Patents by Inventor Stephen Sulack

Stephen Sulack 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: 12140706
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and vehicles that facilitate a light detection and ranging (LIDAR or lidar) system that may take advantage of “dead angles” where the lidar system is oriented toward support structure or another “uninteresting” feature. In such scenarios, light pulses may be redirected toward more-interesting features in the environment. An example system includes a lidar system configured to emit light pulses into an environment of the system so as to provide information indicative of objects within a default field of view. The system also includes a reflective surface optically coupled to the lidar system. The reflective surface is configured to reflect at least a portion of the emitted light pulses so as to provide an extended field of view. The lidar system is further configured to provide information indicative of objects within the extended field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Blaise Gassend, Stephen Sulack, Jonathan Souliere
  • Publication number: 20240004039
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and vehicles that facilitate a light detection and ranging (LIDAR or lidar) system that may take advantage of “dead angles” where the lidar system is oriented toward support structure or another “uninteresting” feature. In such scenarios, light pulses may be redirected toward more-interesting features in the environment. An example system includes a lidar system configured to emit light pulses into an environment of the system so as to provide information indicative of objects within a default field of view. The system also includes a reflective surface optically coupled to the lidar system. The reflective surface is configured to reflect at least a portion of the emitted light pulses so as to provide an extended field of view. The lidar system is further configured to provide information indicative of objects within the extended field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Blaise Gassend, Stephen Sulack, Jonathan Souliere
  • Patent number: 11762067
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and vehicles that facilitate a light detection and ranging (LIDAR or lidar) system that may take advantage of “dead angles” where the lidar system is oriented toward support structure or another “uninteresting” feature. In such scenarios, light pulses may be redirected toward more-interesting features in the environment. An example system includes a lidar system configured to emit light pulses into an environment of the system so as to provide information indicative of objects within a default field of view. The system also includes a reflective surface optically coupled to the lidar system. The reflective surface is configured to reflect at least a portion of the emitted light pulses so as to provide an extended field of view. The lidar system is further configured to provide information indicative of objects within the extended field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Blaise Gassend, Stephen Sulack, Jonathan Souliere
  • Publication number: 20230100073
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and vehicles that facilitate a light detection and ranging (LIDAR or lidar) system that may take advantage of “dead angles” where the lidar system is oriented toward support structure or another “uninteresting” feature. In such scenarios, light pulses may be redirected toward more-interesting features in the environment. An example system includes a lidar system configured to emit light pulses into an environment of the system so as to provide information indicative of objects within a default field of view. The system also includes a reflective surface optically coupled to the lidar system. The reflective surface is configured to reflect at least a portion of the emitted light pulses so as to provide an extended field of view. The lidar system is further configured to provide information indicative of objects within the extended field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Blaise Gassend, Stephen Sulack, Jonathan Souliere
  • Patent number: 11536807
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and vehicles that facilitate a light detection and ranging (LIDAR or lidar) system that may take advantage of “dead angles” where the lidar system is oriented toward support structure or another “uninteresting” feature. In such scenarios, light pulses may be redirected toward more-interesting features in the environment. An example system includes a lidar system configured to emit light pulses into an environment of the system so as to provide information indicative of objects within a default field of view. The system also includes a reflective surface optically coupled to the lidar system. The reflective surface is configured to reflect at least a portion of the emitted light pulses so as to provide an extended field of view. The lidar system is further configured to provide information indicative of objects within the extended field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Blaise Gassend, Stephen Sulack, Jonathan Souliere
  • Publication number: 20210080550
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and vehicles that facilitate a light detection and ranging (LIDAR or lidar) system that may take advantage of “dead angles” where the lidar system is oriented toward support structure or another “uninteresting” feature. In such scenarios, light pulses may be redirected toward more-interesting features in the environment. An example system includes a lidar system configured to emit light pulses into an environment of the system so as to provide information indicative of objects within a default field of view. The system also includes a reflective surface optically coupled to the lidar system. The reflective surface is configured to reflect at least a portion of the emitted light pulses so as to provide an extended field of view. The lidar system is further configured to provide information indicative of objects within the extended field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Blaise Gassend, Stephen Sulack, Jonathan Souliere