Patents by Inventor Frank Sieckmann

Frank Sieckmann 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: 20260162298
    Abstract: A method for retrieving a target position in a microscopic sample using position retrieval information, the position retrieval information including a set of geometric descriptors describing a spatial relation between a target position identifier and a plurality of reference position identifiers corresponding to positions of a plurality of reference markers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 11, 2026
    Inventors: Frank SIECKMANN, Frank HECHT
  • Patent number: 12625359
    Abstract: A method for providing position information for retrieving a target position in a microscopic sample includes providing a first representation of the sample at a first resolution including the target position; specifying a first target position identifier indicating the target position at the first resolution; acquiring an image stack comprising the target position indicated by the first target position identifier; providing a second representation at a second resolution higher than the first resolution based on the image stack; specifying a second target position identifier indicating the target position at the second resolution; specifying a plurality of reference position identifiers in the second representation indicating positions of optically detectable reference markers at the second resolution; and determining a set of geometric descriptors describing spatial relations between the second target position identifier and the plurality of reference position identifiers to provide the position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Sieckmann, Frank Hecht
  • Patent number: 12374131
    Abstract: A method for optimizing a workflow of at least one microscope or microscope system includes a step a) of implementing a workflow by one or more components of at least one microscope and/or microscope system, wherein the workflow comprises a capture of first data. In a step b), a trained model is determined for the workflow, at least in part based on the captured first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Sieckmann, Constantin Kappel
  • Publication number: 20240411123
    Abstract: A method for providing position information for retrieving a target position in a microscopic sample includes providing a first representation of the sample at a first resolution including the target position; specifying a first target position identifier indicating the target position at the first resolution; acquiring an image stack comprising the target position indicated by the first target position identifier; providing a second representation at a second resolution higher than the first resolution based on the image stack; specifying a second target position identifier indicating the target position at the second resolution; specifying a plurality of reference position identifiers in the second representation indicating positions of optically detectable reference markers at the second resolution; and determining a set of geometric descriptors describing spatial relations between the second target position identifier and the plurality of reference position identifiers to provide the position information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Frank SIECKMANN, Frank HECHT
  • Patent number: 12106454
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for determining a focused output image in a passive autofocus system is configured to retrieve a set of input images and compute a baseline estimate for at least one input image. The baseline estimate represents image structures in the input image. The image structures have a length scale larger than a predetermined image feature length scale. The image processing apparatus is further configured to compute a set of output images, wherein each output image of the set of output images is computed based on one of a different input image of the set of input images and the at least one baseline estimate for the different input image and the at least one baseline estimate for a respective different input image. The image processing apparatus is further configured to determine one output image of the set of output images as the focused output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Falk Schlaudraff, Markus Schechter, Frank Sieckmann, Oliver Schlicker
  • Patent number: 12002273
    Abstract: An apparatus for optimizing workflows of one or more microscopes and/or microscope systems includes one or more processors and one or more computer-readable storage media. The one or more computer-readable storage media have stored therein computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors cause execution of the following steps: implementing, by one or more components of the one or more microscopes and/or microscope systems, a workflow comprising a capture of first data; applying one or more trained models to the captured first data; and making at least one decision in relation to the workflow based on the application of the one or more trained models to the captured first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Sieckmann, Constantin Kappel
  • Publication number: 20240142933
    Abstract: A device for providing functionalities includes at least one storage unit providing a first parameter set and a second parameter set. The first parameter set indicates which functionalities are to be made available by the device to other devices. The second parameter set indicates which functionalities are to be made available by the other devices to the device. The device further includes a communication interface configured to obtain a third parameter set from a second device. The third parameter set indicates which functionalities are to be made available by the second device. The device further includes a processing unit configured to compare the third parameter set with the second parameter set, to select one or more functionalities made available by the second device for use, and to establish a payload connection with the second device if at least one functionality has been selected for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventor: Frank SIECKMANN
  • Patent number: 11971529
    Abstract: A method for determining a focus position includes recording at least one first image, wherein image data of the at least one recorded first image are dependent on at least one first focus position during the recording of the at least one first image. A second focus position is determined based on an analysis of the at least one recorded first image using a trained model. At least one second image is recorded using the second focus position. The at least one first image and the at least one second image contain items of information which are in a context with a training of the trained model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Sieckmann, Constantin Kappel
  • Patent number: 11928819
    Abstract: A method for approximating image data is disclosed. The method includes obtaining initial image data formed by imaging at least part of a sample and analysing the initial image data to form one or more portions of image data. The method also includes accessing a set of predefined stereotype elements, determining one or more of the stereotype elements as a visual approximation for the at least one object within the sample, selecting one or more of the determined stereotype elements to be associated with at least one object within the sample, and forming instruction data based on and/or including the one or more selected stereotype elements, the instruction data including instructions on how to arrange the one or more selected stereotype elements, to a processing system for approximating image data and to a system comprising such processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Sieckmann, Frederik Nitschke
  • Patent number: 11686932
    Abstract: A holder for a microscope slide includes a receiving area that has a first contact surface and a second contact surface opposite the first contact surface, a first counter-surface that at least partially spans the first contact surface, and a second counter-surface that at least partially spans the second contact surface. The receiving area is bounded on three sides by side elements and has an opening on one side for insertion of the microscope slide. At least one pressure element is arranged within the receiving area and configured to exert a restoring force directed towards an interior of the receiving area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventor: Frank Sieckmann
