Patents by Inventor Vlad Cardei

Vlad Cardei 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: 11962924
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that form regions of interest (ROIs), analog-to-digital converter (ADC) banks, and multiplexers. Each respective multiplexer is electrically connected to (i) a corresponding ADC bank and (ii) a corresponding subset of the ROIs. The apparatus also includes control circuitry configured to obtain a full-resolution image of an environment by electrically connecting, by way of the multiplexers, each respective ADC bank to the associated respective ROI. The control circuitry is also configured to select a particular ROI based on the full-resolution image and obtain a plurality of ROI images of the particular ROI by (i) electrically connecting, to the particular ROI, a first ADC bank associated with the particular ROI and a second ADC bank associated with another ROI and (ii) digitizing pixels of the particular ROI by way of parallel operation of the first and second ADC banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo, LLC
    Inventors: Lucian Ion, Nirav Dharia, Vlad Cardei
  • Patent number: 11933647
    Abstract: A system may include a first sensor of a first type and a second sensor of a second different type and having a detector. A field of view of the second sensor may be formed by a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs) defined by the detector. Control circuitry of the system may be configured to perform operations including obtaining, from the first sensor, first sensor data representing an environment, and determining, based on the first sensor data, information associated with a feature of interest within the environment. The operations may also include determining, based on the information, a particular ROI that corresponds to an expected position of the feature at a later time, obtaining a plurality of ROI sensor data from the particular ROI instead of obtaining full-resolution sensor data, and analyzing the plurality of ROI sensor data to determine one or more attributes of the feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nirav Dharia, Giulia Guidi, Ralph Shepard, Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion
  • Publication number: 20230300477
    Abstract: A system includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that form a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs), image processing resources, and a scheduler configured to perform operations including determining a priority level for a particular ROI of the plurality of ROIs based on a feature detected by one or more image processing resources of the image processing resources within initial image data associated with the particular ROI. The operations also include selecting, based on the feature detected within the initial image data, a particular image processing resource of the image processing resources by which subsequent image data generated by the particular ROI is to be processed. The operations further include inserting, based on the priority level, the subsequent image data into a processing queue of the particular image processing resource to schedule the subsequent image data for processing by the particular image processing resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion, Nirav Dharia
  • Publication number: 20230267648
    Abstract: The technology relates to determining whether a camera is occluded. For instance, an image may be captured using a camera having red, green, and blue pixels each including a photosensor. Output values for the photosensors of each of the red pixels, green pixels, and blue pixels may be determined for the images. The output values of the green pixels may be compared to one or more of the output values of the red pixels or the output values of the blue pixels. That the camera is occluded is determined based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: WAYMO LLC
    Inventors: Vlad Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
  • Patent number: 11700459
    Abstract: A system includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that form a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs), image processing resources, and a scheduler configured to perform operations including determining a priority level for a particular ROI of the plurality of ROIs based on a feature detected by one or more image processing resources of the image processing resources within initial image data associated with the particular ROI. The operations also include selecting, based on the feature detected within the initial image data, a particular image processing resource of the image processing resources by which subsequent image data generated by the particular ROI is to be processed. The operations further include inserting, based on the priority level, the subsequent image data into a processing queue of the particular image processing resource to schedule the subsequent image data for processing by the particular image processing resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion, Nirav Dharia
  • Patent number: 11678076
    Abstract: An example method includes using a plurality of switches corresponding to a plurality of capacitors to select a first set of capacitors for charging at a first time. Charging the first set of capacitors corresponds to sampling from a first set of adjacent light detectors. The method includes using the plurality of switches to select a second set of capacitors from the plurality of capacitors for discharging at a second time. The method includes using a sampling switch to sample an output of the second set of capacitors as they discharge. The output of the second set of capacitors corresponds to the first set of adjacent light detectors. The method includes determining, based on sampling the output of the second set of capacitors, a collective intensity of light received by the first set of adjacent light detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nirav Dharia, Vlad Cardei
  • Patent number: 11670005
    Abstract: The technology relates to determining whether a camera is occluded. For instance, an image may be captured using a camera having red, green, and blue pixels each including a photosensor. Output values for the photosensors of each of the red pixels, green pixels, and blue pixels may be determined for the images. The output values of the green pixels may be compared to one or more of the output values of the red pixels or the output values of the blue pixels. That the camera is occluded is determined based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Vlad Cardei, Carl Warren Craddock
