Patents by Inventor Thomas Wittenberg
Thomas Wittenberg 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).
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Patent number: 10776902Abstract: Image processing device for producing in real-time a digital composite image from a sequence of digital images recorded by a camera device, in particular an endoscopic camera device, the image processing device including a selecting unit, a key point detection unit, a transforming unit and a joining unit, wherein the key point detection unit includes a maximum detection unit configured for executing following steps separately for the filter response for the reference image and for the filter response for the further image, wherein a variable threshold is used: i) creating blocks by dividing the respective filter response, ii) calculating the variable threshold for each of the blocks, iii) discarding those blocks of the blocks from further consideration, in which the respective filter response at a reference point of the respective block is less than the respective variable threshold.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Tobias Bergen, Michaela Benz, Andreas Ernst, Thomas Wittenberg, Christian Muenzenmayer, Frederik Zilly, Malte Avenhaus
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Patent number: 10582126Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for generating a microscopy representation of a three-dimensional sample having a lateral extension in the x and y directions. The method has the following steps: a) arranging the flat three-dimensional sample on a positioner; b) recording the sample by means of an imaging device to obtain a first microscopy picture of the sample having a first section; c) altering the perspective onto the two-dimensional sample in the z direction; d) recording the sample by means of the imaging device to obtain a second microscopy picture of the sample having a second section; e) determining change information which allows drawing conclusions as to the change in perspective in the z direction, using a difference between the first and second microscopy pictures; and f) merging the first and second microscopy pictures while considering the change information to obtain the microscopy panoramic representation.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Christian Muenzenmayer, Alexander Gryanik, Tobias Bergen, Thomas Wittenberg
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Publication number: 20190279338Abstract: Image processing device for producing in real-time a digital composite image from a sequence of digital images recorded by a camera device, in particular an endoscopic camera device, the image processing device including a selecting unit, a key point detection unit, a transforming unit and a joining unit, wherein the key point detection unit includes a maximum detection unit configured for executing following steps separately for the filter response for the reference image and for the filter response for the further image, wherein a variable threshold is used: i) creating blocks by dividing the respective filter response, ii) calculating the variable threshold for each of the blocks, iii) discarding those blocks of the blocks from further consideration, in which the respective filter response at a reference point of the respective block is less than the respective variable threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Tobias BERGEN, Michaela BENZ, Andreas ERNST, Thomas WITTENBERG, Christian MUENZENMAYER, Frederik ZILLY, Malte AVENHAUS
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Patent number: 9773295Abstract: In a device and a corresponding method for joining a plurality of individual digital images to form a total image, a plurality of features is determined in a first individual image by means of a selection unit using a feature-based algorithm and then tracked in a second individual image by means of a tracking unit. A transformation matrix, with which the individual images are joined in an output unit to form the total image, is calculated from the determined feature correspondences in a transformation unit. The individual images can be joined in real time and with a high degree of accuracy by means of the feature-based algorithm in combination with a robust algorithm to calculate the transformation matrix.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergInventors: Christian Münzenmayer, Christian Winter, Thomas Wittenberg, Stephan Rupp, Dietrich Paulus, Tobias Bergen, Steffen Ruthotto
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Publication number: 20170111581Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for generating a microscopy representation of a three-dimensional sample having a lateral extension in the x and y directions. The method has the following steps: a) arranging the flat three-dimensional sample on a positioner; b) recording the sample by means of an imaging device to obtain a first microscopy picture of the sample having a first section; c) altering the perspective onto the two-dimensional sample in the z direction; d) recording the sample by means of the imaging device to obtain a second microscopy picture of the sample having a second section; e) determining change information which allows drawing conclusions as to the change in perspective in the z direction, using a difference between the first and second microscopy pictures; and f) merging the first and second microscopy pictures while considering the change information to obtain the microscopy panoramic representation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2016Publication date: April 20, 2017Inventors: Christian MUENZENMAYER, Alexander GRYANIK, Tobias BERGEN, Thomas WITTENBERG
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Publication number: 20160140691Abstract: In a device and a corresponding method for joining a plurality of individual digital images to form a total image, a plurality of features is determined in a first individual image by means of a selection unit using a feature-based algorithm and then tracked in a second individual image by means of a tracking unit. A transformation matrix, with which the individual images are joined in an output unit to form the total image, is calculated from the determined feature correspondences in a transformation unit. The individual images can be joined in real time and with a high degree of accuracy by means of the feature-based algorithm in combination with a robust algorithm to calculate the transformation matrix.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2016Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Christian MÜNZENMAYER, Christian WINTER, Thomas WITTENBERG, Stephan RUPP, Dietrich PAULUS, Tobias BERGEN, Steffen RUTHOTTO
