Patents by Inventor Peter Hoefer

Peter Hoefer 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: 11079457
    Abstract: A microwave resonator for an electron paramagnetic resonance probehead comprises a cavity body supporting an electromagnetic microwave resonance mode, at least one sample opening for inserting a sample in a sample container, at least one microwave opening for transmitting microwave radiation into the resonator, and at least one access opening for inserting and removing a modifier in a modifier vessel into or out of the cavity body. The modifier vessel is fixed in the at least one access opening, the modifier is a fluid comprising attenuator fluid and/or marker fluid and/or adaptor fluid, and the modifier vessel has an insert opening for filling and discharging the modifier gradually into or out of the cavity body. This improves performance greatly, enabling a gradual modification of specific experimental conditions without moving any mechanical parts in the cavity body, and without changing other experimental conditions for Q- and/or M- and/or D-variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventors: Ion Prisecaru, Peter Höfer
  • Publication number: 20210018585
    Abstract: A microwave resonator for an electron paramagnetic resonance probehead comprises a cavity body supporting an electromagnetic microwave resonance mode, at least one sample opening for inserting a sample in a sample container, at least one microwave opening for transmitting microwave radiation into the resonator, and at least one access opening for inserting and removing a modifier in a modifier vessel into or out of the cavity body. The modifier vessel is fixed in the at least one access opening, the modifier is a fluid comprising attenuator fluid and/or marker fluid and/or adaptor fluid, and the modifier vessel has an insert opening for filling and discharging the modifier gradually into or out of the cavity body. This improves performance greatly, enabling a gradual modification of specific experimental conditions without moving any mechanical parts in the cavity body, and without changing other experimental conditions for Q- and/or M- and/or D-variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Ion Prisecaru, Peter Höfer
  • Patent number: 10656230
    Abstract: An EPR resonator for a cylindrical TE01n microwave mode, where n=1, 2, 3, or 4, has: a cylindrical body (10) which has an RF absorption of less than 5% at RFs below 1 kHz, a first plunger (11) delimiting the resonating volume within the body in an axial direction at a first end and a second plunger (12) delimiting the resonating volume within the body at a second end, the second plunger having an opening (13) for inserting an EPR sample. The first and second plunger each has a spiral winding of an electrically conductive filament wherein neither the ends nor neighboring turns of the spiral windings have electrically conductive connections prone to forming electrically closed loops. Using spiral winding plungers for cylindrical TE01n microwave modes provides equivalent functionality compared to conventional plungers, but without creating Eddy currents at frequencies lower than the frequency of the TE01n microwave mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: BRUKER BIOSPIN GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Hoefer, Ion Prisecaru
  • Patent number: 10353027
    Abstract: A microwave resonator for an EPR probe head has a metal cavity body (1) supporting an electromagnetic microwave resonance mode. The metal cavity body (1) has an opening for inserting a sample tube (2) to a center position of the resonator. The center of the opening and the center position of the resonator define an x-axis. The cavity body also has an opening for transmitting microwave radiation into the resonator. Two dielectric elements (4a, 4b) are located symmetrically to the E-field nodal plane containing the x-axis and a z-axis perpendicular to the x-axis. Each dielectric element is geometrically formed and positioned such that it provides an equal overlap with a local maximum of the microwave electric field energy. The microwave resonant cavity has a thin planar shape and the resonator is loaded with two dielectric elements, placed symmetrically relative to the central EPR sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Ion Prisecaru, Peter Hoefer
  • Publication number: 20180172790
    Abstract: An EPR resonator for a cylindrical TE01n microwave mode, where n=1, 2, 3, or 4, has: a cylindrical body (10) which has an RF absorption of less than 5% at RFs below 1 kHz, a first plunger (11) delimiting the resonating volume within the body in an axial direction at a first end and a second plunger (12) delimiting the resonating volume within the body at a second end, the second plunger having an opening (13) for inserting an EPR sample. The first and second plunger each has a spiral winding of an electrically conductive filament wherein neither the ends nor neighboring turns of the spiral windings have electrically conductive connections prone to forming electrically closed loops. Using spiral winding plungers for cylindrical TE01n microwave modes provides equivalent functionality compared to conventional plungers, but without creating Eddy currents at frequencies lower than the frequency of the TE01n microwave mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Peter HOEFER, Ion PRISECARU
