Patents by Inventor Bruno Pfister

Bruno Pfister 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: 9417214
    Abstract: The present application relates to an apparatus for determining the texture of food material, wherein the apparatus comprises a device for generating a vibrational impact, such as a piezo actuator, a device for measuring vibrations, such as a vibrometer, a holding mechanism, comprising a container body for containing the food material therein or a string to attach the food material thereto, and an analyzer for comparing measured vibrations with at least one reference value, determined prior to the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich Loeser, Erich J. Windhab, Stefan Padar, Bruno Pfister
  • Publication number: 20140033819
    Abstract: The present application relates to an apparatus for determining the texture of food material, wherein the apparatus comprises a device for generating a vibrational impact, such as a piezo actuator, a device for measuring vibrations, such as a vibrometer, a holding mechanism, comprising a container body for containing the food material therein or a string to attach the food material thereto, and an analyser for comparing measured vibrations with at least one reference value, determined prior to the measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich Loeser, Erich J. Windhab, Stefan Padar, Bruno Pfister
  • Patent number: 8567250
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the texture of food material, comprising the steps of applying a vibrational impact with a predetermined frequency to the food material, measuring the vibrational response of the food material to the vibrational impact, and comparing the vibratiorial response with at least one reference value, determined prior to the measurement. The food material is in a liquid or a semi-solid state and/or contained within a container body (16), such as a pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kraft Foods R&D, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich Loeser, Erich Windhab, Stefan Padar, Bruno Pfister
  • Patent number: 8522616
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for detecting the solidification behavior of pourable and solidifying masses and/or masses that are to be solidified, in particular of chocolate-type masses, as well as their separation behavior from their delimiting walls that are in contact with these masses, specifically molds. Solutions are offered regarding how to achieve the optimized point in time for demolding and for achieving optimized product surface quality taking into account process orders of magnitude such as cooling temperature, cooling speed and conveyor belt speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: ETH Zurich
    Inventors: Erich J. Windhab, Yvonne Mehrle, Bruno Pfister
  • Publication number: 20090217758
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the texture of food material, comprising the steps of applying a vibrational impact with a predetermined frequency to the food material, measuring the vibrational response of the food material to the vibrational impact, and comparing the vibratiorial response with at least one reference value, determined prior to the measurement. The food material is in a liquid or a semi-solid state and/or contained within a container body (16), such as a pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Ulrich Loeser, Erich Windhab, Stefan Padar, Bruno Pfister
  • Patent number: 6788412
    Abstract: A two dimensional color pattern which at each point has a definite and unique color value is reproduced on a measurement surface by way of a computer controlled display device for the optical marking of a target region on the measurement surface captured by a color measuring device. The color measuring device is aimed at the measurement surface and the color value of the target region captured by the color measuring device is measured. The coordinates of the target region on the measurement surface are calculated from the measured color value and an optical marker which visually indicates the location of the target region on the measurement surface is reproduced at that location on the measurement surface as defined by the calculated coordinates of the target region. Alignment of the color measurement device is simplified and made possible without the need for laser pointers or cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Gretag-Macbeth AG
    Inventor: Bruno Pfister
  • Patent number: 6765674
    Abstract: For the colorimetric measurement of a two-dimensional original, the original is photoelectrically scanned pixel by pixel in a first step by way of a color-enabled photoelectric scanning device. A digital color representation of the original is produced from the thereby obtained scanning data. In a second step, suitable measuring positions are determined from the digital color representation of the original by way of a computer using image processing methods. In a third step, the color measuring head is automatically moved under the control of the computer to the so determined measuring positions and the original is colorimetrically measured at those measuring positions. The color data obtained thereby can be further processed, for example for the generation of apparatus profiles for the colorimetric control of output apparatus. The scanning device is preferably a high resolution flatbed or autofeed scanner or a digital camera. The color measuring head is preferably a spectral measuring head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Gretag-Macbeth AG
    Inventors: Adrian Von Orelli, Bruno Pfister
  • Publication number: 20030076498
    Abstract: A two dimensional color pattern which at each point has a definite and unique color value is reproduced on a measurement surface by way of a computer controlled display device for the optical marking of a target region on the measurement surface captured by a color measuring device. The color measuring device is aimed at the measurement surface and the color value of the target region captured by the color measuring device is measured. The coordinates of the target region on the measurement surface are calculated from the measured color value and an optical marker which visually indicates the location of the target region on the measurement surface is reproduced at that location on the measurement surface as defined by the calculated coordinates of the target region. Alignment of the color measurement device is simplified and made possible without the need for laser pointers or cameras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Bruno Pfister
  • Publication number: 20020054292
    Abstract: For the colorimetric measurement of a two-dimensional original, the original is photoelectrically scanned pixel by pixel in a first step by way of a color-enabled photoelectric scanning device. A digital color representation of the original is produced from the thereby obtained scanning data. In a second step, suitable measuring positions are determined from the digital color representation of the original by way of a computer using image processing methods. In a third step, the color measuring head is automatically moved under the control of the computer to the so determined measuring positions and the original is colorimetrically measured at those measuring positions. The color data obtained thereby can be further processed, for example for the generation of apparatus profiles for the colorimetric control of output apparatus. The scanning device is preferably a high resolution flatbed or autofeed scanner or a digital camera. The color measuring head is preferably a spectral measuring head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Adrian Von Orelli, Bruno Pfister