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Publication number: 20160135672Abstract: An illumination apparatus for an image sensor at the distal end of an endoscope includes an illumination carrier and a plurality of micro LEDs each including a main surface from which the emission is made, with a maximum lateral dilatation of less than 500 ?m. The illumination carrier is associated with the distal end of the endoscope, and the plurality of micro LEDs are arranged on the illumination carrier such that with electrical excitation, the environment of the distal end of the endoscope is at least in some portions illuminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Klaus SPINNLER, Cornelia ARNOLD, Andreas KULESCHOW, Stephan RUPP, Thomas WITTENBERG, Robert COURONNE
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Patent number: 9262831Abstract: In a device and a corresponding method for joining a plurality of individual digital images to form a total image, a plurality of features is determined in a first individual image by means of a selection unit using a feature-based algorithm and then tracked in a second individual image by means of a tracking unit. A transformation matrix, with which the individual images are joined in an output unit to form the total image, is calculated from the determined feature correspondences in a transformation unit. The individual images can be joined in real time and with a high degree of accuracy by means of the feature-based algorithm in combination with a robust algorithm to calculate the transformation matrix.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2010Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignees: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG e.V., Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergInventors: Christian Münzenmayer, Christian Winter, Thomas Wittenberg, Stephan Rupp, Dietrich Paulus, Tobias Bergen, Steffen Ruthotto
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Patent number: 9253449Abstract: A stability and, thus, also a quality of mosaic generation is improved by exploiting the advantages of global optimization while giving up performing the optimization fully on the basis of mutual alignment of the image information alone, i.e. on the basis of the result of a search for similarities, but when, additionally, information about error statistics of the capturing device, which took over portion-by-portion capturing of the object plane, is instead also taken into account in the positioning of the subimages in that a secondary constraint (secondary constraint) is set up for the capturing position variables in the optimization problem.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Dirk Steckhan, Thorsten Zerfass, Thomas Wittenberg, Matthias Elter, Dietrich Paulus
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Patent number: 9196036Abstract: A device for determining objects in a color recording has an identifier, a feature extractor and a classifier. The identifier is implemented to identify the connected regions whose size or shape correspond to a predetermined condition from a plurality of connected regions existing in a binary image derived from a color recording based on a size or a shape of these connected regions. The feature extractor is implemented, for each of the identified connected regions, to extract a feature set from the color recording. The classifier is implemented to classify the identified connected regions into at least two disjunct groups based on the extracted feature sets for the identified connected regions.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Matthias Elter, Thorsten Zerfass, Dirk Steckhan, Thomas Wittenberg, Christian Muenzenmayer, Timo Schlarb
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Patent number: 9192290Abstract: An illumination apparatus for an image sensor at the distal end of an endoscope includes an illumination carrier and a plurality of micro LEDs each including a main surface from which the emission is made, with a maximum lateral dilatation of less than 500 ?m. The illumination carrier is associated with the distal end of the endoscope, and the plurality of micro LEDs are arranged on the illumination carrier such that with electrical excitation, the environment of the distal end of the endoscope is at least in some portions illuminated.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2008Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Klaus Spinnler, Cornelia Arnold, Andreas Kuleschow, Stephan Rupp, Thomas Wittenberg, Robert Couronné
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Patent number: 8771172Abstract: In a sensor system and a corresponding method for image capture of an object, an imaging sensor is arranged in a recording area of an optical sensor, the recording area being defined for the object, in such a way as to be essentially stationary relative to said object. By means of an evaluation unit, relative movements between the imaging sensor and the object can be derived from the recorded image data of the optical sensor, and a three-dimensional object image can be reconstructed from the imaging data as a function of the relative movements. When determining the relative movements, it is in particular possible as well to detect relative movements caused by the object's own motion which can be taken into account when reconstructing the object image. As a result, a high image quality of the object image is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergInventors: Tobias Bergen, Christian Münzenmayer, Christian Winter, Thomas Wittenberg
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Publication number: 20130279789Abstract: A device for determining objects in a color recording has an identifier, a feature extractor and a classifier. The identifier is implemented to identify the connected regions whose size or shape correspond to a predetermined condition from a plurality of connected regions existing in a binary image derived from a color recording based on a size or a shape of these connected regions. The feature extractor is implemented, for each of the identified connected regions, to extract a feature set from the color recording. The classifier is implemented to classify the identified connected regions into at least two disjunct groups based on the extracted feature sets for the identified connected regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2013Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: Matthias ELTER, Thorsten ZERFASS, Dirk STECKHAN, Thomas WITTENBERG, Christian MUENZENMAYER, Timo SCHLARB