  • Publication number: 20160274200
    Abstract: A microwave resonator for an EPR probe head has a metal cavity body (1) supporting an electromagnetic microwave resonance mode. The metal cavity body (1) has an opening for inserting a sample tube (2) to a center position of the resonator. The center of the opening and the center position of the resonator define an x-axis. The cavity body also has an opening for transmitting microwave radiation into the resonator. Two dielectric elements (4a, 4b) are located symmetrically to the E-field nodal plane containing the x-axis and a z-axis perpendicular to the x-axis. Each dielectric element is geometrically formed and positioned such that it provides an equal overlap with a local maximum of the microwave electric field energy. The microwave resonant cavity has a thin planar shape and the resonator is loaded with two dielectric elements, placed symmetrically relative to the central EPR sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Ion Prisecaru, Peter Hoefer
  • Patent number: 7919963
    Abstract: A resonator assembly for executing measurements on a sample within a constant magnetic field B0 by means of magnetic resonance is disclosed. It comprises a resonator portion defining a longitudinal axis and an axial direction. The resonator portion has, along the axial direction, a hollow cavity for exciting electron resonance within the sample. A coupling portion is provided adjacent the resonator portion and has, along the longitudinal axis, a stepped through being electrically conductive at its inner surface. A first, middle section of the stepped through configures the hollow cavity. A second and a third, lateral section adjacent axially opposed sides of the hollow cavity are each dimensioned such that a basic mode being resonant within the hollow cavity is unable to propagate within the second and the third section. A coil is wound around the resonator portion for additionally exciting a nuclear resonance within the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin, GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Krahn, Peter Hoefer, Marian Kloza, Frank Engelke
  • Publication number: 20090230963
    Abstract: A resonator assembly for executing measurements on a sample within a constant magnetic field B0 by means of magnetic resonance is disclosed. It comprises a resonator portion defining a longitudinal axis and an axial direction. The resonator portion has, along the axial direction, a hollow cavity for exciting electron resonance within the sample. A coupling portion is provided adjacent the resonator portion and has, along the longitudinal axis, a stepped through being electrically conductive at its inner surface. A first, middle section of the stepped through configures the hollow cavity. A second and a third, lateral section adjacent axially opposed sides of the hollow cavity are each dimensioned such that a basic mode being resonant within the hollow cavity is unable to propagate within the second and the third section. A coil is wound around the resonator portion for additionally exciting a nuclear resonance within the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: BRUKER BIOSPIN GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Krahn, Peter Hoefer, Marian Kloza, Frank Engelke
  • Patent number: 7586305
    Abstract: In a method for determining an absolute number of electron spins in an extended sample (3) with the assistance of an apparatus for measuring magnetic resonance, the extended sample (3) is disposed within a measurement volume (2) of a radiofrequency RF resonator (1) of the apparatus during an electron spin resonance measurement (ESR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Höfer, Patrick Carl
  • Patent number: 7436181
    Abstract: A probe head for nuclear magnetic resonance measurements comprises a sample holder having a stator and a rotor. The rotor is journalled for rotation about an axis of rotation within the stator. It is adapted for receiving a sample substance. The axis of rotation is inclined by an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the probe head. The stator is configured as a dielectric resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Inventors: Alexander Krahn, Peter Hoefer, Frank Engelke
  • Patent number: 7391212
    Abstract: A resonator apparatus and a method for electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements are disclosed. The resonator apparatus comprises a dielectric resonator and a sample vessel extending through the resonator. The sample vessel is configured as one single flexible tube. Means are provided for conveying a liquid sample substance through the flexible tube. According to the method a liquid sample substance is guided through the sample vessel, wherein the sample substance is gated by cyclically conveying and stopping, resp., a flow of the sample substance. A measurement is conducted within the resonator when the flow of sample substance is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Diether Maier, Dieter Schmalbein, Andreas Kamlowski, Marian Kloza, Peter Hoefer
