Patents by Inventor Oliver Muelhens

Oliver Muelhens 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: 11313977
    Abstract: A scalable medical imaging detector arrangement is provided having interchangeable sensor tiles with fixed outer dimensions for a fixed or universal mechanical, electrical, and cooling interface. Different sensor tile types with different performance grades and production costs care configured with a common interface for coupling to the medical imaging device, while the rest of the imaging system can remain unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Torsten Solf, Oliver Muelhens
  • Publication number: 20200408928
    Abstract: A scalable medical imaging detector arrangement is provided having interchangeable sensor tiles with fixed outer dimensions for a fixed or universal mechanical, electrical, and cooling interface. Different sensor tile types with different performance grades and production costs care configured with a common interface for coupling to the medical imaging device, while the rest of the imaging system can remain unchanged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Torsten SOLF, Oliver MUELHENS
  • Patent number: 9318518
    Abstract: An imaging system (100) includes a radiation source (112) that emits radiation that traverses an examination region and a detector array (114) with a plurality of photon counting detector pixels (116) that detect radiation traversing the examination region and respectfully generate a signal indicative of the detected radiation. The photon counting detector pixel includes a direct conversion layer (122) having a first radiation receiving side (202) and second opposing side (206), a cathode (118) affixed to and covering all of or a substantial portion of the first side, an anode (120) affixed to a centrally located region (208) of the second side, wherein the anode includes at least two sub-anodes (120, 120i, 1202, 120N), and a metallization (124) affixed to the second side, surrounding the anode and the anode region, with a gap between the anode and the metallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Hermann, Oliver Muelhens
  • Patent number: 9176238
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detection device (6) for detecting photons emitted by a radiation source (2). A signal generation unit (20) generates a detection signal indicative of the energy of a detected photon while photons strike the detection device (6), and a baseline signal, which is affected by photons that previously struck the detection device (6), while photons are prevented from striking the detection device (6). A baseline shift determination unit (40) determines a baseline shift of the detection signal depending on the baseline signal. An energy determination unit (30) determines the energy of a detected photon depending on the detection signal and the determined baseline shift. Since the baseline shift of the detection signal is determined from a baseline signal that is generated while photons are prevented from striking the detection device (6), the baseline shift can be determined with higher accuracy, resulting in an improved energy determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Herrmann, Roger Steadman Booker, Oliver Muelhens
  • Patent number: 9063240
    Abstract: A radiation detector assembly (20) includes a detector array module (40) configured to convert radiation particles to electrical detection pulses, and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) (42) operatively connected with the detector array. The ASIC includes signal processing circuitry (60) configured to digitize an electrical detection pulse received from the detector array, and test circuitry (80) configured to inject a test electrical pulse into the signal processing circuitry. The test circuitry includes a current meter (84) configured to measure the test electrical pulse injected into the signal processing circuitry, and a charge pulse generator (82) configured to generate a test electrical pulse that is injected into the signal processing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Herrmann, Roger Steadman, Oliver Muelhens
  • Publication number: 20130287172
    Abstract: An imaging system (100) includes a radiation source (112) that emits radiation that traverses an examination region and a detector array (114) with a plurality of photon counting detector pixels (116) that detect radiation traversing the examination region and respectfully generate a signal indicative of the detected radiation. The photon counting detector pixel includes a direct conversion layer (122) having a first radiation receiving side (202) and second opposing side (206), a cathode (118) affixed to and covering all of or a substantial portion of the first side, an anode (120) affixed to a centrally located region (208) of the second side, wherein the anode includes at least two sub-anodes (120, 120i, 1202, 120N), and a metallization (124) affixed to the second side, surrounding the anode and the anode region, with a gap between the anode and the metallization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Hermann, Oliver Muelhens
  • Publication number: 20130284940
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detection device (6) for detecting photons emitted by a radiation source (2). A signal generation unit (20) generates a detection signal indicative of the energy of a detected photon while photons strike the detection device (6), and a baseline signal, which is affected by photons that previously struck the detection device (6), while photons are prevented from striking the detection device (6). A baseline shift determination unit (40) determines a baseline shift of the detection signal depending on the baseline signal. An energy determination unit (30) determines the energy of a detected photon depending on the detection signal and the determined baseline shift. Since the baseline shift of the detection signal is determined from a baseline signal that is generated while photons are prevented from striking the detection device (6), the baseline shift can be determined with higher accuracy, resulting in an improved energy determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Herrmann, Roger Steadman Booker, Oliver Muelhens
  • Patent number: 8373132
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector and a method for producing such a detector, wherein the detector comprises a stack of the scintillator elements and photodiode arrays. The PDAs extend with electrical leads into a rigid body filling a border volume lateral of the scintillator elements, wherein said leads end in a contact surface of the border volume. Moreover, a redistribution layer is disposed on the contact surface, wherein electrical lines of the redistribution layer contact the leads of the PDAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V.
