Patents by Inventor Vadim Gutnik
Vadim Gutnik 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: 20240085530Abstract: Described herein is a LIDAR device that may include a transmitter, first and second receivers, and a rotating platform. The transmitter may be configured to emit light having a vertical beam width. The first receiver may be configured to detect light at a first resolution while scanning the environment with a first FOV and the second receiver may be configured to detect light at a second resolution while scanning the environment with a second FOV. In this arrangement, the first resolution may be higher than the second resolution, the first FOV may be at least partially different from the second FOV, and the vertical beam width may encompass at least a vertical extent of the first and second FOVs. Further, the rotating platform may be configured to rotate about an axis such that the transmitter and first and second receivers each move based on the rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Caner Onal, William McCann, Bernard Fidric, Vadim Gutnik, Laila Mattos, Rahim Pardhan
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Patent number: 11921237Abstract: An example circuit includes a light detector and a biasing capacitor having (i) a first terminal that applies to the light detector an output voltage that can either bias or debias the light detector and (ii) a second terminal for controlling the output voltage. The circuit includes a first transistor connected to the second terminal of the biasing capacitor and configured to drive the output voltage to a first voltage level above a biasing threshold of the light detector and thereby biasing the light detector. The circuit includes a second transistor connected to the second terminal of the biasing capacitor and configured to drive the output voltage to a second voltage level below the biasing threshold of the light detector and thereby debiasing the light detector. The second voltage is a non-zero voltage that corresponds to a charge level of the biasing capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Pierre-yves Droz, Vadim Gutnik
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Patent number: 11860305Abstract: Described herein is a LIDAR device that may include a transmitter, first and second receivers, and a rotating platform. The transmitter may be configured to emit light having a vertical beam width. The first receiver may be configured to detect light at a first resolution while scanning the environment with a first FOV and the second receiver may be configured to detect light at a second resolution while scanning the environment with a second FOV. In this arrangement, the first resolution may be higher than the second resolution, the first FOV may be at least partially different from the second FOV, and the vertical beam width may encompass at least a vertical extent of the first and second FOVs. Further, the rotating platform may be configured to rotate about an axis such that the transmitter and first and second receivers each move based on the rotation.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2019Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Caner Onal, William McCann, Bernard Fidric, Vadim Gutnik, Laila Mattos, Rahim Pardhan
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Patent number: 11693098Abstract: A LIDAR device includes an input node, an output node, and a sample-and-convert circuit. The input node receives a photodetector signal, and the output node generates an output signal indicating a light intensity value of the photodetector signal. The sample-and-convert circuit includes a number of detection channels coupled in parallel between the input node and the output node. In some aspects, each of the detection channels may be configured to sample a value of the photodetector signal during the sample mode and to hold the sampled value during the convert mode using a single capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Vadim Gutnik, Andrew Abo
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Publication number: 20230204734Abstract: An optical receiver includes one or more photodetectors and an analog front end (AFE) configured to accept input signals from the one or more photodetectors. The AFE includes a non-linear gain amplifier (NLGA). The NLGA includes a piecewise linear gain stage configured to apply a piecewise linear transfer function to the input signals to form amplified signals. The AFE also includes a DC offset stage configured to apply a DC offset to the amplified signals. A related method of operation and vehicle are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2021Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: David Sobel, Andrew Abo, Vadim Gutnik
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Publication number: 20220291356Abstract: An example circuit includes a light detector and a biasing capacitor having (i) a first terminal that applies to the light detector an output voltage that can either bias or debias the light detector and (ii) a second terminal for controlling the output voltage. The circuit includes a first transistor connected to the second terminal of the biasing capacitor and configured to drive the output voltage to a first voltage level above a biasing threshold of the light detector and thereby biasing the light detector. The circuit includes a second transistor connected to the second terminal of the biasing capacitor and configured to drive the output voltage to a second voltage level below the biasing threshold of the light detector and thereby debiasing the light detector. The second voltage is a non-zero voltage that corresponds to a charge level of the biasing capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Pierre-yves Droz, Vadim Gutnik
