Patents by Inventor Patrick Willem

Patrick Willem 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: 7205729
    Abstract: A control system for lighting and video devices, wherein said control system includes at least one video device; at least one lighting device; and a software protocol, capable of communicating three different protocols, such as a digital video/data protocol, a common lighting protocol and a data protocol to the video and lighting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: BARCO, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Robbie Thielemans, Patrick Willem, Gino Tanghe
  • Patent number: 7193416
    Abstract: The invention relates to an open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet system (1) for use in a medical imaging system. The open MRI magnet system has two main coil units which are accomodated, at some distance from each other, in a first housing (2) and in a second housing (3), respectively. Between the two housings, an imaging volume (6) is present wherein a patient to be examined is placed. A gradient coil unit (9, 10) facing the imaging volume is present near a side of each of the two housings. Functional connections of the gradient coil units (9, 10), such as electrical power supply lines (13, 14) and cooling channels (15, 16) are provided in a central passage (4, 5) which is present in each of the two housings. As a result, these functional connections do not reduce the space in the imaging volume available for the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Royston Harvey, Johannes Adrianus Overweg, Cornelis Leonardus Gerardus Ham, Nicolaas Bernardus Roozen, Patrick Willem Paul Limpens
  • Patent number: 7102601
    Abstract: A pixel module for use in a large-area display has a cluster of sequentially interconnected similar pixel modules that are driven by a central controller. The module includes pixel elements that have a serial video data bus input, and command input lines that are electrically connected to inputs of a latch. The latch has parallel inputs and outputs which are clocked with a data dock input. Also included are a current driver device for driving the pixels, a first inverter for driving the data clock input, an address input connected to a second inverter, an EEPROM connected to the input port, and a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: BARCO, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Bruno Devos, Herbert Van Hille, Nele Dedene, Patrick Willem, Robbie Thielemans
  • Patent number: 7071620
    Abstract: A display pixel module for use in a configurable large-screen display application, with an array of pixels (122) mounted at the front (200) of the module (120) and provided with input and output connectors (206–207), characterized in that at least some of the side walls (202) and of the upper and lower walls (203–204) are tapered inwardly, enclosing an angle (A) with the front (200) and in that it is provided with mounting means to fix the module on a mounting surface of a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: BARCO, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Bruno Devos, Herbert Van Hille, Nele Dedene, Patrick Willem, Robbie Thielemans, Karim Meersman
  • Patent number: 7053616
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (1) comprising an examination volume (11), a main magnet system (13) for generating a main magnetic field (B0) in the examination volume in a Z-direction, a gradient magnet system (19) for generating gradients of the main magnetic field, and an anti-vibration system (33) for reducing vibrations of the gradient magnet system caused by a mechanical load (MX, MY) exerted on the gradient magnet system as a result of electromagnetic interaction between the main magnetic field and electrical currents in the gradient magnet system. According to the invention the anti-vibration system (33) comprises a balance member (39), which is coupled to the gradient magnet system (19) by means of an actuator system (51) and a coupling device (49) allowing displacements of the balance member relative to the gradient magnet system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Nicolaas Bernardus Roozen, Cornelis Leonardus Gerardus Ham, Paul Royston Harvey, Patrick Willem Paul Limpens
  • Patent number: 7035224
    Abstract: The invention relates to a network comprising a plurality of network nodes and one star node, which star node is provided for the direct coupling of at least two network nodes. The star node comprises a plurality of star interfaces which are assigned to at least one network node and which comprise each an activity detector for detecting activities in the message signal coming from the assigned network node and for transferring the message signal from the assigned network node to the other star interfaces or from another star interface to the assigned network node in dependence on at least one activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Fuhrmann, Wolfgang Budde, Hendrik Boezen, Patrick Willem Hubert Heuts
  • Publication number: 20060077193
    Abstract: An intelligent lighting module for use in a lighting or display module system which is composed of an array of lighting modules, each of the lighting modules being provided with a display board with an array of individual pixel lighting elements and with a control board capable of controlling serial input data from a video source for displaying video as well as of controlling digital communication input data from a lighting console for creating digital lighting effects, wherein the display board includes a drive buffer and an array of pulse-width modulation (PWM) drivers which are connected to the lighting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: Robbie Thielemans, Patrick Willem, Gino Tanghe
