Patents by Inventor Klaus Engel
Klaus Engel 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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Patent number: 7952592Abstract: A method for creating a cutout surface for volume rendering includes providing a digitized medical image volume comprising a plurality of intensities corresponding to a 3-dimensional grid of points, identifying a surface of interest in said image volume, representing said surface-of-interest by a polygonal mesh, extracting a set of curves on said surface-of-interest where a cutout surface will intersect, extending a vector defined on one of said curves toward a viewing point, and sweeping said extended vector along said curve to create said cutout surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2007Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Michael Burns, Klaus Engel
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Publication number: 20110080083Abstract: A household appliance that includes a housing having an opening; a door rotatable about a first rotation axis to selectively open or close the opening; and a braking system to damp a rotational movement of the door when the door is opened or closed. The braking system includes a damper and a transmission unit that is coupled between the door and the damper to be driven by the door and for transmitting a movement of the door to the damper.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBHInventors: Klaus Engel, Christine Linke, Alexander Rupp
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Publication number: 20110074263Abstract: A household appliance including a door that tilts about a tilt axis; a braking device to dampen a tilt motion of the door; and a transferring unit to transfer rotation of the tilt axis to a braking axis during the tilt motion of the door. The braking axis is offset relative to the tilt axis and the braking device is in functional cooperation with the braking axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2009Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERĤTE GMBHInventors: Klaus Engel, Christine Linke, Alexander Rupp
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Publication number: 20110072846Abstract: A household appliance including a housing that has an opening; a door rotatable about a first rotation axis between a closed position in which the opening is closed by the door and an open position in which the opening is opened; a first door-opening unit to generate a first opening force to the door at least when the door is in the closed position; and a second door-opening unit to generate a second opening force to the door at least when the door is in the closed position. The second door-opening unit is arranged closer to the first rotation axis than the first door-opening unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2009Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERĤTE GMBHInventors: Klaus Engel, Christine Linke, Alexander Rupp
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Publication number: 20110069070Abstract: A method for the visualization of an object using simulated radiation includes using a representation of the object, in which values of a variable that characterizes the object are given at spatial points in the object. A first ray is generated to determine a pixel color value assigned to a pixel for a two-dimensional representation of the object. The first ray is propagated through at least a part of the object. The method also includes determining, step-by-step, values of a variable on the first ray and detecting a surface of the object using the values determined on the first ray. At least one second ray is generated for determining a quantitative value that characterizes a property of the object, and the at least one second ray is propagated away from the surface, through at least a part of the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventor: KLAUS ENGEL
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Publication number: 20110069066Abstract: A depiction of a three-dimensional object that is displayed using volume rendering is influenced. A representation of the object, in which values of a variable characterizing the object are given at spatial points of the object and in which color values are allocated to the variable during the course of rendering, is provided. A set of points defined in the space of representation of the object is input, and a distance from spatial points incorporated by the representation to the set of points is calculated. Color values allocated to spatial points are modified, or color values are determined according to the calculated distance. A depiction of the object by volume rendering is calculated using the representation of the object, the representation incorporating the modified or determined color values.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventor: KLAUS ENGEL
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Publication number: 20110069069Abstract: A two-dimensional representation of an object using volume rendering, with a representation of the object being used in which values of a quantity characterizing the object are given at spatial points of the object, is provided. A blended color value for the representation as pixels on a screen is calculated using a volume rendering technique that does not use an illumination model or uses a local illumination model. At least one ray emanating from a surface of the object is simulated for the purpose of calculating the effect of shadows or the effect of ambient occlusion. A value for the effect of shadows or a value for the effect of ambient occlusion is calculated using the at least one ray. The blended color value and the calculated value are combined in order to obtain a blended color value that takes into account the effect of shadows or ambient occlusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventor: KLAUS ENGEL
