Patents by Inventor Michael Thoms

Michael Thoms 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: 9029821
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for reading out at least one especially flexible imaging plate. The readout device comprises a reader for reading out information stored on the imaging plate, and a transport device having at least one drive means for transporting the imaging plate relative to the reader along a guide means on the transport path. The shape of the transport path is adapted to the shape of a readout area of the reader. At least one substantially solid support for the imaging plate is provided. The shape and dimension of the support are adapted to the shape of the transport path. When the imaging plate is transported together with the support, the imaging plate does not come into contact with the drive means. The invention also relates to the support for the imaging plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 8946654
    Abstract: A method for reading out image information stored in a storage phosphor of a storage medium includes moving a light beam over the storage medium. A luminescence signal is generated by the photostimulation of the storage phosphor. In first time intervals a respective output value is determined from the luminescence signal, and a respective pixel value of an image pixel of a digital image is determined from the output value. The output value is thereby determined by addition of a plurality of measurement values of the luminescence signal which are detected in second time intervals lying within the first time interval. A corresponding apparatus for carrying out the method is described as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 8866115
    Abstract: A device for reading out and erasing imaging plates which includes an eraser disposed down-stream of a readout unit at a short distance thereof, said eraser being separated from the readout unit by a light barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Publication number: 20140246593
    Abstract: A combined device for reading out and erasing imaging plages comprises an eraser disposed down-stream of a readout unit at a short distance thereof, said eraser being separated from the readout unit by a light barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 8562824
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for water purification. Embodiments can generally be applied to demister cyclones (6). Some embodiments allow for more of the pressure change which occurs in demister cyclones to occur in the separating chamber (19) of the demister cyclone. Some embodiments include a demister cyclone having an internal perforated wall (52). Some embodiments include a groove (103) or a baffle (102) on the underside of a boiler cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sylvan Source, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Thiers, Richard J. Deep, Douglas Michael Thom
  • Patent number: 8363912
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for evaluating fluorescence partial images representing the same object region, independently of stray light. Two partial images of the objects are produced in the red and in the green by a camera (10). A quotient image is produced in pixels from said two partial images, and the frequency of the occurrence of the image points having a pre-defined red/green ratio is determined for said quotient image. The mean values and the width are determined for the distribution curve obtained in this way. The two end variables of the distribution curve are used to calculate a threshold value. The quotient image is modified using said threshold value such that its contrast in relation to interesting details is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 8356811
    Abstract: A storage film feed feeds a storage film from a flexible sleeve open on one side at a rear side in a storage film detection device. The storage film feed has a feed opening with a penetration gap for the storage film and a slide located in the feed opening for fixing the sleeve. The slide is disposed perpendicular to a flat side of the sleeve. The storage film feed further has a stopping member for the slide, the flat side of the sleeve rests against the stopping member when the slide is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 8342822
    Abstract: A suction device for dental, medical and industrial purposes with a radial fan with a suction side and a delivery side. An air outlet of a centrifugal separator is connected to the suction side of the fan. At least one drive motor controlled by a control unit, and in the form of a rotating electric motor, drives the fan and the separator. A fan drive motor and a separator drive motor are arranged, uncoupled in terms of rotation, one behind the other on a common shaft fixed to the housing. The respective stators are supported by the common shaft. The rotating parts of the fan are connected to the rotor of the fan drive motor, and the rotating parts of the separator are connected to the rotor of the separator drive motor and are mounted to rotate coaxially with respect to the shaft fixed to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Duerr Dental AG
    Inventors: Michael Thoms, Juergen Schnepf, Andreas Haegele
  • Patent number: 8342749
    Abstract: In order to prevent a storage film from being damaged when taking an X-ray image, when reading the latent X-ray image and when handling the storage film, the invention proposes providing spaced-apart guide parts on the rear face of the storage film, these guide parts not having an adverse effect on the ability of the film to bend. The guide parts interact with guide rails which are provide in a cassette which accommodates the storage film or on a film-clamping slide of a reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Duerr Dental GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Nitsche, Ulrich Prager, Michael Thoms
  • Publication number: 20120326053
    Abstract: A device for reading out and erasing imaging plates which includes an eraser disposed down-stream of a readout unit at a short distance thereof, said eraser being separated from the readout unit by a light barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 8334636
