Patents by Inventor Ira G. Pollock

Ira G. Pollock 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: 11454651
    Abstract: A test system can include a probe suitable to be coupled between a test measurement device and a device under test (DUT). The probe can include a signal input to receive an active signal from the DUT and a signal output to provide the active signal to the test measurement device. The probe can also include an input ground to connect to the DUT ground and an output ground to connect to the test measurement device ground. A probe ground connection checking device can automatically determine whether the probe ground connections to the DUT ground and test measurement device ground are solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, William A. Hagerup, Barton T. Hickman, Ira G. Pollock
  • Patent number: 11249111
    Abstract: A test system can include a probe suitable to be coupled between a test measurement device and a device under test (DUT). The probe can include a signal input to receive an active signal from the DUT and a signal output to provide the active signal to the test measurement device. The probe can also include an input ground to connect to the DUT ground and an output ground to connect to the test measurement device ground. A probe ground connection checking device can automatically determine whether the probe ground connections to the DUT ground and test measurement device ground are solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, William A. Hagerup, Barton T. Hickman, Ira G. Pollock
  • Publication number: 20210088553
    Abstract: A test system can include a probe suitable to be coupled between a test measurement device and a device under test (DUT). The probe can include a signal input to receive an active signal from the DUT and a signal output to provide the active signal to the test measurement device. The probe can also include an input ground to connect to the DUT ground and an output ground to connect to the test measurement device ground. A probe ground connection checking device can automatically determine whether the probe ground connections to the DUT ground and test measurement device ground are solid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, William A. Hagerup, Barton T. Hickman, Ira G. Pollock
  • Patent number: 10241133
    Abstract: A test probe tip can include a resistive element coupled with a tip component. The resistive element can include a resistive layer disposed on an exterior surface of a structural member of the resistive impedance element. In embodiments, the resistive element can be configured to form a structural component of the test probe tip without an insulating covering applied thereto. Additional embodiments may be described and/or claimed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie A. Campbell, William A. Hagerup, Ira G. Pollock, Christina D. Enns, James E. Spinar, Kathleen F. M. Ullom, Charles M. Hartmann, Daniel J. Ayres
  • Patent number: 10168356
    Abstract: A probe for making electrical contact with a device-under-test test point includes a body, a rigid member capable of travelling linearly with respect to the body, a flexible arm having a test point contact at one end and fastened to the rigid member at the other end, and a flexible linkage fixed to the body and to the flexible arm. The flexible linkage is structured to cause the flexible arm to bend in response to travel of the rigid member in one direction, and to cause the flexible arm to unbend in response to travel of the rigid member in the other direction. A second flexible arm may be included, the two arms opening and closing to change the distance between test point contacts. A light source may be disposed on a portion of the flexible linkage that simultaneously articulates to automatically track the orientation of the test point contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie A. Campbell, William A. Hagerup, Ira G. Pollock
  • Patent number: 10145822
    Abstract: A probe, including a first input configured to receive a first input signal, a second input configured to receive a second input signal, a first cable connected to the first input, a second cable connected to the second input, an electronically adjustable delay connected to the first cable, the electronically adjustable delay configured to delay the first input signal to remove a skew between the first input signal and the second input signal, and an amplifier configured to receive the first input signal from the electronically adjustable delay and a second input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Christopher R. Muggli, Martin Rockwell, Ira G. Pollock
  • Patent number: 10119992
    Abstract: A test probe tip can include a compliance member or force deflecting assembly and a tip component. The compliance member or force deflecting assembly can include a plunger component and a barrel component to receive the plunger component, wherein the plunger component is configured to slide axially inside the barrel component. The test probe tip can also include a spring mechanism within the barrel component to act on the plunger component, and a resistive/impedance element coupled with the plunger component at one end and with the tip component at the opposite end, the resistive/impedance element including at least one rod having a semi-cylindrical form and a resistive material situated thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Hagerup, Julie A. Campbell, Ira G. Pollock, James E. Spinar, Kathleen F. M. Ullom, Charles M. Hartmann, Daniel J. Ayres, Christina D. Enns
  • Publication number: 20180313870
    Abstract: A test system can include a probe suitable to be coupled between a test measurement device and a device under test (DUT). The probe can include a signal input to receive an active signal from the DUT and a signal output to provide the active signal to the test measurement device. The probe can also include an input ground to connect to the DUT ground and an output ground to connect to the test measurement device ground. A probe ground connection checking device can automatically determine whether the probe ground connections to the DUT ground and test measurement device ground are solid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, William A. Hagerup, Barton T. Hickman, Ira G. Pollock
  • Patent number: 10041975
    Abstract: A test system can include a probe suitable to be coupled between a test measurement device and a device under test (DUT). The probe can include a signal input to receive an active signal from the DUT and a signal output to provide the active signal to the test measurement device. The probe can also include an input ground to connect to the DUT ground and an output ground to connect to the test measurement device ground. A probe ground connection checking device can automatically determine whether the probe ground connections to the DUT ground and test measurement device ground are solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, William A. Hagerup, Barton T. Hickman, Ira G. Pollock
  • Publication number: 20180059139
