Patents by Inventor Bernd Gerstlauer

Bernd Gerstlauer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180085075
    Abstract: An X-ray system includes a first structure on which an X-ray source and/or an X-ray detector is provided, a second structure, a stepper motor that moves the first structure relative to the second structure, an incremental rotary encoder, and a control unit. The stepper motor includes a rotor shaft coupled with the first structure such that when a user exerts an external force on the first structure, an angular position of the rotor shaft is changed in accordance with the exerted external force. The incremental rotary encoder is coupled with the rotor shaft of the stepper motor and generates an encoder signal in accordance with the change of the angular position of the rotor shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Valdimir ZEMANEK, Bernd GERSTLAUER, Thomas ZEHETMAIER, Ruben VON STEIN, Florian VON STEIN
  • Patent number: 8278637
    Abstract: A process, and to a corresponding apparatus for reading out and erasing X-ray information stored in storage phosphor layers, comprising the following: irradiating the storage phosphor layer (1) with stimulation light (3) by means of which the storage phosphor layer (1) is stimulated to emit emission light, collecting the emission light emitted at different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (1) with a detector (7), detector signal values (D(x, y)) being obtained for different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (1), and irradiating the storage phosphor layer (1) with erasing light (21), the quantity of erasing light (21) being determined by means of the detector signal values (D(x, y)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Stephan Mair, Thomas Hartmann, Bernd Gerstlauer
  • Publication number: 20110049397
    Abstract: A process, and to a corresponding apparatus for reading out and erasing X-ray information stored in storage phosphor layers, comprising the following: irradiating the storage phosphor layer (1) with stimulation light (3) by means of which the storage phosphor layer (1) is stimulated to emit emission light, collecting the emission light emitted at different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (1) with a detector (7), detector signal values (D(x, y)) being obtained for different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (1), and irradiating the storage phosphor layer (1) with erasing light (21), the quantity of erasing light (21) being determined by means of the detector signal values (D(x, y)).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: AGFA HEALTHCARE N.V.
    Inventors: Stephan Mair, Thomas Hartmann, Bernd Gerstlauer
  • Patent number: 7825395
    Abstract: A method reads out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor layer where an X-ray picture is obtained and made up from a number of pixels. The method includes the steps of: irradiating the storage phosphor layer with a stimulation light beam which is moved along a line over the storage phosphor layer to stimulate the storage phosphor layer into emitting emission light; collecting emission light emitted from the storage phosphor layer, and converting the emission light collected into a corresponding detector signal S; deducing a number of detector signal values D from the detector signal S, where the number of deduced detector signal values D is greater then a predetermined number of pixels of the X-ray picture along the line; and deducing a picture signal value B for each pixel of the X-ray picture along the line from at least two of the detector signal values D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gerstlauer, Detlef Brautmeier, Axel Kasper
  • Patent number: 7541606
    Abstract: A method and to a corresponding apparatus for processing information carriers, in particular for reading out storage phosphor plates (2) for storing X-ray information, an information carrier (2) and/or a container (1) in which the information carrier (2) is located being processed, in particular being moved and/or fixed, by at least one mechanical processor (13), the processor (7) being driven by at least one stepper motor (10), and information from the information carrier (2) being read out and/or written in the information carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Vladimir Zemánek, Bernd Gerstlauer, Thomas Zehetmaier, Alfred Huber
  • Patent number: 7465949
    Abstract: A device can read out X-ray information stored in a phosphor layer with an irradiation device for irradiating the phosphor layer with stimulation light which can stimulate the phosphor layer into emitting emission light, and a detector for collecting emission light coming from the phosphor layer and for converting the emission light collected into an analogue detector signal S. In order to increase reliability and resolution when digitising the detector signal, at least two analogue to digital converters are provided which can be operated in different conversion ranges and so can convert the analogue detector signal S into different digital part signal values. Moreover, an analysis device is provided for establishing a digital detector signal value D from the digital part signal values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Kahlert, Werner Nitsche, Bernd Gerstlauer
  • Publication number: 20080054198
    Abstract: A method and to a corresponding apparatus for processing information carriers, in particular for reading out storage phosphor plates (2) for storing X-ray information, an information carrier (2) and/or a container (1) in which the information carrier (2) is located being processed, in particular being moved and/or fixed, by at least one mechanical processor (13), the processor (7) being driven by at least one stepper motor (10), and information from the information carrier (2) being read out and/or written in the information carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: AGFA HEALTHCARE N.V.
    Inventors: Vladimir Zemanek, Bernd Gerstlauer, Thomas Zehetmaier, Alfred Huber
  • Patent number: 7312467
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray picture stored in a phosphor layer includes: an irradiation device for irradiating the phosphor layer with a stimulating light beam to be moved along a line over the phosphor layer, and in so doing stimulating the phosphor layer into emitting emission light; a detector for collecting the emission light emitted from the storage phosphor layer and for converting the emission light collected into a detector signal S; a processing unit for deducing picture signal values B for pixels of the picture along the line from the detector signal S; and two or more sensors located at different reference positions to collect reference times when the light beam is located at the different reference positions. The processing unit deduces a number of detector signal values D from the detector signal S to deduce the picture signal values B between the two reference times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gerstlauer, Detlef Brautmeier, Rainer Nebosis, Axel Kasper
  • Publication number: 20060124876
    Abstract: A device can read out X-ray information stored in a phosphor layer with an irradiation device for irradiating the phosphor layer with stimulation light which can stimulate the phosphor layer into emitting emission light, and a detector for collecting emission light coming from the phosphor layer and for converting the emission light collected into an analogue detector signal S. In order to increase reliability and resolution when digitising the detector signal, at least two analogue to digital converters are provided which can be operated in different conversion ranges and so can convert the analogue detector signal S into different digital part signal values. Moreover, an analysis device is provided for establishing a digital detector signal value D from the digital part signal values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Kahlert, Werner Nitsche, Bernd Gerstlauer
  • Publication number: 20050285062
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray picture stored in a phosphor layer includes: an irradiation device for irradiating the phosphor layer with a stimulating light beam to be moved along a line over the phosphor layer, and in so doing stimulating the phosphor layer into emitting emission light; a detector for collecting the emission light emitted from the storage phosphor layer and for converting the emission light collected into a detector signal S; a processing unit for deducing picture signal values B for pixels of the picture along the line from the detector signal S; and two or more sensors located at different reference positions to collect reference times when the light beam is located at the different reference positions. The processing unit deduces a number of detector signal values D from the detector signal S to deduce the picture signal values B between the two reference times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Bernd Gerstlauer, Detlef Brautmeier, Rainer Nebosis, Axel Kasper
  • Publication number: 20050285061
    Abstract: A method reads out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor layer where an X-ray picture is obtained and made up from a number of pixels. The method includes the steps of: irradiating the storage phosphor layer with a stimulation light beam which is moved along a line over the storage phosphor layer to stimulate the storage phosphor layer into emitting emission light; collecting emission light emitted from the storage phosphor layer, and converting the emission light collected into a corresponding detector signal S; deducing a number of detector signal values D from the detector signal S, where the number of deduced detector signal values D is greater then a predetermined number of pixels of the X-ray picture along the line; and deducing a picture signal value B for each pixel of the X-ray picture along the line from at least two of said detector signal values D.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Bernd Gerstlauer, Detlef Brautmeier, Axel Kasper