Patents by Inventor Xiaoying He
Xiaoying He 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: 20260154935Abstract: Example embodiments relate to multi-channel dynamic weather estimations. An example embodiment includes a method. The method includes capturing, using a camera, an image of a first field of view of a surrounding environment from a first perspective. The method also includes capturing, using a light detection and ranging (lidar) device, a point cloud of a second field of view of the surrounding environment from a second perspective. Additionally, the method includes aligning, by a computing device, the image with the point cloud. Further, the method includes identifying, by the computing device, one or more high-intensity regions and one or more low-intensity regions of the surrounding environment. In addition, the method includes determining, by the computing device, a first figure of merit that characterizes environmental conditions of the surrounding environment and a second figure of merit that characterizes environmental conditions of the surrounding environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2026Publication date: June 4, 2026Inventors: Xiaoying He, Haoxuan Zheng, Jingyuan Linda Zhang
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Patent number: 12614249Abstract: Described examples relate to an apparatus comprising one or more image sensors coupled to a vehicle and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to capture, in a burst sequence using the one or more image sensors, multiple frames of an image of a scene, the multiple frames having respective, relative offsets of the image across the multiple frames and perform super-resolution computations using the captured, multiple frames of the image of the scene. The at least one processor may also be configured to accumulate, based on the super-resolution computations, color planes and combine, using the one or more processors, the accumulated color planes to create a super-resolution image of the scene.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2023Date of Patent: April 28, 2026Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Ignacio Garcia Dorado, Damien Kelly, Xiaoying He, Jia Feng, Bartlomiej Wronski, Peyman Milanfar, Lucian Ion
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Publication number: 20260112011Abstract: A system is provided that includes an image sensor coupled to a vehicle, and control circuitry configured to perform operations including receiving, from the image sensor, an input stream comprising high dynamic range (HDR) image data associated with an environment of the vehicle, and processing the input stream at the vehicle by applying a global tone mapping, followed by offline image processing that can include applying a local tone mapping to the globally tone mapped images of the same input stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2025Publication date: April 23, 2026Inventors: Xiaoying He, Ryan Geiss, Pieter Kapsenberg, Carl Warren Craddock, Zhinan Xu, Lucian Ion, Ajay Chandra Venkata Gummalla
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Patent number: 12608765Abstract: This disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods that relate to obtaining image frames with variable resolutions in synchronization with a clock source. An example device may include an image sensor, a clock input, and a controller. The controller includes at least one processor and a memory. The at least one processor is operable to execute program instructions stored in the memory so as to carry out operations. The operations include receiving, by the clock input, a clock signal. The clock signal is a periodic signal defining at least one scan interval. The operations also include during the scan interval, causing the image sensor to capture a full resolution image frame. The operations yet further include during the scan interval, causing the image sensor to capture at least one reduced resolution image frame.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2023Date of Patent: April 21, 2026Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Nirav Dharia, Xiaoying He, Benjamin Frevert
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Patent number: 12561942Abstract: Example embodiments relate to multi-channel dynamic weather estimations. An example embodiment includes a method. The method includes capturing, using a camera, an image of a first field of view of a surrounding environment from a first perspective. The method also includes capturing, using a light detection and ranging (lidar) device, a point cloud of a second field of view of the surrounding environment from a second perspective. Additionally, the method includes aligning, by a computing device, the image with the point cloud. Further, the method includes identifying, by the computing device, one or more high-intensity regions and one or more low-intensity regions of the surrounding environment. In addition, the method includes determining, by the computing device, a first figure of merit that characterizes environmental conditions of the surrounding environment and a second figure of merit that characterizes environmental conditions of the surrounding environment.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2023Date of Patent: February 24, 2026Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Xiaoying He, Haoxuan Zheng, Jingyuan Linda Zhang
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Patent number: 12417520Abstract: A system is provided that includes an image sensor coupled to a vehicle, and control circuitry configured to perform operations including receiving, from the image sensor, an input stream comprising high dynamic range (HDR) image data associated with an environment of the vehicle, and processing the input stream at the vehicle by applying a global tone mapping, followed by offline image processing that can include applying a local tone mapping to the globally tone mapped images of the same input stream.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2024Date of Patent: September 16, 2025Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Xiaoying He, Ryan Geiss, Pieter Kapsenberg, Carl Warren Craddock, Zhinan Xu, Lucian Ion, Ajay Chandra Venkata Gummalla