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling unit (24) for transmitting high-frequency mechanical vibrations from a vibration generator (12) onto a tool (34). Said coupling unit comprises in input part (22) and an output part (30) that are interconnected via two identical vibration bars (26, 28), said bars being off-set from each other. The bars may have the shape of quadrants to provide the output movement in a direction that forms an angle of 90° with the direction of the input movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Publication number: 20120281135
    Abstract: A handpiece camera, comprising an illumination device optical elements, and an image converter. A housing is provided with an entrance window, through which an observation light returning from an examination area shines in, which is subsequently conducted to the image converter by the optical elements. The camera has a head part and a handle part, which are detachably connected to one another. The handle part can be adjusted to a wide variety of purposes when combined with different head parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Herbert Gebhardt, Raimund Maier, Peter Lais, Martin Duerrstein, Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 8244019
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the perceptibility of different structures on radiographs by means of an image processing device consisting a) in storing a radiograph in electronic form as a local space-intensity distribution, b) in carrying out a Fourier transformation for determining a frequency-intensity distribution, c) in filtering said frequency-intensity distribution by modifying weighting between the high-frequency and low-frequency image signal components, wherein the fixing of the image signal components to be more intensively weighted is carried out taking into account the mean structure size of said structures whose perceptibility is to be improved, d) in carrying out an inverse Fourier transformation of the filtered frequency-intensity distribution in order to obtain a modified space-intensity distribution in which said structures are more easily perceptible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Duerr Dental GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Publication number: 20120119111
    Abstract: A method for reading out image information stored in a storage phosphor of a storage medium includes moving a light beam over the storage medium. A luminescence signal is generated by the photostimulation of the storage phosphor. In first time intervals a respective output value is determined from the luminescence signal, and a respective pixel value of an image pixel of a digital image is determined from the output value. The output value is thereby determined by addition of a plurality of measurement values of the luminescence signal which are detected in second time intervals lying within the first time interval. A corresponding apparatus for carrying out the method is described as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: MICHAEL THOMS
  • Patent number: 8102965
    Abstract: In order to set up digital image acquisition in classic panoramic X-ray machines, the invention proposes providing a row of detectors in the cartridge unit of the machines, said row of detectors being arranged or being able to be arranged behind the recording slit. The output signals from the row of detectors and the output signals from a rotary encoder are wirelessly transferred to an evaluation unit. Retrofitting the digital image acquisition thus does not require any intervention in safety-related parts of the panoramic X-ray machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Publication number: 20110300507
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling body that can convert a linear input movement into a linear output movement transversal to the input movement. The coupling body includes two parallel flexional arms of the same length, the ends of the flexional arms being connected by means of transversal connection arms. The connection arms carry driving bodies which represent load bodies arranged at the same distance from the neutral lines of the connection arms, in the same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Udo Kirstgen, Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 8063392
    Abstract: The invention relates to a readout device for exposed imaging plates. The inventive device is characterized in that the exposed plates are transported while lying in cassettes. A drive device moves the cassettes across a read gap at a constant speed and is configured as a wheel and disk drive acting upon the cassette rear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Publication number: 20110223555
    Abstract: A jet device for use in dentistry has a tool holder providing an abrasive working fluid jet and a spray jet. The working fluid jet contains sharp-edged small abrasive particles suspended in a fast carrier air flow. The spray jet has small water droplets. The working material jet and the spray jet are emitted by spatially separated delivery nozzles. The spray jet thus does not reach to the working jet delivery nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventor: MICHAEL THOMS
  • Publication number: 20110211768
    Abstract: A characteristic line is used for converting an initial image into a modified image that is composed of two characteristic lines that have different contrast enhancement properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 7949204
    Abstract: A method for processing original images that are stored in the form of pixels and need to be output at a reduced scale, where all original pixels are weight-added, based upon area pixels. A mutual overlap (gi) of the pixels is determined, and intensity values to be assigned to output pixels are a weighted arithmetic mean of intensity values (Si) of the original pixels with their respective mutual overlaps as weighting factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Thoms