  • Publication number: 20060076906
    Abstract: A control system for lighting and video devices, wherein said control system includes at least one video device; at least one lighting device; and a software protocol, capable of communicating three different protocols, such as a digital video/data protocol, a common lighting protocol and a data protocol to the video and lighting devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: Robbie Thielemans, Patrick Willem, Gino Tanghe
  • Patent number: 7019721
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting diode drive circuit for a display application includes a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) having an anode and a cathode, the organic light-emitting diodes being connected to anode lines and cathode lines, and at least one drive circuit. The organic light-emitting diodes are arranged in a common anode configuration, whereas the drive circuit is configured as a common anode drive device, so that each concerned cathode line can be connected by a respective first switch to a current source and so that each concerned anode line can be connected by a respective second switch to a positive power supply. The respective first switches are configured such that, when a cathode line is in use, a connection is made between the cathode line in use and the respective current source and, when the cathode line is unused, the cathode line is connected to a positive power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Naamloze Vennootschap, Barco
    Inventors: Robbie Thielemans, Gino Tanghe, Herbert Van Hille, Patrick Willem
  • Patent number: 6998949
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (1) comprising an examination volume (11), a main magnet system (17) for generating a magnetic field (B0) in the examination volume, and a gradient magnet system (25) for generating altering gradients of the magnetic field in the examination volume. The gradient magnet system is accommodated in a housing (31) having a main wall (33) facing the examination volume and a substantially conical wall (35) facing away from the examination volume. The main wall and the conical wall enclose a substantially angular tip portion (47) of the housing. In order to limit the level of the acoustic vibrations in and around the MRI system (1) caused by mechanical vibrations of the angular tip portion (47), the MRI system comprises a plurality of acoustic resonators (55) which each comprise an elongate resonance volume (57) with an open end (59) and a closed end (61) and a length (L) between the open end and the closed end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Nicolaas Bernardus Roozen, Martijn Roger La Grange, Paul Royston Harvey, Patrick Willem Paul Limpens, Cornelis Leonardus Gerardus Ham
  • Patent number: 6993082
    Abstract: A CAN communication line is operated whilst detecting a ground level shift on the communication line through storing a data element indicative for the shift. In particular, a current line voltage level is compared to a standard level, and a thresholded version of the comparison is fed to a storage element that is triggered by a local transmission indicator signal. Then a ground shift sample bit from the storage element is outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Patrick Willem Hubert Heuts, Aloysius Johannes Maria Boomkamp, Robert Mores
  • Publication number: 20050134526
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a configurable emissive display tile, e.g. an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display tile and associated methods for use in a tiled large-screen display application. The OLED tile assembly of the present invention is capable of operating either as an autonomous display or, alternatively, may operate within a set of OLED display tiles forming a larger tiled display. An embodiment of an OLED tile assembly (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1C, including a power supply (158), a cooling system with cooling fans (160) and cooling blocks (146) and a control system, comprising a control board (154) with processor, an OLED board (142) and a substrate (140).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Patrick Willem, Nele Dedene, Herbert Hille, Robbie Thielemans
  • Publication number: 20050052375
    Abstract: Configurable large-area display system with a display (114) comprising a plurality of sub-displays that each contain an array of pixels (122), characterized in that it further comprises a central controller hardware and software block (110) containing software to control the display system (100) and to generate control data and video signals to be displayed on the display (114); a digitizer (112) that converts said control data and video signals to a digital signal compatible with the display (114); whereby the digitized control data and video signals are passed from one sub-display to the next, and whereby each sub-display is a control unit (116) capable of controlling the individual pixels (122) of said control unit (116) as a function of its position within the display (114) and of the received control data and video signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Bruno Devos, Herbert Hille, Nele Dedene, Patrick Willem, Robbie Thielemans
  • Publication number: 20050052374
    Abstract: A display pixel module for use in a configurable large-screen display application, with an array of pixels (122) mounted at the front (200) of the module (120) and provided with input and output connectors (206-207), characterized in that at least some of the side walls (202) and of the upper and lower walls (203-204) are tapered inwardly, enclosing an angle (A) with the front (200) and in that it is provided with mounting means to fix the module on a mounting surface of a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Bruno Devos, Herbert Hille, Nele Dedene, Patrick Willem, Robbie Thielemans, Karim Meersman
