Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Fink

Wolfgang Fink 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).

  • Publication number: 20070112263
    Abstract: An optically powered and optically data-transmitting wireless intraocular pressure sensor device for detecting excessive intraocular pressure above a predetermined threshold pressure, comprising a pressure switch that is sized and configured to be placed in an eye, wherein said pressure switch is activated when the intraocular pressure is higher than the predetermined threshold pressure. In one embodiment, the pressure sensor device is a micro electromechanical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, Eui-Hyeok Yang, Yoshi Hishinuma, Choonsup Lee, Thomas George, Mark Humayun
  • Publication number: 20070019156
    Abstract: System, methods, and devices are described for eye self-exam. In particular, optomechanical and digital ocular sensor reader systems are provided. The optomechanical system provides a device for viewing an ocular sensor implanted in one eye with the other eye. The digital ocular sensor system is a digital camera system for capturing an image of an eye, including an image of a sensor implanted in the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Wolfgang Fink
  • Patent number: 7131945
    Abstract: An implantable intraocular pressure sensor device for detecting excessive intraocular pressure above a predetermined threshold pressure is disclosed. The device includes a pressure switch that is sized and configured to be placed in an eye, wherein said pressure switch is activated when the intraocular pressure is higher than the predetermined threshold pressure. The device is optically powered and transmits data wirelessly using optical energy. In one embodiment, the pressure sensor device is a micro electromechanical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, Doheny Eye Institute
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, Eui-Hyeok Yang, Yoshi Hishinuma, Choonsup Lee, Thomas George, Yu-Chong Tai, Ellis Meng, Mark Humayun
  • Publication number: 20060229801
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of crafts in an operational area includes providing a command system, a first craft in the operational area coupled to the command system, and a second craft in the operational area coupled to the command system. The method further includes determining a first desired destination and a first trajectory to the first desired destination, sending a first command from the command system to the first craft to move a first distance along the first trajectory, and moving the first craft according to the first command. A second desired destination and a second trajectory to the second desired destination are determined and a second command is sent from the command system to the second craft to move a second distance along the second trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, James Dohm, Mark Tarbell
  • Patent number: 7101044
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronically performing a visual field test for a patient. A visual field test pattern is displayed to the patient on an electronic display device and the patient's responses to the visual field test pattern are recorded. A visual field representation is generated from the patient's responses. The visual field representation is then used as an input into a variety of automated diagnostic processes. In one process, the visual field representation is used to generate a statistical description of the rapidity of change of a patient's visual field at the boundary of a visual field defect. In another process, the area of a visual field defect is calculated using the visual field representation. In another process, the visual field representation is used to generate a statistical description of the volume of a patient's visual field defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Wolfgang Fink
  • Publication number: 20060064286
    Abstract: A multi-agent autonomous system for exploration of hazardous or inaccessible locations. The multi-agent autonomous system includes simple surface-based agents or craft controlled by an airborne tracking and command system. The airborne tracking and command system includes an instrument suite used to image an operational area and any craft deployed within the operational area. The image data is used to identify the craft, targets for exploration, and obstacles in the operational area. The tracking and command system determines paths for the surface-based craft using the identified targets and obstacles and commands the craft using simple movement commands to move through the operational area to the targets while avoiding the obstacles. Each craft includes its own instrument suite to collect information about the operational area that is transmitted back to the tracking and command system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, James Dohm, Mark Tarbell
  • Patent number: 6990406
    Abstract: A multi-agent autonomous system for exploration of hazardous or inaccessible locations. The multi-agent autonomous system includes simple surface-based agents or craft controlled by an airborne tracking and command system. The airborne tracking and command system includes an instrument suite used to image an operational area and any craft deployed within the operational area. The image data is used to identify the craft, targets for exploration, and obstacles in the operational area. The tracking and command system determines paths for the surface-based craft using the identified targets and obstacles and commands the craft using simple movement commands to move through the operational area to the targets while avoiding the obstacles. Each craft includes its own instrument suite to collect information about the operational area that is transmitted back to the tracking and command system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, James Dohm, Mark A. Tarbell
  • Publication number: 20050208457
    Abstract: A camera-based object detection system for a severely visually impaired or blind person consisting a digital camera mounted on the person's eyeglass or head that takes images on demand. Near-real time image processing algorithms decipher certain attributes of the captured image by processing it for edge pattern detection within a central region of the image. The results are classified by artificial neural networks trained on a list of known objects, in a look up table, or by a threshold. Once the pattern is classified a descriptive sentence is constructed of the object and its certain attributes and a computer-based voice synthesizer is used to verbally announce the descriptive sentence. The invention is used to determine the size of an object, or its distance from another object, and can be used in conjunction with an IR-sensitive camera to provide “sight” in poor visibility conditions, or at night.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, Mark Humayun
  • Publication number: 20050113987
    Abstract: A multi-agent autonomous system for exploration of hazardous or inaccessible locations. The multi-agent autonomous system includes simple surface-based agents or craft controlled by an airborne tracking and command system. The airborne tracking and command system includes an instrument suite used to image an operational area and any craft deployed within the operational area. The image data is used to identify the craft, targets for exploration, and obstacles in the operational area. The tracking and command system determines paths for the surface-based craft using the identified targets and obstacles and commands the craft using simple movement commands to move through the operational area to the targets while avoiding the obstacles. Each craft includes its own instrument suite to collect information about the operational area that is transmitted back to the tracking and command system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, James Dohm, Mark Tarbell
