Patents by Inventor Harald Schnitzler

Harald Schnitzler 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: 10928618
    Abstract: A microscope (10) is described, comprising an autofocus system (11) for executing a focusing procedure, having a first image sensor (14a), arranged in a first outcoupled beam path (12a), for acquiring a first image (16a); and a second image sensor (14b), arranged in a second outcoupled beam path (12b), for acquiring a second image (16b). The autofocus system (11) is embodied in such a way that the focusing procedure is executable on the basis of at least a first operating mode and a second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Harald Schnitzler, Reto Zuest, Marc Honegger
  • Patent number: 10928619
    Abstract: A microscope (10) is described, having an autofocus system (11) for executing a focusing procedure, having a first image sensor (14a), arranged in a first outcoupled beam path (12a), for acquiring a first image (16a); and a second image sensor (14b), arranged in a second outcoupled beam path (12b), for acquiring a second image (16b). The autofocus system (11) is embodied to adjust a relative location of the focal plane (20) with respect to the object plane (22), at a focus displacement speed, during the image acquisition time for acquisition of the first image (16a) acquired by the first image sensor (14a) and of the second image (16b) acquired by the second image sensor (14b), the focus displacement speed being equal to the ratio of an increment to the image acquisition time, and the increment being larger than the depth of focus of the microscope (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Marc Honegger, Harald Schnitzler, Reto Zuest
  • Patent number: 10877258
    Abstract: A microscope (10) is described, having an autofocus system (11) for executing a focusing procedure, having a first image sensor (14a), arranged in a first outcoupled beam path (12a), for acquiring a first image (16a); and a second image sensor (14b), arranged in a second outcoupled beam path (12b), for acquiring a second image (16b). The autofocus system (11) is embodied to ascertain a contrast difference based on contrast values of the first image (16a) acquired by the first image sensor (14a) and of the second image (16b) acquired by the second image sensor (14b), and to set a relative location of the focal plane (20) with respect to the object plane (22) based on the ascertained contrast difference, the first and the second image (16a, 16b) each encompassing image information furnished by the first and the second image sensor (14a, 14b) each embodied as an area sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Marc Honegger, Harald Schnitzler, Reto Zuest
  • Publication number: 20200326521
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope (10) that encompasses an objective system (30) having at least two objectives (44, 52) selectably introducible into the beam path of the microscope (10), and a zoom system (32). The zoom system (32) has a total zoom range (90) within which the focal length of the zoom system (32) is settable. A zoom sub-range (96, 98) within the total zoom range (90) is allocated to each of the objectives (44, 52).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Harald SCHNITZLER, Rouven HEEB
  • Patent number: 10598913
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmitted light illumination apparatus (2) for a microscope (1), said transmitted light illumination apparatus (2) comprising, a planar light source (20), a mirror (23) having a concave mirror surface (24) arranged in the direction of light emitted from the planar light source (20), and at least one diaphragm element (22) being at least partially opaque and being arranged between the planar light source (20) and the concave mirror surface (24) such that by moving the at least one diaphragm element (22) in at least one direction parallel to a plane defined by the planar light source (20), the planar light source (20) is at least partially covered by the at least one diaphragm element (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Harald Schnitzler, Robert Paulus
  • Patent number: 10269097
    Abstract: A microscope (10) for generating a combined image (34; 54; 64) from multiple individual images (28a to 28d; 52a to 52d; 62a to 62d) of an object (30; 50; 60) encompasses at least one illumination device (22) for illuminating the object (30; 50; 60) from at least two different illumination directions (24a, 24b); an image acquisition unit (26) for acquiring multiple individual images (28a to 28d; 52a to 52d; 62a to 62d) of the object (30; 50; 60) illuminated from the at least two different illumination directions (24a, 24b); and an image combination unit (32) for combining the individual images (28a to 28d; 52a to 52d; 62a to 62d) in order to obtain the combined image (34; 54; 64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Harald Schnitzler, Robert Paulus, Guenter Grabher
