Patents by Inventor Hugo Thienpont

Hugo Thienpont 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: 20240069314
    Abstract: A concentrating lens includes an incident surface, an emitting surface, and a reflective surface. The incident surface includes a central portion and an outer portion. The incident surface is formed by an inner surface of a depression portion. The reflective surface surrounds the emitting surface. The reflective surface extends so as to go toward a first side as going toward an outside. A first light incident on the outer portion of the incident surface transmits through the outer portion, is reflected by the reflective surface, reflected by the incident surface, and incident on the emitting surface. A second light incident on the central portion of the incident surface transmits through the central portion and is incident on the emitting surface. The central portion of the incident surface reflects the first light reflected by the reflective surface, toward the emitting surface and transmits the second light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicants: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., Vrije Universiteit Brussel
    Inventors: Tomohiko SUZUKI, Suguru MATSUMOTO, Hirokazu MURAMATSU, Yunfeng NIE, Heidi OTTEVAERE, Hugo THIENPONT
  • Patent number: 11846772
    Abstract: Methods to design centered imaging systems by solving differential equations derived from Fermat's principle consist of a sequence of (moveable or fixed) spherical or aspherical surfaces, or combinations thereof. The power series solution approach allow calculating of a predefined number of surfaces parameters equal to a number of selected aberration terms to vanish nominally. The methods provide mapping functions coefficients that allow describing exactly where arbitrary rays intersect each individual surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL
    Inventors: Fabian Durr, Hugo Thienpont
  • Publication number: 20230167481
    Abstract: The invention relates in a first aspect to an improved fluidic device for determining a property of a microbe. The device comprising a bottom layer comprising a plurality of light-transmissive wells; and a top layer comprising an injection opening and a fluid distribution system. Each of said plurality of distribution channels has: essentially the same channel length between the inlet end and the outlet end; and essentially the same channel volume. The invention relates in a second aspect to a use of the device for determining a susceptibility of a microbe, preferably a bacterium, to an antimicrobial drug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Tatevik CHALYAN, Wendy MEULEBROECK, Kurt ROCHLITZ, Stijn VERWULGEN, Sander VAN GOETHEM, Chris BAELUS, Muriel DE BOECK, Herman GOOSSENS, Heidi OTTEVAERE, Hugo THIENPONT, Pieter MOONS
  • Publication number: 20230098658
    Abstract: Optical guiding elements are 3D printed on the ends of optical fibers. A multifiber connector includes fibers having 3D printed elements that are flush with the end face of the connector. The printed 3D element may be down-tapered for coupling between a single mode optical fiber and an optical chip waveguide. The cross-sectional shape of the 3D printed optical element may change along its length so as to more closely match to the mode field of a non-circular waveguide on the optical chip. The optical element may be printed with a gradient index. The optical element may be provided with an output face distal from the optical fiber that is not flat and which changes the divergence of the light passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Jan WATTÉ, Vivek PANAPAKKAM VENKATESAN, Saurav KUMAR, Koen VANMOL, Jürgen Albert Jan VAN ERPS, Hugo THIENPONT
  • Publication number: 20220389477
    Abstract: A method for determining a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to an antimicrobial drug for a bacteria culture in a container, the method comprising calculating for each well a third derivative of said detected intensity; comparing said third derivative of the detected intensity to one or more threshold values; determining a MIC value based on said comparison of said third derivative to said one or more threshold values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicants: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universiteit Antwerpen
    Inventors: Wendy MEULEBROEK, Heidi OTTEVAERE, Hugo THIENPONT, Herman GOOSSENS, Pieter MOONS, Kristof VAES, Muriel DE BOECK, Christiaan BAELUS
  • Publication number: 20220376475
    Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit device includes a lasing cavity for resonating at a plurality of discrete wavelengths and an optical feedback cavity operably coupled to the lasing cavity via a front surface of the lasing cavity. The optical feedback cavity has a reflective element for reflecting light, at least partially, back into the lasing cavity to form a resonant Fabry-Perot cavity between the front surface and the reflective element. The optical feedback cavity includes a variable phase shifting element adapted for receiving an input signal to control a phase shift of light propagating in the optical feedback cavity. The amount of light entering the lasing cavity from the optical feedback cavity is low enough to avoid dynamic instability of the lasing cavity. The reduction in light is obtained using an attenuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Robert PAWLUS, Martin VIRTE, Hugo THIENPONT, Stefan BREUER
  • Patent number: 11215447
    Abstract: A transducer for assisting in measuring displacement or strain in an object of interest is described. A plate has at least two end sections for mounting the transducer. It comprises a flexible connection between the two end sections. The flexible connection comprises a plurality of rigid portions and flexible interconnections between the rigid portions for allowing relative movement of the rigid portions with respect to each other. The flexible connection has a central section substantially having a U-shape comprising two rigid portions spaced from each other over a distance and adapted for positioning a strain sensing element at the spacing in between said two rigid portions. The rigid portions and flexible interconnections are arranged so that a displacement applied to the end sections results in a relative displacement at the spacing in the central section that is larger than the relative displacement applied to the end sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL
