Patents by Inventor Norbert Herschbach

Norbert Herschbach 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: 11675070
    Abstract: A radar wave imaging device includes a radar transmitter unit having at least one radar transmit antenna for transmitting radar waves towards a scene and a radar receiving unit including a plurality of radar receiver members that are arranged as a two-dimensional array, for receiving reflected radar waves. The radar receiving unit includes an imaging radar optics unit for imaging at least a portion of a scene onto at least a portion of the two-dimensional array of radar receiver members. The imaging radar optics unit includes at least a first radar lens that is arranged between the radar receiver members and the scene. The radar receiver members are arranged in direct contact to a surface of the first radar lens that is facing away from the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A.
    Inventors: Thiemo Spielmann, Norbert Herschbach
  • Patent number: 11437531
    Abstract: A photodetector especially useful for infrared detection. The photodetector includes a two-dimensional arrangement of resonator-photodiode units disposed along a detector surface for detecting radiation incident from above the detector surface and having a target frequency (vt) that corresponds to a target wavelength (?t) in vacuum, wherein each resonator-photodiode unit has a photodiode semiconductor structure, which is sensitive to the target frequency (vt), and a subwavelength dielectric resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A.
    Inventors: Norbert Herschbach, Christian Pauly
  • Publication number: 20210135373
    Abstract: A radar wave imaging device includes a radar transmitter unit having at least one radar transmit antenna for transmitting radar waves towards a scene and a radar receiving unit including a plurality of radar receiver members that are arranged as a two-dimensional array, for receiving reflected radar waves. The radar receiving unit includes an imaging radar optics unit for imaging at least a portion of a scene onto at least a portion of the two-dimensional array of radar receiver members. The imaging radar optics unit includes at least a first radar lens that is arranged between the radar receiver members and the scene. The radar receiver members are arranged in direct contact to a surface of the first radar lens that is facing away from the scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Thiemo SPIELMANN, Norbert HERSCHBACH
  • Publication number: 20210020795
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photodetector (1). In order to provide an improved photodetector, especially for infrared detection, the invention provides that the photodetector comprises a two-dimensional arrangement of resonator-photodiode units (10) disposed along a detector surface (P) for detecting radiation incident from above the detector surface (P) and having a target frequency (?t) that corresponds to a target wavelength (?t) in vacuum, wherein each resonator-photodiode unit (10) comprises a photodiode semiconductor structure (11), which is sensitive to the target frequency (?t), and a subwavelength dielectric resonator (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Norbert HERSCHBACH, Christian PAULY
  • Patent number: 10048504
    Abstract: An optical system for the generation of a structured light field comprises an array of light sources and a structuring unit separate from said array of light sources, said structuring unit being refractive or reflective and transforming the output of that array of light sources into a structured light illumination by collimating the light beam of each individual light source and directing each beam into the scene under vertical and horizontal angles that can be arbitrarily chosen by refraction or reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventor: Norbert Herschbach
  • Patent number: 9720090
    Abstract: A driver assistance system (12) comprises an optical detector (14) with active scene illumination. The optical detector includes at least one of a stereoscopic imager, a time-of-flight imager, a structured-light imager and a night vision system. The optical detector includes a light source (16) for converting electrical energy into light, projection optics (18) for illuminating a scene with light generated by the light source and one or more optical sensors (20) for detecting light returned from the scene in response to the scene being illuminated. The light source is thermally connected to a heat sink (30) for evacuating heat produced by the light source and the projection optics are optically connected to the light source with one or more optical fibers (22) for transport of light generated by the light source to the projection optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventor: Norbert Herschbach
  • Patent number: 9606237
    Abstract: A spatially coded structured light is generated by an array of laser diodes (1) in order to perform structured light triangulation. The laser diodes (1a-c) are VCSEL, where the light is emitted in the direction perpendicular to the semiconductor wafer surface. Plural such laser diodes (1a-c) are integrated monolithically to form an array (1). The position of the individual laser diodes in the array is coded spatially to form a non-regular unique pattern. The light output by the lasers is projected by a refractive or diffractive optical system (2) into the space to be monitored to form the structured light pattern. An object (5) to be investigated may be illuminated by the VCSEL array (1) and a camera (3) captures the frames. A processing unit (4) controls the power of VCSEL (1a-c) and processes the data from the camera (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventors: Norbert Herschbach, Jean-Luc Kaiser
  • Patent number: 9528819
    Abstract: A three-dimensional laser scanner instrument for acquiring three-dimensional geometric data of a scene (1) comprises an illumination system (3) for generating a light beam (2) and for scanning an illumination point of said light beam (2) through said scene (1), a light detection system (6-9) comprising at least one light detector (8), said light detection system being arranged to receive light from said scene (1), and an optical system (4) for imaging light scattered in or reflected from said scene (1) onto said light detection system (6-9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventor: Norbert Herschbach
  • Patent number: 9318877
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to hybrid three-dimensional imagers and to a laser source for active illumination for hybrid three-dimensional imagers (i.e. 3D imagers that make combined use of different 3D imaging technologies). The invention is applicable to three-dimensional imaging systems which use a combination of different imaging techniques (hybrid technologies) to achieve a higher precision or a higher level of reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A.
