Patents by Inventor Helmut Lippert

Helmut Lippert 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: 20240111141
    Abstract: A light sheet microscope for illuminating a sample arranged in an object plane on a sample carrier, comprising: an illumination device having an objective for illuminating the sample via an illumination beam path with a first light sheet, which intersects the sample volume in a first light sheet plane, the first light sheet plane intersecting the object plane at a skew first illumination angle (?), and a detection device for imaging of light coming from the sample, having an objective, the focal plane lying in the sample volume parallel to or in the object plane, and an area detector having a detector plane. The area detector includes a first slit stop in the detection beam path upstream of the area detector so as to mask out such regions of the sample volume which are illuminated by the first light sheet but lie outside the focal plane of the detection objective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Richard HOLLINGER, Jörg SIEBENMORGEN, Helmut LIPPERT, Ralf WOLLESCHENSKY
  • Patent number: 11719922
    Abstract: A single plane illumination microscope having an illumination optical system for illuminating a sample located on a sample carrier in a medium, and which is parallel to a planar reference surface. The sample is illuminated by a light sheet via an illumination light path. A detection optical system has a detection beam path. The optical axes of the illumination and detection optical systems each define an angle that is not equal to zero degrees along with the normal to the reference surface. A barrier layer system includes at least one layer of a given material having a given thickness and separates the medium from the illumination and detection optical systems. A base area of the barrier layer system is in contact with the region that is accessible for illumination and detection activities, said base area running parallel to the reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Kalkbrenner, Ralf Netz, Helmut Lippert, Joerg Siebenmorgen
  • Patent number: 11300771
    Abstract: A method for operating a microscopy arrangement, and a microscopy arrangement, having a first microscope and at least one further microscope, wherein each of the microscopes have a respective optical axis. The respective optical axes do not coincide. The method provides a three-dimensional reference coordinate system being set; a carrier apparatus, that is embodied in the arrangement to receive and hold a specimen carrier is introduced into a specimen plane of the first microscope that is intersected by the optical axis and onto the optical axis of the first microscope; a reference point is set on the optical axis of the first microscope; the carrier apparatus is delivered to the further microscope, wherein the current coordinates of the reference point are continuously captured and compared to the coordinates of the optical axis of the at least one further microscope; and the reference point is brought onto the optical axis of the at least one further microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kalkbrenner, Saskia Pergande, Jörg Siebenmorgen, Helmut Lippert
  • Patent number: 11163147
    Abstract: An arrangement for microscopy, having an illumination optical unit with an illumination objective for illuminating a specimen on a specimen carrier. An optical axis of the illumination objective lies in a plane which includes an illumination angle that differs from zero with the normal of a specimen plane and the illumination is implemented in the plane. A detection optical unit with a detection objective is located in a detection beam path. The optical axis of the detection objective includes a detection angle that differs from zero with the normal of the specimen plane. The illumination objective and/or the detection objective has an illumination correction element. A meniscus lens is located between the specimen carrier and the illumination and detection objectives being arranged both in the illumination beam path and in the detection beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Siebenmorgen, Helmut Lippert, Thomas Kalkbrenner, Ingo Kleppe, Ralf Wolleschensky, Artur Degen, Matthias Wald, Lars-Christian Wittig, Michael Gölles, Wolfgang Singer
  • Publication number: 20210231936
    Abstract: A single plane illumination microscope having an illumination optical system for illuminating a sample located on a sample carrier in a medium, and which is parallel to a planar reference surface. The sample is illuminated by a light sheet via an illumination light path. A detection optical system has a detection beam path. The optical axes of the illumination and detection optical systems each define an angle that is not equal to zero degrees along with the normal to the reference surface. A barrier layer system includes at least one layer of a given material having a given thickness and separates the medium from the illumination and detection optical systems. A base area of the barrier layer system is in contact with the region that is accessible for illumination and detection activities, said base area running parallel to the reference surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kalkbrenner, Ralf Netz, Helmut Lippert, Joerg Siebenmorgen
  • Patent number: 10983322
    Abstract: A single plane illumination microscope having an illumination optical system for illuminating a sample located on a sample carrier in a medium, and which is parallel to a planar reference surface. The sample is illuminated by a light sheet via an illumination light path. A detection optical system has a detection beam path. The optical axes of the illumination and detection optical systems each define an angle that is not equal to zero degrees along with the normal to the reference surface. A barrier layer system includes at least one layer of a given material having a given thickness and separates the medium from the illumination and detection optical systems. A base area of the barrier layer system is in contact with the region that is accessible for illumination and detection activities, said base area running parallel to the reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kalkbrenner, Ralf Netz, Helmut Lippert, Joerg Siebenmorgen
  • Publication number: 20200371336
    Abstract: A method for operating a microscopy arrangement, and a microscopy arrangement, having a first microscope and at least one further microscope, wherein each of the microscopes have a respective optical axis. The respective optical axes do not coincide. The method provides a three-dimensional reference coordinate system being set; a carrier apparatus, that is embodied in the arrangement to receive and hold a specimen carrier is introduced into a specimen plane of the first microscope that is intersected by the optical axis and onto the optical axis of the first microscope; a reference point is set on the optical axis of the first microscope; the carrier apparatus is delivered to the further microscope, wherein the current coordinates of the reference point are continuously captured and compared to the coordinates of the optical axis of the at least one further microscope; and the reference point is brought onto the optical axis of the at least one further microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas KALKBRENNER, Saskia PERGANDE, Jörg SIEBENMORGEN, Helmut LIPPERT
