Patents by Inventor Thomas Rittenschober
Thomas Rittenschober 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).
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Patent number: 11307285Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one first microphone (10) which is movably arranged, at least one second stationary microphone (11) and at least one sensor (16) is described. The microphones can capture the sound waves emitted by acoustic sources, and the sensor can capture spatial coordinates of the first microphone. A corresponding method and a system having the apparatus mentioned are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: SEVEN BEL GMBHInventor: Thomas Rittenschober
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Publication number: 20210113189Abstract: Systems are provided for the arrangement of decoupled electric and acoustic modules for a transducer array of an ultrasound probe. In one embodiment, the decoupled modules are independently coupled to a flex interconnect, apart from one another, allowing for electric communication between all modules through the flex interconnect. As one example, an ultrasound transducer array for an ultrasound probe comprises an acoustic backing, a flex interconnect coupled to the backing at a first surface of the flex interconnect, a matrix acoustic array coupled to a second surface of the flex interconnect, the second surface opposite the first surface, and an electric module coupled to the second surface of the flex interconnect at a location spaced away from where the matrix acoustic array is coupled to the flex interconnect.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, David A. Chartrand, Thomas Rittenschober, Scott William Easterbrook, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl
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Publication number: 20210096208Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one first microphone (10) which is movably arranged, at least one second stationary microphone (11) and at least one sensor (16) is described. The microphones can capture the sound waves emitted by acoustic sources, and the sensor can capture spatial coordinates of the first microphone. A corresponding method and a system having the apparatus mentioned are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2019Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventor: Thomas Rittenschober
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Patent number: 10905398Abstract: Systems are provided for the arrangement of decoupled electric and acoustic modules for a transducer array of an ultrasound probe. In one embodiment, the decoupled modules are independently coupled to a flex interconnect, apart from one another, allowing for electric communication between all modules through the flex interconnect. As one example, an ultrasound transducer array for an ultrasound probe comprises an acoustic backing, a flex interconnect coupled to the backing at a first surface of the flex interconnect, a matrix acoustic array coupled to a second surface of the flex interconnect, the second surface opposite the first surface, and an electric module coupled to the second surface of the flex interconnect at a location spaced away from where the matrix acoustic array is coupled to the flex interconnect.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2016Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Reinhold Bruestle, David A. Chartrand, Thomas Rittenschober, Scott William Easterbrook, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl
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Patent number: 10488502Abstract: An ultrasound probe and method of forming an ultrasound probe are provided. The ultrasound probe comprises a two-dimensional (2D) transducer assembly having transducer elements arranged in rows and columns. The transducer elements have front and rear surfaces. The front surface is configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from an object of interest. A thin film flex circuit extends along the rear surface of the transducer assembly. The flex circuit has conductive traces arranged in layers and enclosed within a common dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a homogeneous composition surrounding the layers of the conductive traces. The conductive traces are electrically interconnected to the corresponding transducer elements.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Reinhold Bruestle, Thomas Rittenschober, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl, Rainer Schröder
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Patent number: 10292686Abstract: A medical ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic probe having a probe head and a connector. The connector includes a fluid cooling system comprising a pump configured to pump a cooling fluid between the connector and the probe head. A damper including a housing has a first portion defining a cavity receiving the cooling fluid and a second portion including a gas that is separated from the first portion by a membrane.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Erich Birglehner, Thomas Rittenschober
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Publication number: 20180313943Abstract: An ultrasound probe and method of forming an ultrasound probe are provided. The ultrasound probe comprises a two-dimensional (2D) transducer assembly having transducer elements arranged in rows and columns. The transducer elements have front and rear surfaces. The front surface is configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from an object of interest. A thin film flex circuit extends along the rear surface of the transducer assembly. The flex circuit has conductive traces arranged in layers and enclosed within a common dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a homogeneous composition surrounding the layers of the conductive traces. The conductive traces are electrically interconnected to the corresponding transducer elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2017Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, Thomas Rittenschober, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl, Rainer Schröder