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Publication number: 20250200932Abstract: Example embodiments relate to multi-channel dynamic weather estimations. An example embodiment includes a method. The method includes capturing, using a camera, an image of a first field of view of a surrounding environment from a first perspective. The method also includes capturing, using a light detection and ranging (lidar) device, a point cloud of a second field of view of the surrounding environment from a second perspective. Additionally, the method includes aligning, by a computing device, the image with the point cloud. Further, the method includes identifying, by the computing device, one or more high-intensity regions and one or more low-intensity regions of the surrounding environment. In addition, the method includes determining, by the computing device, a first figure of merit that characterizes environmental conditions of the surrounding environment and a second figure of merit that characterizes environmental conditions of the surrounding environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2023Publication date: June 19, 2025Inventors: Xiaoying He, Haoxuan Zheng, Jingyuan Linda Zhang
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Publication number: 20250191145Abstract: A method may include obtaining a plurality of images. Each respective image of the plurality of images may include a corresponding representation of a scene captured by a camera on a vehicle. The method may also include determining, for each respective image of the plurality of images, a corresponding sharpness metric indicative of a sharpness with which the respective image represents the scene. The method may additionally include determining, for each respective image of the plurality of images, a corresponding weight based on the corresponding sharpness metric of the respective image. The method may further include determining an output image by combining the plurality of images according to the corresponding weight of each respective image.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2023Publication date: June 12, 2025Inventors: Xiao Geng, Xiaoying He, Manfred Ernst, Matthew Thomas Daniel Rinehart, Joseph Patrick Warga
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Publication number: 20250022144Abstract: At least one processor may be configured to receive a first image frame of a sequence of image frames from an image capture device and select a first portion of a first image frame. The at least one processor may also be configured to obtain alignment information and determine a first portion and a second portion of a second image frame based on the alignment information. Further, the at least one processor may be configured to determine a bounding region within the second image frame and fetch image data corresponding to the bounding region of the second image frame from memory. In some examples, the first image frame may comprise a base image and the second image frame may comprise an alternative image frame. Further, the first image frame may comprise any one of the image frames of the sequence of image frames.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2024Publication date: January 16, 2025Inventors: Jia Feng, Damien Kelly, Ignacio Garcia Dorado, Xiaoying He
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Publication number: 20250008203Abstract: Described examples relate to an apparatus comprising a first sensor configured to scan an area of interest during a first time period and a second sensor configured to capture a plurality of images of a field of view. The apparatus may include at least one controller configured to receive the plurality of images captured by the second sensor, compare the timestamp information associated with at least one image of the plurality of images to at least one time period of the first time period, and select a base image from the plurality of images based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2024Publication date: January 2, 2025Inventors: Jia Feng, Damien Kelly, Ignacio Garcia Dorado, Xiaoying He, Benjamin Frevert, Nirav Dharia
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Patent number: 12136226Abstract: Described examples relate to an apparatus comprising a memory for storing a sequence of image frames and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to receive a first image frame of a sequence of image frames from an image capture device and select a first portion of a first image frame. The at least one processor may also be configured to obtain alignment information and determine a first portion and a second portion of a second image frame based on the alignment information. Further, the at least one processor may be configured to determine a bounding region within the second image frame and fetch image data corresponding to the bounding region of the second image frame from memory. In some examples, the first image frame may comprise a base image and the second image frame may comprise an alternative image frame. Further, the first image frame may comprise any one of the image frames of the sequence of image frames.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2023Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Jia Feng, Damien Kelly, Ignacio Garcia Dorado, Xiaoying He
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Patent number: 12126881Abstract: Described examples relate to an apparatus comprising a first sensor configured to scan an area of interest during a first time period and a second sensor configured to capture a plurality of images of a field of view. The apparatus may include at least one controller configured to receive the plurality of images captured by the second sensor, compare the timestamp information associated with at least one image of the plurality of images to at least one time period of the first time period, and select a base image from the plurality of images based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2023Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Jia Feng, Damien Kelly, Ignacio Garcia Dorado, Xiaoying He, Benjamin Frevert, Nirav Dharia
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Publication number: 20240320810Abstract: A system is provided that includes an image sensor coupled to a vehicle, and control circuitry configured to perform operations including receiving, from the image sensor, an input stream comprising high dynamic range (HDR) image data associated with an environment of the vehicle, and processing the input stream at the vehicle by applying a global tone mapping, followed by offline image processing that can include applying a local tone mapping to the globally tone mapped images of the same input stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2024Publication date: September 26, 2024Inventors: Xiaoying He, Ryan Geiss, Pieter Kapsenberg, Carl Warren Craddock, Zhinan Xu, Lucian Ion, Ajay Chandra Venkata Gummalla
