公开(公告)号：US20250080872A1

公开(公告)日：2025-03-06

申请号：US18819678

申请日：2024-08-29

Applicant: Waymo LLC

Inventor： Nirav Shailesh kumar Dharia ,  Lucian Ion ,  Simon Verghese

IPC: H04N25/705 ,  G01S17/86 ,  G01S17/894 ,  G06V10/82 ,  H04N25/13 ,  H04N25/78 ,  H04N25/79

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to devices, systems, and methods involving three-dimensional time-of-flight/visible image sensors. An example embodiment includes a device that includes a plurality of time of flight sensor (ToF) pixels and a plurality of visible image sensor (VIS) pixels. The device also includes a ToF communication channel configured to provide ToF image data indicative of one or more ToF pixels and a VIS communication channel configured to provide VIS image data indicative of one or more VIS pixels. The plurality of ToF pixels and the plurality of VIS pixels are arranged along a plane. The plurality of ToF pixels is disposed in an arrangement among the plurality of VIS pixels.

公开(公告)号：US20240373142A1

公开(公告)日：2024-11-07

申请号：US18312369

申请日：2023-05-04

Applicant: Waymo LLC

Inventor： Erik Daniel Kim ,  Nirav Shailesh kumar Dharia

IPC: H04N25/50

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to reducing auto-exposure latency. An example embodiment includes a method of reducing auto-exposure latency. The method includes determining, by a processor, a first setting of an exposure parameter for a first frame to be captured by an image sensor. The first setting of the exposure parameter is determined based at least in part on characteristics of a previous frame captured by the image sensor. The first setting of the exposure parameter is determined during a first frame period associated with capturing the first frame. The method also includes initiating, by the processor, a first frame exposure operation based on the first setting of the exposure parameter. During the first frame exposure operation, the image sensor captures the first frame during the first frame period.

公开(公告)号：US20240094358A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-21

申请号：US18522719

申请日：2023-11-29

Applicant: Waymo LLC

Inventor： Caner Onal ,  Nirav Shailesh kumar Dharia

IPC: G01S7/4863 ,  H01L27/144 ,  H01L31/0232 ,  H01L31/107

CPC classification number: G01S7/4863 ,  H01L27/1446 ,  H01L31/02327 ,  H01L31/107

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, light detection and ranging (lidar) systems, and vehicles involving solid-state, single photon detectors. An example device includes a substrate defining a primary plane and a plurality of photodetector cells disposed along the primary plane. The plurality of photodetector cells includes at least one large-area cell and at least one small-area cell. The large-area cell has a first area and the small-area cell has a second area and the first area is greater than the second area. The device also includes read out circuitry coupled to the plurality of photodetector cells. The read out circuitry is configured to provide an output signal based on incident light detected by the plurality of photodetector cells.