  • Publication number: 20220277441
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for determining a focused output image in a passive autofocus system is configured to retrieve a set of input images and compute a baseline estimate for at least one input image. The baseline estimate represents image structures in the input image. The image structures have a length scale larger than a predetermined image feature length scale. The image processing apparatus is further configured to compute a set of output images, wherein each output image of the set of output images is computed based on one of a different input image of the set of input images and the at least one baseline estimate for the different input image and the at least one baseline estimate for a respective different input image. The image processing apparatus is further configured to determine one output image of the set of output images as the focused output image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Falk SCHLAUDRAFF, Markus SCHECHTER, Frank SIECKMANN, Oliver SCHLICKER
  • Publication number: 20220214533
    Abstract: A method for approximating image data is disclosed. The method includes obtaining initial image data formed by imaging at least part of a sample and analysing the initial image data to form one or more portions of image data. The method also includes accessing a set of predefined stereotype elements , determining one or more of the stereotype elements as a visual approximation for the at least one object within the sample, selecting one or more of the determined stereotype elements to be associated with at least one object within the sample, and forming instruction data based on and/or including the one or more selected stereotype elements, the instruction data including instructions on how to arrange the one or more selected stereotype elements, to a processing system for approximating image data and to a system comprising such processing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Frank SIECKMANN, Frederik NITSCHKE
  • Publication number: 20220028116
    Abstract: A method for determining a focus position includes recording at least one first image, wherein image data of the at least one recorded first image are dependent on at least one first focus position during the recording of the at least one first image. A second focus position is determined based on an analysis of the at least one recorded first image using a trained model. At least one second image is recorded using the second focus position. The at least one first image and the at least one second image contain items of information which are in a context with a training of the trained model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Frank SIECKMANN, Constantin KAPPEL
  • Publication number: 20220011867
    Abstract: An auxiliary appliance for a user interface device having a touch sensitive screen includes at least one haptic control element configured to be manually operated by a user. An attachment portion is configured to be attached to the user interface device such that the haptic control element is superimposed on the touch sensitive screen of the user interface device in a predetermined screen area where a touch control element is provided on the touch sensitive screen. The touch control element is operable by touching the touch sensitive screen in the predetermined screen area. The haptic control element comprises a touch portion configured to touch the touch sensitive screen in the predetermined screen area to operate the touch control element in response to a manual user operation of the haptic control element in a state in which the attachment portion is attached to the user interface device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventor: Frank SIECKMANN
  • Publication number: 20210342636
    Abstract: A method for optimizing a workflow of at least one microscope or microscope system includes a step a) of implementing a workflow by one or more components of at least one microscope and/or microscope system, wherein the workflow comprises a capture of first data. In a step b), a trained model is determined for the workflow, at least in part based on the captured first data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Frank SIECKMANN, Constantin KAPPEL
  • Publication number: 20210342569
    Abstract: An apparatus for optimizing workflows of one or more microscopes and/or microscope systems includes one or more processors and one or more computer-readable storage media. The one or more computer-readable storage media have stored therein computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors cause execution of the following steps: implementing, by one or more components of the one or more microscopes and/or microscope systems, a workflow comprising a capture of first data; applying one or more trained models to the captured first data; and making at least one decision in relation to the workflow based on the application of the one or more trained models to the captured first data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Frank SIECKMANN, Constantin KAPPEL
  • Patent number: 11067781
    Abstract: A microscope includes illumination optics for fluorescence excitation of point light sources of a sample, detection optics and a camera having a sensor. A density of the point light sources is kept low so as to minimize a crossover of point light sources that are behind or close to one another in each image captured by the camera. A means for subdividing a detection aperture into individual sub-apertures is provided in a beam path of the detection optics such that images generated by the individual sub-apertures on the sensor of the camera depict an object volume from different spatial directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Fahrbach, Frank Sieckmann, Christian Schumann, Oliver Schlicker
  • Publication number: 20200379230
    Abstract: An optical setup for a microscope includes a first optical arrangement having a first optical axis and facing a sample volume from a first side of the sample volume, and a second optical arrangement having a second optical axis and facing the sample volume from a second side of the sample volume, the first side of the sample volume lying opposite the second side of the sample volume. The first optical axis and the second optical axis pass through the sample volume. The first optical axis and the second optical axis are disposed in nonparallel fashion with respect to one another in the sample volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventor: Frank SIECKMANN
  • Patent number: 10698192
    Abstract: A microscopy system provides for scanning a sample by a microscope, which is at least in part electrically or electronically controllable and in which a plurality of images or digital images are generatable in a scanning operation at different times and/or different locations of the sample. The microscopy system includes a control computer configured to control the microscope, as well as further computers that are integratable into the microscopy system such that an adaptation of the microscopy system is possible dynamically and/or during the scanning operation using at least one of the further computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH, EMBL EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY
    Inventors: Frank Sieckmann, Urban Liebel
  • Publication number: 20200096756
    Abstract: A holder for a microscope slide includes a receiving area that has a first contact surface and a second contact surface opposite the first contact surface, a first counter-surface that at least partially spans the first contact surface, and a second counter-surface that at least partially spans the second contact surface. The receiving area is bounded on three sides by side elements and has an opening on one side for insertion of the microscope slide. At least one pressure element is arranged within the receiving area and configured to exert a restoring force directed towards an interior of the receiving area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventor: Frank SIECKMANN