US 11,940,570 B2
Virtual windows for LiDAR safety systems and methods
Yimin Li, Cupertino, CA (US); Rui Zhang, Palo Alto, CA (US); and Junwei Bao, Los Altos, CA (US)
Assigned to SEYOND, INC., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed by Innovusion, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/101,083.
Application 18/101,083 is a continuation of application No. 16/546,702, filed on Aug. 21, 2019, granted, now 11,614,526.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/722,480, filed on Aug. 24, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0168353 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01S 7/497 (2006.01); G01S 7/484 (2006.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 7/497 (2013.01) [G01S 7/484 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system configured to direct light pulses originating from a light source to one or more locations within a field of view;
a proximity detection system configured to project a virtual window zone to monitor presence of an object within the virtual window zone and determine whether the object is a human being, wherein a size of the virtual window zone is proportional to an energy density of the light pulses; and
a control system configured to instruct the LiDAR system to:
deactivate the light source to stop directing the light pulses to the field of view, in response to a determination that the object is a human being within the virtual window zone and that the energy density of the light pulses is greater than a safety level, and
continue to direct the light pulses to the field of view in response to a determination that the object is not a human being.