  • Publication number: 20200341260
    Abstract: The invention concerns a functional module (02) for a microscope. That functional module (02) comprises a mechanical interface (11) for removable mounting the functional module (02) to a module support of the microscope. The functional module (02) further comprises an optical interface (12) for establishing an optical path (09) from an objective (03) of the microscope to the functional module (02). Furthermore, the functional module (02) comprises at least one image sensor (21). The functional module (02) comprises a first and a second microelectromechanical optical system (17, 18). The first microelectromechanical optical system (17) is configured for enhancing a depth of field on a first optical subpath (14) that is directed to the image sensor (21). The second microelectromechanical optical system (18) is configured for enhancing a depth of field on a second optical subpath (16) that is directed to the image sensor (21). The invention further concerns a microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicants: SD OPTICS, INC., STEREO DISPLAY, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander GAIDUK, Cheong Soo SEO, Gyoungil CHO, Jin Young SOHN, Helmut LIPPERT
  • Patent number: 10775601
    Abstract: A method for operating a microscopy arrangement, and a microscopy arrangement, having a first microscope and at least one further microscope, wherein each of the microscopes have a respective optical axis. The respective optical axes do not coincide. The method provides a three-dimensional reference coordinate system being set; a carrier apparatus, that is embodied in the arrangement to receive and hold a specimen carrier is introduced into a specimen plane of the first microscope that is intersected by the optical axis and onto the optical axis of the first microscope; a reference point is set on the optical axis of the first microscope; the carrier apparatus is delivered to the further microscope, wherein the current coordinates of the reference point are continuously captured and compared to the coordinates of the optical axis of the at least one further microscope; and the reference point is brought onto the optical axis of the at least one further microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kalkbrenner, Saskia Pergande, Jörg Siebenmorgen, Helmut Lippert
  • Patent number: 10754136
    Abstract: A confocal microscope and an associated method for determining a topography of a sample by implementing a correlative spinning disk microscopy is provided. The method includes placing a sample on an object stage of the microscope. Either the object stage is moved vertically to determine the topography of the sample, while first and second images of the sample are captured in an alternating manner. A vertical focus position is stored as metadata for each image. Two first or second images are interpolated to give an intermediate image. A confocal image for a defined vertical position is generated by calculating the intermediate image with the second or first image at the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GMBH
    Inventors: Nils Langholz, Viktor Drescher, Helmut Lippert, Wolfgang Schwerdtfeger
  • Patent number: 10712553
    Abstract: An arrangement, for light sheet microscopy, including: a sample vessel, for receiving a medium containing a sample, oriented with respect to a plane reference surface; illumination optics with an illumination objective for illuminating the sample with a light sheet; and detection optics with a detection objective. The optical axis of the illumination objective and the light sheet lies in a plane which forms a nonzero illumination angle with the normal of the reference surface. The detection objective has an optical axis that forms a nonzero detection angle with the normal of the reference surface. The arrangement also includes a separating-layer system for separating the sample-containing medium from the illumination and detection objectives. The separating-layer system contacts the medium with an interface parallel to the reference surface. The illumination angle and detection angle are predetermined based on numerical apertures of the detection objective and of the illumination objective, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Siebenmorgen, Thomas Kalkbrenner, Helmut Lippert
  • Patent number: 10684221
    Abstract: With the method of the invention a wavelength-dependent refractive index of a specimen medium, which is examined with a light microscope, is determined. With the light microscope, a specimen measurement at the specimen medium which has an unknown refractive index is performed, wherein illumination light is radiated to the specimen medium and detection light coming from the specimen medium is measured. With the specimen measurement, a specimen measurement focus position of the illumination and/or detection light is measured. Using a mathematical model, in which a focus position of illumination and/or detection light is defined in dependence of a refractive index of a medium, the refractive index of the specimen medium is derived from the specimen measurement focus position. Furthermore, a light microscope for carrying out the method is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Annette Bergter, Helmut Lippert
  • Patent number: 10642015
    Abstract: A light sheet microscope which includes an illumination apparatus generating coherent illumination light for several illumination wavelengths, a beam-shaping module generating a light sheet from illumination light, an illumination objective illuminating a specimen with the light sheet and a detection objective for imaging light which is emitted by the specimen onto a laminar detector, wherein the optical axes of the detection objective and of the illumination objective are not parallel to each other. In such a light sheet microscope, the beam-shaping module includes a phase-selective element with several selection areas separated from each other spatially, wherein in each case one selection area is assigned to one specific illumination wavelength, and wherein a phase distribution predefined for the respective illumination wavelength is impressed on each selection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Lippert, Tobias Kaufhold, Thomas Kalkbrenner, Joerg Siebenmorgen
  • Patent number: 10634888
