Patents by Inventor Juergen Hoffmann

Juergen Hoffmann 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: 6958858
    Abstract: A method for scanning microscopy is disclosed. It contains the step of generating an illuminating light beam that exhibits at least a first substantially continuous wavelength spectrum whose spectral width is greater than 5 nm; the choosing of a second wavelength spectrum that is arranged spectrally within the first wavelength spectrum; the step of selecting the light of the second wavelength spectrum out of the illuminating light beam using an acoustooptical component; and the step of illuminating a specimen with the illuminating light beam. A scanning microscope is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6958470
    Abstract: The invention discloses a scanning microscope for optical measurement with high spatial resolution of a specimen point of a specimen, having a light source for emitting an exciting light beam suitable for exciting an energy state of the specimen; a detector for detection of the emitted light; and a stimulating light beam, coming from the light source, for generating stimulated emission of the specimen excited by the exciting light beam at the specimen point, the exciting light beam and the stimulating light beam being arranged in such a way that their intensity distributions in the focal region partially overlap, wherein optical elements which shape the stimulating light beam are combined into at least one module that is positionable in the beam path of the scanning microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20050213202
    Abstract: The scanning microscope includes an illumination beam path, microscope optics and at least one light source which generates an excitation light beam of a first wavelength and a second light beam of a second wavelength. Microscope optics are provided for focussing the excitation light beam onto a first focal region in a first plane of a sample and for focusing the second light beam onto a second focal region in a second plane of the sample. The first focal region and the second focal region overlap partially. The optical properties of the components arranged in the illumination beam path are matched to one another such that optical aberrations are corrected in such a way that the focal regions remain static relative to one another irrespective of the scanning movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6914236
    Abstract: The scanning microscope comprises an illumination beam path (41), microscope optics (37) and at least one light source (17, 21, 61, 67), which generates an excitation light beam (19, 63) of a first wavelength and an emission light beam (23, 69) of a second wavelength. The first focal region and the second focal region overlap partially. The optical properties of the components arranged in the illumination beam path (41) are matched to one another such that optical aberrations are corrected in such a way that the focal regions remain static relative to one another irrespective of the scanning movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6900935
    Abstract: An optical arrangement, in particular a microscope, having a light source (1) for illuminating an object, and a glass fiber (3), arranged between the light source (1) and the object, for transporting light along a prescribable distance between the light source (1) and the object, is configured with regard to the avoidance of fluctuations in the illuminating light power without a handicap in the optical adjustment of the arrangement in such a way that the glass fiber (3) is a polarizing glass fiber (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6887881
    Abstract: There is provided compounds of formula I, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5a, R5b, R6, X, A, B and D have meanings given in the description, which are useful in the prophylaxis and in the treatment of arrhythmias, in particular atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Annika Björ, Magnus Björsne, Torbjörn Halvarsson, Kurt-Jürgen Hoffmann, Bertil Samuelsson, Gert Strandlund
  • Publication number: 20040221064
    Abstract: A method for multinet session management includes executing first communications in a first communications environment using a specific entity and executing second communications in a second communications environment using the specific entity. The first and second communications are registered using a processor configured to register communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: WEB.DE AG
    Inventors: Uwe Schneider, Juergen Hoffmann, Uwe Maurer
  • Patent number: 6813073
    Abstract: A light source for illumination in scanning microscopy, and a scanning microscope contain an electromagnetic energy source that emits light of one wavelength, and a beam splitter for spatially dividing the light into at least two partial light beams. An intermediate element for wavelength modification is provided in at least one partial light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6806953
    Abstract: The invention discloses a fluorescence microscope comprising a light source that emits excitation light for illumination of a specimen, means for defining a two-dimensional search region for the excitation and detection wavelengths, means for selecting a subregion from the search region, at least one detector that detects detected light proceeding from the specimen, and a display for displaying an image of at least a portion of the specimen. Furthermore the invention discloses a method for fluorescence microscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6781752
    Abstract: A confocal scanning microscope has an illuminating beam path and at least one light source. The light of the light source is coupled into a fiber in which laser transitions can be induced. At least laser light induced in the fiber serves for specimen illumination after passing through an excitation pinhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6754000
    Abstract: An optical arrangement having a light source, preferably a laser, for generating a light beam (1); at least one acoustooptical deflection device (3) for the light beam (1); and a correction device for correcting beam aberrations produced by the deflection device (3) is configured, in the interest of flexible and reliable correction of aberrations occurring because of the deflection, in such a way that the correction device comprises an adaptive optical system (2). Also described is a method for the deflection of light beams (1) with a light source, preferably a laser, for generating a light beam (1); at least one acoustooptical deflection device (3) for the light beam (1); and a correction device for correcting beam aberrations produced by the deflection device (3), in which an adaptive optical system (2) is used as the correction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20040114226