    Inventors: Urszula Nawrot, Thomas Geernaert, Francis Berghmans, Hugo Thienpont
  • Publication number: 20210088728
    Abstract: A tapered core structure is written on the end of an optical fiber using a 3D-printing process. The tapered core may expand the mode diameter for improved coupling between fibers or may reduce the mode diameter to enhance coupling to a waveguide smaller than the fiber core. The written core is surrounded by a cladding. The diameter of the core is varied while it is being written, allowing a wide range of taper profiles to be implemented. The 3D-printing process is readily adapted to permit multiple fibers to have tapered cores written on their ends during the same process cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Jan WATTÉ, Salvatore TUCCIO, Vivek PANAPAKKAM VENKATESAN, Koen VANMOL, Jürgen Albert Jan VAN ERPS, Hugo THIENPONT, Yolanda Justo ZARRAQUINOS, Roland Simon H. CLAES, Saurav KUMAR
  • Patent number: 10908076
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the detection of Acrylamide precursors in raw potatoes including: illuminating at least one region of a raw potato's surface with an illumination beam; measuring the intensity of light scattered by the potato; generating a detection signal based on the measured intensity of scattered light; comparing the detection signal to a predefined threshold; and classifying the potato as having a high Acrylamide precursor concentration if the detection signal exceeds the predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOMRA SORTING N.V.
    Inventors: Hugo Thienpont, Wendy Meulebroeck, Lien Smeesters
  • Publication number: 20200355912
    Abstract: Methods to design centered imaging systems by solving differential equations derived from Fermat's principle consist of a sequence of (moveable or fixed) spherical or aspherical surfaces, or combinations thereof. The power series solution approach allow calculating of a predefined number of surfaces parameters equal to a number of selected aberration terms to vanish nominally. The methods provide mapping functions coefficients that allow describing exactly where arbitrary rays intersect each individual surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Fabian DURR, Hugo THIENPONT
  • Publication number: 20200064122
    Abstract: A transducer for assisting in measuring displacement or strain in an object of interest is described. A plate has at least two end sections for mounting the transducer. It comprises a flexible connection between the two end sections. The flexible connection comprises a plurality of rigid portions and flexible interconnections between the rigid portions for allowing relative movement of the rigid portions with respect to each other. The flexible connection has a central section substantially having a U-shape comprising two rigid portions spaced from each other over a distance and adapted for positioning a strain sensing element at the spacing in between said two rigid portions. The rigid portions and flexible interconnections are arranged so that a displacement applied to the end sections results in a relative displacement at the spacing in the central section that is larger than the relative displacement applied to the end sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Urszula NAWROT, Thomas GEERNAERT, Francis BERGHMANS, Hugo THIENPONT
  • Patent number: 10429295
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of mycotoxins in cereals, the method including: capturing at least one diffuse-light absorption spectrum of a collection of cereal grains; capturing at least one diffuse-light absorption spectrum of at least one individual cereal grain from the collection of cereal grains; and classifying the level of mycotoxin contamination in at least one cereal grain by performing multivariate data analysis on the at least one diffuse-light absorption spectrum of the collection of cereal grains and the at least one diffuse-light absorption spectrum of the at least one individual cereal grain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: TOMRA SORTING N.V.
    Inventors: Hugo Thienpont, Wendy Meulebroeck, Lien Smeesters
  • Patent number: 10261245
    Abstract: A microstructured optical fiber comprises a doped core region embedded in a cladding layer, and a plurality of longitudinal tubes, wherein a radial cross-section of the optical fiber comprises a central hexagonal portion comprising a plurality of holes arranged according to a hexagonal grid surrounding a core section. Each hole corresponds to a respective tube, within a hexagonal boundary of the grid, and the plurality of holes comprises holes of first and second types arranged in a biaxial mirror-symmetric configuration. The holes of the first type are arranged in two side holey structures comprising distinct sub-grids of the hexagonal grid, defined by respective outer boundaries corresponding to portions of the hexagonal boundary of the grid and respective inner boundaries. Outer tangential lines to the respective inner boundaries cross each other at the opposed side of the core with respect to the side of the respective side holey structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL
    Inventors: Sanne Sulejmani, Thomas Geernaert, Francis Berghmans, Hugo Thienpont
  • Publication number: 20190086325
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the detection of Acrylamide precursors in raw potatoes including: illuminating at least one region of a raw potato's surface with an illumination beam; measuring the intensity of light scattered by the potato; generating a detection signal based on the measured intensity of scattered light; comparing the detection signal to a predefined threshold; and classifying the potato as having a high Acrylamide precursor concentration if the detection signal exceeds the predefined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: TOMRA SORTING N.V.
