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:
Jul. 02, 2024

Filed:

Sep. 22, 2020
Applicant:

Waymo Llc, Mountain View, CA (US);

Inventors:

Pierre-Yves Droz, Los Altos, CA (US);

Michael Marx, Mountain View, CA (US);

Ethan Stark, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Assignee:

Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/484 (2006.01); G01S 17/89 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 17/10 (2013.01); G01S 7/4815 (2013.01); G01S 7/4817 (2013.01); G01S 7/484 (2013.01); G01S 17/89 (2013.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01);
Abstract

A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device includes a light emitter configured to emit light pulses into a field of view and a detector configured to detect light in the field of view. The light emitter emits a first light pulse. The detector detects, during a first measurement period, at least one reflected light pulse that is indicative of reflection by a retroreflector based on a shape of a reflected light pulse, a magnitude of a reflected light pulse, and/or a time separation between two reflected light pulses. In response to detecting the at least one reflected light pulse indicative of reflection by a retroreflector, the light emitter is deactivated for one or more subsequent measurement periods. Additionally, the LIDAR device may inform one or more other LIDAR devices by transmitting to a computing device information indicative of the retroreflector being within the field of view of the light emitter.


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