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Patent number: 12020412Abstract: A system is provided that includes an image sensor coupled to a vehicle, and control circuitry configured to perform operations including receiving, from the image sensor, an input stream comprising high dynamic range (HDR) image data associated with an environment of the vehicle, and processing the input stream at the vehicle by applying a global tone mapping, followed by offline image processing that can include applying a local tone mapping to the globally tone mapped images of the same input stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2021Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Xiaoying He, Ryan Geiss, Pieter Kapsenberg, Carl Warren Craddock, Zhinan Xu, Lucian Ion, Ajay Chandra Venkata Gummalla
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Publication number: 20240135551Abstract: Described examples relate to an apparatus comprising a memory for storing a sequence of image frames and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to receive a first image frame of a sequence of image frames from an image capture device and select a first portion of a first image frame. The at least one processor may also be configured to obtain alignment information and determine a first portion and a second portion of a second image frame based on the alignment information. Further, the at least one processor may be configured to determine a bounding region within the second image frame and fetch image data corresponding to the bounding region of the second image frame from memory. In some examples, the first image frame may comprise a base image and the second image frame may comprise an alternative image frame. Further, the first image frame may comprise any one of the image frames of the sequence of image frames.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Jia Feng, Damien Kelly, Ignacio Garcia Dorado, Xiaoying He
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Publication number: 20240119560Abstract: Described examples relate to an apparatus comprising one or more image sensors coupled to a vehicle and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to capture, in a burst sequence using the one or more image sensors, multiple frames of an image of a scene, the multiple frames having respective, relative offsets of the image across the multiple frames and perform super-resolution computations using the captured, multiple frames of the image of the scene. The at least one processor may also be configured to accumulate, based on the super-resolution computations, color planes and combine, using the one or more processors, the accumulated color planes to create a super-resolution image of the scene.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Ignacio Garcia Dorado, Damien Kelly, Xiaoying He, Jia Feng, Bartlomiej Wronski, Peyman Milanfar, Lucian Ion
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Patent number: 11880902Abstract: Described examples relate to an apparatus comprising one or more image sensors coupled to a vehicle and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to capture, in a burst sequence using the one or more image sensors, multiple frames of an image of a scene, the multiple frames having respective, relative offsets of the image across the multiple frames and perform super-resolution computations using the captured, multiple frames of the image of the scene. The at least one processor may also be configured to accumulate, based on the super-resolution computations, color planes and combine, using the one or more processors, the accumulated color planes to create a super-resolution image of the scene.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2020Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Ignacio Garcia-Dorado, Damien Kelly, Xiaoying He, Jia Feng, Bartlomiej Wronski, Peyman Milanfar, Lucian Ion
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Patent number: 11875516Abstract: Described examples relate to an apparatus comprising a memory for storing a sequence of image frames and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to receive a first image frame of a sequence of image frames from an image capture device and select a first portion of a first image frame. The at least one processor may also be configured to obtain alignment information and determine a first portion and a second portion of a second image frame based on the alignment information. Further, the at least one processor may be configured to determine a bounding region within the second image frame and fetch image data corresponding to the bounding region of the second image frame from memory. In some examples, the first image frame may comprise a base image and the second image frame may comprise an alternative image frame. Further, the first image frame may comprise any one of the image frames of the sequence of image frames.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Jia Feng, Damien Kelly, Ignacio Garcia Dorado, Xiaoying He
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Publication number: 20230370703Abstract: Described examples relate to an apparatus comprising a first sensor configured to scan an area of interest during a first time period and a second sensor configured to capture a plurality of images of a field of view. The apparatus may include at least one controller configured to receive the plurality of images captured by the second sensor, compare the timestamp information associated with at least one image of the plurality of images to at least one time period of the first time period, and select a base image from the plurality of images based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Jia Feng, Damien Kelly, Ignacio Garcia Dorado, Xiaoying He, Benjamin Frevert, Nirav Dharia
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Publication number: 20230262358Abstract: This disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods that relate to obtaining image frames with variable resolutions in synchronization with a clock source. An example device may include an image sensor, a clock input, and a controller. The controller includes at least one processor and a memory. The at least one processor is operable to execute program instructions stored in the memory so as to carry out operations. The operations include receiving, by the clock input, a clock signal. The clock signal is a periodic signal defining at least one scan interval. The operations also include during the scan interval, causing the image sensor to capture a full resolution image frame. The operations yet further include during the scan interval, causing the image sensor to capture at least one reduced resolution image frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: Nirav Dharia, Xiaoying He, Benjamin Frevert