Patents by Inventor Thomas Rittenschober

Thomas Rittenschober 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: 11307285
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one first microphone (10) which is movably arranged, at least one second stationary microphone (11) and at least one sensor (16) is described. The microphones can capture the sound waves emitted by acoustic sources, and the sensor can capture spatial coordinates of the first microphone. A corresponding method and a system having the apparatus mentioned are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: SEVEN BEL GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Rittenschober
  • Publication number: 20210113189
    Abstract: Systems are provided for the arrangement of decoupled electric and acoustic modules for a transducer array of an ultrasound probe. In one embodiment, the decoupled modules are independently coupled to a flex interconnect, apart from one another, allowing for electric communication between all modules through the flex interconnect. As one example, an ultrasound transducer array for an ultrasound probe comprises an acoustic backing, a flex interconnect coupled to the backing at a first surface of the flex interconnect, a matrix acoustic array coupled to a second surface of the flex interconnect, the second surface opposite the first surface, and an electric module coupled to the second surface of the flex interconnect at a location spaced away from where the matrix acoustic array is coupled to the flex interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, David A. Chartrand, Thomas Rittenschober, Scott William Easterbrook, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl
  • Publication number: 20210096208
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one first microphone (10) which is movably arranged, at least one second stationary microphone (11) and at least one sensor (16) is described. The microphones can capture the sound waves emitted by acoustic sources, and the sensor can capture spatial coordinates of the first microphone. A corresponding method and a system having the apparatus mentioned are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas Rittenschober
  • Patent number: 10905398
    Abstract: Systems are provided for the arrangement of decoupled electric and acoustic modules for a transducer array of an ultrasound probe. In one embodiment, the decoupled modules are independently coupled to a flex interconnect, apart from one another, allowing for electric communication between all modules through the flex interconnect. As one example, an ultrasound transducer array for an ultrasound probe comprises an acoustic backing, a flex interconnect coupled to the backing at a first surface of the flex interconnect, a matrix acoustic array coupled to a second surface of the flex interconnect, the second surface opposite the first surface, and an electric module coupled to the second surface of the flex interconnect at a location spaced away from where the matrix acoustic array is coupled to the flex interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, David A. Chartrand, Thomas Rittenschober, Scott William Easterbrook, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl
  • Patent number: 10488502
    Abstract: An ultrasound probe and method of forming an ultrasound probe are provided. The ultrasound probe comprises a two-dimensional (2D) transducer assembly having transducer elements arranged in rows and columns. The transducer elements have front and rear surfaces. The front surface is configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from an object of interest. A thin film flex circuit extends along the rear surface of the transducer assembly. The flex circuit has conductive traces arranged in layers and enclosed within a common dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a homogeneous composition surrounding the layers of the conductive traces. The conductive traces are electrically interconnected to the corresponding transducer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, Thomas Rittenschober, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl, Rainer Schröder
  • Patent number: 10292686
    Abstract: A medical ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic probe having a probe head and a connector. The connector includes a fluid cooling system comprising a pump configured to pump a cooling fluid between the connector and the probe head. A damper including a housing has a first portion defining a cavity receiving the cooling fluid and a second portion including a gas that is separated from the first portion by a membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Erich Birglehner, Thomas Rittenschober
  • Publication number: 20180313943
    Abstract: An ultrasound probe and method of forming an ultrasound probe are provided. The ultrasound probe comprises a two-dimensional (2D) transducer assembly having transducer elements arranged in rows and columns. The transducer elements have front and rear surfaces. The front surface is configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from an object of interest. A thin film flex circuit extends along the rear surface of the transducer assembly. The flex circuit has conductive traces arranged in layers and enclosed within a common dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a homogeneous composition surrounding the layers of the conductive traces. The conductive traces are electrically interconnected to the corresponding transducer elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, Thomas Rittenschober, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl, Rainer Schröder
  • Publication number: 20170188995
    Abstract: Systems are provided for the arrangement of decoupled electric and acoustic modules for a transducer array of an ultrasound probe. In one embodiment, the decoupled modules are independently coupled to a flex interconnect, apart from one another, allowing for electric communication between all modules through the flex interconnect. As one example, an ultrasound transducer array for an ultrasound probe comprises an acoustic backing, a flex interconnect coupled to the backing at a first surface of the flex interconnect, a matrix acoustic array coupled to a second surface of the flex interconnect, the second surface opposite the first surface, and an electric module coupled to the second surface of the flex interconnect at a location spaced away from where the matrix acoustic array is coupled to the flex interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, David A. Chartrand, Thomas Rittenschober, Scott William Easterbrook, Manuel Schoenauer, Andreas Kremsl
  • Patent number: 9539667
    Abstract: Methods and systems for connection to a transducer in ultrasound probes are provided. One system includes transducer having a base configured to support thereon an ultrasound transducer array and a plurality of electrical interconnects integrated with the base. The electrical interconnects are configured to connect to the ultrasound transducer array and extend along at least a portion of the base from the ultrasound transducer array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, Thomas Rittenschober, Manuel Schoenauer
  • Publication number: 20150182194
    Abstract: Methods and systems for connection to a transducer in ultrasound probes are provided. One system includes transducer having a base configured to support thereon an ultrasound transducer array and a plurality of electrical interconnects integrated with the base. The electrical interconnects are configured to connect to the ultrasound transducer array and extend along at least a portion of the base from the ultrasound transducer array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, Thomas Rittenschober, Manuel Schoenauer
  • Publication number: 20150182200
    Abstract: A medical ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic probe having a probe head and a connector. The connector includes a fluid cooling system comprising a pump configured to pump a cooling fluid between the connector and the probe head. A damper including a housing has a first portion defining a cavity receiving the cooling fluid and a second portion including a gas that is separated from the first portion by a membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Erich Birglehner, Thomas Rittenschober
  • Patent number: 9020156
    Abstract: A method for reducing the noise emission of a transformer, the transformer tank of which is filled with liquid and the tank wall of which vibrates during operation, is provided. The method is characterized by the sequence of the following method steps: detecting natural frequency values of the tank wall for at least one excitation frequency; determining at least one eigenmode for which the vibration of the tank wall is composed at an excitation frequency, from the natural frequency values, wherein areas of large curvature are determined on the tank wall; arranging at least one vibration loading device in at least one of said areas; and controlling the at least one vibration loading device by means of a control device in order to counteract the vibration of the tank wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Dantele, Alexander Hackl, Johannes Korak, Thomas Rittenschober, Helmut Wernick
  • Publication number: 20130053697
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system, an ultrasound probe, and a method for detecting motion of an ultrasound probe with a motion sensor attached to the probe. The ultrasound system, ultrasound probe, and method also include reducing a power consumption of the ultrasound probe in response to detecting no motion for a period of time with the motion sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Stefan Holl, Thomas Holl, Thomas Rittenschober, Bernd R. Arminger
  • Publication number: 20120121101
    Abstract: A method for reducing the noise emission of a transformer, the transformer tank of which is filled with liquid and the tank wall of which vibrates during operation, is provided. The method is characterized by the sequence of the following method steps: detecting natural frequency values of the tank wall for at least one excitation frequency; determining at least one eigenmode for which the vibration of the tank wall is composed at an excitation frequency, from the natural frequency values, wherein areas of large curvature are determined on the tank wall; arranging at least one vibration loading device in at least one of said areas; and controlling the at least one vibration loading device by means of a control device in order to counteract the vibration of the tank wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Andreas Dantele, Alexander Hackl, Johannes Korak, Thomas Rittenschober, Helmut Wernick