Patents by Inventor Thomas Egloff

Thomas Egloff 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: 20240135565
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for light field microscopy, wherein the following method steps are performed: a) measuring an image data record of a sample using a light field arrangement; b) creating at least one partial data record from the image data record; c) reconstructing a three-dimensional object from the partial data record created in step b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg STEINERT, Yauheni NOVIKAU, Daniel SCHWEDT, Thomas EGLOFF
  • Patent number: 11960070
    Abstract: A method for capturing a relative alignment of a surface (2.1), extending substantially in one plane, of an object (2), in which a focus (f) of a light beam is guided along a scanning path (1). Components of the light beam that are reflected by the surface (2.1) are captured. The scanning path (1) extends substantially parallel to an x-y-plane that extends orthogonally to an optical axis (oA) of a detection objective (5). A relative position and alignment of the surface (2.1) are ascertained on the basis of the reflected components. A normal (N) of the surface (2.1) and the relative alignment thereof are virtually ascertained and/or the focus (F) is moved in the direction of the optical axis (oA) during the scanning of the scanning path (1, 1ax) such that an axial scan trajectory or an axial scanning path (1ax) are brought about.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Klemm, Thomas Egloff
  • Patent number: 11754831
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical arrangement and a method for correcting centration errors and/or angle errors in a beam path. The beam path here comprises an optical compensated system in which at least two optical elements are present and aligned relative to one another such that imaging aberrations of the optical elements are compensated. According to the invention, a correction unit is arranged in an infinity space of the beam path and between the at least two optical elements, wherein the correction unit changes the propagation direction of radiation propagating along the beam path and the correction unit either has a reflective surface or is embodied to be transmissive for the radiation. The correction unit is movable such that the angle of a change in the propagation direction can be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Egloff, Ralph Lange, Alexander Scheps, Johannes Winterot
  • Publication number: 20220236548
    Abstract: A method for capturing an image of an object includes guiding a scanning beam along a scanning trajectory over the object using a scanner, with the scanning movement being periodic in a direction. The scanning movement is sampled at a first sampling frequency for detecting and capturing a current position of the scanner as position values and radiation from the object is captured as captured sampling values at a second sampling frequency. Current values of the amplitude and the phase of the scanning movement are calculated. A current amplitude, phase and/or frequency and future changes in the amplitude, phase and/or frequency over time are calculated. An image grid is set, with grid elements being assigned the sampling values based on times at which the scanning beam crosses or will cross at least one boundary of the grid elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Tobias-Michael Kaufhold, Frank Klemm, Thomas Egloff, Mirko Liedke
  • Patent number: 11341625
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing image artifacts in images of a sample captured by scanning, wherein intensity values of at least two detection regions, denoted as pixels (Pxn), are captured along respectively one row (j) in a first scanning direction. A reconstructed image is produced on the basis of the captured intensity values. According to the invention, the intensity values of the reconstructed image are summed along the rows (j) respectively scanned by a certain pixel (Pxn) and a row sum is formed in each case. A correction value of the pixel (Pxn) is ascertained on the basis of the row sums formed thus and the correction value is applied to the intensity values, captured by means of the pixel (Pxn), of the reconstructed image, as a result of which a corrected image is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY GMBH
    Inventors: Stanislav Kalinin, Volodymyr Kudryavtsev, Thomas Egloff, Wolfgang Bathe, Benedikt Lübbers
  • Patent number: 11300767
    Abstract: A method for high-resolution scanning microscopy of a sample, wherein the sample is illuminated with illumination light such that the illumination light is focused at a point in or on the sample into an illumination spot. The point is imaged into a diffraction image onto an area detector having detector elements. The area detector has a spatial resolution that resolves a diffraction structure of the diffraction image. The sample is here scanned line-wise in a grid made of rows and columns by displacing the point relative to the sample into different scanning positions with an increment width that is smaller than the diameter of the illumination spot. The area detector is read, and an image of the sample is generated from the data of the area detector and from the scanning positions assigned to said data, said image having a resolution that is increased beyond a resolution limit for imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Stanislav Kalinin, Volodymyr Kudryavtsev, Thomas Egloff, Alexander Kolarow, Joerg Engel
  • Patent number: 11231578