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Publication number: 20120188352Abstract: A device for superimposing an intraoperative first live image of an operating field with a preoperative second image of the operating field includes a capturer/provider for capturing and providing the first image, a provider for providing the second image, a definer for defining characteristic points in the first image and for defining points, which correspond to the characteristic points, in the second image, so that the characteristic points and the points corresponding thereto in the first and second images will mark mutually corresponding positions of the operating field, a transformer for transforming the image(s), so that the characteristic points of the first image and the points, which correspond thereto, of the second image will come to lie one above the other, and a superimposer for superimposing, following transformation, the second image with the first image or with the operating field to obtain a superimposed view of the operating field.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2012Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Thomas WITTENBERG, Sven FRIEDL
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Publication number: 20120154562Abstract: In a device and a corresponding method for joining a plurality of individual digital images to form a total image, a plurality of features is determined in a first individual image by means of a selection unit using a feature-based algorithm and then tracked in a second individual image by means of a tracking unit. A transformation matrix, with which the individual images are joined in an output unit to form the total image, is calculated from the determined feature correspondences in a transformation unit. The individual images can be joined in real time and with a high degree of accuracy by means of the feature-based algorithm in combination with a robust algorithm to calculate the transformation matrix.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: Christian Münzenmayer, Christian Winter, Thomas Wittenberg, Stephan Rupp, Steffen Ruthotto, Tobias Bergen, Dietrich Paulus
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Publication number: 20110288373Abstract: In a sensor system and a corresponding method for image capture of an object, an imaging sensor is arranged in a recording area of an optical sensor, the recording area being defined for the object, in such a way as to be essentially stationary relative to said object. By means of an evaluation unit, relative movements between the imaging sensor and the object can be derived from the recorded image data of the optical sensor, and a three-dimensional object image can be reconstructed from the imaging data as a function of the relative movements. When determining the relative movements, it is in particular possible as well to detect relative movements caused by the object's own motion which can be taken into account when reconstructing the object image. As a result, a high image quality of the object image is achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Tobias Bergen, Christian Munzenmayer, Christian Winter, Thomas Wittenberg
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Publication number: 20100040276Abstract: A method for determining a cell contour of a cell having a cell nucleus and a cytoplasm in an image of the cell includes determining nucleus candidate pixels belonging to the nucleus. Further, the method comprises determining a pixel within the area formed by the nucleus candidate pixels for obtaining a central nucleus candidate pixel, determining a first edge candidate pixel as a pixel on a predetermined path leading away from the central nucleus candidate pixel by determining a change from a first section to a second section of a color space, and finding edge candidate pixels leading away from the first edge candidate pixel forming a boundary surrounding the cell, via a path-finding algorithm tending to prefer smaller path lengths and paths through pixels in the second section of the color space.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2008Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewan dten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Thorsten Zerfass, Thomas Rehn, Thomas Wittenberg
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Publication number: 20080183043Abstract: An illumination apparatus for an image sensor at the distal end of an endoscope includes an illumination carrier and a plurality of micro LEDs each including a main surface from which the emission is made, with a maximum lateral dilatation of less than 500 ?m. The illumination carrier is associated with the distal end of the endoscope, and the plurality of micro LEDs are arranged on the illumination carrier such that with electrical excitation, the environment of the distal end of the endoscope is at least in some portions illuminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Klaus Spinnler, Cornelia Arnold, Andreas Kuleschow, Stephan Rupp, Thomas Wittenberg, Robert Couronne
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Patent number: 7257243Abstract: A method for the analysis of a biological sample for determining a change thereof relative to a healthy biological sample includes creating a first image of the biological sample at a first acquisition modality and creating a second image of the biological samples at a second acquisition modality. The first image is classified on the basis of a first pre-determined parameter, and the second image is classified on the basis of a second pre-determined parameter, the first image being classified independently of the second image. Then, depending on the classification results, it is determined if the biological sample comprises a change relative to a healthy biological sample.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Robert Schmidt, Thomas Wittenberg, Heinz Gerhaeuser, Klaus Spinnler
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Publication number: 20070014460Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for detecting various cells types of cells in a biological sample, an image of the biological sample is provided. This image is normalized with regard to a distribution of the image values, and the normalized image is subsequently divided into a plurality of image sections. Each image section is associated with a predetermined class in dependence on predetermined properties of the image section. In each image section, the individual cells are detected, and features of these individual cells are determined. Subsequently, the individual cells are associated with a specific cell type on the basis of the features detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2006Publication date: January 18, 2007Inventors: Heiko Kuziela, Thomas Wittenberg, Robert Couronne, Matthias Grobe, Christian Muenzenmayer