    Abstract: A confocal scanning microscope has an illuminating beam path and at least one light source. The light of the light source is coupled into a fiber in which laser transitions can be induced. At least laser light induced in the fiber serves for specimen illumination after passing through an excitation pinhole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6738190
    Abstract: A method for examining a specimen (11) by means of a confocal scanning microscope having at least one light source (1), preferably a laser, to generate an illuminating light beam (4) for the specimen (11), and a beam deflection device (9) to guide the illuminating light beam (4) over the specimen (11) comprises the following method steps: Firstly a preview image is acquired. Then at least one region of interest in the preview image is marked. This is followed by allocation of individual illuminating light beam wavelengths and/or illuminating light beam power levels to the region or regions. Illumination of the region or regions of the specimen (11) in accordance with the allocation is then accomplished. Lastly, the reflected and/or fluorescent light proceeding from the specimen (11) is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann, Werner Knebel
  • Patent number: 6737635
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for combining light from at least two laser light sources, preferably in the context of confocal scanning microscopy, and in order to make laser light sources of low output power usable as light sources, in particular for confocal scanning microscopy, is characterized in that the light from the laser light sources has at least approximately the same wavelength; and that at least one beam combining unit that combines the light beams in at least largely lossless fashion is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann, Rafael Storz, Heinrich Ulrich, Joerg Bewersdorf, Holger Birk
  • Patent number: 6710337
    Abstract: An optical arrangement, in particular a laser scanning microscope, having a light source, in particular a laser light source, and an interruption device (1) for a light beam (2) of the light source, is configured, in the interest of reliable operation, in such a way that means (3) for monitoring the functioning of the interruption device (1) are associated with the interruption device (1). The invention additionally concerns a shutter (5) for a light beam (2) of a light source, in particular a laser light source, which, again in the interest of reliable operation of an optical arrangement, is characterized by at least two movable components (6, 7) which are configured and arranged such that the mechanical momentum generated by a moving component (6) or by several moving components is compensated for by the motion of the other component (7) or components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, William C. Hay, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6705073
    Abstract: A gas turbine plant includes at least one compressor compressing intake air, at least one component for heat supply heating the intake air compressed by the compressor, at least one gas turbine using as a working medium the hot air from the component for heat supply, and at least one generator coupled to the gas turbine. A cooling device is provided which permits the cooling of at least a portion of the intake air and/or a portion of partially compressed intake air within the at least one compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Jost Braun, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20040025491
    Abstract: For supporting the cooling of an air-cooled gas turbine set, it is proposed to arrange, in the cooling air ducts of the cooling system, means for increasing the pressure of the flowing cooling air. In an embodiment, the cooling system (17) is supplied with high pressure compressor air from the end stages of the compressor (1) of a gas turbine set (1, 2, 3, 4). This cooling system branches into a first branch (18), by means of which the combustor (2) and the first stages, particularly the first guide blade row of the turbine (3), are cooled. A second branch (19) conducts cooling air to the further turbine stages. An ejector (20) is provided for increasing, as needed, the pressure drop available by means of the first branch (18) of the cooling system. Its ejector nozzle (22) is supplied with live steam (9) taken from a waste heat steam generator (51), the live steam supply being adjustable by means of an adjusting member (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, Rene Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 6690511
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an optical arrangement for the illumination of specimens (1) for confocal scanning microscopes, having an illuminating beam path (2) and at least one light source (4), and is intended to make possible an efficient illumination of specimens in a confocal scanning microscope while decoupling mechanical vibrations from the confocal scanning microscope, the optical arrangement being intended to be economical and low-maintenance. The optical arrangement according to the present invention is characterized in that the light of the light source (3) is coupled into a fiber (4) in which laser transitions can be induced; and that at least the laser light induced in the fiber (4) serves for specimen illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6677596
    Abstract: A method for detection of fluorescent light in scanning microscopy includes dividing an illuminating light beam into a plurality of partial illuminating beams so as to illuminate multiple specimen regions simultaneously. Fluorescing materials in a specimen region are excited via multi-photon excitation. Operating parameters of the light source are adapted for optimum fluorescent photon yield to the properties of the fluorescing material in the specimen region. Fluorescent light of the specimen regions is detected simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6664537
    Abstract: A scanning microscope, in particular a confocal scanning microscope, with a light source (1), preferably a laser, for generating an illumination light beam (14) for a sample (11) and a scanning device for deflecting the illumination light beam (14) is, with a view to fast and reliable image-data acquisition and a compact structure, configured and refined in such a way that the scanning device has at least one micromirror (16). An optical arrangement with a light source (1), preferably a laser, for generating a light beam and at least one micromirror (16) for deflecting the light beam is furthermore provided, in which an adaptive lens (22) is provided for correcting for mirror defects or deformation of the mirror surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann