Patents by Inventor Dierck HILLMANN

Dierck HILLMANN 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: 11482044
    Abstract: The invention relates to a free-beam interferometric method for illuminating a sequence of sectional areas in the interior of the light-scattering object. The method makes it possible for the user to select a larger image field and/or a higher image resolution than previously possible with the occurrence of self-interference of the specimen light from a scattering specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Visotec GmbH
    Inventors: Helge Sudkamp, Hendrik Spahr, Dierck Hillmann, Peter Koch, Gereon Huttmann
  • Publication number: 20210038074
    Abstract: The invention relates to a full-field OCT method for generating an imaging of an ocular fundus (31), in which short-coherent light (22) is emitted and split into an object beam path (25) and a reference beam path (24). The object beam path (25) is directed onto the ocular fundus (33). The reference beam path (24) and a portion of the object beam path (25) reflected by the ocular fundus (31) are directed onto an image sensor (32), such that an interference between the reference beam path (24) and the object beam path (25) occurs on the image sensor (32), wherein the reference beam path (24) impinges on the image sensor (32) at an angle deviating from the object beam path (25). Before impinging on the image sensor (32), the reference beam path (24) impinges on an optical correction element (27) in order to reduce a chromatic aberration within the reference beam path (24). Intensity information and phase information is determined from a capturing of the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Peter Koch, Gereon Hüttmann, Helge Sudkamp, Hendrik Spahr, Dierck Hillmann, Michael Münst
  • Publication number: 20210034863
    Abstract: The invention relates to a free-beam interferometric method for illuminating a sequence of sectional areas in the interior of the light-scattering object. The method makes it possible for the user to select a larger image field and/or a higher image resolution than previously possible with the occurrence of self-interference of the specimen light from a scattering specimen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Helge Sudkamp, Hendrik Spahr, Dierck Hillmann, Peter Koch, Gereon Huttmann
  • Patent number: 10743766
    Abstract: A parallel detecting optical coherence tomography (OCT) setup and method, in which the light paths of the illumination of the sample and of the detection of the backscattered light do not use the same apertures. The separation of illumination and detection apertures filters these disturbing reflexes from the backscattered light of the sample and significantly increases image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: THORLABS GMBH
    Inventors: Dierck Hillmann, Gereon Hüttmann, Gesa Lilith Franke, Helge Sudkamp, Laura Hinkel, Peter Koch, Jörn Wollenzin
  • Patent number: 10682052
    Abstract: The invention relates to an interferometric method, in which the light scattered by an object is imaged onto an electronic camera, wherein a sample light component is assigned to scattering sites on a sectional face in the interior of the object. This sample light component can be separated from the contributions of the other sample light components by processing of the camera image and leads to a sectional image. A particular advantage of the invention lies in the fact that multiple parallel sectional faces can be exposed sequentially at predetermined intervals from each other in the interior of the object. Such a sequence of sectional images can be used to calculate a solid model of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignees: Medizinisches Laserzentrum Luebeck GmbH, Thorlabs GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Koch, Gesa Franke, Hendrik Spahr, Helge Sudkamp, Gereon Hüttmann, Dierck Hillmann, Reginald Birngruber
  • Publication number: 20180368680
    Abstract: A parallel detecting optical coherence tomography (OCT) setup and method, in which the light paths of the illumination of the sample and of the detection of the backscattered light do not use the same apertures. The separation of illumination and detection apertures filters these disturbing reflexes from the backscattered light of the sample and significantly increases image quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Dierck HILLMANN, Gereon HÜTTMANN, Gesa Lilith FRANKE, Helge SUDKAMP, Laura HINKEL, Peter KOCH, Jörn WOLLENZIN
  • Patent number: 10070788
    Abstract: A parallel detecting optical coherence tomography (OCT) setup and method, in which the light paths of the illumination of the sample and of the detection of the backscattered light do not use the same apertures. The separation of illumination and detection apertures filters these disturbing reflexes from the backscattered light of the sample and significantly increases image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: THORLABS GMBH
    Inventors: Dierck Hillmann, Gereon Hüttmann, Gesa Lilith Franke, Helge Sudkamp, Laura Hinkel, Peter Koch, Jörn Wollenzin
  • Publication number: 20180235461
    Abstract: The invention relates to an interferometric method, in which the light scattered by an object is imaged onto an electronic camera, wherein a sample light component is assigned to scattering sites on a sectional face in the interior of the object. This sample light component can he separated from the contributions of the other sample light components by processing of the camera image and leads to a sectional image. A particular advantage of the invention lies in the fact that multiple parallel sectional faces can be exposed sequentially at predetermined intervals from each other in the interior of the object. Such a sequence of sectional images can be used to calculate a solid model of the object. The invention is applicable in particular to the live retina and allows a three-dimensional retina scan within a few seconds with a cost-effective and, if necessary, hand-held device. Application options are in the fields of ophthalmology and in biometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicants: Thorlabs GmbH, Medizinisches Laserzentrum Lübeck GmbH
