Patents by Inventor Juergen Hoffmann

Juergen Hoffmann 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: 6664537
    Abstract: A scanning microscope, in particular a confocal scanning microscope, with a light source (1), preferably a laser, for generating an illumination light beam (14) for a sample (11) and a scanning device for deflecting the illumination light beam (14) is, with a view to fast and reliable image-data acquisition and a compact structure, configured and refined in such a way that the scanning device has at least one micromirror (16). An optical arrangement with a light source (1), preferably a laser, for generating a light beam and at least one micromirror (16) for deflecting the light beam is furthermore provided, in which an adaptive lens (22) is provided for correcting for mirror defects or deformation of the mirror surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6644012
    Abstract: For supporting the cooling of an air-cooled gas turbine set, it is proposed to arrange, in the cooling air ducts of the cooling system, means for increasing the pressure of the flowing cooling air. In an embodiment, the cooling system (17) is supplied with high pressure compressor air from the end stages of the compressor (1) of a gas turbine set (1, 2, 3, 4). This cooling system branches into a first branch (18), by means of which the combustor (2) and the first stages, particularly the first guide blade row of the turbine (3), are cooled. A second branch (19) conducts cooling air to the further turbine stages. An ejector (20) is provided for increasing, as needed, the pressure drop available by means of the first branch (18) of the cooling system. Its ejector nozzle (22) is supplied with live steam (9) taken from a waste heat steam generator (51), the live steam supply being adjustable by means of an adjusting member (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Alston (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, René Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 6640550
    Abstract: A gas turbo set (1, 2, 3) is equipped with at least a cooling air system (20,21). Throttle points (22, 23) are arranged as throttling points in the cooling air flowpath, for the purpose of defining the cooling air mass flow. Said manifolds are bypassed by bypass lines (24). Means (25) are arranged in said bypass lines for adjusting the bypass mass flow. Thus, the cooling air mass flow can be varied without acting on the main cooling air flow as such.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, René Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 6614031
    Abstract: A method for examining a specimen (11) by means of a confocal scanning microscope having at least one light source (1), preferably a laser, to generate an illuminating light beam (4) for the specimen (11), and a beam deflection device (9) to guide the illuminating light beam (4) over the specimen (11) comprises, in the interest of reliable definition of details or regions of interest of the specimen (11), the following method steps: Firstly a preview image is acquired. Then at least one region of interest in the preview image is marked. This is followed by allocation of individual illuminating light beam wavelengths and/or illuminating light beam power levels to the region or regions. Illumination of the region or regions of the specimen (11) in accordance with the allocation is then accomplished, at least one manipulation in at least one region (25) being performed by means of the illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann, Werner Knebel
  • Publication number: 20030106322
    Abstract: A gas turbo set (1, 2, 3) is equipped with at least a cooling air system (20,21). Manifolds (22,23) are arranged as throttling points in the cooling air flowpath, for the purpose of defining the cooling air mass flow. Said manifolds are bypassed by bypass lines (24). Means (25) are arranged in said bypass lines for adjusting the bypass mass flow. Thus, the cooling air mass flow can be varied without acting on the main cooling air flow as such.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, Rene Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 6570705
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical arrangement for illuminating objects (1), in particular fluorescent objects, preferably in conjunction with a confocal or a double-confocal scanning microscope, having an illuminating beam path (2) of a light source (3), a detection beam path (4) of a detector (5), and a component (6) which unifies the detection beam path (4). For the purpose of at least largely loss-free union of the light coming from the object (1) into a propagation direction (19), the optical arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that with reference to the beam cross section active for the detector, light of the fist and second partial detection beam can be united at least largely in an overlapping fashion into one propagation direction (19) at the component (6) thereby providing an unified the detection beam path (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Bewersdorf, Hilmar Gugel, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20030084656
    Abstract: For supporting the cooling of an air-cooled gas turbine set, it is proposed to arrange, in the cooling air ducts of the cooling system, means for increasing the pressure of the flowing cooling air. In an embodiment, the cooling system (17) is supplied with high pressure compressor air from the end stages of the compressor (1) of a gas turbine set (1, 2, 3, 4). This cooling system branches into a first branch (18), by means of which the combustor (2) and the first stages, particularly the first guide blade row of the turbine (3), are cooled. A second branch (19) conducts cooling air to the further turbine stages. An ejector (20) is provided for increasing, as needed, the pressure drop available by means of the first branch (18) of the cooling system. Its ejector nozzle (22) is supplied with live steam (9) taken from a waste heat steam generator (51), the live steam supply being adjustable by means of an adjusting member (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, Rene Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 6559143
    Abstract: There is provided compounds of formula I, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R41 to R46, A, B and G have meanings given in the description, which are useful in the prophylaxis and in the treatment of arrhythmias, in particular atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Annika Björe, Magnus Björsne, Kurt-Jürgen Hoffmann, Fritiof Pontén, Gert Strandlund, Peder Svensson, Michael Wilsterman
  • Patent number: 6555826
    Abstract: An apparatus for illuminating a specimen (1), preferably in confocal fluorescence scanning microscopy is disclosed. Two illumination beam paths (2, 4) are combined with a beam splitter (6) in order to simplify alignment and reduce the optical components in the illumination beam path. The at least one optical component (7) is arranged at least in one of the illumination beam paths (2, 4) and modifies the light; and that the optical properties of the component (7) can be influenced or modified in such a way that the illumination pattern of the illumination beam path (2, 4) in the specimen region changes shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20030071226