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Patent number: 11378663Abstract: An example circuit includes a light detector and a biasing capacitor having (i) a first terminal that applies to the light detector an output voltage that can either bias or debias the light detector and (ii) a second terminal for controlling the output voltage. The circuit includes a first transistor connected to the second terminal of the biasing capacitor and configured to drive the output voltage to a first voltage level above a biasing threshold of the light detector and thereby biasing the light detector. The circuit includes a second transistor connected to the second terminal of the biasing capacitor and configured to drive the output voltage to a second voltage level below the biasing threshold of the light detector and thereby debiasing the light detector. The second voltage is a non-zero voltage that corresponds to a charge level of the biasing capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Pierre-yves Droz, Vadim Gutnik
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Publication number: 20220137185Abstract: Example embodiments relate to light detection and ranging (lidar) devices or other apparatus that incorporate laser light emitters capable of increased pulse energies and decreased pulse durations. These laser light emitters include a gain medium having two portions to which a pump electrode and a switch electrode, respectively, are coupled. The pump electrode is configured to apply a current through the gain medium that provides energy for lasing and the switch electrode is configured to apply a current through the gain medium that controls a transparency of the second portion of the gain medium. Thus the switch electrode, which controls the timing of emitted light pulses, can be driven by a lower current and thus have shorter pulse widths, rise time, and/or fall times, thereby allowing for shorter, higher-energy laser pulses to be emitted.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2021Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: David Schleuning, Pierre-Yves Droz, Augusto Tazzoli, Vadim Gutnik, Pablo Hopman
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Publication number: 20210311175Abstract: A LIDAR device includes an input node, an output node, and a sample-and-convert circuit. The input node receives a photodetector signal, and the output node generates an output signal indicating a light intensity value of the photodetector signal. The sample-and-convert circuit includes a number of detection channels coupled in parallel between the input node and the output node. In some aspects, each of the detection channels may be configured to sample a value of the photodetector signal during the sample mode and to hold the sampled value during the convert mode using a single capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Inventors: Vadim Gutnik, Andrew Abo
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Patent number: 11067672Abstract: A LIDAR device includes an input node, an output node, and a sample-and-convert circuit. The input node receives a photodetector signal, and the output node generates an output signal indicating a light intensity value of the photodetector signal. The sample-and-convert circuit includes a number of detection channels coupled in parallel between the input node and the output node. In some aspects, each of the detection channels may be configured to sample a value of the photodetector signal during the sample mode and to hold the sampled value during the convert mode using a single capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Vadim Gutnik, Andrew Abo
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Publication number: 20210156972Abstract: An example circuit includes a light detector and a biasing capacitor having (i) a first terminal that applies to the light detector an output voltage that can either bias or debias the light detector and (ii) a second terminal for controlling the output voltage. The circuit includes a first transistor connected to the second terminal of the biasing capacitor and configured to drive the output voltage to a first voltage level above a biasing threshold of the light detector and thereby biasing the light detector. The circuit includes a second transistor connected to the second terminal of the biasing capacitor and configured to drive the output voltage to a second voltage level below the biasing threshold of the light detector and thereby debiasing the light detector. The second voltage is a non-zero voltage that corresponds to a charge level of the biasing capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Pierre-yves Droz, Vadim Gutnik
