Patents by Inventor Gunter Heumann

Gunter Heumann 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: 10166340
    Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sensor configured to generate sensor output dependent on an intensity of light incident on the sensor and having a field of view directed at an external surface in use; an illumination source configured to emit light onto the external surface in use; a window located such as to allow light to pass from the illumination source to the external surface and to allow light to pass to the sensor from the external surface in use; a shield coupled to or integral with the window, the shield being substantially opaque to substantially all wavelengths of light detectable by the sensor and defining an aperture which limits the field of view of the sensor; and a processor configured to use the sensor output to determine information associated with reflection characteristics of the external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH
    Inventors: Gertrud Blei, Gunter Heumann
  • Patent number: 10071205
    Abstract: Apparatus for determining information associated with reflection characteristics of a surface comprising a sensor (60) configured to generate sensor output dependent on an intensity of light incident on the sensor and having a field of view directed at an external surface (57) in use; an illumination source (58) configured to emit light onto the external surface in use; an optically transparent window (61) located such as to allow light to pass from the illumination source to the external surface and to allow light to pass to the sensor from the external surface in use; a light concentrator (66) fixed to or integral with the window, the light concentrator being configured to concentrate at least some light from the illumination source onto the external surface in use such that the concentrated light may be reflected from the external surface onto the sensor via the window; and a processor (40) configured to use the sensor output to determine information associated with reflection characteristics of the extern
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH
    Inventors: Gertrud Blei, Gunter Heumann
  • Publication number: 20170304546
    Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sensor configured to generate sensor output dependent on an intensity of light incident on the sensor and having a field of view directed at an external surface in use; an illumination source configured to emit light onto the external surface in use; a window located such as to allow light to pass from the illumination source to the external surface and to allow light to pass to the sensor from the external surface in use; a shield coupled to or integral with the window, the shield being substantially opaque to substantially all wavelengths of light detectable by the sensor and defining an aperture which limits the field of view of the sensor; and a processor configured to use the sensor output to determine information associated with reflection characteristics of the external surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Gertrud Blei, Gunter Heumann
  • Publication number: 20170304545
    Abstract: Apparatus for determining information associated with reflection characteristics of a surface comprising a sensor (60) configured to generate sensor output dependent on an intensity of light incident on the sensor and having a field of view directed at an external surface (57) in use; an illumination source (58) configured to emit light onto the external surface in use; an optically transparent window (61) located such as to allow light to pass from the illumination source to the external surface and to allow light to pass to the sensor from the external surface in use; a light concentrator (66) fixed to or integral with the window, the light concentrator being configured to concentrate at least some light from the illumination source onto the external surface in use such that the concentrated light may be reflected from the external surface onto the sensor via the window; and a processor (40) configured to use the sensor output to determine information associated with reflection characteristics of the extern
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Gertrud Blei, Gunter Heumann
  • Patent number: 9782544
    Abstract: A supplemental device comprising: a connector configured to attach the supplemental device to an injection device in use; a sensor configured to generate sensor output dependent on an intensity of light on the sensor and having a field of view directed at a surface area of the injection device in use, the surface area being external to the supplemental device; a light source configured to generate illumination which in use can be directed out of the supplemental device onto the surface area; a shield configured to limit the field of view of the sensor such that the field of view is entirely directed at the surface area in use; and a processor configured to use the sensor output generated when illumination from the light source is reflected from the surface area to determine a property of the injection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Heumann, Gertrud Blei
  • Patent number: 9737665
    Abstract: A supplemental device for use with an injection device, the supplemental device comprising: a plurality of light sources each being configured to illuminate a surface portion of an injection device, in use, with light of a different wavelength; at least one sensor for generating sensor outputs indicative of the respective intensities of light of different wavelengths reflected from the surface portion; and a processor for: controlling the plurality of light sources to illuminate the surface portion with light of first to third different wavelengths; obtaining first to third values for sensor outputs corresponding to the first to third different wavelengths respectively; performing one or more calculations using at least the first and second values to provide one or more further values; and using the third value and the or each further value, but not the first and second values, to determine a property of the injection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Heumann, Gertrud Blei
  • Publication number: 20160144124
    Abstract: A supplemental device for use with an injection device, the supplemental device comprising: a plurality of light sources each being configured to illuminate a surface portion of an injection device, in use, with light of a different wavelength; at least one sensor for generating sensor outputs indicative of the respective intensities of light of different wavelengths reflected from the surface portion; and a processor for: controlling the plurality of light sources to illuminate the surface portion with light of first to third different wavelengths; obtaining first to third values for sensor outputs corresponding to the first to third different wavelengths respectively; performing one or more calculations using at least the first and second values to provide one or more further values; and using the third value and the or each further value, but not the first and second values, to determine a property of the injection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Gunter Heumann, Gertrud Blei
  • Publication number: 20160074593
    Abstract: A supplemental device comprising: a connector configured to attach the supplemental device to an injection device in use; a sensor configured to generate sensor output dependent on an intensity of light on the sensor and having a field of view directed at a surface area of the injection device in use, the surface area being external to the supplemental device; a light source configured to generate illumination which in use can be directed out of the supplemental device onto the surface area; a shield configured to limit the field of view of the sensor such that the field of view is entirely directed at the surface area in use; and a processor configured to use the sensor output generated when illumination from the light source is reflected from the surface area to determine a property of the injection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Gunter Heumann, Gertrud Blei