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light microscope for examining microscopic objects with high throughput. The microscope comprises a light source for illuminating a measuring zone, a sample vessel, in which the microscopic objects can be successively moved into the measuring zone, and a detection device for measuring detection light, which originates from a microscopic object located in the measuring zone. According to the invention, the microscope is characterized in that the imaging means comprise a detection lens having a stationary front optics and movable focusing optics, wherein the focusing optics is arranged behind the front optics and in front of an intermediate image plane, and can be adjusted for the height adjustment of a detection plane. The invention further relates to a corresponding microscopy method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e. V., Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Lippert, Jörg Siebenmorgen, Jan Huisken, Florian Fahrbach
  • Patent number: 10620419
    Abstract: An arrangement for light sheet microscopy including: a sample vessel, for receiving a medium containing sample, having a covering and being oriented with respect to a planar reference surface; illumination optics with an illumination objective for illuminating the sample with a light sheet; and detection optics with a detection objective. The optical axis of the illumination objective and the light sheet lies in a plane that forms a nonzero illumination angle with the normal of the reference surface. The optical axis of the detection objective forms a nonzero detection angle with the normal of the reference surface. A bulge is formed at the covering for receiving the sample. The bulge has inner and outer interfaces. The optical axes of the illumination objective and detection objective form a minimal angle with the normals of the interfaces at least in the region where the optical axes pass through the interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Siebenmorgen, Thomas Kalkbrenner, Helmut Lippert
  • Publication number: 20190384046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light microscope for examining microscopic objects with high throughput. The microscope comprises a light source for illuminating a measuring zone, a sample vessel, in which the microscopic objects can be successively moved into the measuring zone, and a detection device for measuring detection light, which originates from a microscopic object located in the measuring zone. According to the invention, the microscope is characterized in that the imaging means comprise a detection lens having a stationary front optics and movable focusing optics, wherein the focusing optics is arranged behind the front optics and in front of an intermediate image plane, and can be adjusted for the height adjustment of a detection plane. The invention further relates to a corresponding microscopy method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicants: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
    Inventors: Helmut Lippert, Jörg Siebenmorgen, Jan Huisken, Florian Fahrbach
  • Patent number: 10477124
    Abstract: A device and a method for imaging a sample arranged in an object plane. The device includes an optical relay system that images an area of the sample from the object plane into an intermediate image plane. The device may also include an optical imaging system with an objective having an optical axis that lies perpendicularly on the intermediate image plan, and which is focused on the intermediate image plane, with the result that the object plane can be imaged undistorted onto a detector. The device also can include an illumination apparatus for illuminating the sample with a light sheet, wherein the light sheet lies essentially in the object plane and defines an illumination direction, and wherein the normal of the object plane defines a detection direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Lippert, Thomas Kalkbrenner, Ingo Kleppe, Joerg Siebenmorgen, Ralf Wolleschensky
  • Patent number: 10422983
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light microscope for examining microscopic objects with high throughput. The microscope comprises a light source for illuminating a measuring zone, a sample vessel, in which the microscopic objects can be successively moved into the measuring zone, and a detection device for measuring detection light, which originates from a microscopic object located in the measuring zone. According to the invention, the microscope is characterized in that the imaging means comprise a detection lens having a stationary front optics and movable focusing optics, wherein the focusing optics is arranged behind the front optics and in front of an intermediate image plane, and can be adjusted for the height adjustment of a detection plane. The invention further relates to a corresponding microscopy method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e. V., Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Lippert, Jörg Siebenmorgen, Jan Huisken, Florian Fahrbach
  • Publication number: 20190265454
    Abstract: A single plane illumination microscope having an illumination optical system for illuminating a sample located on a sample carrier in a medium, and which is parallel to a planar reference surface. The sample is illuminated by a light sheet via an illumination light path. A detection optical system has a detection beam path. The optical axes of the illumination and detection optical systems each define an angle that is not equal to zero degrees along with the normal to the reference surface. A barrier layer system includes at least one layer of a given material having a given thickness and separates the medium from the illumination and detection optical systems. A base area of the barrier layer system is in contact with the region that is accessible for illumination and detection activities, said base area running parallel to the reference surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas KALKBRENNER, Ralf NETZ, Helmut LIPPERT, Joerg SIEBENMORGEN
  • Patent number: 10371501
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining height information of a sample, and to a scanning microscope. The method comprises the following steps: generating an illumination spot; illuminating the sample with the illumination spot; capturing an image of a reflection of the illumination spot at the sample; evaluating the lateral distribution of the image; determining the height information from the lateral distribution; wherein the illumination spot has a three dimensional illumination pattern and/or the image in a detection beam path has a three dimensional detection pattern. The scanning microscope is characterized in that an illumination device (07) and/or a detector device comprise(s) a means for generating a three dimensional pattern with a change in the lateral intensity distribution that is asymmetrical along the optical axis, and an evaluation device is configured to determine height information from the detector signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Kalkbrenner, Helmut Lippert