    Abstract: A scanner arrangement, suitable for use in laser scanning microscopes, for scanning a scanning field (42) by means of optical radiation (5). It is equipped with at least one scanner (1), which comprises a scanning mirror (2) that is tiltable about one or two scanning axes (3, 4) and means for rotating the scanning field, for scanning a size-variable scanning field and for centring the scanning field centre (43) when panning. The arrangement includes a mechanical pivot device (7) for rotating the scanning field (42). The pivot device is arranged to pivot the scanner (1) about a pivot axis (8). Pivoting is implemented through angular dimensions that correspond to an intended rotation of the scanning field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Egloff, Tobias Schroeter
  • Publication number: 20210255447
    Abstract: A method for capturing a relative alignment of a surface (2.1), extending substantially in one plane, of an object (2), in which a focus (f) of a light beam is guided along a scanning path (1). Components of the light beam that are reflected by the surface (2.1) are captured. The scanning path (1) extends substantially parallel to an x-y-plane that extends orthogonally to an optical axis (oA) of a detection objective (5). A relative position and alignment of the surface (2.1) are ascertained on the basis of the reflected components. A normal (N) of the surface (2.1) and the relative alignment thereof are virtually ascertained and/or the focus (F) is moved in the direction of the optical axis (oA) during the scanning of the scanning path (1, 1ax) such that an axial scan trajectory or an axial scanning path (1ax) are brought about.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Frank KLEMM, Thomas EGLOFF
  • Publication number: 20200386988
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical arrangement and a method for correcting centration errors and/or angle errors in a beam path. The beam path here comprises an optical compensated system in which at least two optical elements are present and aligned relative to one another such that imaging aberrations of the optical elements are compensated. According to the invention, a correction unit is arranged in an infinity space of the beam path and between the at least two optical elements, wherein the correction unit changes the propagation direction of radiation propagating along the beam path and the correction unit either has a reflective surface or is embodied to be transmissive for the radiation. The correction unit is movable such that the angle of a change in the propagation direction can be set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Egloff, Ralph Lange, Alexander Scheps, Johannes Winterot
  • Publication number: 20200301121
    Abstract: A method for high-resolution scanning microscopy of a sample, wherein the sample is illuminated with illumination light such that the illumination light is focused at a point in or on the sample into an illumination spot. The point is imaged into a diffraction image onto an area detector having detector elements. The area detector has a spatial resolution that resolves a diffraction structure of the diffraction image. The sample is here scanned line-wise in a grid made of rows and columns by displacing the point relative to the sample into different scanning positions with an increment width that is smaller than the diameter of the illumination spot. The area detector is read, and an image of the sample is generated from the data of the area detector and from the scanning positions assigned to said data, said image having a resolution that is increased beyond a resolution limit for imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY GMBH
    Inventors: Stanislav KALININ, Volodymyr Kudryavtsev, Thomas Egloff, Alexander Kolarow, Joerg Engel
  • Publication number: 20200294216
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing image artifacts in images of a sample captured by scanning, wherein intensity values of at least two detection regions, denoted as pixels (Pxn), are captured along respectively one row (j) in a first scanning direction. A reconstructed image is produced on the basis of the captured intensity values. According to the invention, the intensity values of the reconstructed image are summed along the rows (j) respectively scanned by a certain pixel (Pxn) and a row sum is formed in each case. A correction value of the pixel (Pxn) is ascertained on the basis of the row sums formed thus and the correction value is applied to the intensity values, captured by means of the pixel (Pxn), of the reconstructed image, as a result of which a corrected image is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Stanislav Kalinin, Volodymyr Kudryavtsev, Thomas Egloff, Wolfgang Bathe, Benedikt Lübbers
  • Publication number: 20200041782
    Abstract: A scanner arrangement, suitable for use in laser scanning microscopes, for scanning a scanning field (42) by means of optical radiation (5). It is equipped with at least one scanner (1), which comprises a scanning mirror (2) that is tiltable about one or two scanning axes (3, 4) and means for rotating the scanning field, for scanning a size-variable scanning field and for centring the scanning field centre (43) when panning. The arrangement includes a mechanical pivot device (7) for rotating the scanning field (42). The pivot device is arranged to pivot the scanner (1) about a pivot axis (8). Pivoting is implemented through angular dimensions that correspond to an intended rotation of the scanning field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas EGLOFF, Tobias Schroeter
  • Patent number: 10330924
    Abstract: A method for generating a control signal is provided. The method includes the steps of decomposing a desired movement into two partial movements which are separately equalized, and the desired control signal is obtained by summing up the corrected components. The first movement is a slowly (mostly linear) changing long-period (period T1) movement, and the second movement is a short-period (period T2) movement, wherein the period T1 is substantially longer than the period T2. The movements have to a large extent opposing temporal derivations which are nevertheless equal in magnitude so that their sum has a time derivative that is zero. In addition, a method is provided for operating a scanning unit periodically displaceable in an infeed direction by an infeed distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Egloff, Volodymyr Kudryavtsev, Frank Klemm, Joerg Engel