  • Patent number: 11665435
    Abstract: An example method includes capturing, by an image capture device, a first image having a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a plurality of channels, and the first image is captured in accordance with first exposure parameters. The method includes determining, by a controller of the image capture device, average pixel intensities for each of the plurality of channels. The method includes determining, by the controller, a weighted average of pixel intensities using the average pixel intensities. The method includes setting, by the controller, a gain that is proportional to a ratio of a desired average pixel intensity relative to the weighted average of pixel intensities. The method includes setting, by the controller, second exposure parameters for a second image based on the gain. The method includes capturing, by the image capture device, the second image in accordance with the second exposure parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Rinehart, Vlad Cardei
  • Publication number: 20220357186
    Abstract: A system may include a first sensor of a first type and a second sensor of a second different type and having a detector. A field of view of the second sensor may be formed by a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs) defined by the detector. Control circuitry of the system may be configured to perform operations including obtaining, from the first sensor, first sensor data representing an environment, and determining, based on the first sensor data, information associated with a feature of interest within the environment. The operations may also include determining, based on the information, a particular ROI that corresponds to an expected position of the feature at a later time, obtaining a plurality of ROI sensor data from the particular ROI instead of obtaining full-resolution sensor data, and analyzing the plurality of ROI sensor data to determine one or more attributes of the feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Nirav Dharia, Giulia Guidi, Ralph Shepard, Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion
  • Patent number: 11428550
    Abstract: A system may include a first sensor of a first type and a second sensor of a second different type and having a detector. A field of view of the second sensor may be formed by a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs) defined by the detector. Control circuitry of the system may be configured to perform operations including obtaining, from the first sensor, first sensor data representing an environment, and determining, based on the first sensor data, information associated with a feature of interest within the environment. The operations may also include determining, based on the information, a particular ROI that corresponds to an expected position of the feature at a later time, obtaining a plurality of ROI sensor data from the particular ROI instead of obtaining full-resolution sensor data, and analyzing the plurality of ROI sensor data to determine one or more attributes of the feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nirav Dharia, Giulia Guidi, Ralph Shepard, Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion
  • Publication number: 20220210363
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that form regions of interest (ROIs), analog-to-digital converter (ADC) banks, and multiplexers. Each respective multiplexer is electrically connected to (i) a corresponding ADC bank and (ii) a corresponding subset of the ROIs. The apparatus also includes control circuitry configured to obtain a full-resolution image of an environment by electrically connecting, by way of the multiplexers, each respective ADC bank to the associated respective ROI. The control circuitry is also configured to select a particular ROI based on the full-resolution image and obtain a plurality of ROI images of the particular ROI by (i) electrically connecting, to the particular ROI, a first ADC bank associated with the particular ROI and a second ADC bank associated with another ROI and (ii) digitizing pixels of the particular ROI by way of parallel operation of the first and second ADC banks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Lucian Ion, Nirav Dharia, Vlad Cardei
  • Publication number: 20220191404
    Abstract: An example method includes capturing, by an image capture device, a first image having a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a plurality of channels, and the first image is captured in accordance with first exposure parameters. The method includes determining, by a controller of the image capture device, average pixel intensities for each of the plurality of channels. The method includes determining, by the controller, a weighted average of pixel intensities using the average pixel intensities. The method includes setting, by the controller, a gain that is proportional to a ratio of a desired average pixel intensity relative to the weighted average of pixel intensities. The method includes setting, by the controller, second exposure parameters for a second image based on the gain. The method includes capturing, by the image capture device, the second image in accordance with the second exposure parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew Rinehart, Vlad Cardei
  • Publication number: 20220174229
    Abstract: A system includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that form a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs), image processing resources, and a scheduler configured to perform operations including determining a priority level for a particular ROI of the plurality of ROIs based on a feature detected by one or more image processing resources of the image processing resources within initial image data associated with the particular ROI. The operations also include selecting, based on the feature detected within the initial image data, a particular image processing resource of the image processing resources by which subsequent image data generated by the particular ROI is to be processed. The operations further include inserting, based on the priority level, the subsequent image data into a processing queue of the particular image processing resource to schedule the subsequent image data for processing by the particular image processing resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion, Nirav Dharia
  • Publication number: 20220146652