  • Patent number: 10234671
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope (10) that encompasses an objective system (30) and a zoom system (32). The microscope furthermore has a diaphragm (60) for limiting the aperture of the beam path. A control unit (64) is furthermore provided, that control unit (64) automatically ascertaining, as a function of the current manifestation of at least one parameter of the microscope (10), a respective setting of the diaphragm (60) predetermined for the current manifestation, and setting the diaphragm (60) accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Harald Schnitzler, Georg Schlaffer
  • Patent number: 10185136
    Abstract: The invention relates to a eucentric digital microscope (10) that encompasses a stationary stand body (12) and a pivot unit (14) mounted pivotably on the stand body (12), the pivot unit (14) being mounted rotatably around a rotation axis (26) extending in a Y direction. The pivot unit (14) encompasses at least an optical system having an optical axis (15) extending orthogonally to the rotation axis (26), and a focal plane (92), the pivot unit (14) being arranged nondisplaceably at least in an X direction and in a Z direction relative to the rotation axis (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Christian Marte, Harald Schnitzler, Reto Zuest
  • Patent number: 10146040
    Abstract: A microscope (10) is described, having an aperture limiter (12), arranged in the beam path (22), for generating at least one optical channel (16; 18; 20). The aperture limiter (12) is embodied to set the aperture of the at least one optical channel (16; 18; 20). The aperture limiter (12) is furthermore embodied in such a way that in a first operating mode a first optical channel, and in a second operating mode at least one second optical channel, is selectively generable. The aperture limiter is also arranged in the pupil plane of the beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Harald Schnitzler, Reto Zuest
  • Patent number: 10146037
    Abstract: A microscope (10) for detecting images of an object (14) located in an object plane (12) is described, comprising a microscope stand (18); a microscope objective (20); a light source (22) integrated into the microscope stand (18); and a beam splitter (24), integrated into the microscope objective (20), for coupling in a coaxial incident illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Harald Schnitzler, Robert Paulus
  • Patent number: 10146039
    Abstract: A method (200) is proposed for furnishing a digital resulting image, using a microscope system (1) that comprises means (R, L, 41) for furnishing microscopic images at different numerical apertures as well as a digital image capture unit (50). The method encompasses: capturing by means of the digital image capture unit (50), in the form of digital individual images, at least two microscopic images at different numerical apertures; and comparing respective mutually corresponding image regions of the digital individual images to one another in terms of their image sharpness, the image regions of the digital individual images having the greatest image sharpness being in each case combined to yield the digital resulting image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventor: Harald Schnitzler
  • Publication number: 20180231758
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmitted light illumination apparatus (2) for a microscope (1), said transmitted light illumination apparatus (2) comprising, a planar light source (20), a mirror (23) having a concave mirror surface (24) arranged in the direction of light emitted from the planar light source (20), and at least one diaphragm element (22) being at least partially opaque and being arranged between the planar light source (20) and the concave mirror surface (24) such that by moving the at least one diaphragm element (22) in at least one direction parallel to a plane defined by the planar light source (20), the planar light source (20) is at least partially covered by the at least one diaphragm element (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Harald SCHNITZLER, Robert PAULUS
  • Publication number: 20180231754
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope (10) that encompasses an objective system (30) having at least two objectives (44, 52) selectably introducible into the beam path of the microscope (10), and a zoom system (32). The zoom system (32) has a total zoom range (90) within which the focal length of the zoom system (32) is settable. A zoom sub-range (96, 98) within the total zoom range (90) is allocated to each of the objectives (44, 52).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Harald SCHNITZLER, Rouven HEEB
  • Publication number: 20180149853
