Patents by Inventor Franz Pfeiffer

Franz Pfeiffer 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: 20170319149
    Abstract: The invention relates to a source-detector arrangement (11) of an X-ray apparatus (10) for grating based phase contrast computed tomography. The source-detector arrangement comprises an X-ray source (12) adapted for rotational movement around a rotation axis (R) relative to an object (140) and adapted for emittance of an X-ray beam of coherent or quasi-coherent radiation in a line pattern (21); and an X-ray detection system (16) including a first grating element (24) and a second grating element (26) and a detector element (6); wherein the line pattern of the radiation and a grating direction of the grating elements are arranged orthogonal to the rotation axis; and wherein the first grating element has a first grating pitch varied dependent on a cone angle (?) of the X-ray beam and/or the second grating element has a second grating pitch varied dependent on the cone angle of the X-ray beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: THOMAS KOEHLER, EWALD ROESSL, ROLF KARL OTTO BEHLING, PETER BENJAMIN THEODOR NOEL, FRANZ PFEIFFER
  • Publication number: 20170154226
    Abstract: The invention relates to a driver assistance system for a motor vehicle, comprising an environment camera for generating image data, which represent the environment of the motor vehicle, and comprising a control and evaluation unit, wherein the control and evaluation unit is designed to evaluate the image data and detect objects in such a way that partially transparent regions are detected in the case of primary objects, in particular primary vehicles, in the environment of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Urban Meis, Markus Gressmann, Franz Pfeiffer, Christian Wolbold
  • Patent number: 9557280
    Abstract: An X-ray tomography device for providing a 3D image of a sample comprising an X-ray source, a cell, a photon detector and a processing unit. The processing unit computes the 3D image on the basis of the images corresponding to a plurality of cell angles. The device further comprises a first and a second gratings having a grating period lower than 200 nm, and a microscope between the second grating and the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: TOTAL SA, UNIVERSITE DE PAU ET DES PAYS DE L'ADOUR
    Inventors: Franz Pfeiffer, Patrice Creux, Gérald Hamon
  • Patent number: 9480447
    Abstract: Grating interferometer comprising inclined phase grating structures, method for increasing the definition of phase contrast images of interferometers or in applications which are based on the Talbot effect, using inclined phase grating structures, phase gratings wherein the grating structures are positioned at angles on the substrate of the phase grating, method for producing grating structures which are positioned at angles on the substrate of the phase grating, and corresponding uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE
    Inventors: Juergen Mohr, Franz Pfeiffer, Elena Reznikova, Vladimir Nazmov
  • Patent number: 9230703
    Abstract: Gratings for analyzing the interference image in interferometers for phase contrast X-ray tomography, comprising a carrier and grating webs produced from at least two different materials, method for producing the same and use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE
    Inventors: Juergen Mohr, Joachim Schulz, Elena Reznikova, Franz Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20140105353
    Abstract: An X-ray tomography device for providing a 3D image of a sample comprising an X-ray source, a cell, a photon detector and a processing unit. The processing unit computes the 3D image on the basis of the images corresponding to a plurality of cell angles. The device further comprises a first and a second gratings having a grating period lower than 200 nm, and a microscope between the second grating and the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicants: UNIVERSITE DE PAU ET DES PAYS DE L'ADOUR, TOTAL SA
    Inventors: Franz Pfeiffer, Patrice Creux, Gérald Hamon
  • Patent number: 8483781
    Abstract: A cover for an apparatus including a substrate defining the cover and having an exterior surface; a layer over the exterior surface of the substrate; a first portion of the substrate, underlying the layer, having a first composition and defining a first portion of the cover; a second portion of the substrate, underlying the layer, having a second composition and defining a second portion of the cover; wherein the first portion of the cover and the second portion of the cover are substantially opaque in exterior ambient lighting and the second portion of the cover is translucent to backlighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Soilikki Kotanen, Kirsi Pentikainen, Marko Hemmila, Eero Suontila, Tim Sobig, Ulrich Buschmann, Sandra Kimmig, Franz Pfeiffer, Gunnel Gustaver, Daniel Tocha
  • Publication number: 20130148780
    Abstract: Grating interferometer comprising inclined phase grating structures, method for increasing the definition of phase contrast images of interferometers or in applications which are based on the Talbot effect, using inclined phase grating structures, phase gratings wherein the grating structures are positioned at angles on the substrate of the phase grating, method for producing grating structures which are positioned at angles on the substrate of the phase grating, and corresponding uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Juergen Mohr, Franz Pfeiffer, Elena Reznikova, Vladimir Nazmov
