Patents by Inventor Hermann Ries

Hermann Ries 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).

  • Patent number: 7457394
    Abstract: A device is provided for inspecting objects, particularly pieces of luggage, for suspicious contents using electromagnetic radiation. The device includes a housing comprised of a support and a closable opening through which an object to be inspected can be placed on a receiving element; a source for electromagnetic radiation and a designated detector array, both of which are arranged in the housing such that an inspection area is located above the receiving element; a positioning aid, which indicates the inspection area to an operator; and an evaluation unit including a computer, where the radiation intensities measured by the detector array are evaluated with respect to suspicious materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Hartick, Hermann Ries
  • Publication number: 20080137809
    Abstract: A device is provided for inspecting objects, particularly pieces of luggage, for suspicious contents using electromagnetic radiation. The device includes a housing comprised of a support and a closable opening through which an object to be inspected can be placed on a receiving element; a source for electromagnetic radiation and a designated detector array, both of which are arranged in the housing such that an inspection area is located above the receiving element; a positioning aid, which indicates the inspection area to an operator; and an evaluation unit including a computer, where the radiation intensities measured by the detector array are evaluated with respect to suspicious materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Smiths Heimann GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Hartick, Hermann Ries
  • Patent number: 7020241
    Abstract: A method for the detection of a specific material in an object (1), especially in a piece of luggage, using electromagnetic beams, whereby the intensities of non-absorbed beams from at least three beam planes (5.1–5.2) in corresponding detector arrays (4.1–4.5) are measured and evaluated, using the following steps according to the invention: 1. generating an at least two-dimensional picture of the object (1) from the measured intensity values; 2. selecting one of the spatial regions displayed in the picture as a basis of the value of a material value, which is determined from intensity measurements, for examination; 3. determining at least one spatial-geometric value in the region to the examined from positional data of a two-dimensional picture and from intensity values using a stored value of a specific, absorption-influenced value of a suspected material. 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Heimann Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Knut Beneke, Joerg Nittikowski, Dirk Naumann, Hermann Ries, Uwe Siedenburg, Claus Meder, Stefan Ullrich
  • Patent number: 6839406
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting items in objects, such as in luggage, wherein a detector apparatus, functioning as a second detector is divided into a lower testing stage and a higher testing stage. In the lower testing stage, the coordinates of the object location are determined, and subsequently, a diffraction apparatus is moved to this location in the higher testing stage. In particular, X-ray diffraction can be employed to determine the explosive material of the item in the object. The diffraction apparatus comprises a collimator/detector arrangement, which is disposed to be adjusted height-wise and laterally in the higher testing stage, with a laterally-adjustable X-ray source, which is synchronized with the collimator/detector arrangement. The collimator/detector arrangement preferably has only one collimator and one detector. The collimator preferably has a conically-expanding ring slot, which a predetermined angle ?M of a scatter radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Ries, Patricia Schall, Frank Cordes, Martin Hartick
  • Publication number: 20030190011
    Abstract: A method for the detection of a specific material in an object (1), especially in a piece of luggage, using electromagnetic beams, whereby the intensities of non-absorbed beams from at least three beam planes (5.1-5.2) in corresponding detector arrays (4.1-4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Knut Beneke, Joerg Nittikowski, Dirk Naumann, Hermann Ries, Uwe Siedenburg, Claus Meder, Stefan Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20030169843
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting unacceptable items in objects, such as in luggage, wherein a detector apparatus, functioning as a second detector stage is divided into a lower testing stage and a higher testing stage. In the lower testing stage, the coordinates of the object location are determined, and subsequently, a diffraction apparatus is moved to this location in the higher testing stage. In particular, X-ray diffraction can be employed to determine the explosive material of the item in the object. The diffraction apparatus comprises a collimator/detector arrangement, which is disposed to be adjusted height-wise and laterally in the higher testing stage, with a laterally-adjustable X-ray source, which is synchronized with the collimator/detector arrangement. The collimator/detector arrangement preferably has only one collimator and one detector. The collimator preferably has a conically-expanding ring slot, which simulates a predetermined angle &THgr;M of a scatter radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Hermann Ries, Patricia Schall, Frank Cordes, Martin Hartick
  • Patent number: 6542578
    Abstract: A diffraction apparatus (10) for determining crystalline and polycrystalline materials of an item in objects, preferably in luggage, having a collimation/detector arrangement (11) and an X-ray source (12) and which is mounted to be adjustable in an X-ray testing machine (13). The collimation/detector arrangement (13) is adjustable in height relative to the X-ray source (12), and the two are also laterally and synchronously adjustable via respective adjustment elements (5,6). The collimator (13) has a conically-expanding round slot (15), which simulates a predetermined angle (&THgr;M) of a scatter-beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Heimann Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Ries, Patricia Schall, Frank Cordes, Martin Hartick
  • Publication number: 20020181656
    Abstract: A diffraction apparatus (10) for determining crystalline and polycrystalline materials of an item in objects, preferably in luggage, having a collimation/detector arrangement (11) and an X-ray source (12) and which is mounted to be adjustable in an X-ray testing machine (13). The collimation/detector arrangement (13)is adjustable in height relative to the X-ray source (12), and the two are also laterally and synchronously adjustable via respective adjustment elements (5,6). The collimator (13) has a conically-expanding round slot (15), which simulates a predetermined angle (&THgr;M) of a scatter-beam path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Hermann Ries, Patricia Schall, Frank Cordes, Martin Hartick