  • Publication number: 20070030005
    Abstract: A probe head for nuclear magnetic resonance measurements comprises a sample holder having a stator and a rotor. The rotor is journalled for rotation about an axis of rotation within the stator. It is adapted for receiving a sample substance. The axis of rotation is inclined by an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the probe head. The stator is configured as a dielectric resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Krahn, Peter Hoefer, Frank Engelke
  • Publication number: 20030155916
    Abstract: A resonator apparatus and a method for electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements are disclosed. The resonator apparatus comprises a dielectric resonator and a sample vessel extending through the resonator. The sample vessel is configured as one single flexible tube. Means are provided for conveying a liquid sample substance through the flexible tube. According to the method a liquid sample substance is guided through the sample vessel, wherein the sample substance is gated by cyclically conveying and stopping, resp., a flow of the sample substance. A measurement is conducted within the resonator when the flow of sample substance is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Diether Maier, Dieter Schmalbein, Andreas Kamlowski, Marian Kloza, Peter Hoefer
  • Patent number: 6314199
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the examination, especially the quality control, of optical components, in which an image of the particular component to be examined is produced and flaws in the imaged article are detected by image analysis, as well as the integration of that examining process into the manufacture of the component. The optical components may be optical components for the eye, such as spectacle lenses, contact lenses, intraocular lenses and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Peter Höfer, Peter Hagmann, Roland Hauck, Wolfgang Geissler, Hubert Lutz
  • Patent number: 5789257
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for detecting a first substance within a second substance, preferably for localizing diamonds in kimberlite rocks. The first substance, e.g. the diamonds, have a very long spin-lattice relaxation time (T.sub.1) in the order of hours. For rapidly detecting the first substance, the build-up of magnetization of a predetermined kind of nuclei, e.g. .sup.13 C, being abundant in the first substance only is shortened and the nuclear magnetic resonance of that kind of nuclei is measured thereafter. The shortening is executed within a pre-treatment station, whereas the measurement takes place within an analyzing station. The shortening and the measuring, respectively, are carried out within magnetic fields (B.sub.01, B.sub.02) of different field strengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Bruker Analytische Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Ulf Anders Staffan Tapper, Detlef R. Mueller, Grant Lysle High, George William Over, Peter Hoefer
  • Patent number: 5619139
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for detecting an atomic structure of a sample along a surface thereof. The method comprises arranging the sample in a constant magnetic field (B.sub.0) of predetermined field strength and high homogeneity and irradiating a high-frequency magnetic field (B.sub.1) of a predetermined frequency on the sample, wherein the fields (B.sub.0) and (B.sub.1) are oriented perpendicularly to each other. The method further comprises providing a force-sensitive sensor having a paramagnetic tip comprising a paramagnetic material. The sensor is placed in close vicinity to the sample such that the paramagnetic tip is in atomic interaction with the sample surface which means that the distance between the tip and the surface is in the order of between 1 and 10 .ANG.. The predetermined field strength and the predetermined frequency are set such that electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is excited within the tip paramagnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Bruker Analytische Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Karoly Holczer, Dieter Schmalbein, Peter Hoefer
  • Patent number: 4618228
    Abstract: A bifocal contact lens has two, differently-focusing lens parts with a transitional zone therebetween and an arrangement to orient the zone vertically in use. The focus of the lens part then closer to user's nose is preferably adapted for reading and the other for distance. Preferably, too, the transitional area runs across the optical and physical center of at least an optical portion of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Titmus Eurocon Kontaktlinsen GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Baron, Peter Hoefer, Herbert Schwind