Patents by Inventor Andrew Robert Thomas

Andrew Robert Thomas 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: 8001842
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting ultrasonic flaw detection of an object processes an echo signal received from the object being tested in at least three signal channels, wherein the echo signal is scaled to different degrees along each channel to increase and extend the dynamic range of an associated A/D converter system, in a manner which dispenses with the need for using numerous analog high pass and low pass filters and a variable gain amplifier. This reduces complexity and avoids performance limitations. The digital to analog converters sample the differently scaled input signal and a selection circuit selects the output of the digital output obtained from that analog to digital converter which has the highest gain, but which has not overflowed. The digital outputs are seamlessly merged to produce an output that can be displayed as a scan display which shows the location of faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus NDT
    Inventor: Andrew Robert Thomas
  • Patent number: 7963166
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting ultrasonic flaw detection of an object processes an echo signal received from the object being tested in at least three signal channels, wherein the echo signal is scaled to different degrees along each channel to increase and extend the dynamic range of an associated A/D converter system, in a manner which dispenses with the need for using numerous analog high pass and low pass filters and a variable gain amplifier. This reduces complexity and avoids performance limitations. The digital to analog converters sample the differently scaled input signal and a selection circuit selects the output of the digital output obtained from that analog to digital converter which has the highest gain, but which has not overflowed. The digital outputs are seamlessly merged to produce an output that can be displayed as a scan display which shows the location of faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus NDT
    Inventor: Andrew Robert Thomas
  • Patent number: 7911368
    Abstract: A blending circuit is disclosed to be operable to combine plurality of digital outputs received from an analog to digital conversion system to create a composite digital signal. The analog to digital conversion system receives analog signals originated from multiple but substantially the same source signals, wherein the source signals being scaled to different degrees. A blending circuit deploys a blending factor to combine the digital outputs in a manner which blends and/or adjusts portion of each digital output being used to avoid over-flown portion of the digital outputs and to minimize phase and/or amplitude discontinuity of the composite digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus NDT
    Inventors: Andrew Robert Thomas, Michael Drummy
  • Publication number: 20100103016
    Abstract: A blending circuit is disclosed to be operable to combine plurality of digital outputs received from an analog to digital conversion system to create a composite digital signal. The analog to digital conversion system receives analog signals originated from multiple but substantially the same source signals, wherein the source signals being scaled to different degrees. A blending circuit deploys a blending factor to combine the digital outputs in a manner which blends and/or adjusts portion of each digital output being used to avoid over-flown portion of the digital outputs and to minimize phase and/or amplitude discontinuity of the composite digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew Robert THOMAS, Michael DRUMMY