. When to activate the liquid nozzle in order to provide the spray of liquid on the sensor input surface may be determined based on the current position of the sensor housing and the second signal. When to activate the air nozzle in order to provide the puff of gas on the sensor input surface may be determined based on the current position of the sensor housing and the second signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Seth Gilbertson, Stephan Heinrich, Michael Hall-Snyder
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Publication number: 20210263133Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems for cleaning a sensor. For example, the sensor may include a housing as well as internal sensor components housed within the housing. The housing may include a sensor input surface through which signals may pass. The system may also include a motor configured to rotate the internal sensor components relative to a mount as well as the mount to which the motor is fixed. The system may also include a wiper including a wiper blade. The wiper may be attached to the mount such that rotating the housing causes the wiper to contact the sensor input surface in order to clean the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2020Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Seth Gilbertson, Alexander Grinberg
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Publication number: 20210206352Abstract: This technology relates to system for clearing a sensor cover. The system may include a sprayer, a support, and a positioning device. The sprayer may be mounted to the support and direct a flow of fluid to the sensor cover. The positioning device may be configured to adjust the position of the sprayer on the support. The system may include a nozzle and the nozzle may be positioned to direct the flow of fluid to an area of the sensor cover. The system may include additional sprayers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventor: Seth Gilbertson
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Publication number: 20210114201Abstract: A device is provided. The device includes a worm drive comprising a worm and a worm gear. The device also includes an actuator comprising a motor, a shaft, and the worm, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate about a shaft axis, and the actuator is configured to (i) drive the worm drive, and (ii) move linearly along the shaft axis. The device also includes a first spring and a second spring, wherein the second ends are fixed, and wherein the first and second springs are configured to resist movement of the actuator along the shaft axis in opposite directions as a result of forces transmitted through the worm drive. The device further includes a linear position encoder configured to determine a position of the actuator along the shaft axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Ben Berkowitz, Seth Gilbertson, Marc Strauss
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Patent number: 10933842Abstract: This technology relates to system for clearing a sensor cover. The system may include a sprayer, a support, and a positioning device. The sprayer may be mounted to the support and direct a flow of fluid to the sensor cover. The positioning device may be configured to adjust the position of the sprayer on the support. The system may include a nozzle and the nozzle may be positioned to direct the flow of fluid to an area of the sensor cover. The system may include additional sprayers.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Waymo LLCInventor: Seth Gilbertson
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Patent number: 10906174Abstract: A device is provided. The device includes a worm drive comprising a worm and a worm gear. The device also includes an actuator comprising a motor, a shaft, and the worm, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate about a shaft axis, and the actuator is configured to (i) drive the worm drive, and (ii) move linearly along the shaft axis. The device also includes a first spring and a second spring, wherein the second ends are fixed, and wherein the first and second springs are configured to resist movement of the actuator along the shaft axis in opposite directions as a result of forces transmitted through the worm drive. The device further includes a linear position encoder configured to determine a position of the actuator along the shaft axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: X Development LLCInventors: Ben Berkowitz, Seth Gilbertson, Marc Strauss
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Publication number: 20200189524Abstract: The technology relates to a wiper systems. For instance, a system may include a sensor including a sensor housing and a housing window in the sensor housing. The system may also include a rotating drive mechanism. A first portion of the rotating drive mechanism is positioned adjacent to a top of the housing window. The system also includes a plurality of pulleys, and the rotating drive mechanism may be wrapped around at least a portion of the pulleys. The system also includes a wiper attached to the rotating drive mechanism and a motor. The motor may be configured to rotate at least one of the pulleys in order to cause at least the first portion of the rotating drive mechanism to rotate in a first direction. As a result, the wiper may move across the housing window from an initial position to a second position in order to move contaminants on the housing window.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2018Publication date: June 18, 2020Applicants: Waymo LLC, Waymo LLCInventors: Seth Gilbertson, Alex Khaykin
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Publication number: 20200180563Abstract: This technology relates to system for clearing a sensor cover. The system may include a sprayer, a support, and a positioning device. The sprayer may be mounted to the support and direct a flow of fluid to the sensor cover. The positioning device may be configured to adjust the position of the sprayer on the support. The system may include a nozzle and the nozzle may be positioned to direct the flow of fluid to an area of the sensor cover. The system may include additional sprayers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2018Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventor: Seth Gilbertson
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Publication number: 20200094786Abstract: The disclosure provides for a wiper system for cleaning a surface of a sensor housing, such as a sensor housing positioned on top of a vehicle. The wiper system includes a plurality of windows spaced around a sensor housing, and a plurality of wipers positioned around the sensor housing, each of the wipers includes a wiper blade configured to clean a corresponding window of the plurality of windows. The wiper system further includes a drive system including a movable part coupled to a motor. The motor is configured to drive the drive system to simultaneously rotate the plurality of wipers around the sensor housing such that the plurality of wipers remove debris from the plurality of windows.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2018Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicants: Waymo LLC, Waymo LLCInventors: Seth Gilbertson, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Roger Best
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Patent number: 10589726Abstract: This technology relates to a system for clearing a sensor cover. The system may be comprised of a first wiper and second wiper configured to clear the sensor cover of debris and a motor. The motor may rotate the first wiper and the second wiper in a first direction at a first predetermined rotation rate defined at least in part by a second predetermined rotation rate of a first sensor arranged within the sensor cover. The first wiper and the second wiper may be offset by a predetermined angular distance relative to a center of the sensor cover.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2017Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Benjamin Ingram, Eric Schmidt, Seth Gilbertson, Nicholas Wiles