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公开(公告)号:US12253740B2
公开(公告)日:2025-03-18
申请号:US17114808
申请日:2020-12-08
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor: Shashank Sharma , Matthew Last
IPC: B60R11/04 , B60S1/02 , G01J5/02 , G01J5/061 , G01J5/08 , G01J5/0806 , G01J5/0875 , G02B7/18
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical systems, vehicles, and methods for providing improved mechanical performance of a camera and corresponding optical elements. An example optical system includes an outer housing and an inner support member. The optical system also includes an optical window coupled to the outer housing and the inner support member. The optical window is configured to be temperature-controllable. The optical system also includes a camera coupled to the inner support member. The camera is optically coupled to the optical window. Additionally, the outer housing, the optical window, and the camera are configured to be impact resistant.
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公开(公告)号:US20220187687A1
公开(公告)日:2022-06-16
申请号:US17117534
申请日:2020-12-10
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor: Shashank Sharma , Matthew Last , Ralph Shepard
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical systems, vehicles, and methods for providing improved thermal images. An example optical system includes a housing, a thermal camera disposed inside the housing, and an optical window coupled to an opening of the housing. The optical system also includes a heater assembly. The heater assembly includes a window heater and at least one connector extending from the window heater. The window heater is thermally coupled to an inner surface of the optical window. The window heater is configured to maintain the optical window at a desired temperature.
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公开(公告)号:US20220176892A1
公开(公告)日:2022-06-09
申请号:US17114808
申请日:2020-12-08
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor: Shashank Sharma , Matthew Last
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical systems, vehicles, and methods for providing improved mechanical performance of a camera and corresponding optical elements. An example optical system includes an outer housing and an inner support member. The optical system also includes an optical window coupled to the outer housing and the inner support member. The optical window is configured to be temperature-controllable. The optical system also includes a camera coupled to the inner support member. The camera is optically coupled to the optical window. Additionally, the outer housing, the optical window, and the camera are configured to be impact resistant.
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公开(公告)号:US20210143606A1
公开(公告)日:2021-05-13
申请号:US17152026
申请日:2021-01-19
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor: Paul Karplus , Matthew Last
IPC: H01S5/02326 , H01S5/042 , H01S5/02 , H01S5/02253 , H01S5/02355
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical systems and methods for their manufacture. An example method includes coupling a first surface of a light-emitter substrate to a reference surface of a carrier substrate. The method also includes registering a mold structure with respect to the reference surface of the carrier substrate. Furthermore, the method includes using the mold structure to form an optical material over at least a portion of the light-emitter substrate. The optical material is shaped according to a shape of the mold structure and includes at least one registration feature. The method also includes coupling an optical lens element to the optical material such that the optical lens element is registered to the at least one registration feature.
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公开(公告)号:US12210207B2
公开(公告)日:2025-01-28
申请号:US17841010
申请日:2022-06-15
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor: Matthew Last , John Henrie , Chandra Kakani , Ralph Shepard , Drew Ulrich
IPC: G02B7/02
Abstract: The technology relates to lens assemblies for sensor units that provide a low but consistent preload force over the entire operational temperature range of the device. Consistent preloading helps to avoid cracking and plastic deformation. In particular, a compliant structure of a polymeric material is able to expand and contract across temperature extremes. In addition, the polymeric material is arranged in conjunction with a retainer ring to form a discontinuous seal with the lens. This provides in a leak path that is able to reduce condensation or contaminants. As a result, moisture within the sensor unit is permitted to escape, reducing or eliminating impairments on the lens or other parts of the sensor unit that could otherwise impair device operation.
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公开(公告)号:US11927440B2
公开(公告)日:2024-03-12
申请号:US18143214
申请日:2023-05-04
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor: Shashank Sharma , Matthew Last , Prasanna Kalkura , Paul Schaefer
Abstract: An apparatus includes a lens assembly that includes at least one lens that defines an optical axis. The apparatus also includes a substrate, an image sensor disposed on the substrate, and an actuator coupled to the substrate and configured to adjust a position of the substrate relative to the lens assembly to move the image sensor along the optical axis. The apparatus additionally includes a capacitive position sensor that includes a first capacitive plate coupled to the substrate and a second capacitive plate coupled to the lens assembly. The capacitive position sensor may be configured to generate a capacitance measurement indicative of the position of the substrate relative to the lens assembly. The apparatus further includes circuitry configured to control the actuator based on (i) the capacitance measurement and (ii) a target position of the image sensor relative to the lens assembly.
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公开(公告)号:US20210382154A1
公开(公告)日:2021-12-09
申请号:US17405683
申请日:2021-08-18
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor: Ralph Shepard , Pierre-Yves Droz , Matthew Last , Bryce Remesch
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical systems and methods of their operation. An example optical system includes an optical component and one or more light sources configured to emit a light signal. The light signal interacts with the optical component so as to provide an interaction light signal. The optical system also includes a detector configured to detect at least a portion of the interaction light signal as a detected light signal. The optical system additionally includes a controller configured to carry out operations including causing the one or more light sources to emit the light signal and receiving the detected light signal from the detector. The operations also include determining, based on the detected light signal, that one or more defects are associated with the optical component.
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公开(公告)号:US20200279839A1
公开(公告)日:2020-09-03
申请号:US16878821
申请日:2020-05-20
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor: Matthew Last , Ajaya Chilumula
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical systems and methods for their manufacture. An example optical system includes a first substrate having a mounting surface and a spacer structure having at least one cavity. The spacer structure is coupled to the mounting surface of the first substrate. The optical system also includes a light-emitter device that is coupled to the spacer structure and a detector device coupled to the first substrate such that the at least one detector device is disposed within the at least one cavity of the spacer structure. The optical system also includes a second substrate that mounts a lens and a waveguide and is coupled to the spacer structure. The optical system also includes a shim coupled between the second surface of the spacer structure and a mounting surface of the second substrate.
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公开(公告)号:US20200111768A1
公开(公告)日:2020-04-09
申请号:US16154871
申请日:2018-10-09
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor: Matthew Last , Ajaya Chilumula
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical systems and methods for their manufacture. An example optical system includes a first substrate having a mounting surface and a spacer structure having at least one cavity. The spacer structure is coupled to the mounting surface of the first substrate. The optical system also includes a light-emitter device that is coupled to the spacer structure and a detector device coupled to the first substrate such that the at least one detector device is disposed within the at least one cavity of the spacer structure. The optical system also includes a second substrate that mounts a lens and a waveguide and is coupled to the spacer structure. The optical system also includes a shim coupled between the second surface of the spacer structure and a mounting surface of the second substrate.
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公开(公告)号:US12038540B2
公开(公告)日:2024-07-16
申请号:US18313741
申请日:2023-05-08
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor: Ralph Shepard , Pierre-Yves Droz , Matthew Last , Bryce Remesch
CPC classification number: G01S7/497 , G01S17/89 , G01S2007/4975
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical systems and methods of their operation. An example optical system includes an optical component and one or more light sources configured to emit a light signal. The light signal interacts with the optical component so as to provide an interaction light signal. The optical system also includes a detector configured to detect at least a portion of the interaction light signal as a detected light signal. The optical system additionally includes a controller configured to carry out operations including causing the one or more light sources to emit the light signal and receiving the detected light signal from the detector. The operations also include determining, based on the detected light signal, that one or more defects are associated with the optical component.
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