    Abstract: The invention discloses a fluorescence microscope comprising a light source that emits excitation light for illumination of a specimen, means for defining a two-dimensional search region for the excitation and detection wavelengths, means for selecting a subregion from the search region, at least one detector that detects detected light proceeding from the specimen, and a display for displaying an image of at least a portion of the specimen. Furthermore the invention discloses a method for fluorescence microscopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6523346
    Abstract: The invention gives a process for the control of the amount of cooling air of a gas turbine set (1, 2, 3). Suitable means (32, 33) are provided in the cooling system (26, 27) to enable the amount of cooling air to be varied. The control of this means takes place in dependence on an operating parameter (X). This is determined in a computer unit (22) by suitable combination of measured machine data (p1, p2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, René Waelchli
  • Publication number: 20030021020
    Abstract: A method for scanning microscopy is disclosed. It contains the step of generating an illuminating light beam that exhibits at least a first substantially continuous wavelength spectrum whose spectral width is greater than 5 nm; the choosing of a second wavelength spectrum that is arranged spectrally within the first wavelength spectrum; the step of selecting the light of the second wavelength spectrum out of the illuminating light beam using an acoustooptical component; and the step of illuminating a specimen with the illuminating light beam. A scanning microscope is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6492638
    Abstract: A scanning microscope (100) possesses at least one illumination source (4), an objective (10), and at least one detector (12). An optical circulator (14) is arranged between the at least one illumination source (4), the objective (10), and the at least one detector (12). In a further embodiment, the scanning microscope (100) is configured as a confocal scanning microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20020178731
    Abstract: In a gas turbine plant with at least one compressor (1, 2) compressing intake air (10), with at least one component for heat supply (8) heating the intake air (12) compressed by the compressor (1, 2), with at least one gas turbine (3) using as a working medium the hot air (13) from the component for heat supply (8), and with at least one generator (5) coupled to the gas turbine (3), cooling means (20, 21) being present which permit the cooling of at least a portion of the intake air (10) and/or a portion of partially compressed intake air (11) within the at least one compressor (1, 2), cooling of the components is attained which protects materials and is economical and optimum, in that the cooling means (20, 21) is suitable for cooling at least a portion of the air mass flow before or within the compressor (1, 2) such that the air temperature and/or component temperature at critical places (30-38), such as at the outlet of the compressor (1, 2) or at another component of the gas turbine plant, does not exceed
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Jost Braun, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20020180965
    Abstract: A method for examining a specimen (27) that exhibits at least two optical transition lines and is optically excitable at least with light of a first and light of a second wavelength is characterized by the step of illuminating the specimen (27) with illuminating light (15) that generates at least a multiple of the first wavelength and a multiple of the second wavelength; and by the step of detecting the detected light (29) proceeding from the specimen (27).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6483103
    Abstract: An apparatus for selecting and detecting at least one spectral region of a spectrally spread light beam, preferably in the beam path of a confocal scanning microscope, the spread light beam being focussable in a focal line, is characterized, for non-overlapping detection of the spectrally spread light beam of the selected spectral regions in the context of an increased number of detectors and an error-tolerant arrangement, in that there is arranged in the spread light beam an optical component which reflects and/or refracts the light beam to a detector and whose optically effective region becomes smaller or larger along the surface, so that by orientation of the component with respect to the focal line and the resulting superposition of the focal line and surface, the spectral region arriving at the detector is definable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, William C. Hay, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20020163715
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a microscope and a method for operating a microscope, in particular a confocal or double confocal scanning microscope, having an optical beam path (9) extending between a light source (1), a specimen (2), and a detector (7) and/or a detection optical system, in which context intentional and unintentional relative motions occur between the specimen (2) and the optical beam path (9), undesired relative motions of the microscope components in optical beam path (9) are intended to result in no (or only minor) image defects, and method steps are provided which eliminate or minimize the image defects brought about by undesired relative motions between the specimen (2) and optical beam path (9); and is characterized in that a first device (8) detects relative motions; and a second device (22) compensates for unintentional relative motions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20020159145
    Abstract: Microscope (1) for investigating a sample having a light source (7), which emits illumination light (19) of at least one illumination wavelength for illumination the sample (15) and at least one control element (61 to 71). The microscope is characterized in that the control element (61 to 71) is visible in darkness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6465481
    Abstract: There is provided compounds of formula I, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5a, R5b, R6, R9, X, A and B have meanings given in the description, which are useful in the prophylaxis and in the treatment of arrhythmias, in particular atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Marianne Frantsi, Kurt-Jürgen Hoffmann, Gert Strandlund
  • Publication number: 20020109079
    Abstract: An apparatus for selecting and detecting at least one spectral region of a spectrally spread light beam, preferably in the beam path of a confocal scanning microscope, the spread light beam being focussable in a focal line, is characterized, for non-overlapping detection of the spectrally spread light beam of the selected spectral regions in the context of an increased number of detectors and an error-tolerant arrangement, in that there is arranged in the spread light beam an optical component which reflects and/or refracts the light beam to a detector and whose optically effective region becomes smaller or larger along the surface, so that by orientation of the component with respect to the focal line and the resulting superposition of the focal line and surface, the spectral region arriving at the detector is definable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS HEIDELBERG GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Engelhardt, William C. Hay, Juergen Hoffmann