Patents by Inventor Rainer Henkel

Rainer Henkel 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: 9158028
    Abstract: In a facility for checking large-volume goods, in particular freight goods, with an X-ray source, which emits X-rays for irradiating the goods, and with a detector arrangement aligned with the X-ray source, the detectors of the detector arrangement are designed or arranged in such a way that detector rows are produced with two row limbs which abut one another at right angles on their longitudinal sides, of which one limb is aligned parallel to the movement direction of the goods being checked, and the other is aligned perpendicular to this in the direction of the X-ray source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Bartscher, Andreas Frank, Rainer Henkel, Claus Meder
  • Publication number: 20150179368
    Abstract: Provided herein are devices, assemblies, and methods of use thereof to prevent inadvertent actuation of an element while allowing intentional actuation by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Smith Heimann GmbH
    Inventors: Kristofer Roe, Rainer Henkel
  • Publication number: 20140016746
    Abstract: In a facility for checking large-volume goods, in particular freight goods, with an X-ray source, which emits X-rays for irradiating the goods, and with a detector arrangement aligned with the X-ray source, the detectors of the detector arrangement are designed or arranged in such a way that detector rows are produced with two row limbs which abut one another at right angles on their longitudinal sides, of which one limb is aligned parallel to the movement direction of the goods being checked, and the other is aligned perpendicular to this in the direction of the X-ray source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Smiths Heimann HmbH
    Inventors: Bernd BARTSCHER, Andreas FRANK, Rainer HENKEL, Claus MEDER
  • Patent number: 8406520
    Abstract: A method for improving detail detectability in x-ray images is provided, whereby by means of an x-ray inspection device a positive x-ray image of an object is made, the x-ray image is subdivided into an object region and an empty region, and the empty region of the x-ray image is darkened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Henkel
  • Patent number: 8165267
    Abstract: A method and device is provided for controlling a hand luggage and other objects carried by flight passengers during check-in, wherein the complexity of an object is determined in a first verifying device by automatic verification. Afterwards, supplementary verification steps are carried out according to the determined complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Henkel
  • Patent number: 7686154
    Abstract: In order to check hand luggage and other objects carried by persons, control stations are needed, which have a control unit, in particular an X-ray checking unit, a conveyor which extends through the control unit, a depositing point which is arranged ahead of the conveyor, and a removal point which is arranged behind the conveyor, for the objects and having transport tubs which can be placed onto the conveyor. Small objects and items of clothing are placed in the transport tubs and conveyed through the control unit for checking. A return conveyor for the transport tubs is arranged next to or below the conveyor which passes through the control unit, which return conveyor reaches from the removal point behind the conveyor at least as far as into the region of the depositing point ahead of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Henkel, Harald Jentsch, Helmut Thoma
  • Publication number: 20090038998
    Abstract: In order to check hand luggage and other objects carried by persons, control stations are needed, which have a control unit, in particular an X-ray checking unit, a conveyor which extends through the control unit, a depositing point which is arranged ahead of the conveyor, and a removal point which is arranged behind the conveyor, for the objects and having transport tubs which can be placed onto the conveyor. Small objects and items of clothing are placed in the transport tubs and conveyed through the control unit for checking. A return conveyor for the transport tubs is arranged next to or below the conveyor which passes through the control unit, which return conveyor reaches from the removal point behind the conveyor at least as far as into the region of the depositing point ahead of the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Rainer Henkel, Harald Jentsch, Helmut Thoma
  • Publication number: 20080089479
    Abstract: A method for improving detail detectability in x-ray images is provided, whereby by means of an x-ray inspection device a positive x-ray image of an object is made, the x-ray image is subdivided into an object region and an empty region, and the empty region of the x-ray image is darkened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventor: Rainer Henkel
  • Publication number: 20080083661
    Abstract: A method and device is provided for controlling a hand luggage and other objects carried by flight passengers during check-in, wherein the complexity of an object is determined in a first verifying device by automatic verification. Afterwards, supplementary verification steps are carried out according to the determined complexity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventor: Rainer Henkel
  • Patent number: 6587595
    Abstract: A method of optimizing an X-ray image representing an article transilluminated by X-rays, includes the following steps: detecting the X-rays leaving the article after transillumination thereof by the X-rays; processing, in a computer, the detected X-rays as image dots to obtain an image; applying the image dots to an image memory; scanning the image dots according to gray scale values thereof; comparing the scanned gray scale values with a desired threshold gray scale value; upon finding an image dot which is other than the desired threshold gray scale value, counting subsequent image dots to obtain an image zone A; determining the gray scale values of the image dots of the image zone A; and expanding the gray scale values of the image dots of the image zone A to higher image dot values for effecting a local brightening of the X-ray image in the image zone A by the higher image dot values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Heimann Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Henkel, Knut Beneke
  • Patent number: 6198795
    Abstract: An image processing method for recognizing a material contained in an article includes the following steps: transilluminating the article with X-rays; generating, by an X-ray detector, signals representing the X-rays passing through the article; applying the signals to a computer system as continuous image data; subdividing the image data into defined zone-wise image strips; briefly storing the image strips in an image data memory; and determining the material from the image strips before a completion of the transilluminating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Heimann Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Naumann, Rainer Henkel, Knut Beneke
  • Patent number: 5379334
    Abstract: A simplified and improved object testing system which, according to the present invention, includes a first and a second imaging system for generating a radiograph of the object as a visible image on a monitor, and a common operating unit controlling the first and second imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Heimann Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Zimmer, Rainer Henkel, Rainer Bermbach