The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 28, 2023

Filed:

Aug. 11, 2017
Applicant:

Zoox, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US);

Inventors:

Denis Nikitin, Campbell, CA (US);

Riley Andrews, San Francisco, CA (US);

Adam Lee Berger, Mountain View, CA (US);

Assignee:

Zoox, Inc., Foster City, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 17/89 (2020.01); G01S 17/00 (2020.01); G01S 17/58 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 17/89 (2013.01); G01S 17/003 (2013.01); G01S 17/58 (2013.01);
Abstract

A lidar photosensor amplification circuit may include light sensors; amplifiers corresponding respectively to the light sensors, in a powered-on state, to amplify output signals of the respective light sensors as amplified outputs; and switches corresponding respectively to the amplifiers, where individual switches may be controlled to pass a respective amplified output in a closed state or disconnect the amplified output in an open state. The lidar photosensor amplification circuit may be controlled by a controller according to timing rules that conserve power supplied to photosensor amplification circuit, reduce heat produced by the light sensor board, and do not aggravate cross-talk between sensors. The timing rules include staging an amplifier for a staging time before the corresponding light sensor is to be read, closing a switch after the staging time has passed, and powering down the amplifier and opening the switch after a reading time passes.


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