Patents by Inventor Edgar Muller

Edgar Muller 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: 8159657
    Abstract: A method for marking and authenticating a security article, such as a banknote, a document, a ticket, a foil, a thread, a label, a card, or a commercial good, so as to provide for an easy authentication of said article by a machine, such as a currency acceptor, a ticket validator, or a hand-held authentication device. The security article is marked with a user-defined design, wherein said marking comprises dyes or pigments belonging to an extended, or hyperchromic color space which is not reproducible by commercially available, 4-color desktop reproduction equipment. The marking is authenticated by mathematically transforming crude spectral information to statistically independent hyper-color coordinates, and comparing selected hyper-color coordinates with corresponding reference values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: SICPA Holding SA
    Inventors: Pierre Degott, Claude-Alain Despland, Edgar Muller
  • Patent number: 8147932
    Abstract: The invention discloses a security element for a banknote, a document of value, right or identity, a ticket, a label, a branded good identifier, or a tax banderole. The element comprises a combination of a coating containing at least one optically variable pigment having a substantial viewing-angle dependent color variation, with at least one selective spectral absorbing material, which blocks out visible spectral components reflected by the optically variable pigment at orthogonal incidence. The security element appears black when viewed at orthogonal angle, and colored when viewed at grazing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sicpa Holding SA
    Inventors: Claude-Alain Despland, Albert Stichelberger, Edgar Müller, Pierre Degott
  • Publication number: 20120065313
    Abstract: Pasty ink for the engraved steel die printing process, having a viscosity value above 3 Pa·s, preferably above 5 Pa·s at 40° C., and comprising an infrared absorbing material, wherein said infrared absorbing material is a transition element compound whose IR-absorption is a consequence of electronic transitions within the d-shell of transition element atoms or ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SICPA HOLDING SA
    Inventors: Marlyse DEMARTIN MAEDER, Claude-Alain DESPLAND, Edgar MÜLLER, Pierre DEGOTT
  • Publication number: 20110103665
    Abstract: A method of deriving blood flow parameters from a moving three-dimensional (3D) model of a blood vessel includes determining a reference vascular cross-sectional plane through a location of a lumen in a moving 3D model of the blood vessel at one time within the model, determining a plurality of target vascular cross-sectional planes at multiple times via temporal tracking of the reference plane based on a displacement field, determining a plurality of contours based on an intersection of the target vascular cross-sectional planes with the moving 3D vessel model at multiple times within the model, and determining a blood flow parameter of the vessel from intersections of each contour of a given one of the times with a phase contrast magnetic resonance (PC-MRI) image of the blood vessel from the corresponding time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Mehmet Akif Gulsun, Andreas Greiser, Jens Guehring, Arne Littmann, Edgar Müller
  • Patent number: 7903858
    Abstract: A set of image-space data is reconstructed from a set of k-space data. The set of image-space data is generated by minimizing a cost functional by an iterative non-linear conjugate gradient process. The iterative process may be accelerated by introducing k-space weighting to the cost functional. With proper choice of k-space weighting, a block-Toeplitz matrix is generated which permits use of Fast Fourier Transform techniques. An image is rendered from the set of image-space data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ti-chiun Chang, Jiayu Song, Tong Fang, Peter Speier, Edgar Müller
  • Publication number: 20110043789
    Abstract: A method for marking and authenticating a security article, such as a banknote, a document, a ticket, a foil, a thread, a label, a card, or a commercial good, so as to provide for an easy authentication of said article by a machine, such as a currency acceptor, a ticket validator, or a hand-held authentication device. The security article is marked with a user-defined design, wherein said marking comprises dyes or pigments belonging to an extended, or hyperchromic color space which is not reproducible by commercially available, 4-color desktop reproduction equipment. The marking is authenticated by mathematically transforming crude spectral information to statistically independent hyper-color coordinates, and comparing selected hyper-color coordinates with corresponding reference values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: SICPA HOLDING S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Degott, Claude-Alain Despland, Edgar Müller
  • Patent number: 7892338
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for marking and authenticating a security article, such as a banknote, a document, a ticket, a foil, a thread, a label, a card, or a commercial good, so as to provide for an easy authentication of said article by a machine, such as a currency acceptor, a ticket validator, or a hand-held authentication device. According to the disclosed method, the security article carries a marking in the form of a user-defined design, wherein said marking comprises dyes or pigments belonging to an extended, or hyperchromic color space which is not reproducible by commercially available, 4-color desktop reproduction equipment. The authentication of said marking includes the mathematical transformation of the crude spectral information to statistically independent hyper-color coordinates, and the comparison of selected hyper-color coordinates with corresponding reference values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: SICPA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Degott, Claude-Alain Despland, Edgar Muller
  • Publication number: 20100162909
    Abstract: An oxidatively curing intaglio printing ink is disclosed, comprising an oxidatively curable polymer, an anionic macromolecular surfactant, a wax component, and a salt of vanadium, preferably of the vanadyl (VO2+) ion, as the oxypolymerisation inducing siccativating agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: SICPA HOLDING S.A.