  • Publication number: 20130148788
    Abstract: Gratings for analyzing the interference image in interferometers for phase contrast X-ray tomography, comprising a carrier and grating webs produced from at least two different materials, method for producing the same and use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Juergen Mohr, Joachim Schulz, Elena Reznikova, Franz Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 8374309
    Abstract: An arrangement and a method are disclosed for projective and/or tomographic phase-contrast imaging using X-ray radiation. In at least one embodiment, one or more phase grids is/are arranged in the beam path such that during a rotation of the at least one X-ray source, the examination object is scanned with different spatial orientations of the grid lines relative to the examination object such that the complete refraction angle, and hence the complete phase shift gradient, can be determined for each X-ray beam from the two scans with differently oriented phase grids in order to be able to show the phase shift of an examination object in terms of projections or in a tomographic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Paul Scherrer Institut
    Inventors: Tilman Donath, Martin Hoheisel, Christian David, Eckhard Hempel, Franz Pfeiffer, Stefan Popescu
  • Patent number: 8364216
    Abstract: A user replaceable cover for a flip part of an apparatus, such as a mobile cellular telephone. The user replaceable cover may overlie a display on the exterior of the flip part of the phone. The display is not visible through the cover in ambient lighting. However, when the display is activated the content of the display is visible through the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Eero Ilmari Suontila, Franz Pfeiffer, Sandra Kimmig, Tim Sobig, Ulrich Buschmann, Soilikki Kotanen, Kirsi Pentikainen, Marko Hemmila
  • Patent number: 8346318
    Abstract: A user replaceable cover for attachment to and detachment from an apparatus including a first lateral part extending in a first direction, a second lateral part disposed opposite the first lateral part and extending in the first direction, a posterior part extending substantially in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and joining the first lateral part and the second lateral part and an upper part having extremities and joining at the extremities the first lateral part, the second lateral part and the posterior part, wherein each of the first lateral part, the second lateral part, the posterior part and the upper part has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the user replaceable cover further including a plurality of sidewalls defined by the first lateral part, the second lateral part and the posterior part, wherein the sidewalls terminate at a lower edge for abutment with the apparatus; a face defined by the exterior surface of the upper part; an anterior edge defined at where the fi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Eero Suontila, Franz Pfeiffer, Sandra Kimmig, Tim Sobig, Ulrich Buschmann
  • Patent number: 8165270
    Abstract: In a method for the production of x-ray-optical gratings composed of a first material forming of periodically arranged grating webs and grating openings, a second material is applied by electroplating to fill the grid openings. The electroplating is continued until a cohesive layer of the second material with uniform height is created over the grating webs with this layer having a large absorption coefficient, the absorption properties of the grating structure of the grating are homogenized, so an improvement of the measurement signals that are generated with this grating is improved. Moreover, the mechanical stability of gratings produced in such a manner is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignees: Paul Scherrer Institut, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian David, Tilman Donath, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Barbara Matthis, Franz Pfeiffer, Stefan Popescu
  • Patent number: 8041004
    Abstract: An interferometer for x-rays, in particular hard x-rays, for obtaining quantitative x-ray images from an object, includes: a) an x-ray source, preferably a standard polychromatic x-ray source, b) a diffractive beam splitter grating other than a Bragg crystal, preferably in transmission geometry, c) a position-sensitive detector with spatially modulated detection sensitivity having a number of individual pixels; d) means for recording the images of the detector in a phase-stepping approach; and e) means for evaluating the intensities for each pixel in a series of images in order to identify the characteristic of the object for each individual pixel as an absorption dominated pixel and/or an differential phase contrast dominated pixel and/or an x-ray scattering dominated pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Paul Scherrer Institut
    Inventors: Christian David, Franz Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 8009796
