Patents by Inventor James E. Spinar
James E. Spinar 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).
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Patent number: 10241133Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 7, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 10119992Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20180059139Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20160291054Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 8860449Abstract: A dual probing tip system uses a slot and rail system to provide variable spacing and lateral and axial compliance of the probing tips mounted on first and second support members. A movable base member is secured on a frame with the base member having a rack of linear teeth and a pair of rails angled toward the front. First and second intermediate carriers each have a slot that engages one of the angled rails. Each of the carriers has stanchions that receive a thumb wheel pinion gear mounted on a shaft. The pinion gear mates with the teeth on the base member for movement of the carriers. Each support member has an axial slot that mated with an axial slot on each one of the carriers. Each support member has a compression spring which allows axial compliance of the support members.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: James E. Spinar, Richard R. Lynn
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Patent number: 8826754Abstract: A modular probe assembly for a signal processing instrument has an elongate member extending from a first module of the probe assembly and a cavity recessed in a second module of the probe assembly. The cavity of the second module is structured to receive the elongate member of the first module. A module for the probe assembly may have a first articulating elongate member disposed at an end of a housing of the module. The elongate member extending from a first module of the probe assembly may be inserted into a cavity recessed in a second module, and the first module may be removably joined to the second module.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: James E. Spinar, Kyle A. Grist
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Publication number: 20140053667Abstract: A modular probe assembly for a signal processing instrument has an elongate member extending from a first module of the probe assembly and a cavity recessed in a second module of the probe assembly. The cavity of the second module is structured to receive the elongate member of the first module. A module for the probe assembly may have a first articulating elongate member disposed at an end of a housing of the module. The elongate member extending from a first module of the probe assembly may be inserted into a cavity recessed in a second module, and the first module may be removably joined to the second module.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2012Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: James E. Spinar, Kyle A. Grist
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Patent number: 8643396Abstract: A probing tip for a signal acquisition probe has a non-conductive substrate compatible with thin or thick film processing having opposing horizontal surfaces and side surfaces with two of the side surfaces converging to a point. A contoured probing tip contact is formed at the converging point on the non-conductive substrate with the probing tip contact having first and second intersecting arcuate surface. Electrically conductive material is deposited on the countered probing tip contact using thin or thick film processing for providing electrical contact to test points on a device under test. A resistive element is formed on the non-conductive substrate using thin film processing that is electrically coupled to the probing tip contact and to an input of an amplifier formed on an integrated circuit die mounted on the non-conductive substrate. The output of the amplifier is coupled to a transmission structure formed on a second non-conductive substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2011Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: James E. Spinar, Richard R. Lynn
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Publication number: 20120313658Abstract: A dual probing tip system uses a slot and rail system to provide variable spacing and lateral and axial compliance of the probing tips mounted on first and second support members. A movable base member is secured on a frame with the base member having a rack of linear teeth and a pair of rails angled toward the front. First and second intermediate carriers each have a slot that engages one of the angled rails. Each of the carriers has stanchions that receive a thumb wheel pinion gear mounted on a shaft. The pinion gear mates with the teeth on the base member for movement of the carriers. Each support member has an axial slot that mated with an axial slot on each one of the carriers. Each support member has a compression spring which allows axial compliance of the support members.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.Inventors: JAMES E. SPINAR, RICHARD R. LYNN
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Publication number: 20120306522Abstract: A probing tip for a signal acquisition probe has a non-conductive substrate compatible with thin or thick film processing having opposing horizontal surfaces and side surfaces with two of the side surfaces converging to a point. A contoured probing tip contact is formed at the converging point on the non-conductive substrate with the probing tip contact having first and second intersecting arcuate surface. Electrically conductive material is deposited on the countered probing tip contact using thin or thick film processing for providing electrical contact to test points on a device under test. A resistive element is formed on the non-conductive substrate using thin film processing that is electrically coupled to the probing tip contact and to an input of an amplifier formed on an integrated circuit die mounted on the non-conductive substrate. The output of the amplifier is coupled to a transmission structure formed on a second non-conductive substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.Inventors: James E. SPINAR, Richard R. LYNN
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Patent number: 8091225Abstract: The manufacturing method of a probe with printed tip consists of a substrate having a plurality of probe tips connected to its end edge, a plurality of test paths, each connected to one of the probe tips and extending along the substrate, and at least one of the test paths including an electrical component adjacent to the test path's probe tip. The electrical component may be a resistor. The probe tips may have a width equal to the thickness of the substrate. The probe tips may consist of a plurality of probe tip layers. The invention also includes a method of probing signals transmitted over target transmission lines on a target board. The disclosure also includes a method of manufacturing the claimed invention.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Leonard A. Roland, Kathleen F. Ullom, Ira G. Pollock, James E. Spinar
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Publication number: 20110121849Abstract: The probe with printed tip consists of a substrate having a plurality of probe tips connected to its end edge, a plurality of test paths, each connected to one of the probe tips and extending along the substrate, and at least one of the test paths including an electrical component adjacent to the test path's probe tip. The electrical component may be a resistor. The probe tips may have a width equal to the thickness of the substrate. The probe tips may consist of a plurality of probe tip layers. The invention also includes a method of probing signals transmitted over target transmission lines on a target board. The disclosure also includes a method of manufacturing the claimed invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Leonard A. ROLAND, Kathleen F. ULLOM, Ira G. POLLOCK, James E. SPINAR
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Patent number: 7940067Abstract: The probe with printed tip consists of a substrate having a plurality of probe tips connected to its end edge, a plurality of test paths, each connected to one of the probe tips and extending along the substrate, and at least one of the test paths including an electrical component adjacent to the test path's probe tip. The electrical component may be a resistor. The probe tips may have a width equal to the thickness of the substrate. The probe tips may consist of a plurality of probe tip layers. The invention also includes a method of probing signals transmitted over target transmission lines on a target board. The disclosure also includes a method of manufacturing the claimed invention.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Leonard A. Roland, Kathleen F. Ullom, Ira G. Pollock, James E. Spinar
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Publication number: 20100060304Abstract: The probe with printed tip consists of a substrate having a plurality of probe tips connected to its end edge, a plurality of test paths, each connected to one of the probe tips and extending along the substrate, and at least one of the test paths including an electrical component adjacent to the test path's probe tip. The electrical component may be a resistor. The probe tips may have a width equal to the thickness of the substrate. The probe tips may consist of a plurality of probe tip layers. The invention also includes a method of probing signals transmitted over target transmission lines on a target board. The disclosure also includes a method of manufacturing the claimed invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2008Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.Inventors: Leonard A. ROLAND, Kathleen F. ULLOM, Ira G. POLLOCK, James E. SPINAR
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Patent number: 7161366Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for a probe tip contact for electrically coupling a substrate to a probe tip. The apparatus, in one embodiment, comprises a wrap-around contact that is precision formed utilizing a hydroform tool and brazed to a surface of a substrate. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a contact flange, a mounting flange extending from a first edge of the contact flange in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the contact flange, and a substantially circular indentation formed in the contact flange adapted for accommodating movement of said probe tip relative to said substrate.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2004Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey Herrick, James E. Spinar, Daniel R. Murphy, William R. Pooley