Patents by Inventor Urban Schnell

Urban Schnell 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: 7600431
    Abstract: A method of monitoring pressure of a gas species up to at most a predetermined maximum pressure value is disclosed. The method includes exposing the gas species to transmission of laser light, periodically modulating the wavelength of the laser light over a wavelength band including at least one absorption line of the gas species, optoelectrically converting the transmitted laser light, thereby generating an electric output signal, performing at least one of first filtering the electric output signal with a filter characteristic having a lower cut-off frequency not lower than a transition frequency and of second filtering the electric output signal with a bandpass filter characteristic having an upper cut-off frequency not higher than the transition frequency and a lower cut-off frequency above the modulation frequency of the periodic wavelength modulation. The output of at least one of the filterings is evaluated as a pressure indicative signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventors: Martin Lehmann, Jean-Noel Fehr, Martin Liechti, Urban Schnell
  • Publication number: 20090044629
    Abstract: A method of monitoring pressure of a gas species up to at most a predetermined maximum pressure value is disclosed. The method includes exposing the gas species to transmission of laser light, periodically modulating the wavelength of the laser light over a wavelength band including at least one absorption line of the gas species, optoelectrically converting the transmitted laser light, thereby generating an electric output signal, performing at least one of first filtering the electric output signal with a filter characteristic having a lower cut-off frequency not lower than a transition frequency and of second filtering the electric output signal with a bandpass filter characteristic having an upper cut-off frequency not higher than the transition frequency and a lower cut-off frequency above the modulation frequency of the periodic wavelength modulation. The output of at least one of the filterings is evaluated as a pressure indicative signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Martin Lehmann, Jean-Noel Fehr, Martin Liechti, Urban Schnell
  • Patent number: 7467554
    Abstract: A method of monitoring pressure of a gas species up to at most a predetermined maximum pressure value is disclosed. The method includes exposing the gas species to transmission of laser light, periodically modulating the wavelength of the laser light over a wavelength band including at least one absorption line of the gas species, optoelectrically converting the transmitted laser light, thereby generating an electric output signal, performing at least one of first filtering the electric output signal with a filter characteristic having a lower cut-off frequency not lower than a transition frequency and of second filtering the electric output signal with a bandpass filter characteristic having an upper cut-off frequency not higher than the transition frequency and a lower cut-off frequency above the modulation frequency of the periodic wavelength modulation. The output of at least one of the filterings is evaluated as a pressure indicative signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Lehmann, Jean-Noel Fehr, Martin Liechti, Urban Schnell
  • Patent number: 7382819
    Abstract: A method of monitoring pressure of a gas species up to at most a predetermined maximum pressure value is disclosed. The method includes exposing the gas species to transmission of laser light, periodically modulating the wavelength of the laser light over a wavelength band including at least one absorption line of the gas species, optoelectrically converting the transmitted laser light, thereby generating an electric output signal, performing at least one of first filtering the electric output signal with a filter characteristic having a lower cut-off frequency not lower than a transition frequency and of second filtering the electric output signal with a bandpass filter characteristic having an upper cut-off frequency not higher than the transition frequency and a lower cut-off frequency above the modulation frequency of the periodic wavelength modulation. The output of at least one of the filterings is evaluated as a pressure indicative signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Lehmann, Jean-Noel Fehr, Martin Liechti, Urban Schnell
  • Publication number: 20080054532
    Abstract: A method of monitoring pressure of a gas species up to at most a predetermined maximum pressure value is disclosed. The method includes exposing the gas species to transmission of laser light, periodically modulating the wavelength of the laser light over a wavelength band including at least one absorption line of the gas species, optoelectrically converting the transmitted laser light, thereby generating an electric output signal, performing at least one of first filtering the electric output signal with a filter characteristic having a lower cut-off frequency not lower than a transition frequency and of second filtering the electric output signal with a bandpass filter characteristic having an upper cut-off frequency not higher than the transition frequency and a lower cut-off frequency above the modulation frequency of the periodic wavelength modulation. The output of at least one of the filterings is evaluated as a pressure indicative signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Lehmann, Jean-Noel Fehr, Martin Liechti, Urban Schnell
  • Patent number: 7334482