  • Publication number: 20170329129
    Abstract: A method for generating a control signal is provided. The method includes the steps of decomposing a desired movement into two partial movements which are separately equalized, and the desired control signal is obtained by summing up the corrected components. The first movement is a slowly (mostly linear) changing long-period (period T1) movement, and the second movement is a short-period (period T2) movement, wherein the period T1 is substantially longer than the period T2. The movements have to a large extent opposing temporal derivations which are nevertheless equal in magnitude so that their sum has a time derivative that is zero. In addition, a method is provided for operating a scanning unit periodically displaceable in an infeed direction by an infeed distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Egloff, Volodymyr Kudryavtsev, Frank Klemm, Joerg Engel
  • Patent number: 8351032
    Abstract: A radiation generation device for generating resulting electromagnetic radiation having an adjustable spectral composition includes: a multitude of radiation elements (configured to generate a radiation element specific electromagnetic radiation, respectively, upon being activated, a first radiation element of the multitude of radiation elements being activatable independently of a second radiation element of the multitude of radiation elements; a dispersive optical element; and an optical opening; the dispersive optical element being configured to deflect the radiation element specific electromagnetic radiations, in dependence on their wavelength and on a position of the radiation element generating the respective radiation element specific electromagnetic radiation, such that a particular spectral range of each of the radiation element specific electromagnetic radiations may exit through the optical opening, so that the spectral composition of the resulting electromagnetic radiation exiting through the opti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Heinrich Grueger, Jens Knobbe, Thomas Egloff, Michael Mueller
  • Patent number: 8045159
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a first substrate including an optical functional element, and a second substrate including a movable micromechanical functional element, the first substrate and the second substrate being connected in a stacked manner, so that a light path exists which is convoluted between the first substrate and the second substrate, the movable micromechanical functional element and the optical functional element being arranged in the light path. In addition, a method of producing an optical apparatus includes producing a first substrate including an optical functional element, and producing a second substrate including a movable micromechanical functional element, as well as connecting the first and second substrates, so that a light path exists which is convoluted between the first and second substrates, the movable micromechanical functional element and the optical functional element being arranged in the light path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Egloff, Jens Knobbe, Heinrich Grueger
  • Publication number: 20110128541
    Abstract: A radiation generation device for generating resulting electromagnetic radiation having an adjustable spectral composition includes: a multitude of radiation elements (configured to generate a radiation element specific electromagnetic radiation, respectively, upon being activated, a first radiation element of the multitude of radiation elements being activatable independently of a second radiation element of the multitude of radiation elements; a dispersive optical element; and an optical opening; the dispersive optical element being configured to deflect the radiation element specific electromagnetic radiations, in dependence on their wavelength and on a position of the radiation element generating the respective radiation element specific electromagnetic radiation, such that a particular spectral range of each of the radiation element specific electromagnetic radiations may exit through the optical opening, so that the spectral composition of the resulting electromagnetic radiation exiting through the opti
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Heinrich Grueger, Jens Knobbe, Thomas Egloff, Michael Mueller
  • Publication number: 20090262346
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a first substrate including an optical functional element, and a second substrate including a movable micromechanical functional element, the first substrate and the second substrate being connected in a stacked manner, so that a light path exists which is convoluted between the first substrate and the second substrate, the movable micromechanical functional element and the optical functional element being arranged in the light path. In addition, a method of producing an optical apparatus includes producing a first substrate including an optical functional element, and producing a second substrate including a movable micromechanical functional element, as well as connecting the first and second substrates, so that a light path exists which is convoluted between the first and second substrates, the movable micromechanical functional element and the optical functional element being arranged in the light path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Franuhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Egloff, Jens Knobbe, Heinrich Grueger