    Abstract: An x-ray CT system that generates tomographic phase contrast or dark field exposures, has at least one grating interferometer with three grating structures arranged in series in the radiation direction, with a modular design of the second and third grating structures. The distance between the first grating structure of the x-ray source and the second grating structure (fashioned as a phase grating) of the respective grating/detector modules is adapted, depending on the fan angle, corresponding to a period of the grating structure of the x-ray source projected onto the grating detector module at a respective fan angle (?i).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Paul Scherrer Institut
    Inventors: Stefan Popescu, Christian David, Tilman Donath, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Franz Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 7983381
    Abstract: An x-ray CT system for x-ray phase contrast and/or x-ray dark field imaging has a grating interferometer that has a first grating structure that has a number of band-shaped x-ray emission maxima and minima arranged in parallel, the maxima and minima exhibiting a first grating period, a second band-shaped grating structure that produces, as a phase grating, a partial phase offset of x-ray radiation passing therethrough and that exhibits a second grating period, a third band-shaped grating structure with a third grating period with which relative phase shifts of adjacent x-rays and/or their scatter components are detected, and a device for value-based determination of the phase between adjacent x-rays and/or for value-based determination of the spatial intensity curve per detector element perpendicular to the bands of the grating structures. The third grating structure has a grating period that is larger by a factor of 2 to 5 than the grating period of the first grating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Paul Scherrer Institut
    Inventors: Christian David, Tilman Donath, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Franz Pfeiffer, Stefan Popescu
  • Publication number: 20110168590
    Abstract: A cover for an apparatus including a substrate defining the cover and having an exterior surface; a layer over the exterior surface of the substrate; a first portion of the substrate, underlying the layer, having a first composition and defining a first portion of the cover; a second portion of the substrate, underlying the layer, having a second composition and defining a second portion of the cover; wherein the first portion of the cover and the second portion of the cover are substantially opaque in exterior ambient lighting and the second portion of the cover is translucent to backlighting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Soilikki Kotanen, Kirsi Pentikainen, Marko Hemmila, Eero Sountila, Tim Sobig, Ulrich Buschmann, Sandra Kimmig, Franz Pfeiffer, Gunnel Gustaver, Daniel Tocha
  • Publication number: 20110143084
    Abstract: A user replaceable cover for attachment to and detachment from an apparatus including a first lateral part extending in a first direction, a second lateral part disposed opposite the first lateral part and extending in the first direction, a posterior part extending substantially in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and joining the first lateral part and the second lateral part and an upper part having extremities and joining at the extremities the first lateral part, the second lateral part and the posterior part, wherein each of the first lateral part, the second lateral part, the posterior part and the upper part has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the user replaceable cover further including a plurality of sidewalls defined by the first lateral part, the second lateral part and the posterior part, wherein the sidewalls terminate at a lower edge for abutment with the apparatus; a face defined by the exterior surface of the upper part; an anterior edge defined at where the fi
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Eero Suontila, Franz Pfeiffer, Sandra Kimmig, Tim Sobig, Ulrich Buschmann
  • Patent number: 7889838
    Abstract: An interferometer for X-rays, in particular hard X-rays, for obtaining quantitative phase contrast images, includes a standard polychromatic X-ray source, a diffractive optical beam splitter other than a Bragg crystal in transmission geometry, and a position-sensitive detector with spatially modulated detection sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Paul Scherrer Institut
    Inventors: Christian David, Franz Pfeiffer, Timm Weitkamp
  • Patent number: 7817777
    Abstract: In a focus detector arrangement and method for an x-ray apparatus for generating projection or tomographic phase-contrast images of an examination subject, a beam of coherent x-rays is generated by an anode that has areas of different radiation emission characteristics arranged in bands thereon, that proceed parallel to grid lines of a phase grid that is used to generate the phase-contrast images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Baumann, Christian David, Martin Engelhardt, Jörg Freudenberger, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Thomas Mertelmeier, Franz Pfeiffer, Stefan Popescu, Manfred Schuster