    Abstract: A method of monitoring pressure of a gas species up to at most a predetermined maximum pressure value is disclosed. The method includes exposing the gas species to transmission of laser light, periodically modulating the wavelength of the laser light over a wavelength band including at least one absorption line of the gas species, optoelectrically converting the transmitted laser light, thereby generating an electric output signal, performing at least one of first filtering the electric output signal with a filter characteristic having a lower cut-off frequency not lower than a transition frequency and of second filtering the electric output signal with a bandpass filter characteristic having an upper cut-off frequency not higher than the transition frequency and a lower cut-off frequency above the modulation frequency of the periodic wavelength modulation. The output of at least one of the filterings is evaluated as a pressure indicative signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Lehmann, Jean-Noel Fehr, Martin Liechti, Urban Schnell
  • Patent number: 7256035
    Abstract: System for thermocycling of fluids in cartridges comprising a thermocycling unit in thermal contact with a first substantially planar and heat conducting wall of a cartridge, a light source for transmitting light into the interior of said cartridge through a second light transparent wall of said cartridge which is arranged substantially perpendicular to said first wall, a light detector for detecting light emerging from the interior of the cartridge through said second wall and a fluid providing unit coupled to an inlet of the cartridge for providing the cartridge with fluid and an outlet of the cartridge to drain gas when the cartridge is filled with fluid. The invention further concerns a cartridge for conducting the thermal cycling of fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc
    Inventors: Urban Schnell, Olivier Elsenhans, Thomas Caratsch, Lukas Birrer, Emad Sarofim
  • Publication number: 20070159598
    Abstract: A device for mapping the visual field of an eye includes a projector for creating a light beam of visible light, a first light directing element for controlling the direction of the beam, and a reflection element for reflecting the light beam through a predetermined crossing point. The elements are arranged in such a way so that the light beam can be directed to well defined sites of the retina of the eye when positioned with the center of its lens substantially in the crossing point. The projector can be made to include a focusing element and a beam cross-section forming element for creating a disk of predetermined size on the retina of the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Don Yancey, Jean-Christophe Roulet, Christoph Kissling, Urban Schnell
  • Publication number: 20070144265
    Abstract: A method of monitoring pressure of a gas species up to at most a predetermined maximum pressure value is disclosed. The method includes exposing the gas species to transmission of laser light, periodically modulating the wavelength of the laser light over a wavelength band including at least one absorption line of the gas species, optoelectrically converting the transmitted laser light, thereby generating an electric output signal, performing at least one of first filtering the electric output signal with a filter characteristic having a lower cut-off frequency not lower than a transition frequency and of second filtering the electric output signal with a bandpass filter characteristic having an upper cut-off frequency not higher than the transition frequency and a lower cut-off frequency above the modulation frequency of the periodic wavelength modulation. The output of at least one of the filterings is evaluated as a pressure indicative signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Martin Lehmann, Jean-Noel Fehr, Martin Liechti, Urban Schnell
  • Patent number: 7222537
    Abstract: A method of monitoring pressure of a gas species up to at most a predetermined maximum pressure value is disclosed. The method includes exposing the gas species to transmission of laser light, periodically modulating the wavelength of the laser light over a wavelength band including at least one absorption line of the gas species, optoelectrically converting the transmitted laser light, thereby generating an electric output signal, performing at least one of first filtering the electric output signal with a filter characteristic having a lower cut-off frequency not lower than a transition frequency and of second filtering the electric output signal with a bandpass filter characteristic having an upper cut-off frequency not higher than the transition frequency and a lower cut-off frequency above the modulation frequency of the periodic wavelength modulation. The output of at least one of the filterings is evaluated as a pressure indicative signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Inventors: Martin Lehmann, Jean-Noel Fehr, Martin Liechti, Urban Schnell
  • Publication number: 20060021441