    Inventors: Olivier Lefebvre, Christophe Schaller, Pierre Degott, Edgar Müller
  • Patent number: 7702108
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for the local or remote authentication of an item, in particular a security document, with the help of a authenticating device, comprised in, connected to, or linked to mobile communication equipment. Said item carries a marking exhibiting a characteristic physical behavior in response to interrogating energy, such as electromagnetic radiation and/or electric or magnetic fields. Said marking may comprise physical and logical security elements, e.g. a barcode, or a characteristic particle or flake pattern, exhibiting a characteristic physical response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: SICPA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Maurice A. Amon, Anton Bleikolm, Olivier Rozumek, Edgar Müller, Olivier Brémond
  • Patent number: 7691468
    Abstract: The invention discloses a device and a method for transferring a predeterminable, high-resolution magnetic design onto a document printed with a magnetic ink, in particular a magnetic optically variable ink. The device comprises a body of a composite permanent-magnetic material, having at least one flat or curved surface engraved with indicia corresponding to the design to be transferred, wherein the said magnetic material is permanently magnetized, preferably in a direction substantially perpendicular to the said surface. The method comprises imprinting or coating a first surface of a sheet or web with a magnetic ink or coating composition, and approaching the imprinted sheet or web to the engraved surface of a body of magnetized composite permanent-magnetic material while the ink is wet, followed by hardening the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: SICPA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Nathalie Benninger, Claude-Alain Despland, Pierre Degott, Edgar Müller
  • Publication number: 20100040272
    Abstract: A method and system for left ventricle (LV) detection in 2D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images is disclosed. In order to detect the LV in a 2D MRI image, a plurality of LV candidates are detected, for example using marginal space learning (MSL) based detection. Candidates for distinctive anatomic landmarks associated with the LV are then detected in the 2D MRI image. In particular, apex candidates and base candidates are detected in the 2D MRI image. One of the LV candidates is selected as a final LV detection result using component-based voting based on the detected LV candidates, apex candidates, and base candidates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Siemens Corporate Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Yefeng Zheng, Xiaoguang Lu, Bogdan Georgescu, Edgar Müller, Dorin Comaniciu, Arne Littmann
  • Publication number: 20100040845
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for magnetically transferring indicia, such as a design or an image, to a wet coating layer applied on a substrate, such as a sheet or a web, wherein the said coating layer comprises at least one type of magnetic or magnetizable particles; said device comprising a) at least one magnetized permanent-magnetic plate (2) carrying relief, engravings or cut-outs, mounted such that its relief surface remains accessible, b) at least one additional magnet (3), disposed below said at least one permanent-magnetic plate, facing the surface of the magnetic plate which is opposite to the relief, engraving or cut-out, and c) a holder (1), which has the mechanical function to hold the pieces together in fixed positions. A method for producing the device, the use of the device, and magnetically induced designs obtained with the device, which are useful for protecting currency, value—and identity documents, are disclosed as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: SICPA HOLDING S.A.
    Inventors: Mathieu Schmid, Claude-Alain Despland, Pierre Degott, Edgar Muller
  • Publication number: 20090278345
    Abstract: The invention discloses a security element for a banknote, a document of value, right or identity, a ticket, a label, a branded good identifier, or a tax banderole. The element comprises a combination of a coating containing at least one optically variable pigment having a substantial viewing-angle dependent color variation, with at least one selective spectral absorbing material, which blocks out visible spectral components reflected by the optically variable pigment at orthogonal incidence. The security element appears black when viewed at orthogonal angle, and colored when viewed at grazing angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: SICPA HOLDING S.A.
