Patents by Inventor Michael Joseph Duncan

Michael Joseph Duncan 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: 10247706
    Abstract: System and method for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a variable and irregular shape. The system comprises one or more ultrasonic pulser/receivers, one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, a shoe or jig to hold and position the array(s), data acquisition software to drive the array(s), and data analysis software to select a respective best return signal for each pixel to be displayed. This system starts with information about the general orientation of the array relative to the part and a general predicted part shape. More specific orientation of the transmitted ultrasound beams relative to the part surface is done electronically by phasing the elements in the array(s) to cover the expected (i.e., predicted) surface as well as the full range of part surface variability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Hutchinson, James C. Kennedy, Barry A. Fetzer, Michael Joseph Duncan, Navpreet S. Grewal, Steven Ray Walton, Hien T. Bui
  • Publication number: 20160258905
    Abstract: System and method for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a variable and irregular shape. The system comprises one or more ultrasonic pulser/receivers, one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, a shoe or jig to hold and position the array(s), data acquisition software to drive the array(s), and data analysis software to select a respective best return signal for each pixel to be displayed. This system starts with information about the general orientation of the array relative to the part and a general predicted part shape. More specific orientation of the transmitted ultrasound beams relative to the part surface is done electronically by phasing the elements in the array(s) to cover the expected (i.e., predicted) surface as well as the full range of part surface variability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Hutchinson, James C. Kennedy, Barry A. Fetzer, Michael Joseph Duncan, Navpreet S. Grewal, Steven Ray Walton, Hien T. Bui
  • Patent number: 9366655
    Abstract: System and method for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a variable and irregular shape. The system comprises one or more ultrasonic pulser/receivers, one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, a shoe or jig to hold and position the array(s), data acquisition software to drive the array(s), and data analysis software to select a respective best return signal for each pixel to be displayed. This system starts with information about the general orientation of the array relative to the part and a general predicted part shape. More specific orientation of the transmitted ultrasound beams relative to the part surface is done electronically by phasing the elements in the array(s) to cover the expected (i.e., predicted) surface as well as the full range of part surface variability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Hutchinson, James C. Kennedy, Barry A. Fetzer, Michael Joseph Duncan, Navpreet S. Grewal, Steven Ray Walton, Hien T. Bui
  • Patent number: 9010684
    Abstract: A system and method that allow inspection of hollow structures made of composite material, such as an integrally stiffened wing box of an aircraft. A wing box comprises top and bottom skins connected by a plurality of spaced spars. The system employs a plurality of scanners for inspecting different portions of each spar. The system uses dynamically controlled magnetic coupling to connect an external drive tractor to computer-controlled scanners that carry respective sensors, e.g., linear ultrasonic transducer arrays. A system operator can control the various components by means of a graphical user interface comprising multiple interaction regions that represent the individual scanner motion paths and are associated with respective motion script files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William P. Motzer, James C. Kennedy, Michael C. Hutchinson, Martin L. Freet, Ronald E. VonWahlde, Steven Ray Walton, Jeffry J. Garvey, Scott W. Lea, James J. Troy, Daniel James Wright, Hien T. Bui, Michael Joseph Duncan, Mark L. Little, William Joseph Tapia, Barry A. Fetzer, Richard C. Krotzer
  • Publication number: 20140005840
    Abstract: A system and method that allow inspection of hollow structures made of composite material, such as an integrally stiffened wing box of an aircraft. A wing box comprises top and bottom skins connected by a plurality of spaced spars. The system employs a plurality of scanners for inspecting different portions of each spar. The system uses dynamically controlled magnetic coupling to connect an external drive tractor to computer-controlled scanners that carry respective sensors, e.g., linear ultrasonic transducer arrays. A system operator can control the various components by means of a graphical user interface comprising multiple interaction regions that represent the individual scanner motion paths and are associated with respective motion script files.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: William P. Motzer, James C. Kennedy, Michael C. Hutchinson, Martin L. Freet, Ronald E. VonWahlde, Steven Ray Walton, Jeffry J. Garvey, Scott W. Lea, James J. Troy, Daniel James Wright, Hien T. Bui, Michael Joseph Duncan, Mark L. Little, William Joseph Tapia, Barry A. Fetzer
  • Publication number: 20130340531
    Abstract: System and method for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a variable and irregular shape. The system comprises one or more ultrasonic pulser/receivers, one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, a shoe or jig to hold and position the array(s), data acquisition software to drive the array(s), and data analysis software to select a respective best return signal for each pixel to be displayed. This system starts with information about the general orientation of the array relative to the part and a general predicted part shape. More specific orientation of the transmitted ultrasound beams relative to the part surface is done electronically by phasing the elements in the array(s) to cover the expected (i.e., predicted) surface as well as the full range of part surface variability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael C. Hutchinson, James C. Kennedy, Barry A. Fetzer, Michael Joseph Duncan, Navpreet S. Grewal, Steven Ray Walton, Hien T. Bui