    Abstract: A method of monitoring pressure of a gas species up to at most a predetermined maximum pressure value is disclosed. The method includes exposing the gas species to transmission of laser light, periodically modulating the wavelength of the laser light over a wavelength band including at least one absorption line of the gas species, optoelectrically converting the transmitted laser light, thereby generating an electric output signal, performing at least one of first filtering the electric output signal with a filter characteristic having a lower cut-off frequency not lower than a transition frequency and of second filtering the electric output signal with a bandpass filter characteristic having an upper cut-off frequency not higher than the transition frequency and a lower cut-off frequency above the modulation frequency of the periodic wavelength modulation. The output of at least one of the filterings is evaluated as a pressure indicative signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: Martin Lehmann, Jean-Noel Fehr, Martin Liechti, Urban Schnell
  • Publication number: 20050168445
    Abstract: An optical detection system and method detects movement of an optical pointing device in a data processing environment. The system works with any surface than can diffusely scatter a collimated beam from a coherent light source. Specifically, the system comprises a coherent light source and an optical sensing assembly. The optical sensing assembly comprises a plurality of photosensor arrays and a plurality of optical elements. Each photosensor array includes pixels of a particular size and shape. Each optical element has an artificially limited aperture and is associated, through optical matching, with a respective photosensor array. The coherent light source generates a collimated beam that is diffusely reflected off of the surface. The optical sensing assembly receives the diffusely reflected, or scattered, collimated beam and passes it through the artificially limited apertures of the optical elements to the associated corresponding photosensor array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Julien Piot, Urban Schnell, Philippe Nussbaum
  • Publication number: 20050049468
    Abstract: Proposed is a configuration for the acquisition and/or monitoring of medical data, in particular the state of the cardiovascular and pulmonary system, blood values or blood composition, characterised by at least one measuring sensor for the acquisition of the medical data such as the state of the cardiovascular system, etc. of a person comprising at least one light source which can emit light at least at two wavelengths, as well as at least one light receiver for determining the light transmitted and/or reflected through a tissue portion of a person or an animal further comprising means in order to increase the optical Signal-to-Noise and/or Signal-to-Background ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: Sven-Erik Carlson, Urban Schnell, Deborah Schegg, Martin Liechti
  • Publication number: 20050022603
    Abstract: A method of monitoring pressure of a gas species up to at most a predetermined maximum pressure value is disclosed. The method includes exposing the gas species to transmission of laser light, periodically modulating the wavelength of the laser light over a wavelength band including at least one absorption line of the gas species, optoelectrically converting the transmitted laser light, thereby generating an electric output signal, performing at least one of first filtering the electric output signal with a filter characteristic having a lower cut-off frequency not lower than a transition frequency and of second filtering the electric output signal with a bandpass filter characteristic having an upper cut-off frequency not higher than the transition frequency and a lower cut-off frequency above the modulation frequency of the periodic wavelength modulation. The output of at least one of the filterings is evaluated as a pressure indicative signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Martin Lehmann, Jean-Noel Fehr, Martin Liechti, Urban Schnell
  • Patent number: 6649896
    Abstract: A photoelectric module (1) comprises an electrically non-conducting support (2) and a photoelectric element including an array of spatially distributed photoelectric members applied to a surface of the support (2). High simplicity and efficiency is obtained by the double function of module (1) for light transmission or reflection, and spatially averaged light measurement. In a preferred application of module (1) a light source (8, LED) is energized by a driving circuit (9) controlled by an electronic circuit (11). The input of this circuit (11) is connected to the photoelectric module (1), the power delivered to the light source (8) and the intensity of the light beam emitted by the light source being regulated preferably to a constant value by the feedback loop consisting of module (1), electronic circuit (11) and driving circuit (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lukas Birrer, Thomas Caratsch, Olivier Elsenhans, Emad Sarofim, Urban Schnell
  • Publication number: 20020190194
    Abstract: A photoelectric module (1) comprises an electrically non-conducting support (2) and a photoelectric element including an array of spatially distributed photoelectric members applied to a surface of the support (2). High simplicity and efficiency is obtained by the double function of module (1) for light transmission or reflection, and spatially averaged light measurement. In a preferred application of module (1) a light source (8, LED) is energized by a driving circuit (9) controlled by an electronic circuit (11). The input of this circuit (11) is connected to the photoelectric module (1), the power delivered to the light source (8) and the intensity of the light beam emitted by the light source being regulated preferably to a constant value by the feedback loop consisting of module (1), electronic circuit (11) and driving circuit (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Lukas Birrer, Thomas Caratsch, Olivier Elsenhans, Emad Sarofim, Urban Schnell