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).
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Publication number: 20240069314Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Applicants: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., Vrije Universiteit BrusselInventors: Tomohiko SUZUKI, Suguru MATSUMOTO, Hirokazu MURAMATSU, Yunfeng NIE, Heidi OTTEVAERE, Hugo THIENPONT
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Patent number: 11846772Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSELInventors: Fabian Durr, Hugo Thienpont
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Publication number: 20230167481Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2021Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Tatevik CHALYAN, Wendy MEULEBROECK, Kurt ROCHLITZ, Stijn VERWULGEN, Sander VAN GOETHEM, Chris BAELUS, Muriel DE BOECK, Herman GOOSSENS, Heidi OTTEVAERE, Hugo THIENPONT, Pieter MOONS
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Publication number: 20230098658Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2021Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Jan WATTÉ, Vivek PANAPAKKAM VENKATESAN, Saurav KUMAR, Koen VANMOL, Jürgen Albert Jan VAN ERPS, Hugo THIENPONT
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Publication number: 20220389477Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2020Publication date: December 8, 2022Applicants: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universiteit AntwerpenInventors: Wendy MEULEBROEK, Heidi OTTEVAERE, Hugo THIENPONT, Herman GOOSSENS, Pieter MOONS, Kristof VAES, Muriel DE BOECK, Christiaan BAELUS
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Publication number: 20220376475Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2020Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Robert PAWLUS, Martin VIRTE, Hugo THIENPONT, Stefan BREUER
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Patent number: 11215447Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSELInventors: Urszula Nawrot, Thomas Geernaert, Francis Berghmans, Hugo Thienpont
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Publication number: 20210088728Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 10908076Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 23, 2017Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: TOMRA SORTING N.V.Inventors: Hugo Thienpont, Wendy Meulebroeck, Lien Smeesters
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Publication number: 20200355912Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2018Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Fabian DURR, Hugo THIENPONT
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Publication number: 20200064122Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2017Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Urszula NAWROT, Thomas GEERNAERT, Francis BERGHMANS, Hugo THIENPONT
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Patent number: 10429295Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 23, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: TOMRA SORTING N.V.Inventors: Hugo Thienpont, Wendy Meulebroeck, Lien Smeesters
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Patent number: 10261245Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 16, 2015Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSELInventors: Sanne Sulejmani, Thomas Geernaert, Francis Berghmans, Hugo Thienpont
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Publication number: 20190086325Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2017Publication date: March 21, 2019Applicant: TOMRA SORTING N.V.Inventors: Hugo Thienpont, Wendy Meulebroeck, Lien Smeesters
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Publication number: 20190056319Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2017Publication date: February 21, 2019Applicant: TOMRA SORTING N.V.Inventors: Hugo Thienpont, Wendy Meulebroeck, Lien Smeesters
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Patent number: 9915852Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSELInventors: Nathalie Vermeulen, Hugo Thienpont
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Publication number: 20170199443Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2017Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventors: Nathalie VERMEULEN, Hugo THIENPONT
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Publication number: 20160341891Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2015Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSELInventors: Sanne SULEJMANI, Thomas GEERNAERT, Francis BERGHMANS, Hugo THIENPONT
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Patent number: 8958676Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 19, 2010Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignees: Uniwersytet Marii Curie Sklodowskiej, Wroclaw University of Technology, Vrije Universiteit BrusselInventors: 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
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Patent number: 8588606Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2006Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem NVInventors: Jan Watte, Gerry Branders, Juan Tomas Arias, Bart Volckaerts, Hugo Thienpont, Christof Debaes