US 12,445,594 B2
Localized window contaminant detection
Benjamin Frevert, Mountain View, CA (US); and Shashank Sharma, Mountain View, CA (US)
Assigned to Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 19, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/581,042.
Application 18/581,042 is a continuation of application No. 17/930,564, filed on Sep. 8, 2022, granted, now 11,936,845.
Application 17/930,564 is a continuation of application No. 17/091,147, filed on Nov. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,457,204, issued on Sep. 27, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0195950 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 17/02 (2006.01); B60S 1/04 (2006.01); B60S 1/46 (2006.01); B60S 1/54 (2006.01); G01N 21/94 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G06T 5/73 (2024.01); H04N 17/00 (2006.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 17/002 (2013.01) [B60S 1/04 (2013.01); B60S 1/46 (2013.01); B60S 1/54 (2013.01); G01N 21/94 (2013.01); G01S 7/4817 (2013.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G06T 5/73 (2024.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); G06T 2207/30168 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30248 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A contaminant detection system comprising:
a first optical coupler configured to couple light into an optical element;
a second optical coupler configured to couple light out of the optical element;
a plurality of light-emitter devices configured to emit emission light toward the first optical coupler, wherein the first optical coupler is configured to couple at least a portion of the emission light into the optical element as coupled light that propagates along the optical element by way of total internal reflection, and wherein the second optical coupler is configured to out-couple at least a portion of the coupled light from the optical element; and
a plurality of detector devices configured to:
detect at least a portion of the emission light by way of the first optical coupler, the optical element and the second optical coupler; and
provide detector signals indicative of a presence of a contaminant on the optical element.