Patents by Inventor Barry Allen Fetzer

Barry Allen Fetzer 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: 20240151627
    Abstract: A non-destructive test apparatus includes a drive coil and a resonant coil in working relation to the drive coil. The non-destructive test apparatus includes a voltage source coupled to the drive coil. The voltage source is configured to apply an alternating current signal to the drive coil. The non-destructive test apparatus includes a sensor coupled to the resonant coil. The sensor is configured to output sensor data indicative of a voltage induced in the resonant coil by the alternating current signal applied to the drive coil. The non-destructive test apparatus also includes a processor coupled to the sensor to receive the sensor data from the sensor. The processor is configured to determine, based on the voltage, a porosity of an item positioned in working relation to the resonant coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Barry Allen Fetzer, Samuel Roy Goertz
  • Patent number: 11548161
    Abstract: Methods of performing a plurality of operations within a region of a part utilizing an end effector of a robot and robots that perform the methods are disclosed herein. The methods include collecting a spatial representation of the part and aligning a predetermined raster scan pattern for movement of the end effector relative to the part with the spatial representation of the part. The methods also include defining a plurality of normality vectors for the part at a plurality of predetermined operation locations for operation of the end effector. The methods further include moving the end effector relative to the part and along the predetermined raster scan pattern. The methods also include orienting the end effector such that an operation device of the end effector faces toward each operation location along a corresponding normality vector and executing a corresponding operation of the plurality of operations with the operation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Barry Allen Fetzer, Jeong-Beom Ihn, Gary E. Georgeson, Jill Paisley Bingham
  • Publication number: 20210354301
    Abstract: Methods of performing a plurality of operations within a region of a part utilizing an end effector of a robot and robots that perform the methods are disclosed herein. The methods include collecting a spatial representation of the part and aligning a predetermined raster scan pattern for movement of the end effector relative to the part with the spatial representation of the part. The methods also include defining a plurality of normality vectors for the part at a plurality of predetermined operation locations for operation of the end effector. The methods further include moving the end effector relative to the part and along the predetermined raster scan pattern. The methods also include orienting the end effector such that an operation device of the end effector faces toward each operation location along a corresponding normality vector and executing a corresponding operation of the plurality of operations with the operation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Barry Allen Fetzer, Jeong-Beom Ihn, Gary E. Georgeson, Jill Paisley Bingham
  • Patent number: 10677715
    Abstract: Methods are presented. Signals are sent into a first surface of a structure using an ultrasonic transducer. Ultrasound response signals are received at the ultrasonic transducer. A portion of a second surface of the structure is heated while the ultrasonic transducer is sending signals into the first surface, wherein the second surface is on an opposite side of the structure from the first surface. Infrared images of the portion of the second surface of the structure are taken after heating the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Hong Hue Tat, William Joseph Tapia, Barry Allen Fetzer, Gary E. Georgeson, Martin L. Freet, Jeffrey G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10571385
    Abstract: A signal is sent into a structure at an angle substantially parallel to a ramp of the structure using a transducer array positioned at a first surface of the structure. An ultrasound response signal is formed at a second surface of the structure. The ultrasound response signal is received at the transducer array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Hong Hue Tat, Barry Allen Fetzer, Gary E. Georgeson, William Joseph Tapia, Martin L. Freet, Edward L. Puckett
  • Publication number: 20190154561
    Abstract: A signal is sent into a structure at an angle substantially parallel to a ramp of the structure using a transducer array positioned at a first surface of the structure. An ultrasound response signal is formed at a second surface of the structure. The ultrasound response signal is received at the transducer array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Hong Hue Tat, Barry Allen Fetzer, Gary E. Georgeson, William Joseph Tapia, Martin L. Freet, Edward L. Puckett
  • Publication number: 20190154565
    Abstract: Methods are presented. Signals are sent into a first surface of a structure using an ultrasonic transducer. Ultrasound response signals are received at the ultrasonic transducer. A portion of a second surface of the structure is heated while the ultrasonic transducer is sending signals into the first surface, wherein the second surface is on an opposite side of the structure from the first surface. Infrared images of the portion of the second surface of the structure are taken after heating the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Hong Hue Tat, William Joseph Tapia, Barry Allen Fetzer, Gary E. Georgeson, Martin L. Freet, Jeffrey G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9500627
    Abstract: A system and a method for enabling ultrasonic inspection of multiple or varying radii of a composite part without making mechanical adjustments to compensate for changes in the radius dimension. The system may comprise one or more ultrasonic pulser/receivers, one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, a probe body or shoe to hold and position the array(s), ultrasonic data acquisition application software to drive the array(s), and ultrasonic data acquisition application software to select the best signal response for each column of pixels to be displayed. The inspection methodology enables the examination of smooth curved fillets which change shape along the length of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Barry Allen Fetzer, James C. Kennedy, Navpreet S. Grewal
  • Patent number: 9304114
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is presented. A signal may be sent into a structure at an incidence angle from a transducer array. A response signal reflected from the structure in response to the signal sent into the structure may be detected at the transducer array to form a received response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Barry Allen Fetzer, Kate Brown Boudreau
  • Publication number: 20140095085
    Abstract: A system and a method for enabling ultrasonic inspection of multiple or varying radii of a composite part without making mechanical adjustments to compensate for changes in the radius dimension. The system may comprise one or more ultrasonic pulser/receivers, one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, a probe body or shoe to hold and position the array(s), ultrasonic data acquisition application software to drive the array(s), and ultrasonic data acquisition application software to select the best signal response for each column of pixels to be displayed. The inspection methodology enables the examination of smooth curved fillets which change shape along the length of the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Barry Allen Fetzer, James C. Kennedy, Navpreet S. Grewal