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods that may be used for the calibration of sensors of a vehicle. A calibration system disclosed herein includes a trigger device configured to detect a first sensing event. The calibration system further includes a plurality of sensor targets. Additionally, the calibration system includes a processor configured to reveal the plurality of sensor targets within a given region in response to the first sensing event. The calibration system may be configured to detect light from a LIDAR striking a light sensors. In response to detecting the light from the LIDAR, a plurality of lights, both visible and infrared, may be illuminated to correspond with a position and timing of the LIDAR pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion
  • Patent number: 11310451
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that form regions of interest (ROIs), analog-to-digital converter (ADC) banks, and multiplexers. Each respective multiplexer is electrically connected to (i) a corresponding ADC bank and (ii) a corresponding subset of the ROIs. The apparatus also includes control circuitry configured to obtain a full-resolution image of an environment by electrically connecting, by way of the multiplexers, each respective ADC bank to the associated respective ROI. The control circuitry is also configured to select a particular ROI based on the full-resolution image and obtain a plurality of ROI images of the particular ROI by (i) electrically connecting, to the particular ROI, a first ADC bank associated with the particular ROI and a second ADC bank associated with another ROI and (ii) digitizing pixels of the particular ROI by way of parallel operation of the first and second ADC banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Lucian Ion, Nirav Dharia, Vlad Cardei
  • Patent number: 11284021
    Abstract: A system includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that form a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs), image processing resources, and a scheduler configured to perform operations including determining a priority level for a particular ROI of the plurality of ROIs based on a feature detected by one or more image processing resources of the image processing resources within initial image data associated with the particular ROI. The operations also include selecting, based on the feature detected within the initial image data, a particular image processing resource of the image processing resources by which subsequent image data generated by the particular ROI is to be processed. The operations further include inserting, based on the priority level, the subsequent image data into a processing queue of the particular image processing resource to schedule the subsequent image data for processing by the particular image processing resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion, Nirav Dharia
  • Patent number: 11269066
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods that may be used for the calibration of sensors of a vehicle. A calibration system disclosed herein includes a trigger device configured to detect a first sensing event. The calibration system further includes a plurality of sensor targets. Additionally, the calibration system includes a processor configured to reveal the plurality of sensor targets within a given region in response to the first sensing event. The calibration system may be configured to detect light from a LIDAR striking a light sensors. In response to detecting the light from the LIDAR, a plurality of lights, both visible and infrared, may be illuminated to correspond with a position and timing of the LIDAR pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion
  • Patent number: 11265484
    Abstract: An example method includes capturing, by an image capture device, a first image having a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a plurality of channels, and the first image is captured in accordance with first exposure parameters. The method includes determining, by a controller of the image capture device, average pixel intensities for each of the plurality of channels. The method includes determining, by the controller, a weighted average of pixel intensities using the average pixel intensities. The method includes setting, by the controller, a gain that is proportional to a ratio of a desired average pixel intensity relative to the weighted average of pixel intensities. The method includes setting, by the controller, second exposure parameters for a second image based on the gain. The method includes capturing, by the image capture device, the second image in accordance with the second exposure parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Rinehart, Vlad Cardei
  • Publication number: 20210278257
    Abstract: A system may include a first sensor of a first type and a second sensor of a second different type and having a detector. A field of view of the second sensor may be formed by a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs) defined by the detector. Control circuitry of the system may be configured to perform operations including obtaining, from the first sensor, first sensor data representing an environment, and determining, based on the first sensor data, information associated with a feature of interest within the environment. The operations may also include determining, based on the information, a particular ROI that corresponds to an expected position of the feature at a later time, obtaining a plurality of ROI sensor data from the particular ROI instead of obtaining full-resolution sensor data, and analyzing the plurality of ROI sensor data to determine one or more attributes of the feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Nirav Dharia, Giulia Guidi, Ralph Shepard, Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion
  • Patent number: 11082643
    Abstract: An example method includes using a plurality of switches corresponding to a plurality of capacitors to select a first set of capacitors for charging at a first time. Charging the first set of capacitors corresponds to sampling from a first set of adjacent light detectors. The method includes using the plurality of switches to select a second set of capacitors from the plurality of capacitors for discharging at a second time. The method includes using a sampling switch to sample an output of the second set of capacitors as they discharge. The output of the second set of capacitors corresponds to the first set of adjacent light detectors. The method includes determining, based on sampling the output of the second set of capacitors, a collective intensity of light received by the first set of adjacent light detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nirav Dharia, Vlad Cardei