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Patent number: 10742327Abstract: A coherent receiver comprises an ingress signal path having an ingress line-side interface, and an ingress host-side interface. The ingress signal path is configured to receive an analog signal vector at the ingress line-side interface, to demodulate the analog signal vector, and to output a digital data signal Fat the ingress host-side interface. The coherent receiver also comprises clock and timing circuitry configured to receive a single reference clock signal and to provide a plurality of modified ingress path clock signals to different components of the ingress signal path, the plurality of modified ingress path clock signals derived from the single reference clock signal and the plurality of modified ingress path clock signals having different clock rates. The receiver, transmitter, or transceiver can operate in a plurality of programmable operating modes to accommodate different modulation/de-modulation schemes, error correction code schemes, framing/mapping protocols, or other programmable features.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2019Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: INPHI CORPORATIONInventors: Oscar Ernesto Agazzi, Diego Ernesto Crivelli, Paul Voois, Ramiro Rogelio Lopez, Jorge Manuel Finochietto, Norman L. Swenson, Mario Rafael Hueda, Hugo Santiago Carrer, Vadim Gutnik, Adrián Ulises Morales, Martin Ignacio Del Barco, Martin Carlos Asinari, Federico Nicolas Paredes, Alfredo Javier Taddei, Mauro Marcelo Bruni, Damian Alfonso Morero, Facundo Abel Alcides Ramos, María Laura Ferster, Elvio Adrian Serrano, Pablo Gustavo Quiroga, Roman Antonio Arenas, Matias German Schnidrig, Alejandro Javier Schwoykoski
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Patent number: 10651835Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for processing analog signals with a wide dynamic range. In some implementations, the analog signal may be a current signal that is logarithmically scaled to decrease its dynamic range and converted to an output voltage using two or more diodes. A first diode may be used to scale a first range of the current signal and a second diode may be used to scale a second range of the current signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2019Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Waymo LLCInventor: Vadim Gutnik
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Publication number: 20200044744Abstract: A coherent receiver comprises an ingress signal path having an ingress line-side interface, and an ingress host-side interface. The ingress signal path is configured to receive an analog signal vector at the ingress line-side interface, to demodulate the analog signal vector, and to output a digital data signal Fat the ingress host-side interface. The coherent receiver also comprises clock and timing circuitry configured to receive a single reference clock signal and to provide a plurality of modified ingress path clock signals to different components of the ingress signal path, the plurality of modified ingress path clock signals derived from the single reference clock signal and the plurality of modified ingress path clock signals having different clock rates. The receiver, transmitter, or transceiver can operate in a plurality of programmable operating modes to accommodate different modulation/de-modulation schemes, error correction code schemes, framing/mapping protocols, or other programmable features.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Oscar Ernesto AGAZZI, Diego Ernesto CRIVELLI, Paul VOOIS, Ramiro Rogelio LOPEZ, Jorge Manuel FINOCHIETTO, Norman L. SWENSON, Mario Rafael HUEDA, Hugo Santiago CARRER, Vadim GUTNIK, Adrián Ulises MORALES, Martin Ignacio DEL BARCO, Martin Carlos ASINARI, Federico Nicolas PAREDES, Alfredo Javier TADDEI, Mauro Marcelo BRUNI, Damian Alfonso MORERO, Facundo Abel Alcides RAMOS, María Laura FERSTER, Elvio Adrian SERRANO, Pablo Gustavo QUIROGA, Roman Antonio ARENAS, Matias German SCHNIDRIG, Alejandro Javier SCHWOYKOSKI
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Publication number: 20190383916Abstract: A LIDAR device includes an input node, an output node, and a sample-and-convert circuit. The input node receives a photodetector signal, and the output node generates an output signal indicating a light intensity value of the photodetector signal. The sample-and-convert circuit includes a number of detection channels coupled in parallel between the input node and the output node. In some aspects, each of the detection channels may be configured to sample a value of the photodetector signal during the sample mode and to hold the sampled value during the convert mode using a single capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2018Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Vadim Gutnik, Andrew Abo