    Abstract: A test probe tip can include a resistive element coupled with a tip component. The resistive element can include a resistive layer disposed on an exterior surface of a structural member of the resistive impedance element. In embodiments, the resistive element can be configured to form a structural component of the test probe tip without an insulating covering applied thereto. Additional embodiments may be described and/or claimed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie A. Campbell, William A. Hagerup, Ira G. Pollock, Christina D. Enns, James E. Spinar, Kathleen F.M. Ullom, Charles M. Hartmann, Daniel J. Ayres
  • Patent number: 9810715
    Abstract: A test probe tip can include a compliance member or force deflecting assembly and a tip component. The compliance member or force deflecting assembly can include a plunger component and a barrel component to receive the plunger component, wherein the plunger component is configured to slide axially inside the barrel component. The test probe tip can also include a spring mechanism within the barrel component to act on the plunger component, and a resistive/impedance element, e.g., a round rod resistor, coupled with the plunger component at one end and with the tip component at the opposite end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie A. Campbell, Ira G. Pollock, William A. Hagerup, Christina D. Enns
  • Publication number: 20170052216
    Abstract: A probe for making electrical contact with a device-under-test test point includes a body, a rigid member capable of travelling linearly with respect to the body, a flexible arm having a test point contact at one end and fastened to the rigid member at the other end, and a flexible linkage fixed to the body and to the flexible arm. The flexible linkage is structured to cause the flexible arm to bend in response to travel of the rigid member in one direction, and to cause the flexible arm to unbend in response to travel of the rigid member in the other direction. A second flexible arm may be included, the two arms opening and closing to change the distance between test point contacts. A light source may be disposed on a portion of the flexible linkage that simultaneously articulates to automatically track the orientation of the test point contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Julie A. Campbell, William A. Hagerup, Ira G. Pollock
  • Publication number: 20160291054
    Abstract: A test probe tip can include a compliance member or force deflecting assembly and a tip component. The compliance member or force deflecting assembly can include a plunger component and a barrel component to receive the plunger component, wherein the plunger component is configured to slide axially inside the barrel component. The test probe tip can also include a spring mechanism within the barrel component to act on the plunger component, and a resistive/impedance element coupled with the plunger component at one end and with the tip component at the opposite end, the resistive/impedance element including at least one rod having a semi-cylindrical form and a resistive material situated thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: William A. Hagerup, Julie A. Campbell, Ira G. Pollock, James E. Spinar, Kathleen F.M. Ullom, Charles M. Hartmann, Daniel J. Ayres, Christina D. Enns
  • Publication number: 20160187382
    Abstract: A test probe tip can include a compliance member or force deflecting assembly and a tip component. The compliance member or force deflecting assembly can include a plunger component and a barrel component to receive the plunger component, wherein the plunger component is configured to slide axially inside the barrel component. The test probe tip can also include a spring mechanism within the barrel component to act on the plunger component, and a resistive/impedance element, e.g., a round rod resistor, coupled with the plunger component at one end and with the tip component at the opposite end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Julie A. Campbell, Ira G. Pollock, William A. Hagerup, Christina D. Enns
  • Publication number: 20160077128
    Abstract: A test system can include a probe suitable to be coupled between a test measurement device and a device under test (DUT). The probe can include a signal input to receive an active signal from the DUT and a signal output to provide the active signal to the test measurement device. The probe can also include an input ground to connect to the DUT ground and an output ground to connect to the test measurement device ground. A probe ground connection checking device can automatically determine whether the probe ground connections to the DUT ground and test measurement device ground are solid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, William A. Hagerup, Barton T. Hickman, Ira G. Pollock
  • Publication number: 20160033455
    Abstract: A probe, including a first input configured to receive a first input signal, a second input configured to receive a second input signal, a first cable connected to the first input, a second cable connected to the second input, an electronically adjustable delay connected to the first cable, the electronically adjustable delay configured to delay the first input signal to remove a skew between the first input signal and the second input signal, and an amplifier configured to receive the first input signal from the electronically adjustable delay and a second input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Christopher R. Muggli, Martin Rockwell, Ira G. Pollock
  • Patent number: 9194888
    Abstract: A test system can include a probe suitable to be coupled between a test measurement device and a device under test (DUT). The probe can include a signal input to receive an active signal from the DUT and a signal output to provide the active signal to the test measurement device. The probe can also include an input ground to connect to the DUT ground and an output ground to connect to the test measurement device ground. A probe ground connection checking device can automatically determine whether the probe ground connections to the DUT ground and test measurement device ground are solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, William A. Hagerup, Barton T. Hickman, Ira G. Pollock
  • Patent number: 8810258
    Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable of the signal acquisition probe is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system having an input amplifier with feedback loop circuitry and a shunt pole-zero pair coupled to the input circuitry providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Michael D. Stevens
  • Patent number: 8791706
    Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system having an input amplifier with feedback loop circuitry and a compensation digital filter providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Michael Duane Stevens
  • Patent number: 8723530
    Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable of the signal acquisition probe is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Ira G. Pollock, Daniel G. Knierim, Lester L. Larson, Scott R. Jansen, Kenneth P. Dobyns, Michael Duane Stevens