    Abstract: A microscope (10) is described, having an autofocus system (11) for executing a focusing procedure, having a first image sensor (14a), arranged in a first outcoupled beam path (12a), for acquiring a first image (16a); and a second image sensor (14b), arranged in a second outcoupled beam path (12b), for acquiring a second image (16b). The autofocus system (11) is embodied to adjust a relative location of the focal plane (20) with respect to the object plane (22), at a focus displacement speed, during the image acquisition time for acquisition of the first image (16a) acquired by the first image sensor (14a) and of the second image (16b) acquired by the second image sensor (14b), the focus displacement speed being equal to the ratio of an increment to the image acquisition time, and the increment being larger than the depth of focus of the microscope (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Marc HONEGGER, Harald SCHNITZLER, Reto ZUEST
  • Publication number: 20180149852
    Abstract: A microscope (10) is described, comprising an autofocus system (11) for executing a focusing procedure, having a first image sensor (14a), arranged in a first outcoupled beam path (12a), for acquiring a first image (16a); and a second image sensor (14b), arranged in a second outcoupled beam path (12b), for acquiring a second image (16b). The autofocus system (11) is embodied in such a way that the focusing procedure is executable on the basis of at least a first operating mode and a second operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Harald SCHNITZLER, Reto ZUEST, Marc HONEGGER
  • Publication number: 20170307868
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope (10) that encompasses an objective system (30) and a zoom system (32). The microscope furthermore has a diaphragm (60) for limiting the aperture of the beam path. A control unit (64) is furthermore provided, that control unit (64) automatically ascertaining, as a function of the current manifestation of at least one parameter of the microscope (10), a respective setting of the diaphragm (60) predetermined for the current manifestation, and setting the diaphragm (60) accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Harald SCHNITZLER, Georg SCHLAFFER
  • Publication number: 20170299783
    Abstract: A microscope (10) is described, having an aperture limiter (12), arranged in the beam path (22), for generating at least one optical channel (16; 18; 20). The aperture limiter (12) is embodied to set the aperture of the at least one optical channel (16; 18; 20). The aperture limiter (12) is furthermore embodied in such a way that in a first operating mode a first optical channel, and in a second operating mode at least one second optical channel, is selectively generatable. The aperture limiter is also arranged in the pupil plane of the beam path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Harald SCHNITZLER, Reto ZUEST
  • Publication number: 20170293128
    Abstract: A microscope (10) for detecting images of an object (14) located in an object plane (12) is described, comprising a microscope stand (18); a microscope objective (20); a light source (22) integrated into the microscope stand (18); and a beam splitter (24), integrated into the microscope objective (20), for coupling in a coaxial incident illumination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Harald SCHNITZLER, Robert PAULUS
  • Publication number: 20170261733
    Abstract: The invention relates to a eucentric digital microscope (10) that encompasses a stationary stand body (12) and a pivot unit (14) mounted pivotably on the stand body (12), the pivot unit (14) being mounted rotatably around a rotation axis (26) extending in a Y direction. The pivot unit (14) encompasses at least an optical system having an optical axis (15) extending orthogonally to the rotation axis (26), and a focal plane (92), the pivot unit (14) being arranged nondisplaceably at least in an X direction and in a Z direction relative to the rotation axis (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Christian MARTE, Harald SCHNITZLER, Reto ZUEST
  • Publication number: 20170254998
    Abstract: A microscope (10) is described, having an autofocus system (11) for executing a focusing procedure, having a first image sensor (14a), arranged in a first outcoupled beam path (12a), for acquiring a first image (16a); and a second image sensor (14b), arranged in a second outcoupled beam path (12b), for acquiring a second image (16b). The autofocus system (11) is embodied to ascertain a contrast difference based on contrast values of the first image (16a) acquired by the first image sensor (14a) and of the second image (16b) acquired by the second image sensor (14b), and to set a relative location of the focal plane (20) with respect to the object plane (22) based on the ascertained contrast difference, the first and the second image (16a, 16b) each encompassing image information furnished by the first and the second image sensor (14a, 14b) each embodied as an area sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Marc HONEGGER, Harald SCHNITZLER, Reto ZUEST