Patents by Inventor Menno W. J. Prins

Menno W. J. Prins 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: 20100212762
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microfluidic system comprising a plurality of ciliary actuator elements (10) located at an inner surface (14) of a wall (15) of a microchannel (16) of the microfluidic system at a first location. The microfluidic system furthermore comprises a magnetic field generator formed by at least one current wire (17) integrated in the wall (15) of the micro channel (16) at a second location substantially opposite to the first location with respect to a centre line of the microchannel (16). The present invention also provides a method for the manufacturing of such microfluidic systems and to a method for controlling a fluid flow through a microchannel (16) of such a microfluidic system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Stitching Dutch Polymer Institute
    Inventors: Jacob M. J. Den Toonder, Menno W.J. Prins, Francis Fahrni, Leonardus J. Van Dzendoorn
  • Patent number: 6440527
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing honeycomb structures in which multiple foils are welded together by means of thermal compression and the multiple foils form the honeycomb structure in the expanded condition. The bonding locations, where the foils are fused together, are defined by inserting a structured layer between the foils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Menno W. J. Prins, Petrus W. J. Linders, Johannes C. Jans
  • Patent number: 6383601
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing honeycomb stuctures in which multiple foils are welded together by means of thermal compression and the multiple foils form the honeycomb structure in the expanded condition. The bonding locations, where the foils are fused together, are defined by inserting a structured separating layer between the foils. The invention also relates to, for example, luminaries and x-ray apparatus using a honeycomb structure so manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Menno W. J. Prins, Petrus W. J. Linders, Johannes C. Jans
  • Publication number: 20010051250
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing honeycomb structures in which multiple foils are welded together by means of thermal compression and the multiple foils form the honeycomb structure in the expanded condition. The bonding locations, where the foils are fused together, are defined by inserting a structured layer between the foils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventors: MENNO W.J. PRINS, PETRUS W.J. LINDERS, JOHANNES C. JANS
  • Publication number: 20010033943
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing honeycomb structures in which multiple foils are welded together by means of thermal compression and the multiple foils form the honeycomb structure in the expanded condition. The bonding locations, where the foils are fused together, are defined by inserting a structured layer between the foils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Menno W.J. Prins, Petrus W.J. Linders, Johannes C. Jans
  • Patent number: 6275568
    Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray apparatus which includes an adjustable X-ray filter. In order to adjust an intensity profile of the X-ray beam, an X-ray absorbing liquid is transported to filter elements of the X-ray filter. Such transport is susceptible to gravitational forces which lead to an irregular hydrostatic pressure distribution in the X-ray filter. In order to reduce the effects of the gravitational forces on the transport of the X-ray absorbing liquid, the duct connecting the filter elements to the reservoir is subdivided into sub-ducts and the reservoir is subdivided into chambers, each chamber being connected to at least one sub-duct. The X-ray apparatus also includes means for keeping the sub-ducts aligned with a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Menno W. J. Prins, Johannus W. Weekamp, Jacobus B. Giesbers, Michel C. J. M. Vissenberg, Coenraad A. A. M. Vugts
  • Patent number: 6252939
    Abstract: The X-ray examination apparatus includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector and an X-ray filter which is located between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector. The X-ray filter includes elements, notably capillary tubes, and the X-ray absorptivity of separate filter elements is adjustable by adjustment of a quantity of X-ray absorbing liquid in the respective filter elements. The quantity of X-ray absorbing liquid in the individual filter elements is adjusted by way of electric voltages applied to the individual filter elements. A control system is provided to apply the electric voltages selectively to the individual filter elements. The control system includes voltage lines and switching elements which electrically couple the filter elements to an electric voltage source. The filter elements are formed by spaces between corrugated plates or parallel plates provided with separating members, such as protrusions which extend transversely of the plates. The voltage lines are disposed on the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Edward W. A. Young, Menno W. J. Prins, Johannes W. Weekamp, Jacobus B. Giesbers, Petrus W. J. Linders, Andreas C. M. Van Nes
  • Patent number: 6226355
    Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray examination apparatus for forming X-ray images of an object. An X-ray examination apparatus of this kind includes an X-ray source, an X-ray filter for adjusting the two-dimensional distribution of an X-ray beam to be generated on the object and an X-ray detector. The X-ray filter includes capillary tubes whose inner sides are provided with an electrically conductive layer and one end of which communicates with a reservoir containing an X-ray absorbing liquid. For each capillary tube the quantity of X-ray-absorbing liquid can be adjusted by way of an electric voltage applied across the inner side of the capillary tube and the X-ray absorbing liquid. The X-ray filter is arranged between the object and the X-ray source, the tubes of the X-ray filter being arranged such that the tubes of the X-ray filter are arranged such that lines through all longitudinal axes of the tubes are intersecting lines extending through the X-ray source via the X-ray filter to the X-ray detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Menno W. J. Prins
  • Patent number: 6198806
    Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray examination apparatus which includes an X-ray filter for locally attenuating the X-ray beam. The X-ray filter includes a plurality of filter elements. The X-ray absorption of a filter element is adjusted by way of the quantity of X-ray absorbing liquid present in the filter element. The filling of the filter element is adjusted by means of an electric voltage. In addition to the X-ray absorbing liquid, the filter element contains a second liquid which is present at an interface between the X-ray absorbing liquid and the filter element, said second liquid being chemically inert relative to the X-ray absorbing liquid and having an electrical conductivity which deviates from that of the first liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Menno W. J. Prins
  • Patent number: 6181774
    Abstract: An X-ray examination apparatus of this invention comprises an X-ray source, an X-ray detector and an X-ray filter which is located between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector. The X-ray filter includes filter elements, notably capillary tubes, and the X-ray absorption of separate filter elements can be controlled by controlling a quantity of X-ray absorbing liquid in the respective filter elements. The quantity of X-ray absorbing liquid in the individual filter elements is controlled by way of electric voltages applied to the individual filter elements. The filter elements are formed as spaces between deformed foils which are arranged in a stack which is expanded in the direction transversely of the foils. Adjacent foils are locally attached to one another along seams. The stack is arranged between rigid plates and buffer elements are provided between the rigid plates and the stack. The buffer elements are contractable in the direction transversely to the direction of expansion of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Menno W. J. Prins, Jacobus B. Giesbers, Johannes W. Weekamp, Theodorus J. A. M. Jans, Wilhelmus J. J. Welters, Nicolaas P. Willard
  • Patent number: 5796102
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring the intensity and/or polarization of electromagnetic radiation, more in particular of light. The measuring device is provided with a tunnel tip arranged facing a body at some distance, which tunnel tip at least partly consists of a semiconductor material. The measuring device further comprises a control unit for obtaining information about the intensity and/or polarization of the radiation by means of a tunnel current, generated under the influence of the radiation in the tunnel tip, between the tunnel tip and the body and/or a surface photovoltage of the tunnel tip, generated under the influence of the radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Stichting Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen
    Inventors: Herman Van Kempen, Daniel Lee Abraham, Menno W. J. Prins, Ronald Jansen, Maurice C. M. M. van der Wielen