    Inventors: Norbert Herschbach, Jean-Luc Kaiser
  • Publication number: 20150355470
    Abstract: An optical system for the generation of a structured light field comprises an array of light sources and a structuring unit separate from said array of light sources, said structuring unit being refractive or reflective and transforming the output of that array of light sources into a structured light illumination by collimating the light beam of each individual light source and directing each beam into the scene under vertical and horizontal angles that can be arbitrarily chosen by refraction or reflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventor: Norbert HERSCHBACH
  • Publication number: 20150301181
    Abstract: A spatially coded structured light is generated by an array of laser diodes (1) in order to perform structured light triangulation. The laser diodes (1a-c) are VCSEL, where the light is emitted in the direction perpendicular to the semiconductor wafer surface. Plural such laser diodes (1a-c) are integrated monolithically to form an array (1). The position of the individual laser diodes in the array is coded spatially to form a non-regular unique pattern. The light output by the lasers is projected by a refractive or diffractive optical system (2) into the space to be monitored to form the structured light pattern. An object (5) to be investigated may be illuminated by the VCSEL array (1) and a camera (3) captures the frames. A processing unit (4) controls the power of VCSEL (1a-c) and processes the data from the camera (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Norbert HERSCHBACH, Jean-Luc KAISER
  • Publication number: 20150236476
    Abstract: A pulse modulated illumination source including a light emitting device, and a power source with first and second output terminals for generating DC current, where the illumination source further includes a first controllable switching device and a first signal generator for generating a first electrical control signal for the first controllable switching device, the first controllable switching device being connected in parallel to the light emitting device, where the illumination source further includes a second controllable switching device and a second signal generator for generating a second electrical control signal for the second controllable switching device, the second controllable switching device being connected in series with the at least one light emitting device and the second control signal being out of phase with the first control signal such that the second controllable switching device opens and decouples the light emitting device from the power source when the first controllable switching d
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Laurent Lamesch, Laurent Thiry, Norbert Herschbach
  • Publication number: 20150168555
    Abstract: A driver assistance system (12) comprises an optical detector (14) with active scene illumination. The optical detector includes at least one of a stereoscopic imager, a time-of-flight imager, a structured-light imager and a night vision system. The optical detector includes a light source (16) for converting electrical energy into light, projection optics (18) for illuminating a scene with light generated by the light source and one or more optical sensors (20) for detecting light returned from the scene in response to the scene being illuminated. The light source is thermally connected to a heat sink (30) for evacuating heat produced by the light source and the projection optics are optically connected to the light source with one or more optical fibers (22) for transport of light generated by the light source to the projection optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventor: Norbert Herschbach
  • Publication number: 20150092258
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to hybrid three-dimensional imagers and to a laser source for active illumination for hybrid three-dimensional imagers (i.e. 3D imagers that make combined use of different 3D imaging technologies). The invention is applicable to three-dimensional imaging systems which use a combination of different imaging techniques (hybrid technologies) to achieve a higher precision or a higher level of reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Norbert Herschbach, Jean-Luc Kaiser
  • Publication number: 20140240721
    Abstract: A three-dimensional laser scanner instrument for acquiring three-dimensional geometric data of a scene (1) comprises an illumination system (3) for generating a light beam (2) and for scanning an illumination point of said light beam (2) through said scene (1), a light detection system (6-9) comprising at least one light detector (8), said light detection system being arranged to receive light from said scene (1), and an optical system (4) for imaging light scattered in or reflected from said scene (1) onto said light detection system (6-9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Norbert Herschbach