    Inventors: Hugo Thienpont, Wendy Meulebroeck, Lien Smeesters
  • Publication number: 20190056319
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of mycotoxins in cereals, the method including: capturing at least one diffuse-light absorption spectrum of a collection of cereal grains; capturing at least one diffuse-light absorption spectrum of at least one individual cereal grain from the collection of cereal grains; and classifying the level of mycotoxin contamination in at least one cereal grain by performing multivariate data analysis on the at least one diffuse-light absorption spectrum of the collection of cereal grains and the at least one diffuse-light absorption spectrum of the at least one individual cereal grain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: TOMRA SORTING N.V.
    Inventors: Hugo Thienpont, Wendy Meulebroeck, Lien Smeesters
  • Patent number: 9915852
    Abstract: A system for conversion or amplification using quasi-phase matched nonlinear optical wave-mixing includes a first radiation source for providing a pump radiation beam, a second radiation source for providing a signal radiation beam, a bent structure for receiving the pump radiation beam and the signal radiation beam, and an outcoupling radiation propagation portion for coupling out an idler radiation beam generated in the bent structure. A radiation propagation portion of the bent structure is made of a uniform three-dimensional material at least partly covered by a two-dimensional or quasi-two-dimensional material layer and has a dimension taking into account the spatial variation of the nonlinear optical susceptibility along the radiation propagation portion as experienced by radiation traveling along the bent structure for obtaining quasi-phase matched nonlinear optical wave-mixing in the radiation propagation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL
    Inventors: Nathalie Vermeulen, Hugo Thienpont
  • Publication number: 20170199443
    Abstract: A system for conversion or amplification using quasi-phase matched nonlinear optical wave-mixing includes a first radiation source for providing a pump radiation beam, a second radiation source for providing a signal radiation beam, a bent structure for receiving the pump radiation beam and the signal radiation beam, and an outcoupling radiation propagation portion for coupling out an idler radiation beam generated in the bent structure. A radiation propagation portion of the bent structure is made of a uniform three-dimensional material at least partly covered by a two-dimensional or quasi-two-dimensional material layer and has a dimension taking into account the spatial variation of the nonlinear optical susceptibility along the radiation propagation portion as experienced by radiation traveling along the bent structure for obtaining quasi-phase matched nonlinear optical wave-mixing in the radiation propagation portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Nathalie VERMEULEN, Hugo THIENPONT
  • Publication number: 20160341891
    Abstract: A microstructured optical fibre comprises a doped core region embedded in a cladding layer, and a plurality of longitudinal tubes, wherein a radial cross-section of the optical fibre comprises a central hexagonal portion comprising a plurality of holes arranged according to a hexagonal grid surrounding a core section. Each hole corresponds to a respective tube, within a hexagonal boundary of the grid, and the plurality of holes comprises holes of first and second types arranged in a biaxial mirror-symmetric configuration. The holes of the first type are arranged in two side holey structures comprising distinct sub-grids of the hexagonal grid, defined by respective outer boundaries corresponding to portions of the hexagonal boundary of the grid and respective inner boundaries. Outer tangential lines to the respective inner boundaries cross each other at the opposed side of the core with respect to the side of the respective side holey structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL
    Inventors: Sanne SULEJMANI, Thomas GEERNAERT, Francis BERGHMANS, Hugo THIENPONT
  • Patent number: 8958676
    Abstract: Fiber structure including a core and a cladding, a central microstructure having a first plurality of longitudinal holes and which is adapted for guiding optical radiation and for birefringence in the core. Also included is a side microstructure having a second plurality of longitudinal holes is provided, wherein the side microstructure partly surrounds the central microstructure and provides a predetermined mechanical anisotropy, a pressure responsive unit for converting an isotropic pressure force to birefringence changes on the core, a lateral force responsive unit for converting a directional pressure force to birefringence changes on the core, a temperature responsive unit for converting temperature to birefringence changes on the core, and a birefringence responsive unit for converting birefringence in the core to wavelength information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignees: Uniwersytet Marii Curie Sklodowskiej, Wroclaw University of Technology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
    Inventors: Thomas Geernaert, Francis Berghmans, Tomasz Nasilowski, Hugo Thienpont, Mariusz Makara, Pawel Mergo, Krzysztof Grzegorz Poturaj, Waclaw Urbanczyk, Tadeusz Martynkien, Jacek Marek Olszewski, Jan Jozef Wojcik
  • Patent number: 8588606
    Abstract: A network monitoring module for deployment in a branched optical network at a split location where the network splits into a plurality of branches, the network monitoring module is disclosed, comprising an array of transmitters for generating optical test signals, an output of each transmitter in the array being optically connected to a respective branch, a detector for receiving a remotely generated optical trigger signal which identifies a particular one of the transmitters, and a CMOS circuit for selectively triggering the transmitter identified in the optical trigger signal to transmit an optical test signal into the branch connected to that transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem NV
    Inventors: Jan Watte, Gerry Branders, Juan Tomas Arias, Bart Volckaerts, Hugo Thienpont, Christof Debaes