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Patent number: 10491304Abstract: A coherent receiver comprises an ingress signal path having an ingress line-side interface, and an ingress host-side interface. The ingress signal path is configured to receive an analog signal vector at the ingress line-side interface, to demodulate the analog signal vector, and to output a digital data signal Fat the ingress host-side interface. The coherent receiver also comprises clock and timing circuitry configured to receive a single reference clock signal and to provide a plurality of modified ingress path clock signals to different components of the ingress signal path, the plurality of modified ingress path clock signals derived from the single reference clock signal and the plurality of modified ingress path clock signals having different clock rates. The receiver, transmitter, or transceiver can operate in a plurality of programmable operating modes to accommodate different modulation/de-modulation schemes, error correction code schemes, framing/mapping protocols, or other programmable features.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: INPHI CORPORATIONInventors: Oscar Ernesto Agazzi, Diego Ernesto Crivelli, Paul Voois, Ramiro Rogelio Lopez, Jorge Manuel Finochietto, Norman L. Swenson, Mario Rafael Hueda, Hugo Santiago Carrer, Vadim Gutnik, Adrián Ulises Morales, Martin Ignacio Del Barco, Martin Carlos Asinari, Federico Nicolas Paredes, Alfredo Javier Taddei, Mauro Marcelo Bruni, Damian Alfonso Morero, Facundo Abel Alcides Ramos, Maria Laura Ferster, Elvio Adrian Serrano, Pablo Gustavo Quiroga, Roman Antonio Arenas, Matias German Schnidrig, Alejandro Javier Schwoykoski
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Publication number: 20190317503Abstract: Described herein is a LIDAR device that may include a transmitter, first and second receivers, and a rotating platform. The transmitter may be configured to emit light having a vertical beam width. The first receiver may be configured to detect light at a first resolution while scanning the environment with a first FOV and the second receiver may be configured to detect light at a second resolution while scanning the environment with a second FOV. In this arrangement, the first resolution may be higher than the second resolution, the first FOV may be at least partially different from the second FOV, and the vertical beam width may encompass at least a vertical extent of the first and second FOVs. Further, the rotating platform may be configured to rotate about an axis such that the transmitter and first and second receivers each move based on the rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Caner Onal, William McCann, Bernard Fidric, Vadim Gutnik, Laila Mattos, Rahim Pardhan
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Patent number: 10379540Abstract: Described herein is a LIDAR device that may include a transmitter, first and second receivers, and a rotating platform. The transmitter may be configured to emit light having a vertical beam width. The first receiver may be configured to detect light at a first resolution while scanning the environment with a first FOV and the second receiver may be configured to detect light at a second resolution while scanning the environment with a second FOV. In this arrangement, the first resolution may be higher than the second resolution, the first FOV may be at least partially different from the second FOV, and the vertical beam width may encompass at least a vertical extent of the first and second FOVs. Further, the rotating platform may be configured to rotate about an axis such that the transmitter and first and second receivers each move based on the rotation.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Caner Onal, William McCann, Bernard Fidric, Vadim Gutnik, Laila Mattos, Rahim Pardhan
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Publication number: 20190109646Abstract: A coherent receiver comprises an ingress signal path having an ingress line-side interface, and an ingress host-side interface. The ingress signal path is configured to receive an analog signal vector at the ingress line-side interface, to demodulate the analog signal vector, and to output a digital data signal Fat the ingress host-side interface. The coherent receiver also comprises clock and timing circuitry configured to receive a single reference clock signal and to provide a plurality of modified ingress path clock signals to different components of the ingress signal path, the plurality of modified ingress path clock signals derived from the single reference clock signal and the plurality of modified ingress path clock signals having different clock rates. The receiver, transmitter, or transceiver can operate in a plurality of programmable operating modes to accommodate different modulation/de-modulation schemes, error correction code schemes, framing/mapping protocols, or other programmable features.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Oscar Ernesto AGAZZI, Diego Ernesto CRIVELLI, Paul VOOIS, Ramiro Rogelio LOPEZ, Jorge Manuel FINOCHIETTO, Norman L. SWENSON, Mario Rafael HUEDA, Hugo Santiago CARRER, Vadim GUTNIK, Adrián Ulises MORALES, Martin Ignacio DEL BARCO, Martin Carlos ASINARI, Federico Nicolas PAREDES, Alfredo Javier TADDEI, Mauro Marcelo BRUNI, Damian Alfonso MORERO, Facundo Abel Alcides RAMOS, María Laura FERSTER, Elvio Adrian SERRANO, Pablo Gustavo QUIROGA, Roman Antonio ARENAS, Matias German SCHNIDRIG, Alejandro Javier SCHWOYKOSKI
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Patent number: 10243544Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for processing analog signals with a wide dynamic range. In some implementations, the analog signal may be a current signal that is logarithmically scaled to decrease its dynamic range and converted to an output voltage using two or more diodes. A first diode may be used to scale a first range of the current signal and a second diode may be used to scale a second range of the current signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: WAYMO LLCInventor: Vadim Gutnik