    Inventors: Peter KOCH, Gesa FRANKE, Hendrik SPAHR, Helge SUDKAMP, Gereon HÜTTMANN, Dierck HILLMANN, Reginald BIRNGRUBER
  • Patent number: 9989749
    Abstract: Disclosed are several technical approaches of using low coherence interferometry techniques to create an autofocus apparatus for optical microscopy. These approaches allow automatic focusing on thin structures that are positioned closely to reflective surfaces and behind refractive material like a cover slip, and automated adjustment of focus position into the sample region without disturbance from reflection off adjacent surfaces. The measurement offset induced by refraction of material that covers the sample is compensated for. Proposed are techniques of an instrument that allows the automatic interchange of imaging objectives in a low coherence interferometry autofocus system, which is of major interest in combination with TDI (time delay integration) imaging, confocal and two-photon fluorescence microscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Cable, Jörn Wollenzin, Ross Johnstone, Kirk Gossage, Jeffrey S. Brooker, Jason Mills, James Jiang, Dierck Hillmann
  • Patent number: 9869852
    Abstract: Disclosed are several technical approaches of using low coherence interferometry techniques to create an autofocus apparatus for optical microscopy. These approaches allow automatic focusing on thin structures that are positioned closely to reflective surfaces and behind refractive material like a cover slip, and automated adjustment of focus position into the sample region without disturbance from reflection off adjacent surfaces. The measurement offset induced by refraction of material that covers the sample is compensated for. Proposed are techniques of an instrument that allows the automatic interchange of imaging objectives in a low coherence interferometry autofocus system, which is of major interest in combination with TDI (time delay integration) imaging, confocal and two-photon fluorescence microscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: THORLABS, INC.
    Inventors: Alex Cable, Jörn Wollenzin, Ross Johnstone, Kirk Gossage, Jeffrey S. Brooker, Jason Mills, James Jiang, Dierck Hillmann
  • Publication number: 20170343787
    Abstract: Disclosed are several technical approaches of using low coherence interferometry techniques to create an autofocus apparatus for optical microscopy. These approaches allow automatic focusing on thin structures that are positioned closely to reflective surfaces and behind refractive material like a cover slip, and automated adjustment of focus position into the sample region without disturbance from reflection off adjacent surfaces. The measurement offset induced by refraction of material that covers the sample is compensated for. Proposed are techniques of an instrument that allows the automatic interchange of imaging objectives in a low coherence interferometry autofocus system, which is of major interest in combination with TDI (time delay integration) imaging, confocal and two-photon fluorescence microscopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Alex CABLE, Jörn Wollenzin, Ross Johnstone, Kirk Gossage, Jeffrey S. Brooker, Jason Mills, James Jiang, Dierck Hillmann
  • Publication number: 20160216501
    Abstract: Disclosed are several technical approaches of using low coherence interferometry techniques to create an autofocus apparatus for optical microscopy. These approaches allow automatic focusing on thin structures that are positioned closely to reflective surfaces and behind refractive material like a cover slip, and automated adjustment of focus position into the sample region without disturbance from reflection off adjacent surfaces. The measurement offset induced by refraction of material that covers the sample is compensated for. Proposed are techniques of an instrument that allows the automatic interchange of imaging objectives in a low coherence interferometry autofocus system, which is of major interest in combination with TDI (time delay integration) imaging, confocal and two-photon fluorescence microscopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Alex CABLE, Jörn Wollenzin, Ross Johnstone, Kirk Gossage, Jeffrey S. Brooker, Jason Mills, James Jiang, Dierck Hillmann
  • Patent number: 9134111
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for detecting spatially structured sample volumes by means of coherent light and digital holography. There is also disclosed a method for analyzing the depth structure of samples in accordance with optical coherence tomography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignees: Universitat Zu Lubeck, Medizinisches Laserzentrum Lubeck GmbH, Thorlabs GmbH
    Inventors: Dierck Hillmann, Gereon Huttmann, Peter Koch, Christian Luhrs, Alfred Vogel
  • Publication number: 20150216412
    Abstract: A parallel detecting optical coherence tomography (OCT) setup and method, in which the light paths of the illumination of the sample and of the detection of the backscattered light do not use the same apertures. The separation of illumination and detection apertures filters these disturbing reflexes from the backscattered light of the sample and significantly increases image quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Dierck HILLMANN, Gereon HÜTTMANN, Gesa Lilith FRANKE, Helge SUDKAMP, Laura HINKEL, Peter KOCH, Jörn WOLLENZIN
  • Publication number: 20140092392
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for detecting spatially structured sample volumes by means of coherent light and digital holography. There is also disclosed a method for analyzing the depth structure of samples in accordance with optical coherence tomography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: UNIVERSITAT ZU LUBECK, THORLABS GMBH, MEDIZINISCHES LASERZENTRUM LUBECK GMBH
    Inventors: Dierck HILLMANN, Gereon HUTTMANN, Peter KOCH, Christian LUHRS, Alfred VOGEL