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Patent number: 7889194Abstract: A method for multi-planar reconstruction of digitized medical images includes providing an image volume, sampling the neighborhood about each point in a planar region and saving a color value and a depth, providing a projection plane onto which rendering rays are projected from a viewing point through said image volume, advancing sampling points along rays through the image volume, computing depths of each sampling point, determining for sampling points on rays that penetrates the planar region if a depth of said sampling point is less than the buffer depth of a corresponding point in the planar region and sampling neighborhoods of points about such sampling points, determining if sampling points are near said planar region, applying first transfer function to sample values interpolated from first volume for sampling points close to or inside the planar region, and otherwise applying second transfer function to sample values interpolated from second volume.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Klaus Engel, James Williams
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Patent number: 7692648Abstract: A method for volume rendering a digitized image includes providing a pair of adjacent 2-dimensional images of texture data, identifying a plurality of polygons extending in slabs between said adjacent two dimensional textures, and finding the first and last visible voxel for the data rows and data columns of each said polygon. The minimum and maximum bounds of each data row and for each data column are determined, those data rows and data columns that do not contain any visible voxels are marked as invisible, and the polygons are rendered along a direction orthogonal to a dominant viewing direction, wherein rendering of texture data is restricted by the outer bounds of polygons that are trimmed to the minimum and maximum bounds of two neighboring data rows or data columns, and wherein those data rows and data columns marked as invisible are skipped.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: Klaus Engel
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Patent number: 7649533Abstract: Subsets of volume data are sequentially stored for volume rendering from two dimensional textures. For example, pairs of adjacent two-dimensional images are loaded into RAM or cache. Strips of texture data are interpolated for polygons extending between the two-dimensional images. The strips or polygons are more orthogonal to a viewing direction than the two-dimensional images. After interpolating texture data from the two-dimensional images for a plurality of non-coplanar polygons, the texture data is rendered. The rendered information represents one portion of the three dimensional representation. Other portions are rendered by repeating the process for other pairs or subset groups of adjacent two-dimensional images. A lower cost apparatus, such as a programmed computer or a GPU with a limited amount of memory, is able to render images for three dimensional representations of very large three-dimensional arrays. The images may be rendered without copying volume data for different main axes.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2008Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Klaus Engel, Gianluca Paladini
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Patent number: 7626174Abstract: The invention refers to X-ray devices, an X-ray detector and a method of correcting intensity signals. An X-ray detector then comprises for determining the intensity of X-rays, which comprise a proportion of primary radiation having an irradiation direction and a proportion of scattered radiation, at least a first sensor elements, which are each provided for converting the X-rays into first and second intensity signals, and a filter element, which is provided for decreasing the proportion of scattered radiation in the intensity of the X-rays, wherein the second sensor elements are arranged in irradiation direction behind the filter element and wherein the first sensor element fastened to the filter element is provided for determining the intensity of the X-rays before leaving the filter element. The proportion of the scattered radiation calculated from the measuring data of the first and second sensor elements is provided for correcting the second intensity signals for the following image generation.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2005Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Bernd Schweizer, Gereon Vogtmeier, Klaus Engel
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Patent number: 7616199Abstract: A method for volume rendering a digitized image includes providing a digitized 3-dimensional image with a plurality of 2-dimensional slices comprised of a plurality of intensities corresponding to a domain of points on a 2-dimensional grid, interleaving said slices so that a predetermined number of slices are represented within 2-dimensional textures comprising slabs. Each said slab comprises a plurality of polygons. Weighting functions are generated for each slice of each polygon of a slab, and using said weighting functions, computing a trilinarly interpolated sample from multiple bilinearly interpolated samples value for each slice of said polygon.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2006Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: Klaus Engel
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Publication number: 20090189889Abstract: At least one embodiment of the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for visualizing 3D image data from tomographic imaging modalities using a rendering technique in which every pixel is calculated by integrating or summing along respectively one ray through a volume surrounded by the 3D image data. In the method, a peeling function is additionally introduced into the integration or summation, by which, in the integration or summation, the 3D image data on the respective ray only contributes with its full data value to reducing the optical transparency beyond a prescribable value of an optical skin depth. The peeling function is selected such that, in a transition region before the prescribable value of the optical skin depth is reached, the 3D image data on the ray still contributes to reducing the optical transparency with a fraction of its full data value such that there is a smooth profile, generated by the peeling function, when an outer layer is peeled off.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: Klaus Engel, Stefan Rottger
