Waymo LLC

Google Inc.

Intel Corporation

Gm Cruise Holdings LLC

Min Wang

Pierre-yves Droz

Zhe Li

Samuel William Lenius

Jamal Izadian

Suresh Rajan

Michael John Sebastian Smith

Adam S Brown

Michael George Sleator

Philip Arnold Ferolito

Paul Karplus

Daniel L Rosenband

Etai Bruhis

Kyla Purvis

Pierre-Yves Droz

Mo Liu

Ruihua Ding

Huihui Hu

Mark Alexander Shand

Seth Gilbertson

Russell N Shryock

Ryan Suess

Timothy Willis

Roman Manka

Kevin Newman

Hongen Tu

Oliver Simon Matthews

Mincheol Shin

Steffen Walter

Neal K Riedel

Lawrence W Yonge

Min Zha

Srinivas Katar

Deepak Ayyagari

Wai Chung Chan

George M Peponides

Sherman Leon Gavette

A vehicle having a communication system is disclosed. The system includes two electrical couplings, coupled by way of a rotary joint having a bearing waveguide. Each electrical coupling includes an interface waveguide configured to couple to external signals. Each electrical coupling also includes a waveguide section configured to propagate electromagnetic signals between the interface waveguide and the bearing waveguide of the rotary joint. Additionally, the rotary joint is configured to allow one electrical coupling to rotate with respect to the other electrical coupling. An axis of rotation of the rotary joint is defined by a center of a portion of the waveguides. Yet further, the rotary joint allows electromagnetic energy to propagate between the waveguides of the electrical couplings.

Waveguide apparatus with high speed dual channel wireless contactless rotary joint

Aspects of the disclosure relate cleaning systems for cleaning cabin air and interior surfaces of a vehicle. For instance, a cleaning system may include a surface cleaning device including a UVC light source. In addition, a request for confirmation that the vehicle may not be occupied may be sent to a remote computing device. In response to the request, a signal indicating whether or not the vehicle is occupied may be received. The surface cleaning device may then be activated based on the signal.

Internal cleaning for autonomous vehicles

A method is provided for offloading autonomous vehicle (AV) data to a download pole. The AV may include a transceiver. The download pole may include a transceiver. The method may include identifying, by the AV, the download pole in a parking spot that is close to the AV. The method may also include establishing short range wireless link between the AV and the download pole. The method may also include positioning the AV so that the transceiver of the AV is aligned with the transceiver of the download pole based on instructions received over the Bluetooth connection from the download pole. The method may further include establishing a first link between the transceiver of the AV and the transceiver of the download pole.

Autonomous vehicle data offload to download pole by free space optical link

A communication system is disclosed. The system can include a first communication unit including a first antenna, a second communication unit including a second antenna and a dielectric waveguide cable, and a rotary joint configured to enable the first unit to rotate with respect to the second unit about an axis of rotation of the system. The dielectric waveguide cable can extend from the second antenna to the rotary joint, where a proximal end of the cable can be coupled to the second antenna and a distal end of the cable can be affixed to the second unit at a location bordering a space defined by the rotary joint. The first and second units can be configured to engage in two-way communication with each other. An axis of the distal end of the cable can be substantially aligned with the axis of rotation of the system.

Automotive communication system with dielectric waveguide cable and wireless contactless rotary joint

Aspects of the disclosure relate to cleaning rotating sensors having a sensor housing with a sensor input surface. For instance, a first signal indicating that there is a contaminant on the sensor input surface may be received. In response to receiving the first signal, a second signal may be sent in order to cause one or more transducers to generate waves in order to attempt to remove the contaminant from the sensor input surface.

Cleaning for rotating sensors

Radar system for use in a vehicle comprising a rotary joint where a non-rotational unit is fixed to the vehicle and a rotational unit includes antennas configured for use with radar signals

Aspects of the disclosure provide for a system for a power over data line (PoDL) system. The system includes a ground plane that has a cutout. In addition, an alternating current (AC) capacitor pad configured to establish a bidirectional data channel. The AC capacitor pad is positioned in the cutout of the ground plane. Similarly, a PoDL pad connected to one or more inductors and a direct current (DC) power source is positioned in the cutout of the ground plane and is in series with the AC capacitor pad.

Power over data line (PoDL) board design method to improve data channel performance

Communication system for LIDAR sensors used in a vehicle comprising a rotary joint with a bearing waveguide for coupling signals with communication chips

A device is provided that includes a first platform having a first side, and a second platform having a second side positioned within a predetermined distance to the first side. The device also includes an actuator configured to cause a relative rotation between the first platform and the second platform such that the first side of the first platform remains within the predetermined distance to the second side of the second platform. The device also includes a probe mounted to the first platform, and a plurality of probes mounted to the second platform. The device also includes a signal conditioner coupled to the plurality of probes. The signal conditioner may select one of the plurality of probes based on an orientation of the first platform relative to the second platform. The signal conditioner may then to use the selected probe for wireless communication with the probe on the first platform.

Devices and methods for a rotary joint with multiple wireless links

A vehicle having a communication system is disclosed. The system includes two electrical couplings, coupled by way of a rotary joint. Each electrical coupling includes an interface waveguide configured to couple to external signals. Each electrical coupling also includes a waveguide section configured to propagate electromagnetic signals between the interface waveguide and the rotary joint. Additionally, the rotary joint is configured to allow one electrical coupling to rotate with respect to the other electrical coupling. An axis of rotation of the rotary joint is defined by a center of a portion of the waveguides. Yet further, the rotary joint allows electromagnetic energy to propagate between the waveguides of the electrical couplings.

Communication system for a vehicle comprising a dual channel rotary joint coupled to a plurality of interface waveguides for coupling electromagnetic signals between plural communication chips

Power over data line (PODL) board design method to improve data channel performance

This disclosure relates generally to an electronic assembly and method having a first electrical connection point and a second electrical connection point and a differential interconnect coupling the first electrical connection point to the second electrical connection point, the differential interconnect including first and second transmission traces including a interior edges and a exterior edges opposite the interior edges, the second interior edge facing the first interior edge, and stub traces, each stub trace coupled to one of the first and second transmission traces and projecting from one of the first interior edge, the first exterior edge, the second interior edge, and the second exterior edge. A substantially equal number of stub traces project from the first exterior edge and the second exterior edge. At least twice as many stub traces project from the first and second exterior edges as project from the first and second interior edges.

Differential interconnect with first and second transmission traces having a bend and including stub traces connected to the transmission traces

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Min Wang