Patents by Inventor William M. Fitzgerald, Jr.

William M. Fitzgerald, 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).

  • Micropositionable piezoelectric contactor
    Patent number: 4811246
    Abstract: A micropositionable contactor for use in automated testing of multiterminal electronic devices includes an elongated metal probe having a contact at one end. A plurality of piezoelectric motors are positioned about the probe are operative to move the probe in a corresponding plurality of directions. Digital electronic circuit means are coupled to the piezoelectric motors to move the probe through a sequence of motions which establish the locations of each contact on the device under test and make appropriate testing connections to one or more of the device contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Inventors: William M. Fitzgerald, Jr., Steven L. Petersen, John G. Waters