  • Publication number: 20050052373
    Abstract: A pixel module for use in a large-area display, in particular as part of a cluster (118) of a plurality of sequentially interconnected similar pixel modules (120) and driven by a central controller (116), comprising one or more pixel elements (122), characterized in that it further comprises a serial video data bus input (SERIAL IN) and one or more command input lines (CMD's In) electrically connected to inputs of a latch (210) having parallel inputs and outputs and which is clocked with a data clock input (DATA CLK); a current driver device for driving said one or more pixels (122) which is electrically connected to the outputs of latch (210) and to the data clock input (DATA CLK) and which includes a serial output port (SERIAL OUT) for transmitting the serial data to the next pixel module (120) in sequence; a first inverter (214), the output of which (DATA CLK “not”) can be used to drive the data clock input (DATA CLK) of the next pixel module (120) in sequence; a grayscale clock (GS CLK) input which is ele
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Bruno Devos, Herbert Van Hille, Nele Dedene, Patrick Willem, Robbie Thielemans
  • Publication number: 20050052141
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting diode drive circuit for a display application includes a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) having an anode and a cathode, the organic light-emitting diodes being connected to anode lines and cathode lines, and at least one drive circuit. The organic light-emitting diodes are arranged in a common anode configuration, whereas the drive circuit is configured as a common anode drive device, so that each concerned cathode line can be connected by a respective first switch to a current source and so that each concerned anode line can be connected by a respective second switch to a positive power supply The respective first switches are configured such that, when a cathode line is in use, a connection is made between the cathode line in use and the respective current source and, when the cathode line is unused, the cathode line is connected to a positive power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Robbie Thielemans, Gino Tanghe, Herbert Van Hille, Patrick Willem
  • Publication number: 20040233125
    Abstract: Method for displaying images on a large-screen organic light-emitting diode display, characterized in that use is made of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display (100) comprising an array of OLED display tiles (140) that are each formed of an array of smaller OLED display modules (130), each OLED display module (130) comprising a number of OLED pixels, wherein each OLED display module (130) includes an intelligent OLED module processing system (210), whereby, in order to display the images, data concerning the image to be displayed, provided by a general processing unit, in other words a system controller, are transmitted to tile processing systems (220) and from each tile processing system (220) towards the respective modules (130).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Gino Tanghe, Patrick Willem, Robbie Thielemans
  • Patent number: 6614290
    Abstract: An integrated circuit according to the invention comprises at least a first and a second circuit (1, 2 resp.) and a first and a second signal path (10-20 and 11-21 resp.) between the first and the second circuit. The first and the second signal path each comprise a selection element (30) which has a first input (30a, 31a) coupled to the first circuit (1), and a second input (30b, 31b). The selection element (30) has an output (30c, 31c) coupled to the second circuit (2). The second input (31b) of the selection element (31) of the second signal path (11-21) is coupled to a memory element (41). The output (40a) of the selection element (30) of the first signal path (10-20) is coupled to an input (40a) of the memory element (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Patrick Willem Hubert Heuts, Jozef Laurentius Wilhelmus Kessels, Adrianus Marinus Gerardus Peeters
  • Patent number: 6512308
    Abstract: A fault tolerant air bag system needs a floating supply, which supply conventionally is made by means of a DC-DC converter with a transformer. By splitting the main energy reserve capacitor (14) into two capacitors (14, 34), and coupling one of the capacitors (34) to the other (14) by means of switches (36, 38) which open during a crash, no transformer is needed any more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik Boezen, Aloysius Johannes Maria Boomkamp, Martinus Bredius, Peter Buehring, Patrick Willem Hubert Heuts, Abraham Klaas Van Den Heuvel, Egon Joehnk, Maarten Teunis Visser, Ruurd Anne Visser
  • Publication number: 20020120894
    Abstract: An integrated circuit according to the invention comprises at least a first and a second circuit (1, 2 resp.) and a first and a second signal path (10-20 and 11-21 resp.) between the first and the second circuit. The first and the second signal path each comprise a selection element (30) which has a first input (30a, 31a) coupled to the first circuit (1), and a second input (30b, 31b). The selection element (30) has an output (30c, 31c) coupled to the second circuit (2). The second input (31b) of the selection element (31) of the second signal path (11-21) is coupled to a memory element (41). The output (40a) of the selection element (30) of the first signal path (10-20) is coupled to an input (40a) of the memory element (40).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Patrick Willem Hubert Heuts, Jozef Laurentius Wilhelmus Kessels, Adrianus Marinus Gerardus Peeters