US 11,677,398 B2
Systems and methods for selecting light emitters for emitting light
Pierre-yves Droz, Los Altos, CA (US); Augusto Tazzoli, San Jose, CA (US); and Michael Marx, Mountain View, CA (US)
Assigned to Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/583,873.
Application 17/583,873 is a continuation of application No. 17/039,940, filed on Sep. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,368,153.
Application 17/039,940 is a continuation of application No. 16/699,438, filed on Nov. 29, 2019, granted, now 10,797,698, issued on Oct. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0146629 A1, May 12, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/484 (2006.01); G01S 7/486 (2020.01); G01S 17/02 (2020.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G01S 17/42 (2006.01); H03K 17/969 (2006.01); H03K 17/0412 (2006.01); H05B 45/00 (2022.01)
CPC H03K 17/969 (2013.01) [H03K 17/04123 (2013.01); H05B 45/00 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A circuit comprising:
a plurality of light emitters connected between a first node and a second node;
a plurality of capacitors, wherein each capacitor in the plurality of capacitors corresponds to a respective light emitter in the plurality of light emitters; and
a pulse-control switch connected to the plurality of light emitters,
wherein, during a first period, the pulse-control switch restricts current flow and each capacitor in the plurality of capacitors is charged via the first node,
wherein, during a second period, one or more capacitors of the plurality of capacitors are discharged, and
wherein, during a third period, the pulse-control switch allows current flow that discharges one or more undischarged capacitors of the plurality of capacitors through one or more corresponding light emitters of the plurality of light emitters, thereby causing the one or more corresponding light emitters to emit respective pulses of light.