Patents by Inventor William H. Phillips, Jr.

William H. Phillips, Jr. 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).

  • Apparatus and methods for testing acoustic systems
    Patent number: 7278289
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic system having multiple transmitter elements and multiple receiver elements. A transmitter signal generated by a selected transmitter element is received. An echo electrical signal is generated in response to receipt of the transmitter signal. The echo electrical signal is transmitted to a selected receiver element. Information generated by the acoustic system with the selected receiver element in response to the echo signal is analyzed to diagnose operational characteristics of the selected receiver element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Sonora Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Gessert, William H. Phillips, Jr., G. Wayne Moore
  • Apparatus and methods for testing acoustic probes and systems
    Patent number: 7155957
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic device that has multiple transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical transmission signal is generated. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to a selected transducing element. An electrical received signal is received from the acoustic device. A reference signal is generated. A capacitance associated with the selected transducing element is determined from the reference signal. Operational characteristics of the selected transducing element are diagnosed from the determined capacitance and the electrical received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sonora Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Gessert, William H. Phillips, Jr., G. Wayne Moore
  • Apparatus and methods for testing acoustic probes and systems
    Patent number: 7028529
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic device that has multiple transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical transmission signal is generated. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to a selected transducing element. An electrical received signal is received from the acoustic device. A reference signal is generated. A capacitance associated with the selected transducing element is determined from the reference signal. Operational characteristics of the selected transducing element are diagnosed from the determined capacitance and the electrical received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Sonora Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Gessert, William H. Phillips, Jr., G. Wayne Moore
  • Apparatus and methods for interfacing acoustic testing apparatus with acoustic probes and systems
    Patent number: 7007539
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic device that has multiple transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical transmission signal is generated. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a first set of channels through a relay element in accordance with a state of the relay element. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a second set of channels through a multichannel switch of an adapter in accordance with a state of the multichannel switch. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to a selected transducing element. An electrical received signal is received from the acoustic device in response to the electrical transmission signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Sonora Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Gessert, William H. Phillips, Jr., G. Wayne Moore
  • Apparatus and methods for interfacing acoustic testing apparatus with acoustic probes and systems
    Patent number: 6928856
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic device that has multiple transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical transmission signal is generated. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a first set of channels through a relay element in accordance with a state of the relay element. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a second set of channels through a multichannel switch of an adapter in accordance with a state of the multichannel switch. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to a selected transducing element. An electrical received signal is received from the acoustic device in response to the electrical transmission signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Sonora Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Gessert, William H. Phillips, Jr., G. Wayne Moore
  • Apparatus and methods for interfacing acoustic testing apparatus with acoustic probes and systems
    Patent number: 6920776
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic device that has multiple transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical transmission signal is generated. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a first set of channels through a relay element in accordance with a state of the relay element. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a second set of channels through a multichannel switch of an adapter in accordance with a state of the multichannel switch. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to a selected transducing element. An electrical received signal is received from the acoustic device in response to the electrical transmission signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Sonora Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Gessert, William H. Phillips, Jr., G. Wayne Moore
  • Integral auto-selecting yoke/transducer connector for ultrasound transducer probe
    Patent number: 5615678
    Abstract: An integral yoke/transducer connector has built-in probe switches for detecting when a transducer probe has been removed from its yoke. Based on the status of the probe switch and other feedback information, a system controller activates the out-of-holder probe if it has priority. In this manner, a probe can be automatically activated when it is lifted out of its yoke, thereby eliminating the need to trace a desired probe to its connector/port via the cable. Once a probe/port is auto-selected, it remains the only active probe/port until the probe is placed back in the yoke (or its transducer connector is disconnected from the port on the imaging unit). Placement of the probe in its corresponding yoke opens the probe switch which is built into the yoke/connector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Kirkham, Kirsten N. Laconte, Michael L. Hall, Jonathan E. Snyder, Edward S. Wallace, William H. Phillips, Jr., Robert L. Petersen, Jr.