Patents by Inventor Lorenz J. Happel

Lorenz J. Happel 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).

  • Video opto-diagnostic instrument with single-adjustment focus
    Publication number: 20030114733
    Abstract: A hand-held ophthalmoscope modified by the removal or augmentation of the focusing wheel and the addition of a manual or automatic focusing lens system. An electronic imager (CCD array or video camera) is placed optically conjugate to a viewing screen such that focus operations performed by the examiner to adjust the image seen by the examiner on the screen also focuses the image on the electronic imager. This is accomplished by an optical system which includes a straight path from the viewing screen to the patient's eye with a beam splitter interposed to cause the image of the patient's eye to be reflected onto the imager. As a result, when the examiner uses the focusing lens system, manual or automatic, positioned between the beam splitter and the patient's eye, to affect the image viewed by the examiner, the focus of the imager is simultaneously affected as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Richard A. Farrell, Lorenz J. Happel, Russell L. McCally, Donald D. Duncan, Kevin C. Baldwin
  • Video opto-diagnostic instrument with single-adjustment focus
    Patent number: 6511420
    Abstract: A hand-held ophthalmoscope modified by the removal or augmentation of the focusing wheel and the addition of a manual or automatic focusing lens system. An electronic imager (CCD array or video camera) is placed optically conjugate to a viewing screen such that focus operations performed by the examiner to adjust the image seen by the examiner on the screen also focuses the image on the electronic imager. This is accomplished by an optical system which includes a straight path from the viewing screen to the patient's eye with a beam splitter interposed to cause the image of the patient's eye to be reflected onto the imager. As a result, when the examiner uses the focusing lens system, manual or automatic, positioned between the beam splitter and the patient's eye, to affect the image viewed by the examiner, the focus of the imager is simultaneously affected as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Richard A. Farrell, Lorenz J. Happel, Jr., Russell L. McCally