    Inventors: Christian Baeumer, Oliver Muelhens, Roger Steadman Booker, Christoph Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8350221
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for generating countable pulses (30) from impinging X-ray (12, 14) in an imaging device (16), in particular in a computer tomograph, the apparatus (10) comprising a pre-amplifying element (18) adapted to convert a charge pulse (20) generated by an impinging photon (12, 14) into an electrical signal (22) and a shaping element (26) having a feedback loop (28) and adapted to convert the electrical signal (22) into an electrical pulse (30), wherein a delay circuit (38) is connected to the feedback loop (28) such that a time during which the feedback loop (28) collects charges of the electrical signal (22) is extended in order to improve an amplitude of the electrical pulse (30) at an output (56) of the shaping element (26). The invention also relates to a corresponding imaging device (16) and a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Roger Steadman Booker, Christian Baeumer, Christoph Herrmann, Guenter Zeitler, Hans Krüger, Walter Ruetten, Oliver Muelhens
  • Publication number: 20120228486
    Abstract: A radiation detector assembly (20) includes a detector array module (40) configured to convert radiation particles to electrical detection pulses, and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) (42) operatively connected with the detector array. The ASIC includes signal processing circuitry (60) configured to digitize an electrical detection pulse received from the detector array, and test circuitry (80) configured to inject a test electrical pulse into the signal processing circuitry. The test circuitry includes a current meter (84) configured to measure the test electrical pulse injected into the signal processing circuitry, and a charge pulse generator (82) configured to generate a test electrical pulse that is injected into the signal processing circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Herrmann, Roger Steadman, Oliver Muelhens
  • Publication number: 20110211668
    Abstract: The invention relates to converter element (100) for a radiation detector, particularly for a Spectral CT scanner. The converter element (100) comprises at least two conversion cells (131) that are at least partially separated from each other by intermediate separation walls (135) which affect the spreading of electrical signals generated by incident radiation (X). The conversion cells (131) may particularly consist of a crystal of CdTe and/or CdZnTe. Said crystal is preferably grown by e.g. vapor deposition between preformed separation walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Roger Steadman Booker, Matthias Simon, Christoph Herrmann, Bernd Menser, Jens Wiegert, Klaus Juergen Engel, Christian Baeumer, Oliver Muelhens
  • Patent number: 7782999
    Abstract: Systems and methods for data acquisition in computed tomography (CT) applications are provided. The systems and methods are particularly adapted for scanning and acquiring/processing data in connection with high-power cone-beam CT applications. The electron beam is moved/scanned along the anode surface to multiple focal positions. Data acquisition for a full projection at one focus position and one view angle is achieved by activating each focus position multiple times during the data acquisition for one angle of the gantry. The detector array and associated data processing system are adapted to rapidly switch between the different focus positions during the acquisitions for one view angle and to collect all data belonging to the same projection into the same data set. Adaptive electron optics are utilized to move/scan the electron beam along the anode surface to the various focus positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Astrid Lewalter, Rainer Pietig, Guenter Zeitler, Kai Eck, Christoph Herrmann, Rainer Kiewitt, Christoph Loef, Oliver Muelhens, Carolina Ribbing, Georg Rose, Matthias Simon, Olaf Wischhusen
  • Publication number: 20100200760
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector and a method for producing such a detector, wherein the detector comprises a stack of the scintillator elements and photodiode arrays. The PDAs extend with electrical leads into a rigid body filling a border volume lateral of the scintillator elements, wherein said leads end in a contact surface of the border volume. Moreover, a redistribution layer is disposed on the contact surface, wherein electrical lines of the redistribution layer contact the leads of the PDAs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Christian BAEUMER, Oliver MUELHENS, Roger STEADMAN BOOKER, Christoph HERRMANN
  • Publication number: 20100172467
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for generating countable pulses (30) from impinging X-ray (12, 14) in an imaging device (16), in particular in a computer tomograph, the apparatus (10) comprising a pre-amplifying element (18) adapted to convert a charge pulse (20) generated by an impinging photon (12, 14) into an electrical signal (22) and a shaping element (26) having a feedback loop (28) and adapted to convert the electrical signal (22) into an electrical pulse (30), wherein a delay circuit (38) is connected to the feedback loop (28) such that a time during which the feedback loop (28) collects charges of the electrical signal (22) is extended in order to improve an amplitude of the electrical pulse (30) at an output (56) of the shaping element (26). The invention also relates to a corresponding imaging device (16) and a corresponding method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Roger Steadman Booker, Christian Baeumer, Christoph Herrmann, Guenter Zeitler, Hans Krüger, Walter Ruetten, Oliver Muelhens
  • Publication number: 20090161819
    Abstract: Systems and methods for data acquisition in computed tomography (CT) applications are provided. The systems and methods are particularly adapted for scanning and acquiring/processing data in connection with high-power cone-beam CT applications. The electron beam is moved/scanned along the anode surface to multiple focal positions. Data acquisition for a full projection at one focus position and one view angle is achieved by activating each focus position multiple times during the data acquisition for one angle of the gantry. The detector array and associated data processing system are adapted to rapidly switch between the different focus positions during the acquisitions for one view angle and to collect all data belonging to the same projection into the same data set. Adaptive electron optics are utilized to move/scan the electron beam along the anode surface to the various focus positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Astrid Lewalter, Rainer Pietig, Guenter Zeitler, Kai Eck, Christoph Herrmann, Rainer Kiewitt, Christoph Loef, Oliver Muelhens, Carolina Ribbing, Georg Rose, Matthias Simon, Olaf Wischhusen
  • Publication number: 20020095685
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transponder for monitoring network elements of a hybrid fiber coax network with firmware, which firmware
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Heribert Baldus, Wolfgang Otto Budde, Karin Klabunde, Oliver Muelhens