  • Publication number: 20040236389
    Abstract: A method for training a visual prosthesis includes presenting a non-visual reference stimulus corresponding to a reference image to a visual prosthesis patient. The visual prosthesis including a plurality of electrodes. Training data sets are generated by presenting a series of stimulation patterns to the patient through the visual prosthesis. Each stimulation pattern in the series, after the first, is determined at least in part on a previous subjective patient selection of a preferred stimulation pattern among stimulation patterns previously presented in the series and a fitness function optimization algorithm. The presented stimulation patterns and the selections of the patient are stored and presented to a neural network off-line to determine a vision solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, Mark Humayun
  • Patent number: 6769770
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronically performing a visual field test for a patient. A visual field test pattern including a peripheral fixation point is displayed to the patient on an electronic display device and the patient's responses to the visual field test pattern are recorded. A visual field representation is generated from the patient's responses. The visual field representation is then used as an input into a variety of diagnostic processes. In one embodiment of the invention, a series of visual test patterns of varying contrast levels or colors are presented to a patient in order to construct a three-dimensional visual field representation wherein contrast sensitivity is plotted as the Z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, Alfredo A. Sadun
  • Publication number: 20040125341
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronically performing a visual field test for a patient. A visual field test pattern is displayed to the patient on an electronic display device and the patient's responses to the visual field test pattern are recorded. A visual field representation is generated from the patient's responses. The visual field representation is then used as an input into a variety of automated diagnostic processes. In one process, the visual field representation is used to generate a statistical description of the rapidity of change of a patient's visual field at the boundary of a visual field defect. In another process, the area of a visual field defect is calculated using the visual field representation. In another process, the visual field representation is used to generate a statistical description of the volume of a patient's visual field defect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Wolfgang Fink
  • Publication number: 20040116794
    Abstract: An optically powered and optically data-transmitting wireless intraocular pressure sensor device for detecting excessive intraocular pressure above a predetermined threshold pressure, comprising a pressure switch that is sized and configured to be placed in an eye, wherein said pressure switch is activated when the intraocular pressure is higher than the predetermined threshold pressure. In one embodiment, the pressure sensor device is a micro electromechanical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, Eui-Hyeok Yang, Yoshi Hishinuma, Choonsup Lee, Thomas George, Yu-Chong Tai, Ellis Meng, Mark Humayun
  • Patent number: 6578966
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronically performing a visual field test for a patient. A visual field test pattern is displayed to the patient on an electronic display device and the patient's responses to the visual field test pattern are recorded. A visual field representation is generated from the patient's responses. The visual field representation is then used as an input into a variety of diagnostic processes. In one embodiment of the invention, a series of visual test patterns of varying contrast are presented to a patient in order to construct a three-dimensional visual field representation wherein contrast sensitivity is plotted against a Z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, Alfredo A. Sadun
  • Publication number: 20030020873
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronically performing a visual field test for a patient. A visual field test pattern including a peripheral fixation point is displayed to the patient on an electronic display device and the patient's responses to the visual field test pattern are recorded. A visual field representation is generated from the patient's responses. The visual field representation is then used as an input into a variety of diagnostic processes. In one embodiment of the invention, a series of visual test patterns of varying contrast levels or colors are presented to a patient in order to construct a three-dimensional visual field representation wherein contrast sensitivity is plotted as the Z-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, Alfredo A. Sadun
  • Publication number: 20020024634
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronically performing a visual field test for a patient. A visual field test pattern is displayed to the patient on an electronic display device and the patient's responses to the visual field test pattern are recorded. A visual field representation is generated from the patient's responses. The visual field representation is then used as an input into a variety of diagnostic processes. In one embodiment of the invention, a series of visual test patterns of varying contrast are presented to a patient in order to construct a three-dimensional visual field representation wherein contrast sensitivity is plotted against a Z-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, Alfredo A. Sadun
  • Patent number: 5779170
    Abstract: A takeup machine for continuously advancing yarns (1) comprises a spindle revolver (5) mounting two winding spindles (6, 7), which alternate in winding packages (10). The packages are doffed by a servicing automat (doffer) in two positions of the spindle revolver (5) which is moved on step-by-step as the package increases in size on the operating spindle (6). The two positions for removing the full package or packages and for slipping an empty tube or tubes (8, 9) on the previously emptied idle spindle (7) may be located at any desired points within a doffing range (41), since the package mandrels of the servicing automat are caused to follow the idle spindle (7) by suitable sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Barmag AG
    Inventors: Peter Siepmann, Hermann Westrich, Jurgen Gsell, Wolfgang Fink
  • Patent number: 4074283
    Abstract: A non-mechanical printer for use in an electrographic process comprising a drum-shaped data carrier, a recording head and a gas bearing for supporting the recording head on a cushion of gas in spaced relation to the data carrier. The data carrier is drum-shaped and the surfaces of the gas bearing which face the data carrier are correspondingly curved. The gas bearing includes porous walls for issuing pressurized gas toward the surface of the data carrier to produce the gas cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fink, Peter Graf