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Publication number: 20170188995Abstract: Systems are provided for the arrangement of decoupled electric and acoustic modules for a transducer array of an ultrasound probe. In one embodiment, the decoupled modules are independently coupled to a flex interconnect, apart from one another, allowing for electric communication between all modules through the flex interconnect. As one example, an ultrasound transducer array for an ultrasound probe comprises an acoustic backing, a flex interconnect coupled to the backing at a first surface of the flex interconnect, a matrix acoustic array coupled to a second surface of the flex interconnect, the second surface opposite the first surface, and an electric module coupled to the second surface of the flex interconnect at a location spaced away from where the matrix acoustic array is coupled to the flex interconnect.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2016Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, David A. Chartrand, Thomas Rittenschober, Scott William Easterbrook, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl
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Patent number: 9539667Abstract: Methods and systems for connection to a transducer in ultrasound probes are provided. One system includes transducer having a base configured to support thereon an ultrasound transducer array and a plurality of electrical interconnects integrated with the base. The electrical interconnects are configured to connect to the ultrasound transducer array and extend along at least a portion of the base from the ultrasound transducer array.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Reinhold Bruestle, Thomas Rittenschober, Manuel Schoenauer
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Publication number: 20150182194Abstract: Methods and systems for connection to a transducer in ultrasound probes are provided. One system includes transducer having a base configured to support thereon an ultrasound transducer array and a plurality of electrical interconnects integrated with the base. The electrical interconnects are configured to connect to the ultrasound transducer array and extend along at least a portion of the base from the ultrasound transducer array.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Reinhold Bruestle, Thomas Rittenschober, Manuel Schoenauer
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Publication number: 20150182200Abstract: A medical ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic probe having a probe head and a connector. The connector includes a fluid cooling system comprising a pump configured to pump a cooling fluid between the connector and the probe head. A damper including a housing has a first portion defining a cavity receiving the cooling fluid and a second portion including a gas that is separated from the first portion by a membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Erich Birglehner, Thomas Rittenschober
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Patent number: 9020156Abstract: A method for reducing the noise emission of a transformer, the transformer tank of which is filled with liquid and the tank wall of which vibrates during operation, is provided. The method is characterized by the sequence of the following method steps: detecting natural frequency values of the tank wall for at least one excitation frequency; determining at least one eigenmode for which the vibration of the tank wall is composed at an excitation frequency, from the natural frequency values, wherein areas of large curvature are determined on the tank wall; arranging at least one vibration loading device in at least one of said areas; and controlling the at least one vibration loading device by means of a control device in order to counteract the vibration of the tank wall.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2009Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Andreas Dantele, Alexander Hackl, Johannes Korak, Thomas Rittenschober, Helmut Wernick
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Publication number: 20130053697Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system, an ultrasound probe, and a method for detecting motion of an ultrasound probe with a motion sensor attached to the probe. The ultrasound system, ultrasound probe, and method also include reducing a power consumption of the ultrasound probe in response to detecting no motion for a period of time with the motion sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Stefan Holl, Thomas Holl, Thomas Rittenschober, Bernd R. Arminger
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Publication number: 20120121101Abstract: A method for reducing the noise emission of a transformer, the transformer tank of which is filled with liquid and the tank wall of which vibrates during operation, is provided. The method is characterized by the sequence of the following method steps: detecting natural frequency values of the tank wall for at least one excitation frequency; determining at least one eigenmode for which the vibration of the tank wall is composed at an excitation frequency, from the natural frequency values, wherein areas of large curvature are determined on the tank wall; arranging at least one vibration loading device in at least one of said areas; and controlling the at least one vibration loading device by means of a control device in order to counteract the vibration of the tank wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2009Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventors: Andreas Dantele, Alexander Hackl, Johannes Korak, Thomas Rittenschober, Helmut Wernick