    Inventors: Claude-Alain Despland, Albert Stichelberger, Edgar Müller, Pierre Degott
  • Publication number: 20090261572
    Abstract: Security document, such as a banknote, a value paper, an identification document, an access card, a security label or packaging, comprising an imprint-able substrate, chosen from the group of papers, cardboards, textiles and polymer sheets, as a first constituting part, and at least a second constituting part, chosen from the group of printing inks, security threads, windows, fibers, planchettes, foils, and decals, wherein a same security element is contained at least a first time in or on one of its constituting parts, and at least a second time in or on another of its constituting parts. Method for producing a security document, characterized in that a same security element is applied at least a first time in a first step to one constituting part of said document, and at least a second time in a second step to another constituting part of said document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: SICPA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Anton Bleikolm, Pierre Degott, Claude-Alain Despland, Edgar Muller
  • Publication number: 20090230670
    Abstract: The invention discloses a security element having a coating layer which appears transparent at certain angles of view, giving visual access to underlying information, whilst staying opaque at other angles of view. Documents of value, right, identity, security labels or branded goods comprising said security element, as well as a method for producing said security element, are also disclosed. Using appropriate substrate surfaces, optically variable and otherwise angle-dependent visual effects can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: SICPA HOLDING S.A.
    Inventors: Mathieu Schmid, Claude-Alain Despland, Pierre Degott, Edgar Müller
  • Publication number: 20090200791
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a security element comprising a transparent substrate and a magnetically oriented image coating on said substrate, wherein said image coating is preferably laid out such as to show a 3-dimensional effect, appearing in positive or negative relief respectively, if observed form the recto- or the verso side, respectively. The security element can be easily identified by the unaided eye, by just turning around the document and observing the angle-dependent image on either side. On the other hand, the security element cannot be reproduced by scanning or copying the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: SICPA HOLDING S.A.
    Inventors: Claude-Alain Despland, Mathieu Schmid, Pierre Degott, Edgar Müller, Albert Stichelberger
  • Publication number: 20090184169
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a coating composition for the production of a magnetically induced image, consisting of volatile components (S) and non-volatile components, the latter consisting of an ink vehicle (I) and magnetically orientable optically variable interference pigment (P), to a process for manufacturing the coating composition, and to the use of the composition for the production of a magnetically induced image coating on a substrate with the help of applied magnetic fields. Said magnetically induced image coating may be used as a security device on value- or identity documents, brand protection labels and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: SICPA HOLDING S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Degott, Claude-Alain Despland, Patrick Magnin, Patrick Veya, Mathieu Schmid, Edgar Müller, Albert Stichelberger
  • Patent number: 7478757
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method and a device for the authentication of a document, a valued good or a packaging, carrying a marking (M) exhibiting a viewing-angle dependent light reflection spectrum. The authentication method is based on a measurement of the intensity of light reflected by the marking at least at two different viewing angles in response to a sequential wide-angle illumination with light of different spectral characteristics, and the comparison of the measured intensity values with corresponding reference values. The authentication device (1) has at least two light sources (4) of different spectral characteristics, a wide-angle illumination optics (3), and at least two photodetectors (5) collecting light reflected by said markings at least at two different viewing angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: SIPCA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Milan Vasic, Edgar Muller
  • Publication number: 20080241492
    Abstract: Pasty ink for the engraved steel die printing process, having a viscosity value above 3 Pa·s, preferably above 5 Pa·s at 40° C., and comprising an infrared absorbing material, wherein said infrared absorbing material is a transition element compound whose IR-absorption is a consequence of electronic transitions within the d-shell of transition element atoms or ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SICPA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Marlyse Demartin Maeder, Claude-Alain Despland, Edgar Muller, Pierre Degott
  • Patent number: 7402614
    Abstract: Re-dispersible pigmented printing ink compositions, preferably for the continuous ink jet printing process are obtained by the addition of a flocculating agent to the pigment dispersion in the printing liquid. The compositions do not form hard sediments and are easy to re-disperse on stopping and resuming the printing operations. Suitable flocculating agents bind the pigment particles in the sediment into three-dimensional “airy” structures, which are easy to break up. The ink compositions of the invention are furthermore characterized by a good printability in the dispersed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: SICPA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Xavier Marguerettaz, Thomas Tiller, Edgar Muller, Frederic Gremaud, Sylvain Jaquier