IP Library Granted Patent US 10,732,268
Granted Patent B1
US 10,732,268 · App. 16/418,840 · Granted Aug 4, 2020

Systems and methods for enclosure alignment

Inventors: Peter G. Diehl (Shanghai, CN); Cheng Jin (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
G01S7/4972G01S7/4813G01S17/87G01S17/931
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,732,268
App. No.
16/418,840
Granted
Aug 4, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for enclosure alignment. A light can be emitted from a light source. The light source can be integrated into an enclosure to be aligned onto a fixture. A light detector can detect the light emitted by the light source. A luminance of the light detected by the light detector can be measured. Based on the luminance, an extent of an alignment of the enclosure with respect to the fixture can be determined. The enclosure can be translated along the fixture based on the extent of the alignment.

Claims (39)

1. An enclosure alignment method comprising:

emitting light from a light source integrated into an enclosure to be aligned onto a linear fixture;

detecting the light by a light detector;

measuring a luminance of the light by the light detector;

determining, based on the luminance of the light, an extent of an alignment of the enclosure with respect to the linear fixture, wherein the determining comprises:

measuring the luminance of the light as the enclosure is being linearly translated along the linear fixture;

determining a maximum luminance of the light corresponding to a particular location on the linear fixture; and

identifying the particular location as an alignment position for the enclosure with respect to the linear fixture; and

linearly translating the enclosure along the linear fixture to the alignment position.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

translating the enclosure along the linear fixture in a linear direction until the alignment position is reached.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a visual indication of the extent of the alignment of the enclosure.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light reflects off from a reflective surface on the linear fixture, the reflective surface on the linear fixture indicating the alignment position for the enclosure with respect to the linear fixture, and wherein the light detector is integrated into the enclosure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light is directly detected by the light detector, and wherein the light detector is integrated into a particular location on the linear fixture and indicates the alignment position for the enclosure with respect to the linear fixture.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light is coherent light and the light source is a laser diode.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light is visible light and the light source is a light emitting diode.

8. An enclosure alignment system comprising:

an enclosure to be aligned onto a linear fixture, the enclosure comprising:

a LiDAR;

a transparent cover encapsulating the enclosure, wherein the enclosure is linearly translatable along the linear fixture;

a light source configured to emit light to be detected by a light detector; and

the light detector, configured to measure the luminance of the light as the enclosure is being linearly translated along the linear fixture, wherein a particular location corresponding to a maximum luminance of the light is identified as an alignment position for the enclosure with respect to the linear fixture.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the enclosure translates along the linear fixture in a linear direction until the maximum luminance of the light is detected by the light detector.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a display to display a visual indication of the luminance of the light detected by the light detector.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the light reflects off from a reflective surface on the linear fixture at the particular location, and wherein the light detector is disposed at a base of the enclosure.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the light is directly detected by the light detector, and the light detector is integrated into the particular location on the linear fixture.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the light is coherent light and the light source is a laser diode.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the light is visible light and the light source is a light emitting diode.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alignment position is determined based on historical luminance values, and the method furthering comprising:

indicating an alignment error when the maximum luminance of the light deviates from the historical luminance values.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

emitting an audio cue when the alignment position is reached, wherein the audio cue varies in at least one of pitch or amplitude based on the luminance of the light, wherein the audio cue is based on sound profiles, or wherein the audio cue is discrete or continuous.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adjusting the maximum luminance based on an age of the light source.

18. The system of claim 9 , wherein the alignment position for the enclosure with respect to the linear fixture is determined based on historical luminance values.

19. The system of claim 9 , wherein the maximum luminance is adjusted based on an age of the light source.

20. The system of claim 10 , wherein the display emits an audio cue when an alignment position is reached, and wherein the audio cue varies in at least one of pitch or amplitude based on the luminance of the light, wherein the audio cue is based on sound profiles, or wherein the audio cue is discrete or continuous.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2019
From: PONY.AI, INC.
To: PONY AI INC.
Reel/Frame 049434/0372 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2019
From: DIEHL, PETER G.; JIN, CHENG
To: PONY.AI, INC.
Reel/Frame 049254/0403 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,196,891 US 12,352,900