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Publication number: 20090033657Abstract: Subsets of volume data are sequentially stored for volume rendering from two dimensional textures. For example, pairs of adjacent two-dimensional images are loaded into RAM or cache. Strips of texture data are interpolated for polygons extending between the two-dimensional images. The strips or polygons are more orthogonal to a viewing direction than the two-dimensional images. After interpolating texture data from the two-dimensional images for a plurality of non-coplanar polygons, the texture data is rendered. The rendered information represents one portion of the three dimensional representation. Other portions are rendered by repeating the process for other pairs or subset groups of adjacent two-dimensional images. A lower cost apparatus, such as a programmed computer or a GPU with a limited amount of memory, is able to render images for three dimensional representations of very large three-dimensional arrays. The images may be rendered without copying volume data for different main axes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2008Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Klaus Engel, Gianluca Paladini
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Publication number: 20080297508Abstract: A method for calculating an image in the context of a volume visualization by ray casting using a plurality of computing nodes is provided. The method includes subdividing a volume that is to be visualized into subvolumes assigned to the plurality of computing nodes; assigning a subdivision of data to volume points and storing the subdivision of data in a memory associated with the plurality of computing nodes, the subdivision corresponding to the assignment of subvolumes to nodes; and computing at least one pixel by generating a ray leading through the volume, wherein computing includes taking into account points lying on the ray one after another.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2008Publication date: December 4, 2008Inventors: Jesko Schwarzer, Klaus Engel, Alexander Ehlert, Frederik Lange
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Publication number: 20080279328Abstract: Computed tomography (CT) systems are provided that utilize x-ray tube spectra in connection with the generation and/or interpretation of CT data. The disclosed systems and methods use x-ray tube spectra associated with CT systems to enhance contrast and/or image quality, e.g., by making use of energy selective detection techniques. The x-ray spectra may be determined in a variety of ways, e.g., incorporation of a spectral x-ray tube model into the CT system, using the output of Monte-Carlo simulations, and/or processing measured experimental spectral tube data for the CT system. The x-ray tube spectra is generally generated by and/or stored in a computer system associated with the CT system and may be used in support of an energy selective detective method and/or generation of spectral CT images.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2006Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Guenter Zeitler, Christoph Herrmann, Klaus Engel, Christian Baeumer, Ewald Roessl, Roland Proksa
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Publication number: 20080238932Abstract: A device for adjusting a color value assigned to a spatial point for a low-noise volume rendering of an object is provided. The device mixes a first color value from a classification unit with a second color value obtained by the application of an illumination model on the first color value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventors: Klaus Engel, Jesko Schwarzer
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Publication number: 20080136817Abstract: The rendering pipeline is divided into multiple components or modules in a scene graph based visual programming environment. Different stages of the rendering pipeline, such as data conversion, transform function, shading, and rendering, are grouped into independent conceptual modules, and each module is implemented by separate nodes in a scene graph. The user may select different nodes belonging to different modules for inclusion into the scene graph to program the rendering pipeline. The visual program is implicitly compiled and run using an application programming interface for hardware acceleration.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2007Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: Siemens Corporate Research, Inc.Inventors: Matthieu Dederichs, Klaus Engel, Daphne Yu
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Publication number: 20080079722Abstract: A method for creating a cutout surface for volume rendering includes providing a digitized medical image volume comprising a plurality of intensities corresponding to a 3-dimensional grid of points, identifying a surface of interest in said image volume, representing said surface-of-interest by a polygonal mesh, extracting a set of curves on said surface-of-interest where a cutout surface will intersect, extending a vector defined on one of said curves toward a viewing point, and sweeping said extended vector along said curve to create said cutout surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2007Publication date: April 3, 2008Applicant: Siemens Corporate Research, Inc.Inventors: Michael Burns, Klaus Engel
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Publication number: 20080069458Abstract: In a client/server-based image archiving, image retrieval and image rendering system and method for storage, retrieval and graphical visualization of multi-dimensional digital image data such as assessment of medical image data, the detail depth level of volume data received via a data transfer network, to be shown in graphical form, is adjustable by the compressed volume data of subjects to be presented being stored with a highest-possible resolution (predetermined by an imaging system) in a databank administered by a server and directly accessibly only by this server.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2007Publication date: March 20, 2008Inventors: Fernando Vega-Higuera, Klaus Engel